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

Avios is shortly changing into one of the vital broadly used loyalty currencies. Lengthy utilized by British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways and Finnair have just lately joined the social gathering and adopted Avios.

A neat function of the 5 airline packages is the power to transfer Avios between them in any path at a 1:1 fee at no further value. This implies a stability in Iberia Plus can simply turn out to be a stability in Qatar Airways Privilege Club and vice versa. This gives vacationers huge flexibility to decide on the Avios program that’s finest for them, and transfer their Avios stability into their program of selection.

I am based mostly in the UK, so it’s possible you’ll assume I might default to the most important and hottest Avios program, British Airways Executive Club. Whereas it was initially my go-to loyalty program, with so some ways to earn and redeem Avios, with two new packages becoming a member of the Avios household in 2024, I’ve stored a eager eye on the advantages of every program to resolve if I ought to soar ship.

Whereas all 5 packages have distinctive and rewarding advantages, as somebody who analyzes loyalty programs for a living, right here is why I am persevering with to deal with British Airways Government Membership as the general finest Avios loyalty program for 2025.

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

I’ve held both mid-tier Silver or top-tier Gold status with British Airways for the previous six years. Oneworld Emerald standing positive is sweet, with first-class lounge entry even when flying economic system and extra redemption seats made out there for Gold members, however I have not discovered the advantages vital sufficient to succeed in for Gold yearly.

General, I am completely happy to succeed in Silver standing (Oneworld Sapphire) for the foreseeable future. BA Silver standing comes with all types of perks like precedence check-in, safety and boarding; further checked baggage; free seat choice; and worldwide lounge entry when flying Oneworld airways, which I’ve discovered very precious when flying in economic system.

Associated: A review of British Airways World Traveller economy on the Airbus A380 from London to Miami

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Plus, I’ve discovered this elite standing has benefited me on Oneworld companions, particularly when flying on American Airlines, which generously offers Sapphire standing members Flagship Lounge entry and permits them to pick Major Cabin Further seats.

As a result of Aer Lingus shouldn’t be a member of a significant alliance, I don’t worth incomes elite standing within the AerClub loyalty program. Whereas the Qatar Airways Privilege Club program means that you can earn elite standing by way of bank card spending, reaching Gold standing (Oneworld Sapphire) by way of bank card spending would require a big amount of cash. Whereas the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card does provide Gold standing, it is solely complimentary for the primary 12 months.

The data for the Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Visa Infinite Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Subsequently, to earn the equal of Oneworld Sapphire standing, I might must hit the next thresholds inside every Avios loyalty program:

• British Airways Government Membership requires incomes 600 Tier Factors (and taking 4 qualifying flights)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Membership requires incomes 300 Qpoints
• Finnair Plus requires incomes 45,000 Tier Factors
• Iberia Plus Gold requires incomes 2,250 Elite Factors or taking 50 flights

Whereas Qatar’s 300 Qpoints appear the simplest to earn, crediting the identical flight inside every program doesn’t earn the identical variety of standing factors.

For instance, a flight on American Airways home first-class from Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) would earn:

• 40 British Airways Tier Factors (6.7% of the entire required)
• 16 Qatar Airways Qpoints (5.3% of the entire required)
• 598 Finnair Plus Tier Factors (1.3% of the entire required)
• 75 Iberia Plus Elite Factors (3.3% of the entire required)

So, in case you’re flying American Airways in home first-class, which may typically be an reasonably priced solution to earn elite standing, it is faster to earn Oneworld Sapphire standing with British Airways Government Membership than with different Avios loyalty packages.

An alternative choice can be to fly common economic system V class from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on British Airways. This may earn:

• 35 British Airways Tier Factors (5.8% of the entire required)
• 16 Qatar Airways Qpoints (5.3% of the entire required)
• 1,725 Finnair Plus Tier Factors (3.8% of the entire required)
• 350 Iberia Plus Elite Factors (15.5% of the entire required)

Whereas Iberia Plus wins on this instance, BA remains to be a stable possibility for incomes standing in economic system class.

British Airways has additionally offered a generous double Tier Points promotion the place eligible British Airways Holidays of a minimum of 5 nights will earn double Tier Factors for journey till June 30, 2025 (although this provide has been prolonged quite a few instances). I’ve taken benefit of this beneficiant provide to earn Silver standing with only one journey to Membership Europe and will likely be trying to take action once more when my present Silver standing expires subsequent 12 months.

European redemptions from simply 4,750 Avios

For flights of as much as 600 miles in size, British Airways Government Membership fees simply 4,750 Avios on off-peak dates plus a set fee of 17.50 British kilos (about $22) in charges, taxes and surcharges due to Government Membership’s terrific Reward Flight Saver option. You may as well cut back the $22 charges, taxes and surcharges to lower than $1 by paying extra Avios (9,250 within the case of a Zone 1 off-peak flight).

With a checked bag included and standing advantages honored, it is a nice deal to go to stunning locations like Amsterdam, Bilbao, Geneva and Milan; it has helped me guide a number of cheap weekends for myself and my family members.

Associated: British Airways reveals revamped short-haul seats and new transatlantic first-class timeline

Aer Lingus AerClub, in the meantime, fees simply 4,000 Avios for Zone 1 redemptions off-peak. Nevertheless, this solely covers flights between Eire, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, whereas BA’s 4,750 Avios charges cowl many extra locations with its in depth route community.

