British Airways Executive Club: Guide to Avios, elite status and transfer partners

British Airways is the biggest full-service airline within the United Kingdom and flies to extra locations within the U.S. than every other European service.

The airline’s loyalty program is presently referred to as Government Membership, and its forex is Avios. With a considerable international route community and a loyalty presently that’s straightforward to earn and redeem, it’s a program that needs to be in your radar, even in case you aren’t touring to the U.Ok.

Here is what that you must learn about incomes and redeeming British Airways Avios for rewards and the right way to earn elite status in Executive Club.

Avios could be transferred between any of these programs at a ratio of 1:1, so every Avios is theoretically price the identical in every program. There are, nonetheless, other ways wherein Avios could be redeemed in every program. This implies the savvy traveler can obtain totally different values relying on which program the Avios are utilized in — and the way.

This information focuses on Avios earned and redeemed within the Government Membership program.

Related: With 5 airline loyalty programs using Avios, here’s why I focus on British Airways Executive Club

How you can earn elite standing within the British Airways Government Membership program

Tier factors rely towards standing, and there are 4 totally different standing ranges:

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• Blue — the extent the place everybody begins
• Bronze — achieved after 300 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025
• Silver — achieved after 600 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025
• Gold — achieved after 1,500 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025

Like another airline applications, British Airways Government Membership additionally has two further ranges of standing that are not revealed:

Up to now, British Airways Government Membership members got a “Tier Level 12 months assortment finish date” that fell on the eighth day of the month following the date they joined the Government Membership. So, in case you joined the loyalty program on Aug. 14, 2023, you’d have till Sept. 8, 2024, to earn your required standing tier. That mentioned, this adjustments on April 1, 2025, when British Airways makes all tier level assortment finish dates March 31.

British Airways may also switch to a revenue-based elite status model April 1, 2025, because it renames Government Membership to The British Airways Membership. Whereas standing advantages is not going to change, standing in “The Membership” will likely be awarded based mostly on spending (on flights marketed and operated by British Airways, American Airways and Iberia) quite than distance flown or fare class.

Beginning April 1, 2025, members will earn 1 tier level per British pound (about $1.24) spent on flights on these airways (together with these pesky carrier-imposed surcharges) and ancillary purchases like seat choice, extra baggage and sustainable aviation gas, excluding airport charges and authorities taxes.

Nevertheless, if the fare is unavailable or undisclosed (as usually occurs with trip packages), you will earn tier factors based mostly on a share of miles flown, your cabin class and reserving class. Likewise, you will earn tier factors based mostly on a share of miles flown, your cabin class and reserving class on flights marketed by companions apart from American Airways and Iberia. You’ll be able to check the percentages you’ll earn for each airline partner on British Airways’ website.

Moreover, from April 1, 2025, the next tier factors will likely be wanted to earn standing in The British Airways Membership for the rest of the present tier level assortment 12 months and the whole thing of the next tier level assortment 12 months:

• Bronze: 3,500 tier factors
• Silver: 7,500 tier factors
• Gold: 20,000 tier factors
• Gold Visitor Checklist: 65,000 tier factors (with at the very least 52,000 earned via British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays) to earn and 40,000 tier factors (with at the very least 32,000 earned via British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays) to resume

For many vacationers, Silver and Gold standing will likely be tougher to earn underneath The Membership than the present Government Membership.

Blue advantages

• Accumulate Avios on income flights with BA or its companions
• Share Avios in a family account (as much as six members)
• Choose seats at no cost 24 hours earlier than departure (excluding exit-row seats and never together with journey on primary fares)
• Save preferences, reminiscent of particular meals and seating
• Entry Reward Flight Savers

Bronze advantages (Oneworld Ruby)

• All of the Blue advantages
• Precedence check-in and boarding
• Free seat choice seven days earlier than departure
• Bonus Avios when flying British Airways or choose accomplice airways
• Standing freeze for maternity/paternity/adoption

Silver advantages (Oneworld Sapphire)

Silver is the equal of Gold on many different airways, the place the advantages actually kick in.

