Another cheap way to collect miles and the much more interesting status
points is make a booking in economy to LHR (around 200 sfr) and upgrade
to business for 100 sfr each way, so you pay total around 400 sfr, compared
to the cheapest business flights (dep to LHR Mar 15th, return Mar 16th), you save around 1200 sfr, getting the same amount of status points (80 for the upgraded or the regular instead of 20 for the cheapest economy flight).
But BA has put the barrier 50% higher to reach silver or gold status (600 points instead of 400 to retain or reach silver, 1200 points instead of 800
points to retain or reach gold status).
The introduced the Bronze Status (300 Points) , which has no permit to the lounge , only advantage is the check in possibility at the business class counter.

Just adding in my delight with Avios!! When I first saw the info about the change I was dubious - these 'changes' never seem to work in my favor but this one has.

My Lloyds credit card always gave me air miles that I never used - these were scaled up and converted to Avios - which I can merge with my BA account. Now I can collect Avios with my credit card - so if I fly with easyjet - I get miles for BA!! And the flat rate of £27 for a return trip in Europe is so much cheaper than when we had to pay taxes.

Another bonus is that you can change Tesco club points for Avios points - so I can shop at Tesco - use my credit card and get points twice! Normally you get 600 Avios points for £2.50 in club card vouchers but until the end of March you get a bonus 400 - so 1000 miles for turning in your £2.50.

I use Avios miles for Business/First class flights to Hong Kong, operated
on Cathay Pacific.

On BA metal, the taxes are too high when redeeming points...

Avios points can also be redeemed in the US, on American Airlines.

But as mentioned above, the actual taxes have been replaced by a fixed fee, so onwards connections through LHR make good sense. This is especially good for us from Scotland, as most good connections there go on BA via London.

For example, for a ZRH-LHR/LCY-EDI return flight in June (with limited availability, to be fair) an Avios reward ticket costs 9000 miles plus CHF 40 (or, even better, 4500 miles plus CHF 100, or various miles+money combinations in-between).

If you had booked the same flights through ba.com using cash only, this would have cost a fare of CHF 142, plus tax and fees of CHF 284.90, for a total of CHF 426.90. Therefore, using 4500 miles saves you CHF 326.90 (provided there is reward availability).

This looks to me like a pretty good deal to use Avios miles on.