Airline Loyalty Rewards
British Airways Executive Club Loyalty Program Review
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London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London City Airport (LCY)
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- Galleries First Lounge, Concorde Room
- List of U.S. British Airways Lounges & Locations, Hours & More
- How To Access British Airways Lounges
- Best Ways To Redeem British Airways Avios
- Best Ways To Book British Airways First Class With Points
- Best Ways To Book British Airways Business Class With Points
- Best Ways To Use 10,000 (or Fewer) British Airways Avios
- Guide to the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
- How to Upgrade to Business and First Class on British Airways Flights
British Airways Overview
British Airways’ mileage program is Executive Club, and Avios is the reward currency.
You can collect Avios not only on British Airways flights, but also through partner airline flights, hotel stays, car rentals, credit card use, and even online shopping and dining.
You can also purchase Avios if you are short of a reward, share them with a Household Account, or transfer them to friends for a fee.
Joining British Airways Executive Club
Joining the British Airways frequent flyer program is easy and free. Sign up online and begin collecting and redeeming Avios immediately.
How To Sign In to Your British Airways Executive Club Account
Sign in on the British Airways homepage. You’ll need to enter your login ID and PIN/password.
Viewing Your Account Activity
You can manage your account on the My Executive Club page.
Points Expiration
To prevent your Avios from expiring, all you need to do is earn, spend or buy Avios just once every 36 months.
British Airways Mileage Program
British Airways Executive Club has 4 status tiers:
- Blue (general member)
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Executive Club Blue:
- Earn and redeem Avios and Tier Points
- No travel benefits
- Member-only offers
Executive Club Bronze:
All Blue benefits, plus:
- 25% Avios bonus
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Free seat selection 7 days prior to departure
Executive Club Silver:
- All Bronze benefits, plus:
- 50% Avios bonus
- Free seat selection at booking
- Additional baggage allowance
- Business class lounge access, including preflight dining at the Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) lounges
Executive Club Gold:
- All Silver benefits, plus:
- 100% Avios bonus
- First class lounge access, including preflight dining at the Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) lounges
- First class check-in
- Additional reward flight availability
- Reaching 2,500 Tier Points: 1 companion upgrade voucher
- Reaching 3,500 Tier Points: 2 companion upgrade vouchers
Executive Club Gold Guest List:
Strictly speaking, BA’s Gold Guest List is not a Tier of its own. However, it does have some distinctive benefits, so it’s definitely important to include here.
You must already hold Gold status and have earned 5,000 Tier Points in a membership year and 3,000 Tier Points in each year thereafter. That’s a lot of flying!
Its benefits are as follows:
- Concorde Room access at London Heathrow Terminal 5 and New York JFK Terminal 7
- You may gift 1 Gold status and 2 Silver statuses to others
- You can force open reward availability for 5 seats, twice per year, so long as A, B, D, and T fare classes are still available
- Eligibility to invite a second guest to BA departure lounges, and a first guest to the Arrivals lounge
- Hilton Honors Diamond status
Hot Tip: Check out our full list of U.S. British Airways lounges, as well as our guide on how to access British Airways lounges.
Value of British Airways Executive Club Elite Status
Many travelers aspire to Executive Club Gold for access to BA first class lounges and Oneworld Emerald status for partner airline first class lounges. Even with Gold, however, you do not get the flight upgrades that are a treasured perk of many competitor programs.
Executive Club Silver is primarily distinguished for business lounge access. Executive Club Bronze is a typical entry-level elite status. At these levels, some travelers opt into alternate Oneworld programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage.
Earning British Airways Executive Club Elite Status
To reach each level of Executive Club status, you must earn a set number of Tier Points each year:
- Bronze: 300 Tier Points (or take 25 BA flights)
- Silver: 600 Tier Points (or take 50 BA flights)
- Gold: 1500 Tier Points
- Gold Guest List: 5,000 Tier Points (3,000 thereafter to retain)
However, British Airways has temporarily reduced the number of Tier Points needed to offset the many months of lost travel due to the pandemic.
The new thresholds are as follows:
- Bronze: 225 Tier Points (or take 18 BA flights)
- Silver: 450 Tier Points (or take 37 BA flights)
- Gold: 1125 Tier Points
- Gold Guest List: 3,750 Tier Points (2,250 thereafter to retain)
Hot Tip: See our article “Coronavirus (COVID-19): Airline Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates” for full details on Executive Club updates for 2021 and beyond.
See the Executive Club Tier Points guide and calculator to estimate how your flights on British Airways and partners will earn Tier Points (or not).