It is price noting Iberia Plus gives a restricted variety of short-haul seats (together with these operated by British Airways) at barely decrease charges than Government Membership. Nevertheless, their web site and name middle are harder to navigate versus the convenience of reserving on ba.com.

The identical short-haul redemptions flying on BA however booked by way of Qatar Airways Privilege Membership begin from 9,250 Avios plus $50.50.

Wise pricing for associate redemptions

Whereas British Airways makes use of award charts for flights operated by associate airways, it has chosen to undertake among the finest candy spots of different Avios packages, even when this implies providing decrease charges than the award charts show.

For instance, Executive Club’s award chart for British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus flights present off-peak business-class charges for flights of three,001 to 4,000 miles in size at 50,000 Avios off-peak and 60,000 Avios on peak dates. Whereas that is cheap in contrast with what non-Avios packages cost for transatlantic flights, Iberia Plus has long kept a sweet spot for nonstop flights of this size that they function between the northeast United States and Spain.

Iberia Plus fees simply 34,000 Avios on off-peak dates for flights of this size, an astonishingly low worth. Whereas Government Membership ought to cost a better 50,000 Avios for these flights per its award chart, it has adopted the decrease Iberia Plus fee.

It is a terrific solution to redeem factors and miles to Europe.

Associated: A review of Iberia’s new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Government Membership has additionally proven the identical generosity towards Qatar Airways-operated flights.

The long-haul journey of 6,704 miles from JFK to Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH) in Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite business-class product ought to value a whopping 108,250 Avios every manner per individual, in response to the BA Government Membership associate award chart.

Nevertheless, as Qatar’s Privilege Membership program fees simply 70,000 Avios for a similar journey, BA has additionally adopted this pricing, a wonderful possibility for such a formidable product, and it saves you the necessity to switch Avios to Qatar’s Privilege Membership program.

A secure platform to redeem Avios

Every Avios program has vastly totally different platforms for incomes and redeeming Avios.

Though it isn’t excellent, I’ve discovered BA’s Government Membership to be probably the most secure and present probably the most outcomes. It is also fast and simple to cancel and refund Avios redemptions on-line by way of Government Membership.

The Qatar Airways web site shouldn’t be user-friendly and makes it tough to seek out the precise web page to seek for reserving flights with Avios; the Aer Lingus web site has been so glitchy that I’ve not been capable of finding a long-haul premium cabin seat to guide utilizing Avios.

I’ve additionally discovered BA’s name middle to be nice and useful for the restricted variety of features that can not be carried out on-line.

Whereas the BA app is irritating with its lack of ability to finish easy duties like displaying a boarding go after checking in on-line, BA just lately confirmed me a sneak preview of their new app, to be launched early in 2025, and the preliminary options point out a big enchancment.

Associated: Redeem your points and miles: How to search flight award availability for the major airlines

Greatest cobranded bank card advantages

Chase gives three cobranded Avios bank cards:

• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.

The data for the Aer Lingus and Iberia Visa Signature playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

The welcome bonuses, annual charge and incomes charges on every card are equal. I’ve held all three of those playing cards at totally different instances, and I fee the British Airways Visa Signature Card the best for the next annual advantages, which the opposite playing cards do not provide:

• Get 10% off British Airways-operated income flights departing the U.S. to London and past, together with charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding extra baggage or seat choice charges) while you guide by way of the web site supplied in your welcome supplies.
• Get a $100 assertion credit score ($200 for business- and first-class seats) as much as thrice a 12 months while you guide a reward flight to London on British Airways and pay your taxes and costs along with your card (as much as $600 yearly).
• Earn a Travel Together Ticket legitimate for round-trip journey on British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia originating anyplace these airways fly while you spend $30,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months — which can be redeemed for a 50% discount as a single passenger.

The Iberia Visa Signature Card gives a $1,000 Iberia flight low cost voucher, and the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card gives an economy-only Aer Lingus companion ticket while you spend $30,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months. Nevertheless, I do not fee these perks as extremely because the BA Journey Collectively Ticket as a result of I might slightly journey in a premium cabin than economic system. Additionally, BA has a a lot bigger route community than Aer Lingus or Iberia, giving extra choices to redeem the companion ticket.

The best way to earn British Airways Avios

Along with the cobranded British Airways Visa Signature Card, British Airways is a switch associate 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 switch from Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (along with occasional transfer bonuses of as much as 40%), whereas Marriott factors switch to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. You will additionally get a 5,000 Avios bonus for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred.

The next playing cards all at present provide robust welcome bonuses that you may simply switch to British Airways Government Membership:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $6,000 on eligible 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 throughout the first six months of card membership. Examine to see in case you’re focused for a higher welcome offer through CardMatch (provide topic to vary at any time).
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases on the cardboard within the first three months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout 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 throughout 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.

No program is ideal, and British Airways Government Membership shouldn’t be with out its faults, like these irritating carrier-imposed surcharges. It has been thrilling to see different packages undertake Avios, a novel enterprise determination within the loyalty business, particularly for Finnair Plus, which doesn’t have an possession stake in different Avios program airways and vice versa.

Transferring Avios between the packages in any path is rewarding, so you aren’t locked into one program. Whereas I eagerly await extra innovation within the Avios packages and maybe even extra packages to undertake the already standard forex, British Airways Executive Club will stay my Avios airline loyalty program of selection.