What are Avios?
Avios are reward points. You collect them from credit cards, flying and shopping, then spend them on flights, upgrades and other travel. Think of them as a travel currency: the more you have, the further you can go.
What makes Avios special is that several airlines use the same currency. One balance can get you a British Airways flight to New York, a Qatar Airways Qsuite to the Maldives or an Iberia flight to Madrid.
Which airlines use Avios?
| Programme | Airline |
|---|---|
| The British Airways Club | British Airways |
| Privilege Club | Qatar Airways |
| Iberia Club | Iberia |
| AerClub | Aer Lingus |
| Finnair Plus | Finnair |
Most UK collectors keep their Avios in The British Airways Club (the new name for BA's loyalty programme since 2025). It's the easiest to earn into and the most flexible for moving Avios elsewhere.
Through British Airways you can also book flights on its oneworld partners, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
Moving Avios between airlines
Because they all use Avios, you can move your balance between these programmes, usually instantly and for free. It's always 1 Avios to 1 Avios.
- From British Airways you can move Avios to Qatar Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
- Iberia and Aer Lingus connect to British Airways, so to reach Qatar you go through your BA account first.
- Moving between your own accounts is free. Sending Avios to someone else's account usually costs a fee.
Why move them? Each airline prices flights and charges differently, so the same trip can cost much less through one of them. See how in our guide to the smartest ways to spend Avios.
How to earn Avios
The best cards for Avios
- Amex Preferred Rewards Gold: free in year one, and its points move to Avios at 1:1. Read our Amex Gold review.
- British Airways Amex Premium Plus: earns Avios directly and gives you a Companion Voucher at £15,000. Read our BA Amex review.
- Barclaycard Avios Plus: 1.5 Avios per £1 on a Mastercard, accepted almost everywhere.
For every option, including free cards, see our airline card guide.
How to spend Avios
- Reward flights: the main and best use. Book British Airways and partner flights with Avios plus taxes and charges.
- Upgrades: use Avios to move up a cabin on a flight you've already paid for.
- Avios + cash: pay more cash and fewer Avios if you're a little short.
- Hotels, car hire and shopping: easy, but usually much poorer value than flights.
Peak and off-peak
British Airways prices reward flights on a calendar of peak and off-peak dates. Peak dates, like school holidays, cost more Avios for the same seat. If you can, travel off-peak.
Reward Flight Saver
Reward Flight Saver is a British Airways option that caps the cash you pay on top of your Avios. On short trips to Europe, it means you pay a set number of Avios plus a small, fixed fee, which is what makes Avios so good for city breaks. It only applies to British Airways flights, not partners.
What you pay on top
Reward flights aren't completely free. As well as Avios, you pay taxes and charges in cash. These vary a lot:
- Short-haul with Reward Flight Saver: usually low, from a few pounds each way.
- Long-haul on British Airways: much higher, especially in business class, where Reward Flight Saver starts from around £250 each way.
- Partner airlines: can be lower or higher, depending on the airline. Booking Qatar Airways through Qatar Privilege Club is often cheaper than through BA.
Always check the total cash price before you book, not just the Avios.
What are Avios worth?
There's no fixed value. It depends on what you book:
| How you spend them | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Long-haul business or First | Often 1.5p or more |
| Short-haul with Reward Flight Saver | Around 1p |
| Hotels, car hire and shopping | Often under 0.5p |
A simple test: if a booking gives you well under 1p per Avios, pay cash and save your Avios for something bigger.
Rules to know
- Avios can expire. British Airways Avios expire if your account has no activity for 36 months. Any earning or spending, even a small amount, resets the clock.
- Pool with your family. A British Airways Household Account lets people living at the same address combine Avios for bookings.
- Cancelling costs a little. Cancel more than 24 hours before departure and you get your Avios and taxes back, minus £35 per person.
- Reward seats are limited. Airlines release a set number of reward seats, so book early, around a year ahead for popular dates.
How to get started
- Join The British Airways Club. It's free and takes a few minutes.
- Open the right first card. For most beginners, that's the Amex Gold.
- Earn the welcome bonus with spending you'd make anyway, and pay it off in full every month.
- Pick a goal, like a business class trip, and search for reward seats before you transfer any points.
From zero to business class
Our step-by-step beginner's guide to booking your first flat bed with points.
Got a Companion Voucher or upgrade voucher? Read how to use the different Avios vouchers correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Are Avios and British Airways points the same thing?
Yes. British Airways' points are called Avios, and the same Avios are used by Qatar Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
Can I buy Avios?
Yes, but it's rarely good value unless there's a big promotion. Earning them through cards is usually far cheaper.
How many Avios do I need for a flight?
It depends on the route, cabin and date. A short European return in economy can cost fewer than 20,000 Avios, while long-haul business class costs much more. Search on the British Airways website to see exact prices.
Do I need to fly to collect Avios?
No. Most UK collectors earn the majority of their Avios from credit cards and welcome bonuses.