Airlines That Award Tier Points | |||
American Airlines | Finnair | Qantas | S7 Airlines |
British Airways | Iberia | Qatar Airways | SriLankan Airlines |
Cathay Pacific | Japan Airlines | Royal Air Maroc |
|
Comair | Malaysian Airlines | Royal Jordanian |
|
Lifetime Executive Club Gold
Reaching Lifetime Gold status with British Airways is the ultimate accolade. Achieving it means earning a staggering 35,000 Tier Points.
There is no lifetime status for Bronze or Silver. Some dedicated flyers go on “Tier Points runs,” which are the BA equivalent of mileage runs.
Oneworld Status
With Bronze, Silver, and Gold status you also receive a corresponding Oneworld status (Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald) and the associated benefits when flying with Oneworld partner airlines.
| Executive Club | Oneworld Alliance |
| Bronze | Ruby |
| Silver | Sapphire |
| Gold | Emerald |
How To Earn Avios
There are tons of ways to earn Avios that you can redeem for flights on British Airways or one of its partners.
Earn Avios by Flying BA
Every time you fly with British Airways or any of its partner carriers, you will collect a minimum of 125 Avios per flight.
Unlike the U.S. where miles earned are progressively becoming more monetary-based, this means you can still make “mileage runs” and earn extra Avios by having many transfers on your itinerary without having to break the bank.
Your Avios and Tier Points earnings depend on travel class and fare class.
Executive Club elite status members earn even more Avios: 25% bonus for Bronze, 50% bonus for Silver, and 100% bonus for Gold.
Earn Avios by Flying BA’s Partner Airlines
British Airways is a member of the Oneworld alliance which means that you can earn Avios by flying with other members like Alaska Airlines and Iberia. You can also earn Avios by flying with non-Oneworld airlines including Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, LATAM, and some Loganair flights.
Each partner is subject to its own Avios and Tier Points earning rules. It gets complicated, so check carefully.
Earn Avios With Credit Cards
There is only 1 British Airways-branded credit card in the U.S.: the British Airways Visa card. You will earn 3x Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL. Cardholders will earn 2x Avios per $1 spent on stays booked directly with hotels.
All other purchases will earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.
British Airways also has partnered with 4 transferable points programs. These partnerships make it easy to transfer points to your Executive Club account whenever you need some Avios for an award booking.
You can use American Express transfer partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, Capital One miles , and Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways Executive Club. Both Amex and Chase points currencies transfer to Avios at a 1:1 transfer ratio. Capital One miles transfer to Avios at a 2:1.5 ratio.
Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. If you transfer a chunk of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll even get an additional 5,000 Avios.
Other Ways To Earn Avios
See our article on the best ways to earn lots of British Airways Avios for many opportunities to earn Avios with British Airways’ travel and retail partners. Plus, earn even more when shopping with the British Airways Avios eStore shopping portal.
Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
There are a number of credit cards that can help you earn lots of Avios that can be redeemed for amazing flights.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
The most simple method is using Chase’s co-branded British Airways Visa card.
This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.
Why We Like This Card
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a stellar option for travelers who regularly travel with the airline. From all of the Avios the card helps you earn, to a 10% discount off cash tickets, and the award flight statement credits, you can get tons of value out of the card each year.
Pros & Cons
- 3x Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases
- 2x Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations purchased directly through hotels
- 1x Avios per $1 on all other purchases
- $95 annual fee
- Does not earn transferable rewards
Card Highlights
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
- Member FDIC
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
This co-branded card offers its owners one of the most valuable perks in the airline loyalty world: the British Airways Travel Together Ticket.
Once it’s earned, you can redeem it for a buy-one-get-one-free international award ticket. In other words, you would be spending 100,000 Avios on a redemption for 2 people rather than 200,000.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards might be the best way to find your way to a ton of Avios. Chase cards have plenty of bonus categories to boost your Avios account.
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros & Cons
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Why We Like This Card
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros & Cons
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
- $550 annual fee
- Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.
Pros & Cons
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Card Highlights
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.
The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.
Pros & Cons
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
- Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
- 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
Card Highlights
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99%-28.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
If you’re a business owner, see our list of recommended Chase business credit cards.
American Express Membership Rewards Credit Cards
Like Chase, earning Membership Rewards is a quick way to get your hands on tons of Avios thanks to tons of bonus categories.
