How to Earn Air Miles in the UK 2026: Beginner Guide
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Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor, Kaeltripton
Published7 Apr 2026
Last reviewed20 Apr 2026
✓ Fact-checked
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How to earn air miles in the UK
Air miles in the UK are primarily earned through airline loyalty programmes — most notably British Airways Executive Club (Avios), Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Virgin Points), and American Airlines AAdvantage. The fastest way to accumulate miles without flying is through a travel rewards credit card, which earns points on everyday spending.
The fastest way to earn air miles without flying is through a travel rewards credit card. The Amex Preferred Rewards Gold earns 2 points per £1 on most spending, transferable to Avios at 1:1.
Main UK air miles programmes
Programme
Currency
Best airline partners
Points transfer
British Airways Executive Club
Avios
BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar
Transfer from Amex, Tesco, Nectar
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Points
Virgin Atlantic, Delta, ANA
Transfer from Amex, Virgin Credit Card
American Express Membership Rewards
MR Points
BA, Virgin, Singapore, Air France
Transfer to 12+ airline programmes
Nectar (Sainsbury)
Nectar points
Convert to Avios via British Airways
500 Nectar = 250 Avios
Best credit cards for earning air miles UK 2026
Card
Points earned
Annual fee
Best for
Amex Preferred Rewards Gold
2 MR pts per £1 (most spend)
Free yr 1; £140/yr
Best overall earner; transfer to 12+ airlines
BA Amex
1.5 Avios per £1
Free
BA loyalists; straightforward Avios earning
BA Amex Premium Plus
3 Avios per £1 (BA); 1.5 other
£250/yr
High BA spenders; companion voucher
Virgin Atlantic Reward+
1.5 Virgin Points per £1
£160/yr
Virgin Atlantic frequent flyers
Nectar Amex
2 Nectar per £1 at Sainsbury; 1 elsewhere
Free
Sainsbury shoppers converting to Avios
Earning air miles without a credit card
Flying — book flights through your airline loyalty programme to earn miles on the ticket
Tesco Clubcard — convert Tesco points to Avios at 1:2.4 (£1 Tesco points = 240 Avios)
Hotel stays — IHG, Hilton, and Marriott partner with Avios; earn on stays
Car hire — Hertz, Avis, and Europcar partner with BA Executive Club
Shopping portals — shop through Avios eStore or Virgin Points portal to earn on online purchases
British Gas and other utilities — some energy providers partner with Avios
How many Avios for a free flight?
Route
Avios required (off-peak economy)
Avios required (peak economy)
London to Edinburgh
4,500
6,000
London to Dublin
4,500
6,000
London to Barcelona
6,000
9,000
London to New York
13,000
20,000
London to Dubai
17,500
26,000
Avios redemptions also require payment of airport taxes and carrier surcharges. On BA flights, surcharges can be significant — £100 to £400 on long-haul. Partner airline redemptions (e.g. Qatar Airways) often have lower surcharges.
Verdict
Amex Preferred Rewards Gold is the best starting point
The free first year, 2 MR points per £1, and flexibility to transfer to 12+ airline programmes make the Amex Gold card the best entry-level air miles card in the UK. After year one, evaluate whether the £140 fee is justified by your earning rate.
Frequently asked questions
What are air miles worth in the UK?
Avios are typically valued at 0.75p to 1.5p each depending on how you redeem them. Economy short-haul redemptions offer the lowest value; business class long-haul redemptions offer the best value per point.
Do air miles expire in the UK?
Avios expire if your account has no activity (earning or spending) for 36 months. Virgin Points expire after 36 months of inactivity. Amex Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as you hold an eligible Amex card.
Can I earn air miles on everyday spending?
Yes. A travel rewards credit card earns points on all eligible spending — supermarkets, fuel, restaurants, and online purchases. Paying your bills by credit card (and paying in full monthly) is the most efficient everyday earning method.
How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?
Spending £1,000 per month on an Amex Gold card earns approximately 2,000 Amex points, convertible to 2,000 Avios. At this rate, a London to New York redemption (13,000 Avios off-peak) takes approximately 6 to 7 months of card spending.
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.
CT
Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor · Kaeltripton.com
Chandraketu (CK) Tripathi, founder and lead editor of Kael Tripton. 22 years in finance and marketing across 23 markets. Writes on UK personal finance, tax, mortgages, insurance, energy, and investing. Sources: HMRC, FCA, Ofgem, BoE, ONS.
