What an Avios credit card does
An Avios credit card earns you points toward flights and hotel stays through the British Airways Executive Club loyalty program. Every pound you spend on the card converts to Avios points at a rate set by the card issuer — typically between 0.5 and 1.5 points per pound, depending on the card and the type of purchase. You redeem those points for flights, seat upgrades, hotel nights, or car rentals within the Avios program.
The card itself is a regular credit card that you use for everyday spending. The Avios rewards are the secondary feature. You pay an annual fee (usually £20 to £450, depending on the card tier), and you may earn a one-time bonus of Avios points when you first open the account. The card issuer is typically Barclaycard or American Express, not British Airways itself.
Avios points do not expire as long as your account remains active, but your account closes if you do not use your card or log into your Avios account for 36 months. Points are worth roughly 1 to 2 pence each when redeemed for flights, though the actual value depends on the route, the time of year, and how many points the flight costs.
Key Takeaways
- Avios credit cards earn points on spending that you redeem for British Airways flights, partner airline flights, hotels, and car rentals through the Executive Club program.
- The earning rate varies by card and purchase type, ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 points per pound, and you need to compare the annual fee against your expected spending to know whether the card pays for itself.
- Points are worth most on short-haul flights within Europe and least on long-haul routes, so your travel patterns determine how much value you actually get from the points you earn.
- You can combine points from multiple Avios accounts into one, which matters if you have a personal card and a business card or if you travel with a partner.
- Avios points do not expire as long as your account stays active, but inactivity for 36 months closes your account and forfeits your points.
How the earning rate works and what it means for your spending
The number of Avios points you earn per pound varies by card and by what you buy. A basic Avios card might earn 1 point per pound on most purchases and 2 points per pound on British Airways flights and partner airline tickets. Premium cards earn higher rates across the board — sometimes 1.5 points per pound on all spending — but they charge higher annual fees.
To decide whether a card is worth the annual fee, divide the fee by the value of each point. If a card costs £95 per year and each point is worth 1.5 pence, you need to earn at least 6,333 points per year to break even. At 1 point per pound, that means £6,333 in annual spending. If you spend less than that, the fee costs you money. If you spend more, the card may add value — but only if you actually redeem the points for flights you would otherwise have bought.
Bonus points offered when you open the account can be substantial — sometimes 10,000 to 50,000 points — but they usually come with a spending requirement. Read the terms carefully: you might need to spend £3,000 in the first three months to unlock the bonus. If you cannot meet that threshold, you do not receive the bonus.
What Avios points are actually worth on different routes
The cost of a flight in Avios points is set by British Airways and changes based on demand, not on the cash price of the ticket. A short-haul flight within Europe might cost 4,500 to 9,000 Avios one-way, while a long-haul flight to the United States might cost 57,500 to 90,000 Avios one-way. Premium cabin seats (business and first class) cost significantly more — sometimes 2 to 3 times the economy price.
The real value of your points depends on what you fly. If you take one return trip to Paris per year, you might spend 18,000 Avios and get a ticket worth £300 to £400 in cash — meaning each point is worth roughly 1.7 to 2.2 pence. If you take one return trip to New York, you might spend 115,000 Avios and get a ticket worth £600 to £800 — meaning each point is worth roughly 0.5 to 0.7 pence. Long-haul redemptions give you less value per point.
Avios points are most valuable when you redeem them for short-haul flights, especially when you book during peak travel times when cash fares are high. They are least valuable on long-haul routes and off-peak travel, where the points-to-cash ratio is poor.
Partner airlines and what you can do with your points
British Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and others. You can redeem Avios for flights on any of these airlines, not just British Airways. The points cost varies by airline and route, but the principle is the same: you search for a flight, see the Avios price, and book if it represents good value.
You can also redeem Avios for hotel stays through the Avios Hotels program, car rentals, and seat upgrades on British Airways flights. Hotel redemptions typically cost between 5,000 and 50,000 Avios per night depending on the property and location. These options exist, but most Avios cardholders focus on flight redemptions because that is where the value is clearest.