Recommended American Express Cards
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros & Cons
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros & Cons
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
- $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No lounge access
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Business owners can review our list of the best Amex business cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Earning Marriott Bonvoy points is another great way to get some Avios. The transfer bonus of 5,000 Avios for every transfer of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points just makes it even better.
Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Why We Like This Card
Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Pros & Cons
- Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
- 2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
- 5 Elite Night Credits each year
- Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
Card Highlights
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees:
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Why We Like This Card
If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
Pros & Cons
- Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- Automatic Silver Elite Status
- $95 annual fee
- Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
Card Highlights
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases - our best points offer!
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.
Pros & Cons
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
Card Highlights
- Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
- Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesA premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.
So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?
Pros & Cons
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
- 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Card Highlights
- Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Capital One Miles Credit Cards
You can earn Capital One miles and redeem them for Avios at a 2:1.5 ratio.
Recommended Capital One Miles Cards
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Why We Like This Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros & Cons
- 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesGet 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Why We Like This Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
Pros & Cons
- 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Limited elite benefits
Card Highlights
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Why We Like This Card
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
Pros & Cons
- No annual fee (rates & fees)
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- Ability to use transfer partners
- Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
- No luxury travel or elite benefits
Card Highlights
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards
A few hotel programs will let you transfer points to British Airways. However, this is almost always a poor use of hotel points.
Unless you are really in a bind, save your hotel points for hotel award stays at your destination.
How To Redeem Avios
Now that we’ve listed the best ways to use Avios, let’s talk about some other details. British Airways Executive Club is significantly different from traditional airline frequent flyer programs. By learning how spending Avios works, you can have fantastic travel experiences!
Traditional airline award charts are priced by geographic region, meaning the miles price is fixed regardless of distance or flight connections in that region. This gives you the traditional 25,000-mile U.S. domestic round-trip award ticket familiar to many travelers.
British Airways has a distance- and segment-based award chart, and understanding it is crucial to get value from flight awards.
Each Avios award redemption is priced by distance for every segment of a trip; prices add up fast!
New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD) in economy nonstop, for example, is 9,000 Avios.
If no nonstop is available and you need to connect in Cleveland (CLE), the price almost doubles to 15,000 Avios since each segment is priced separately. New York (JFK) to Cleveland (CLE) is 7,500, and Cleveland (CLE) to Chicago (ORD) is another 7,500. Avios charges you for both!
How Much Do British Airways Avios Award Flights Cost?
British Airways no longer publishes an award chart. Instead, you can check out our table below for the most up-to-date redemption costs.
While we’re talking about the overall “cost” of Avios award flights, we should remind you here that in addition to the amount of Avios, you’ll have to pay an additional cash amount that includes taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
There are 4 types of prices, and each varies based on flight distance:
- British Airways flights have peak and off-peak prices
- Iberia flights have peak and off-peak prices that differ slightly from British Airways flights
- Single-partner awards are 1 price with no peak or off-peak dates
- Multi-partner awards are priced by total trip distance
Flights under 650 miles start at 4,750 Avios, except in North America where they start at 7,500 Avios.
List of Alliance and Non-Alliance Airline Partners
British Airways partners with many different airline frequent flyer programs; below are the members of Oneworld alliance. BA is also partners with Aer Lingus.
Oneworld Partners | |
Malaysia Airlines | |
Oman Air (joining in 2024) | |
Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect Partner) | Royal Air Maroc |
Finnair | Royal Jordanian |
S7 Airlines (temporarily suspended) | |
SriLankan Airlines | |
| British Airways Award Chart (Note: Iberia flights are slightly different) | ||||||||
|
Zone
(Distance) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First | ||||
| Off-Peak | Peak | Off-Peak | Peak | Off-Peak | Peak | Off-Peak | Peak | |
| Zone 1 (1-650 miles) | 4,750 | 5,250 | 8,500 | 9,750 | ||||
| Zone 2 (651-1,151 miles) | 7,250 | 8,250 | 13,500 | 15,750 | ||||
| Zone 3 (1,152-2,000 miles) | 9,250 | 10,750 | 17,750 | 20,750 | ||||
| Zone 4 (2,001-3,000 miles) | 10,000 | 12,500 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 31,250 | 37,500 | 42,500 | 50,000 |
| Zone 5 (3,001-4,000 miles) | 13,000 | 20,000 | 26,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 68,000 | 80,000 |
| Zone 6 (4,001-5,500 miles) | 16,250 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 62,500 | 75,000 | 85,000 | 100,000 |
| Zone 7 (5,501-6,500 miles) | 19,500 | 30,000 | 39,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 90,000 | 102,000 | 120,000 |
| Zone 8 (6,501-7,000 miles) | 22,750 | 35,000 | 45,500 | 70,000 | 87,500 | 105,000 | 119,000 | 140,000 |
| Zone 9 (7,001-100,000 miles) | 32,500 | 50,000 | 65,000 | 100,000 | 125,000 | 150,000 | 170,000 | 200,000 |
Peak or Off-Peak Dates
British Airways has peak and off-peak dates published every year. Our article, Airline Peak & Off-peak Award Charts: The Ultimate Guide, has these dates across all applicable airlines, including BA.
