Happy holidays everyone! I am away on vacation this week so posts will be sporadic. For those bored at work and still want something to read, I’ll pull up old posts that are still relevant today.
These posts include everything you need to know about the British Airways Avios program. While I go into much detail within the posts, it is good to know that you can use your British Airways Avios points on all OneWorld Alliance partners. This means you can use your points to fly domestically throughout the US on American Airline, or Barcelona on Iberia, or Dublin on Aer Lingus, or South America on LAN. Depending on where you live you can actually redeem LESS Avios points than you would have to redeem with the operating airlines loyalty program. For example, there are some routes within the US that will only cost you 4,500 points one way! If using American points, that same flight can cost 12,500 miles. There are some hidden gems in the program, so I highly suggest learning more.
These individual posts make up an entire series on the British Airways Avios program.
- Earn Avios Points with the British Airways Credit Card
- Earning and Redeeming a British Airways Companion Ticket
- Canceling Flights Booked with Avios
- Creating a Household Account with British Airways
- Top 10 Redemption Opportunities for British Airways Avios Points
There is also an affiliated Chase credit card that is set to expire December 31, 2014. As of right now I am not sure what the offer will be in 2015, but hopefully I’ll be able to get some information before the expiration date. You can read more about the offer here.Â
Overall, Avios points can be a very strong currency depending on where you live and your travel pattern. It has a distance based award chart so those that are able to fly nonstop will receive much better value than those that live in a smaller airport and require layovers on most flights. It is also not the best program to use if flying to London as fuel surcharges are out of control. But flying partner airlines can be great and stretch your points even further! You can also increase your point balance by transferring points from both the American Express Membership Rewards program and the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. There is also a promotion where you will get a 40% bonus when transferring your points from Amex Membership Rewards to Avios (related blog post).Â
Let me know if you have any additional questions not answered in one of the 5 posts above. Happy reading!
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I’ve never had avios points but thinking of transfering some from MR. No specific plans yet. can you say something about the expiration risk? Thanks.
@Levy Flight – What do you mean the expiration risk? British Airways Avios points expire 36 months of no activity. This is a very generous expiration policy and to keep your account active once every 36 months should be fairly simple. Although, programs can always change, if that is what you are wondering? With any program you are taking the risk, but I am comfortable speculatively transferring points to BA if I know I’ll use them.
Hi Deals, yes, that is my question. So if I transfer miles once every 36 months that is enough to reset the clock. Every program is different. i have miles with LH, which I believe expire after 36 months even if I add to the account. I appreciate this series of articles and your response to my questions.
BA made my 40,000 air miles disappear without any advance intimation – very disappointing !
I was told to club miles as a family account with lifetime validity then this happens and call center says that 3 years max period so totally unfair and they forget to send email prior to expiration unlike other airlines or even a statement ….