Earning BA Avios points can equal free flights and other great travel benefits. Here's everything you need to know about earning points and whether they are worth it.
It's no surprise that January always sees a surge in searches for travel and flight deals and budget beach bookings. Yet, 2025 looks to see an increase in fares on many airline routes as costs rise and the effect is passed down to customers.
One way to slash the cost of flights worldwide and bag some extra travel benefits is to earn Avios points to help you save on travel costs, flights, hotels, car rentals and upgrades.
Use a credit card affiliated with the BA Avios points programme, and you can use these points to:
- Reduce the cost of a flight or holiday. For example, 500 Avios can save as little as £5 on a ticket.
- You can book a reward flight, which includes a fixed cash amount to cover taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
- If you save up enough Avios points, you could get flights for free.
While free flights are subject to certain restrictions, the primary advantage of Avios points is the ability to lower flight costs. If you fly with British Airways or its partner carriers, you can book a European flight for as little as £1 plus 18,500 Avios points.
For longer journeys, such as to Los Angeles, the price starts at £100 plus 50,000 Avios points.
What are Avios points?
Like loyalty points at supermarkets (Nectar and Tesco Clubcard), Avios points are a travel-focused reward currency used by British Airways and its partner airlines, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Vueling.
You can earn points in various ways, including buying flights and hiring cars, but the best way is to use a credit card affiliated with the Avios program.
Each Avios point is worth around 1p, but the value can vary depending on who you collect points with and what deals are running, which means their value can range between 0.7p to 1.5p,
This is because the value of a point fluctuates depending on factors like route and demand. For example, you can get great value on long-haul flights in business class but poor value on short-haul and sometimes economy, especially during school holidays.
For example:
Avios: London to New York with BA Economy is 26,000 points off-peak, £505 taxes. Business: 100,000 points off-peak, £860 taxes.
Cash price BA economy tickets for £271 return, business tickets for £1528 (nearly double what you'd pay using Avios points).
How many Avios points for a flight?
The number of Avios points you need for a free flight, better known as a reward flight *(because you still have to pay fees and taxes), can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as where you are going (short-haul requires fewer points), whether you're flying economy or business and whether you're flying peak or off-peak.
In general, you will need:
- Economy (Off-Peak) short-haul Starts at around 4,500 Avios for a one-way flight.
- Economy (Peak) short-haul: Can go up to around 9,000 Avios one-way.
- Economy (Off-Peak) long-haul: Starts around 13,000 to 20,000 Avios one-way.
- Business Class long-haul: Typically starts at 50,000–55,000 Avios one-way.
- First Class long-haul: Generally begins at around 70,000–80,000 Avios one-way.
To find out exactly how many points are needed use the Avios calculator for your destination.
Reward flights aside; you can also use Avios points as part-payment to reduce the cash price for your flight with as little as 1,000 Avios. The more Avios you use, the less cash you'll need to pay.
How can I collect Avios points?
One of the best ways to collect Avios points is using a British Airways credit card, such as the British Airways American Express card.
These cards allow you to earn Avios on everyday purchases and bonus points for spending on British Airways flights or travel-related services. A credit card sign-up bonus is the quickest way to earn points (see below).
You can also join the British Airways Executive Club to collect Avios points. Joining is free, and you can then earn Avios points when you:
- Fly with British Airways or One-World partners
- Stay at hotels
- Rent a car
- Use affiliated credit cards
Another great way to earn Avios points is to make purchases at shopping.ba.com.
- Register your credit or debit cards at shopping.ba.com to collect Avios whenever you shop with BA's collect in-store retailers.
- Use the website or the Avios app to see where you can collect Avios and how much you could get when shopping.
- Shop everywhere, from Bicester Village to the Sunglasses Hut and even buy your car and home insurance to earn more points.
What are the best Avios credit cards?
Several Avios credit cards offer ways to earn Avios points; however, read the small print to understand how these cards work.
Amex cards (American Express) work differently from credit cards. They always have a very high APR (on the AMEX Gold, the APR is 88%), as the aim is to get you to pay off the entire balance each month. If you don't, the cost will outweigh the rewards. Some also come with yearly fees.
No fee. You'll get 5000 Avios points if you spend £1000+ in the first three months. This card gives you one point per £1 spent, plus you get a free cabin upgrade if you spend £20,000 per year. 29.9% APR
There is no fee. You will receive 5,000 Avios points if you spend £2,000+ in the first three months. This card gives one point per £1 spent, and you'll receive a free companion ticket if you spend £15,000+ per year. This ticket lets you travel with someone in any economy cabin without using additional points.
Annual fee £300. This card gives you a 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in your first three months of Card membership. Plus, a Companion Voucher in any cabin, including business and first class, when you spend £15,000 in a Card membership year. You also earn 3X Avios points on purchases made with British Airways or BA Holidays and 1,5 Avios points for every £1 spent.
Fee £20 a month but you can collect 25,000 Avios if you spend £3,000 in the first three months. You can also accumulate 1.5 Avios for every £1 you spend on eligible purchases. The card also has a bonus, if you spend £10,000 on your card within 12 months, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking or a 7,000 bonus Avios points.
Until 14th January 2025, there is a sign-up bonus of no fee for a year and 30,000 membership rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first three months of Card membership.
This card also gives you one membership reward point for every £1 you spend, plus up to 12,500 bonus points a year and four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits yearly. It gives you access to over 1,300 airports globally. Click here to apply.
What are the other Avios schemes?
In many ways, Avios air miles are a type of currency. British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, Vueling Club and Iberia Plus offer different ways to earn and spend that currency. You can join all four schemes – they are free, and each has different earning and spending opportunities.
You can also move Avios points between the schemes for free using the 'Combine My Avios' function, which each site has.
It doesn't matter which scheme your Avios points are in, as you can move them around before you redeem—although most people use British Airways Executive Club.
What's the downside to Avios points?
While Avios points are a great way to save on travel, there are some downsides. While the points can offer good value on long-haul flights, short-haul redemptions can sometimes be more expensive than buying a cheap flight, especially within the UK and Europe.
For example, a flight from London to Paris can be as low as £58, but you need 9250 Avios points for a 'free' flight.
This is because when you redeem Avios points for flights, especially long-haul ones, British Airways and partner airlines often impose high taxes, fees, and surcharges, negating the value of using points. For example, a flight that costs £1 in Avios will still add additional charges, making it more expensive than an alternative cheap flight.
Reward seats (flights booked with Avios points) are also subject to availability. Furthermore, the seats you want may not be available at your desired time or on your chosen route, especially during peak times like school holidays. British Airways flights to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick and BA guarantee at least:
- Eight reward seats in economy (Euro Traveller and World Traveller)
- Two reward seats in premium economy (World Traveller Plus)
- Four rewards in business (Club Europe and Club World).
So if you have a trip in mind, plan in advance (all BA flights open for booking 355 days before departure) so you know how many points you'll need, especially if you're going somewhere popular and at peak times. This way, you can redeem your points in time and get your free flight.
Finally, be aware that Avios points have an expiry date and are typically valid for 36 months from earning them.
If you don't use your points, you can lose them. However, the expiration date will be reset if your account shows activity (i.e., earning and redeeming points).
Are Avios points worth it?
Bearing all of the above in mind, whether Avios points are "worth it" depends on how you use them and your travel plans.
In general, Avios points can be very valuable for certain types of travel, but they may not always be the best option. If you're a frequent flyer or have big holiday plans for 2025, then it's well worth trying the program.
For other travel tips for 2025, check out our posts: Cheap winter holidays | Where to go now and How to find cheap hotels and flight deals.