First vs. Business Class
Not all airlines or flights have all classes of service.
Beware of domestic “first class” flights that are not worth the price! If you were to fly from New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) on an American Airlines narrow-body Airbus A320, paying 51,500 Avios for “domestic first” instead of 13,000 Avios in economy probably isn’t worth it.
In contrast, some of the coolest Avios awards are for short first or business class flights that grant you access to incredible airline lounges. This may be the cheapest way to experience Cathay Pacific’s The Wing in Hong Kong (HKG) or the Qantas International First Lounge in Sydney (SYD).
Multi-Carrier Award Flights
Multi-carrier means a combination of 2 airlines on a single ticket, and these awards have their own chart.
These awards are expensive, and you’ll most likely do better by booking separate airlines on separate tickets.
The multi-carrier Avios price is the same regardless of connections, one-way, or round-trip: only total distance matters. However, taxes, fees, and carrier charges vary widely, so beware!
| Multi-Carrier Award Flights | |
| Miles in Your Journey |
Avios for Economy
|
| 0–1,500 |
30,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 1,501–4,000 |
35,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 4,001–9,000 |
60,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 9,001–10,000 |
70,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 10,001–14,000 |
90,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 14,001–20,000 |
100,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 20,001–25,000 |
120,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 25,001–35,000 |
140,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
| 35,001–50,000 |
160,000 + taxes, fees, and carrier charges
|
In general, premium economy is 1.5 times the economy price, business is 2 times economy, and first class is 3 times economy.
What Is Reward Flight Saver?
The British Airways Reward Flight Saver can save you cash on British Airways Europe flights.
Your account must have earned Avios in the past 12 months to be eligible for Reward Flight Saver.
With Reward Flight Saver, award flights on British Airways within Europe are charged reduced, flat fees. This is in lieu of other taxes and surcharges.
Reward Flight Saver is automatically applied on qualifying itineraries.
Here’s an example:
Thanks to BA’s Reward Flight Saver, you can pay as little as 8,000 Avios for a one-way flight in Club Europe from London to Barcelona (BCN). Passengers are given the option of selecting an Avios and cash combination that best suits their individual wallet.
Hot Tip: At first glance, paying just 70 cents for the 20,000 Avios option might appear to be a steal. However, given Upgraded Points’ valuation of Avios at 1.25 cents per Avios, it puts the total for that option at $250.70, whereas the lowest Avios/highest cash option comes in at a true value of around $200.
What Is Part Payment?
British Airways and some partner airlines may have several payment options that allow you to use a combination of Avios and cash.
If you want to use fewer Avios or don’t have enough to complete a booking, you can choose an option that includes more cash.
Here are the Avios and cash options for London (LHR) to Doha (DOH) with Qatar Airways as an example:
British Airways Avios and cash gives you options to save Avios or save cash. A similar option is available when booking cash tickets to save money by using some Avios.
Hot Tip: Do the math before deciding whether to use your Avios to save money on a flight. In this example, as the amount of money you can save increases, the amount of Avios required to save the money increases disproportionately. This means that the “£10 off with 1,000 Avios” option gives you a value of 1.3 cents per Avios whereas the “£165 off with 38,500” option Avios gives you a value of just 0.4 cents per Avios.
Beware of Surcharges on British Airways Flights
Extremely high fees are added to the Avios award price of many British Airways flights. Exceptions are flights within Europe that qualify for Reward Flight Saver. In recent times, British Airways has also brought down the fees on other long-haul flights, including transatlantic.
In some extreme cases, it’s not unheard for the cash component of a British Airways award redemption to be as much as directly buying a cash ticket!
The highest of the fees are often those tagged on to redemptions in premium cabins.
If we take a British Airways flight from London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) in Club World (business class) as an example, it would cost 62,500 Avios and a whopping $561!
Bottom Line: As a general rule of thumb, short-distance, nonstop flights on partner airlines offer the best Avios value. You may also consider our guide on ways to use British Airways Avios without huge fuel surcharges.
