Avios
IAG Group (British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus)
Avios is the shared currency of the IAG Group loyalty programmes — British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Vueling Club and Aer Lingus AerClub. Points earned in one programme convert to any other, giving European travellers flexible redemption options across the oneworld alliance.
How Avios Works
- 1Earn Avios on BA, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and oneworld partners including American, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Finnair.
- 2Earning is distance-based: longer routes earn more Avios. Fare class multipliers apply — Club Suite earns 3× Economy.
- 3Avios do not expire as long as you earn or spend at least 1 Avios every 36 months.
- 4Household Account: pool Avios from up to 8 family members for faster award redemptions.
- 5Two currencies tracked separately: Avios (for flight redemptions) and Tier Points (for Executive Club status).
Miles Required — Popular Routes
| Route | Miles / Points |
|---|---|
| London → Dublin (LHR–DUB) | 8,000 |
| London → New York (LHR–JFK) | 26,000 |
| Madrid → Miami (MAD–MIA) | 34,000 |
| London → Cape Town (LHR–CPT) | 50,000 |
| London → Tokyo (LHR–HND) | 67,500 |
ℹ️ Miles shown are approximate saver-level awards and vary by season, demand and availability. Always verify on the airline website before planning a redemption.
🎯 Sweet Spot Redemptions
Off-peak short-haul Europe
Short European hops redeem from 4,000 Avios one-way in off-peak — flights like London to Paris, Rome, Amsterdam or Madrid. The distance-based chart makes very short routes exceptionally cheap in Avios.
Iberia Business to Latin America
Madrid to Buenos Aires in Iberia Business Class redeems for 68,000 Avios return off-peak. Iberia's lie-flat Nest seat is competitive, and cash fares regularly exceed €3,000.
Qatar Qsuite via Avios
Book Qatar Airways Qsuite Business Class (DOH–NYC or DOH–SIN) for 40,000–50,000 Avios one-way. Qsuite is consistently rated the world's best Business Class — outstanding value vs €5,000+ cash fares.
American Airlines domestic US positioning
US domestic AA flights redeem from 7,500 Avios one-way — ideal for positioning to an international gateway when using separate transatlantic awards to Asia or South America.
💡 Earning Tips
- ✓Transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Avios at 1:1 — one of the most valuable and flexible transfer partners available.
- ✓The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard earns 1 Avios per £1 spent; the HSBC Premier Avios card offers 1.5 Avios per £1.
- ✓Book hotels through avios.com to earn Avios alongside hotel loyalty points.
- ✓The BA Shopping portal offers Avios for purchases at 200+ retailers — use it for high-value purchases.
- ✓To retain BA Silver status, earn 600 Tier Points before April each year (roughly 4 long-haul Economy return flights).
Ready to use your Avios miles?
Before you redeem, check if a cash fare is cheaper. FairFares monitors flight prices daily — you might find a deal worth more than your miles.
Browse cheap flight deals →