For British Airways frequent flyers, Avios points are more than just a loyalty perk—they’re a currency for free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more. Whether you're aiming for a first-class experience or just want to trim travel costs, maximizing your Avios balance quickly can make a big difference. Fortunately, British Airways offers numerous ways to supercharge your Avios earnings if you know where to look and how to strategize.
The most direct way to earn Avios is by flying with British Airways. The number of Avios you earn depends on your fare class, cabin, and the distance flown. However, if you're a frequent traveler, joining the British Airways Executive Club and climbing the status tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold) can multiply your Avios earnings with bonus percentages—Silver members earn 50% more, while Gold members earn 100% more Avios per flight.
Don’t limit yourself to British Airways flights either. The airline is part of the Oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and others. Flying with these partners, especially on long-haul routes, can yield significant Avios—just make sure to input your British Airways Executive Club number when booking.
One of the fastest ways to earn Avios is through a British Airways-affiliated credit card. In the UK, the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card offers a generous welcome bonus (often 25,000–30,000 Avios) when you hit a spending threshold within the first few months. You earn 1.5 Avios per £1 spent, and 3 Avios per £1 on BA purchases.
Moreover, spending £10,000 in a year unlocks the Companion Voucher, which lets you book two reward flights for the Avios of one—greatly amplifying the value of your points. U.S.-based flyers can benefit from the Chase British Airways Visa Signature Card, which also offers lucrative sign-up bonuses and enhanced earning on travel.
You can earn Avios just by doing your regular online shopping. The British Airways Avios eStore partners with hundreds of retailers like Apple, John Lewis, ASOS, and Marks & Spencer. Earnings typically range from 2 to 10 Avios per £1 spent, and promotional offers can boost this further. It only takes a few seconds to click through the eStore before purchasing to rack up points that add up fast over time.
Booking hotels through British Airways Hotels or partners (when linked to your BA account) can earn thousands of Avios per stay. Similarly, car rentals with Avis, Budget, and other travel partners also offer Avios—plus occasional bonus promotions.
For example, Avis offers at least 500 Avios per rental, with additional bonuses for longer bookings or Executive Club members. Regular travelers can accumulate points rapidly just by aligning their hotel and transport bookings with BA partners.
Many bank and hotel reward programs allow you to transfer points into Avios. If you have Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy points, you can convert them into Avios at competitive rates. For example, Amex Membership Rewards in the UK transfer to Avios at a 1:1 ratio, and promotions often offer a 20–30% bonus.
Hotel programs like Marriott transfer at 3:1, with a 5,000 Avios bonus for every 60,000 points converted. These conversions are especially useful if you have dormant points sitting in other accounts.
British Airways and Avios partners frequently run limited-time promotions offering double or triple Avios for flights, shopping, and services. Sign up for BA's Executive Club newsletters and monitor the Avios website to catch these deals. You might find bonuses for booking specific routes, using partner services, or spending in targeted categories.
Some promotions include Avios for completing surveys (via eRewards), trying financial services, or even signing up for subscription boxes or wine clubs through BA’s partners.
Creating a Household Account allows you to combine Avios with up to six people living at the same address. This means that all Avios earned by household members can be pooled together, making it easier to hit redemption thresholds quickly—perfect for families or couples traveling together.
Many travelers don’t realize you can double-dip on Avios. For example, book a hotel through a partner portal that offers Avios and pay with your BA Amex card—you'll earn points from both the card and the booking. Similarly, using a points-earning credit card while shopping through the Avios eStore results in rewards from both platforms.
Earning Avios quickly isn’t just for frequent flyers—it’s about strategy. From flights and credit cards to shopping and hotel stays, the opportunities to grow your balance are extensive. By aligning your everyday spending with Avios partners and staying on top of promotions, you can watch your balance soar and unlock premium travel experiences sooner than you think.