Where To Search for British Airways Avios Award Flights
You can search for British Airways award flights and most airline partners (with the exception of Air Baltic and Loganair) on ba.com. For Aer Lingus, you can search avios.com or aerlingus.com.
Hot Tip: Be cautious searching for awards directly on other airline partner websites. Some awards may only be available to their own members, not to partners. For American Airlines, you can only use Avios to book what American shows as MileSAAver awards, not AAnytime awards.
Start 355 Days in Advance
Awards are available up to 355 days before departure, and there are no award holds or waitlists.
Hot Tip: British Airways can book partner awards up to 355 days before departure, but American Airlines is only 330. With British Airways, you can access awards weeks before American Airlines members can!
How To Search for British Airways Rewards
Start at ba.com, navigate to Book, then Book a flight with Avios.
When the search screen says You can break your journey with stopovers, select No, I want to continue without stopovers.
This will search partner flights in addition to British Airways flights.
When searching British Airways rewards flights, select no stopover unless you want to visit London.
Flights may not display on ba.com for various reasons:
- Certain partner airlines are not searched
- “Route unavailable” means the website is not programmed for that route
- Multi-connection flight options are not searched
Online Booking Problems? Call and Waive the Fee
Even if you can’t find an award on the website, the good news is that if an award is available, you can call in to have British Airways agents book it!
Ask the agent to waive the $25 phone booking fee since the flight is unavailable online. They will usually do so if you ask.
Bottom Line: Many award flights are available online. If not, call to book and ask to waive the $25 booking fee since it is not available online!
How To Get a Free London Stopover
When flying British Airways, you have the option of a free stopover in London.
When the award search screen says You can break your journey with stopovers, select, I want to break my journey and choose my stopovers.
Your London stopover can be a few days or even several months.
Given that the pricing for a stopover is the same as booking the same route with a small transfer at Heathrow on the same day, it makes just as much sense to book 2 separate flights if you are planning on staying in London.
Bottom Line: To minimize fees, the best London stopover value is between 2 U.K. or European cities near to London rather than long-haul flights.
Use British Airways Executive Club Household Accounts to Pool Avios
You can form a British Airways Executive Club Household Account where you and up to 6 people at the same address can become a Household to pool Avios. You can even add your kids and have them start earning Avios from an early age.
Awards are deducted proportionally from the Household common pool of Avios, and each household member is able to earn Tier Points and progress through the tiers of the Executive Club.
There are some important restrictions about Household Accounts:
- 1 person is the Head of Household who can add/remove members or change the address (1 address change allowed per 6 months)
- You cannot redeem rewards for members not in the Household, except for up to 5 people added to the Friends and Family list (changes are only allowed once per 6 months; from the first change you have 24 hours to complete all changes before the 6-month freeze)
- Household Accounts cannot use the Combine My Avios tool to move Avios between BA and Iberia; instead, you’ll need an avios.com account
- Members must be 18 years old before being able to spend Avios
Bottom Line: Without a Household Account, British Airways charges fees to transfer Avios to another member (Gold members can transfer for free). The maximum you can transfer in a year is 162,000 Avios, and those are capped at 27,000 Avios per recipient. At $290 per 27,000 Avios to transfer, that is absurd!
Low Cancel Fees = Flexibility!
Avios award tickets have some of the lowest booking fees among major airlines and there are no last-minute ticketing fees!
Change or cancellation fees for those departing North America are relatively low: $55. If the cash portion of your Avios award ticket is less than $55, then you only forfeit the cash amount you paid. You don’t pay the full $55 unless your ticket’s fees were $55 or more.
Note that the phone fee is an extra $25 if you don’t change or cancel online.
Hot Tip:A U.S. domestic nonstop on American Airlines is only charged $5.60 taxes. If you later cancel, you only lose $5.60… a small price to pay for flexibility!
Quick Guide to Iberia Avios
In 2010, Spanish airline Iberia Airlines merged with British Airways to give you another excellent way to avoid British Airways’ fuel surcharges.
You can also transfer Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, and Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways Executive Club and then to Iberia Plus.
If you want to transfer your Avios from BA to Iberia, sign up for an Iberia Plus account. To transfer, your Iberia account must be at least 90 days old and have earned Avios to make a successful transfer from British Airways.
After 90 days from Iberia account opening, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account, click on Manage My Account, and select Combine My Avios from the drop-down and then again on the next page.
Select Iberia Plus from the list of programs and enter your Iberia Plus number and PIN.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
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