If you have points in multiple Avios accounts — for example, from a personal card and a business card — you can transfer them into a single account. This is useful if you are close to the points needed for a flight and want to combine balances. Transfers between your own accounts are free and when ready.
Annual fees and whether premium cards make sense
Avios credit cards come in three tiers. Basic cards charge £20 to £25 per year and earn around 1 point per pound. Mid-tier cards charge £95 to £150 and earn 1.25 to 1.5 points per pound, plus perks like lounge access or bonus points on specific categories. Premium cards charge £450 and above and earn higher rates, offer premium lounge access, and include annual Avios bonuses.
The premium cards only make sense if you spend enough to justify the fee and actually use the perks. A £450 annual fee requires either very high spending or genuine use of the lounge access and other benefits. If you fly once or twice a year and spend under £10,000 annually on the card, a basic card is almost always better value.
Some cards offer a waiver of the annual fee in the first year, which gives you time to decide whether the card is worth keeping. If you do not use it heavily in that first year, you can close it before the second year's fee is charged.
How to compare Avios cards and avoid common mistakes
When comparing cards, look at three things: the annual fee, the earning rate on your typical spending, and any bonus points or perks. Calculate the break-even spending level for each card, then check whether you realistically spend that much. If you do not, the cheaper card is better even if it earns fewer points per pound.
A common mistake is opening a card for the bonus points without checking the spending requirement. If the bonus requires £3,000 in three months and you normally spend £500 per month, you will not hit the target and will lose the bonus. Another mistake is opening multiple cards in quick succession to collect multiple bonuses — this damages your credit score and may trigger fraud checks.
Before you open an account, check the card issuer's website directly. Comparison sites sometimes show outdated terms or incomplete information about earning rates and fees. The issuer's own site is the source of truth.
Account maintenance and what happens if you stop using the card
Your Avios account closes and your points are forfeited if you do not use your card or log into your Executive Club account for 36 months. "Using your card" means making a purchase, not just holding the card. If you earn points but never spend them, you still need to log in or make a small purchase every three years to keep the account alive.
If your account closes, you lose all your points. There is no grace period and no way to recover them. If you plan to take a break from travel or stop using the card, set a calendar reminder to log in or make a small purchase before the 36-month window closes.
You can also transfer your points to a family member's account if you want to preserve them, though this is only possible under specific circumstances. Check the Executive Club terms for the current rules on transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Avios points to upgrade my seat on a flight I bought with cash?
Yes. You can use Avios to upgrade from economy to premium economy or business class on British Airways flights and some partner airlines. The cost depends on the route and the cabin, but upgrades typically cost 5,000 to 25,000 Avios. You must have already booked the flight before you can request an upgrade.
What happens to my points if I close the credit card?
Closing the card does not close your Avios account or delete your points. Your points stay in your Executive Club account as long as you keep the account active. You can redeem them anytime, even after you close the card. However, if you do not use the account for 36 months, it closes and your points are lost.
Do I have to use the card for British Airways flights to make it worth it?
No. You earn Avios on all spending, not just airline tickets. You can use the points on any Oneworld airline, hotels, or car rentals. The card is worth it if your total spending generates enough points to cover the annual fee, regardless of what you spend on.
Can I combine my partner's Avios points with mine?
You cannot automatically combine points from two separate accounts, but you can transfer points between accounts if you both own them. Some couples open joint cards to earn points in a single account, which avoids the transfer step. Check the card issuer's terms on joint accounts before you explore.
How do I know if a flight redemption is good value?
Divide the cash price of the flight by the number of Avios points it costs. If the result is more than 1.5 pence per point, the redemption is reasonable value. If it is less than 1 pence per point, the flight is overpriced in Avios and you are better off paying cash or waiting for a cheaper redemption option.