Avios are the reward points used by seven airline loyalty clubs, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Vueling and Loganair. You collect them by flying, shopping and using partner cards, and spend them on Reward Flights, upgrades, hotels and more. British Airways says your Avios won't expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one every 36 months.
People still call them air miles, but Avios have become a currency you can earn from your weekly shop and spend on far more than flights. That's useful, and it's also why it's easy to waste them. Here's how the programme works, using what Avios and the airlines publish themselves, with no guesses at what a point is worth.
Which loyalty programmes use Avios
Avios says it's the loyalty currency of seven airlines. Your Avios sit in one of their club accounts, and British Airways says you can move them between its club and the others.
| Airline | Loyalty club |
|---|---|
| British Airways | The British Airways Club |
| Iberia | Iberia Club |
| Aer Lingus | AerClub |
| Qatar Airways | Privilege Club |
| Finnair | Finnair Plus |
| Vueling | Vueling Club |
| Loganair | Loganair Loyalty |
Being a member of one of these clubs lets you collect Avios on that airline's flights, and Avios says on more than 30 partner airlines too.
How to collect Avios without flying
Avios lists several ways to build a balance from everyday spending:
- Shop online through Avios.com: more than 2,000 retailers award Avios, with rates shown per pound spent.
- Link your payment cards: you can link up to 10 cards and collect automatically at in-store partners such as restaurants and shops.
- Convert other points: Nectar Points and BPme Rewards can be converted to Avios, including on auto-conversion.
- Partner credit cards: Avios says the British Airways American Express Credit Card gives 1 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases, plus 5,000 Avios when you spend £2,000 in your first three months, with no annual fee, as of October 2026.
- Hotels and car hire: Avios Hotels, powered by Expedia, lets you collect 10 Avios for every £1 spent.
- Buy them: British Airways lets you buy Avios if you're short for a reward, or buy them as a gift.
If you already use a cashback site, my look at how MyPoints works shows the same shopping-portal idea on the US side.
How to spend Avios
- Reward Flights: a fixed Avios amount plus a fixed cash amount for taxes, fees and carrier charges. British Airways says these start at 10,000 Avios + £1 each way, or 154,000 Avios + £250 return for a Club World business seat, depending on date, destination and cabin.
- Part payment: reduce the price of a regular flight with as little as 1,000 Avios.
- Upgrades: British Airways works out the cost as the Avios for the cabin you want minus the Avios for the cabin you booked, per direction.
- Hotels and car hire: Avios Hotels covers more than 300,000 hotels, and you can spend Avios with Avis or Budget.
- Products and dining: The Edit by Avios Shop sells items such as Apple tech, and Avios lists PizzaExpress from 1000 Avios off your meal.
Avios gives one example on its home page: London to Amsterdam as a Reward Flight Saver, one way for 10,000 Avios + £2.50, as of October 2026. Use the airline's Reward Flight Finder to check what's open on your dates, because seat availability decides everything.
The expiry rule that catches people out
British Airways says your Avios won't expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months. If you don't collect or use any for three years, they expire and are removed.
The catch is in the household rules. A British Airways household account lets you pool Avios with up to six members, including children, which is handy for reaching a Reward Flight sooner. Keep a little activity going on the account so nothing lapses, and claim missing Avios quickly: British Airways allows claims within six months of a flight, and new members can claim British Airways flights from the three months before they joined.
Avios for business owners
If your company books flights, British Airways' On Business programme is free to join for companies of any size. The company earns On Business Points on British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia, which it can redeem for Reward Flights and upgrades. Here's the bit many small firms don't realise: travellers who belong to The British Airways Club still collect their own personal Avios on the same trips. One booking earns on both.
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A business card that earns Avios can also turn routine spend into flights, and my guide to how a business credit card helps covers the wider pros and cons.
UK and US differences
Most collecting partners on Avios.com are UK retailers, and the rates are shown in pounds. British Airways' club is open worldwide, and its app is offered in the UK and US, but if you're in the US you'll mainly collect through flights and partner cards offered where you live. Check your own country's version of the British Airways or Aer Lingus site before you rely on a partner.
My advice
Pick one club to hold your Avios, link your cards, and set Nectar or BPme to auto-convert so your balance grows without effort. Then spend with a goal in mind, ideally a Reward Flight, where the fixed cash part is published upfront. And put a reminder in your diary every couple of years: an expired balance is the one Avios mistake you can't undo.
Frequently asked questions
What are Avios points?
Avios are the reward currency of seven airline loyalty clubs: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Vueling and Loganair. You can collect them on flights, shopping and partner cards, and spend them on flights, upgrades, hotels, car hire and products.
Do Avios expire?
British Airways says your Avios won't expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months. If there's no activity for three years, they expire and are removed.
How many Avios do you need for a flight?
British Airways says Reward Flights start at 10,000 Avios + £1 each way, as of October 2026, but the amount depends on your date, destination and cabin. Use the Reward Flight Finder to check availability.
Can I move Avios between airlines?
Yes. British Airways says you can transfer Avios to or from Iberia Club, AerClub, Loganair Loyalty, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus accounts.
Can my business earn Avios?
British Airways' On Business programme is free for companies of all sizes and earns On Business Points on British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia flights. Travellers who are British Airways Club members still collect their own Avios on the same trips.