• All of the Bronze advantages
• Free seat choice on the time of reserving
• Further Avios when flying British Airways or choose accomplice airways
• Two 71-pound checked baggage in financial system (excluding primary financial system), relevant to everybody in your reserving
• Enterprise-class lounge entry (with one visitor) when flying BA and accomplice airways
• Precedence baggage supply
• Precedence cellphone assist

Gold advantages (Oneworld Emerald)

• All of the Silver advantages
• Free seat choice on the time of reserving, together with exit-row seats and unique entry to 1A and 1K in top quality
• Further Avios when flying British Airways or choose accomplice airways
• Further free checked bag in any class and a weight allowance of 71 kilos per bag, relevant to everybody in your reserving
• First-class check-in desk and lounge entry when flying BA and Oneworld airways (lounge entry contains one visitor)
• Use of BA arrivals lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) Terminal 5 after a long-haul flight (no friends)
• Entry to Gold Precedence Rewards, which lets you power an Avios reward ticket by paying double Avios for flights (you need to ebook greater than 30 days upfront)
• Further reward availability in financial system

Lifetime Gold is earned after accumulating 35,000 lifetime tier factors earlier than March 31, 2025, or 550,000 lifetime tier factors after April 1, 2025; there is no restrict on the time you’ll be able to take to gather. Current lifetime tier level balances will likely be transformed April 1, 2025, so in case you’ve earned 50% of the tier factors required by March 31 (17,500), this will likely be transformed to 50% of the brand new necessities April 1 (275,000 tier factors).

Gold Visitor Checklist advantages (Oneworld Emerald)

• All of the Gold advantages
• First-class lounge entry when flying BA and Oneworld airways (with as much as 5 friends for BA-operated lounges)
• Entry to Gold Visitor Checklist redemptions, also referred to as jokers, which permit members to get BA to open up Avios redemption seats (for as much as 5 passengers), offered sure reserving lessons are nonetheless up on the market
• Precedence help helpline
• Concorde Room card for entry to the Concorde Room at LHR and John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) (with one visitor)
• BA arrivals lounge entry after a long-haul flight (with one visitor)
• Hilton Honors Diamond status
• Improve to Enterprise First on the Heathrow Specific
• Present one Gold and two Silver accomplice playing cards every membership 12 months

Associated: Still better than business class: A review of British Airways First on the 777 from London to Washington

Requalifying for standing with British Airways requires the identical quantity of tier factors, apart from Gold Visitor Checklist. Nevertheless, BA has a “smooth touchdown” for members who do not retain the identical standing stage within the following membership 12 months. If members fail to take care of their standing, they’re going to slip to the extent instantly beneath, quite than having to begin once more.

British Airways awards tier factors for all flights taken on British Airways, Aer Lingus or any of BA’s Oneworld partners, which rely towards standing in Government Membership. Till March 31, 2025, the variety of tier factors awarded is dependent upon your ticket kind and the category and distance flown.

Quick economy-class flights of lower than 2,000 miles can earn between 5 and 20 tier factors, relying on the fare class booked and the value. The costlier the ticket, the extra possible you’ll earn extra tier factors. Quick-haul business-class flights (or home first-class flights within the U.S.) of lower than 2,000 miles usually earn 40 tier factors for every sector. So, taking many brief flights in premium cabins can shortly earn elite standing.

Beginning in 2025, all Government Membership members’ tier level assortment years will start April 1 and finish March 31. Beforehand, standing years aligned with when the member joined Government Membership, however as talked about earlier, all members will comply with the identical dates beginning in April 2025.

From April 1, 2025, tier factors when flying BA, Iberia and American Airways will likely be awarded based mostly on the quantity spent quite than the space or fare class flown.

Associated: British Airways rebrands loyalty program, unveils new revenue-based system for earning elite status

How you can earn Avios

Bank cards

The simplest approach to earn a significant variety of Avios on on a regular basis spending is by making use of for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.

This card — issued by Chase and, subsequently, topic to the 5/24 rule — presents new candidates the chance to earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. In our January 2025 valuations, TPG valued Avios at 1.4 cents every, making the total bonus price $1,050.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card has a $95 annual payment and earns 3 Avios per greenback spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Stage purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on resort lodging when bought instantly with the resort. All different purchases earn 1 Avios per greenback spent.

Playing cards with transferable rewards

Savvy TPG readers know we often advocate sticking with playing cards that earn transferable points due to their added flexibility. This technique nonetheless applies in case you’re attempting to accrue Avios. British Airways is a switch accomplice of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of many best currencies to earn.

Factors or miles switch from Capital One, Chase, Bilt, Wells Fargo and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (along with occasional transfer bonuses), whereas Marriott factors switch at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you will get a 5,000-Avios bonus for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred.

