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By Chandraketu Tripathi | Updated April 2026
Avios is the loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and several other IAG (International Airlines Group) airlines. You earn Avios through flying, hotel stays, car hire, shopping portals and — most effectively — credit card spending. Understanding how they work unlocks significant travel value. Here is a complete guide for 2026.
Key facts April 2026
Avios programme: British Airways Executive Club | Earn via: flights, credit cards, hotels, Avios.com shopping portal | Redeem for: flights, upgrades, car hire, hotels, shopping | Best value: flight redemptions, especially long-haul business class | 1 Avios: worth ~0.7p–5p depending on redemption
How to Earn Avios UK 2026
Method
Earn rate
Notes
British Airways flights
Varies by fare class: 25–300% of distance flown in Avios
Economy lowest; First Class highest; distance-based formula
BA American Express Premium Plus card
3 Avios per £1 on BA.com; 1.5 Avios/£1 elsewhere
Best card for BA spending; £250/year fee
Barclaycard Avios Plus
1.5 Avios per £1 on all spending
£20/month; companion voucher via card; no FX fee
BA American Express (free card)
1 Avios per £1 everywhere
No fee; 0.5 Avios/£1 earning on a free BA card
Hotels (via Avios.com)
Varies by hotel chain; typically 2–10 Avios/£1
IHG, Marriott and other chain partnerships
Car hire (via Avios.com)
Typically 1–3 Avios/£1
Major car hire providers
Avios.com shopping portal
1–10 Avios/£1 depending on retailer
Online retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, M&S
Dining and restaurants
1–3 Avios/£1 via Avios.com restaurant portal
Linked to registered credit/debit card
What Are Avios Worth? Redemption Values
Redemption type
Avios value
Example
Is it good value?
Short-haul economy (Europe)
~0.7–1p per Avios
London to Barcelona: 8,000 Avios + taxes (~£35)
Moderate — taxes can offset value
Short-haul business (Europe)
~1.5–2p per Avios
London to Paris Business: 10,000 Avios + taxes
Good value if premium cabin fare is high
Long-haul economy (e.g. US)
~1–1.5p per Avios
London to New York: 26,000 Avios + taxes
Decent; check Avios.com vs cash fare
Long-haul business class
~2–5p per Avios
London to Tokyo in Club World: 100,000 Avios + taxes
Excellent — cash fare often £3,000–5,000
Hotel nights via Avios
~0.4–0.6p per Avios
1,500 Avios for £7–9 value room night
Poor — avoid; spend on flights
Shopping vouchers / retail
~0.5p per Avios
5,000 Avios = £25 high street voucher
Very poor — always use for flights instead
Cabin upgrade
~2–4p per Avios
Upgrade using Avios + cash co-pay at check-in
Good if space available; check upgrade pricing carefully
Avios Redemption: How to Book
Join BA Executive Club for free: avios.com; no fee; Avios never expire as long as you have activity every 36 months
Book through ba.com or avios.com: Search Reward flights on the BA website. You can also book with Avios on Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus routes.
Avios + cash (Combine My Avios): If you don’t have enough Avios for a full redemption, you can pay part in Avios and part in cash.
Companion voucher: Holding the Barclaycard Avios Plus card and spending £10,000 in a year earns a 2-for-1 companion voucher. Use it for a long-haul redemption to halve the Avios cost.
Check availability early: Avios reward seats are limited and released at different times. Long-haul business class seats open 355 days in advance — book as early as possible.
Avios Partner Airlines: Earn and Burn Beyond BA
One of the most powerful Avios features is the ability to earn and spend on IAG partner airlines:
Iberia: Sometimes prices the same routes cheaper in Avios than BA — always check both
Aer Lingus: Good transatlantic redemptions via Dublin; often no or low fuel surcharges
Vueling: Short-haul European routes; good value for leisure travel
American Airlines: Avios earn on AA flights when booked under one booking; useful for US domestic connections
Avios are most valuable for flight redemptions — worth 0.7–1p each for economy and 2–5p+ for long-haul business class. The Barclaycard Avios Plus card earns 1.5 Avios/£1 and the companion voucher is worth thousands of pounds when used for business class. Never redeem Avios for shopping vouchers or hotel nights — always save them for flights. Avios do not expire while you have activity every 36 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Avios points worth in the UK?
Avios are worth approximately 0.7–1p each for short-haul economy redemptions, rising to 2–5p+ per Avios for long-haul business class redemptions. They are worth much less (0.4–0.5p) when redeemed for hotels or shopping — always use them for flights.
Do Avios expire UK?
Avios expire after 36 months of account inactivity in the British Airways Executive Club. Any qualifying transaction (earning or spending Avios, flying with BA or a partner airline) resets the clock. Keep your account active and Avios effectively never expire.
How many Avios do I need for a free flight UK?
Short-haul European flights from London start from 8,000–15,000 Avios each way (plus taxes and charges). Transatlantic economy starts from 26,000 Avios. Long-haul business class starts from 80,000–100,000 Avios return — where the best value lies.
The content on Kaeltripton.com is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, legal or regulatory advice. Kaeltripton.com is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is not a financial adviser, mortgage broker, insurance intermediary or investment firm. Nothing on this site should be construed as a personal recommendation. Rates, figures and product details are indicative only, subject to change without notice, and should always be verified directly with the relevant provider, HMRC, the FCA register, the Bank of England, Ofgem or other appropriate authority before any financial decision is made. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. If you require regulated financial advice, please consult a qualified adviser authorised by the FCA.
Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor · Kaeltripton.com
Co Founder and lead editor of Kael Tripton. LBS MBA (Sloan Fellow), AI/ML postgraduate (IIIT Bangalore). 22 years in marketing and commercial roles across 23 markets. Covers UK money, tax and visas.
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