The next playing cards all presently supply substantial welcome bonuses you could simply convert to Avios:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Final Rewards factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Different methods to earn Avios embody:

• Buying Avios: They’re usually on sale.
• On-line shopping portal: Earn bonus Avios from many on-line retailers, with some shops providing 10 or extra Avios per greenback spent.
• Trip packages: Ebook via the British Airways Vacations web site to earn an additional 1 Avios per greenback spent. BA additionally companions with main resort manufacturers like IHG and Accor and cruise traces like Royal Caribbean, so you’ll be able to earn further Avios on nonair journey.
• Airbnb: Earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on trip leases.
• Automobile leases: Earn 3 Avios per greenback spent with Avis and 1 Avios per greenback spent with Funds.
• Uber: Earn 1 Avios for every pound spent for rides in the UK.
• Lounge Go: Purchase entry to a membership lounge at over 350 airports worldwide and earn 5 Avios per greenback spent.
• Airport parking, Heathrow Specific airport practice and valet parking at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR): Earn 5 Avios per pound spent.
• Heathrow Rewards: Earn 1 level per pound spent whenever you store, dine or park at Heathrow Airport, British Airways’ major hub. You’ll be able to then convert these Heathrow Rewards factors to Avios at a 1:1 ratio.
• Surveys: Members can use e-Rewards and Avios for Thoughts to earn Avios for finishing surveys, together with 600 Avios whenever you full your first survey.

Which airways can I ebook with Avios?

British Airways is a founding member of Oneworld, a world alliance of greater than a dozen airways.

Assuming there’s award availability, you should utilize your Avios out of your British Airways accounts for flights on any Oneworld airways:

• Alaska Airways
• American Airways
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Join accomplice, turning into a full member in 2025)
• Iberia, together with Iberia Specific and Air Nostrum
• Japan Airways
• Malaysia Airways
• Oman Air (becoming a member of in 2025)
• Qantas, together with QantasLink and Jetconnect
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• Royal Air Maroc
• S7 Airways (presently suspended)
• SriLankan Airways

Along with the Oneworld companions listed above, you can too use Avios from British Airways Government Membership to redeem for flights on:

• Aer Lingus (additionally an incomes accomplice)
• Vueling
• Solar-Air, a BA franchise accomplice in Scandinavia

Hawaiian Airways is about to affix the Oneworld alliance following the Alaska Airlines-Hawaiian Airlines merger.

British Airways introduced Reward Flight Savers on all BA-operated routes. This program permits Government Membership members to pay extra Avios in trade for lowering the numerous gas surcharges, a number of the trade’s highest.

Right here is the accomplice award chart for flights operated by accomplice airways, excluding American Airways and Alaska Airways Zone 1-4 (all flights are charged on the peak value):

For some flights operated by accomplice airways utilizing Avios, you may even see barely totally different pricing than within the desk above when redeeming via British Airways Government Membership. For instance:

• Aer Lingus Zone 1 flights are priced at 4,000 Avios in financial system.
• Iberia Zone 1 flights are priced at 5,000 Avios in financial system.
• Qatar Airways Zone 1 flights are priced at 8,000 Avios in financial system.

Associated: 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Finnair Iberia and British Airways

For shorter flights operated by American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, the next costs apply:

Government Membership expenses per leg, so if you’re taking connecting flights you have to so as to add collectively the price of every.

If you wish to ebook home flights in financial system for fewer Avios, think about transferring your Avios from Executive Club to Finnair Plus. This program expenses simply 11,000 Avios for flights anyplace within the continental United States and Canada operated by Alaska Airways, or 16,500 Avios for flights operated by American Airways.

How do I ebook flights with British Airways Avios?

First, you have to a British Airways Government Membership account to switch factors or search award availability. You can sign up on the British Airways website in case you do not have already got an account.

British Airways’ web site is among the greatest choices for looking Oneworld award availability. Most redemptions could be booked on-line via the Government Membership web site.

There are two foremost methods to seek for award availability. Instantly after logging in to BA’s web site, I hover over the “Ebook” tab within the higher left nook and click on “Ebook a flight with Avios.”

BA allows you to simply search plus or minus three days on the high of the outcomes web page.

When you choose your most popular flight, you’ll then see the value in Avios together with charges and taxes.