The beginner’s guide to collecting Avios

Words: Qin Xie

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller seeking perks or a newbie just starting to explore the benefits of The British Airways Club, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we answer frequently asked questions about collecting Avios. From understanding what they are, to discovering tricks for collecting them faster, we're here to help you navigate the ins and outs of this rewarding system.

What are Avios?
Avios are the loyalty currency of The British Airways Club. Accumulate enough Avios (savvy travellers never call them ‘points’) and you can spend them on flights, upgrades and other travel perks.

How do I collect Avios?
Collecting Avios is a breeze. When you book a flight, simply add your Club membership number to your booking and watch the Avios roll in after you’ve travelled. As well as flights, you can collect Avios on holidays, hotel stays and car hire with British Airways and our partners. That means there are plenty of ways to bank those Avios – even when you’re not on the move.

How many Avios do I collect when flying with British Airways?
Collect six Avios for every eligible £1 spent on your fare. (Psst, ‘eligible’ here means your total fare, excluding any non-airline taxes and fees.) Did you spend extra on seats or checked luggage? Those count as well. Plus, once you hit Bronze, Silver or Gold status, you’ll be able to collect Avios even faster, as these membership tiers earn bonus Avios for every eligible £1 spent.

Do I have to fly with British Airways to collect Avios?
Nope (though we love it when you do…). You can also collect Avios with our 13 oneworld™ alliance partners, as well as Aer Lingus, LATAM and China Southern. (Be aware that the number of Avios awarded by these airlines may vary slightly.) To collect, remember to add your British Airways Club membership number to your booking. They’ll be credited following your trip – just like when you fly with us.

Can I collect Avios without booking flights?
Absolutely. There’s no need to be a frequent flyer to enjoy the benefits of being a British Airways Club member. For example, you can collect Avios when you rent a car with Avis or Budget, take an Uber in the UK or book a stay with Avios Hotels. If you’re already a member of Nectar, Heathrow Rewards or BPme Rewards, you can also convert the loyalty points you’ve accrued with these schemes into Avios. The same applies to the reward points you earn with American Express, HSBC and Revolut.

What are the easiest ways to collect Avios?
The quickest way is to sign up for a British Airways co-branded credit card, such as the British Airways American Express® Credit Card. You'll snag a sign-up bonus of 5,000 Avios if you spend £2,000 in your first three months,* plus, you’ll collect Avios for every pound spent on purchases. (The weekly shop has never been so rewarding…). But that’s not all: once you spend £15,000 in a membership year, you’ll be rewarded with a Companion Voucher, giving you 50 per cent off the Avios cost of your next Reward Flight.

Representative 30.0% APR variable.
New Cardmembers only. No annual fee. Terms apply. 18+ UK residents, subject to status.

What are some other clever ways to collect Avios?
The Avios shopping portal is another easy way to collect Avios on everyday spending. As the gateway to more than 2,000 retailers, from Argos and ASOS to Ugg and Zavvi, all you need to do is log in to the portal with your British Airways Club membership number, click the link to the retailer’s website and then shop normally. Any spending you do is logged and converted into Avios.

If you have that British Airways co-branded credit card we mentioned earlier, you can also collect Avios without spending a single penny. Refer your friends and collect up to 90,000 Avios a year – that’s 4,000 Avios for each friend who signs up and gets approved. (They’ll get a welcome bonus, too, making this a real win-win. Terms apply.*) Plus, you can accrue Avios by completing surveys with Avios For Thoughts and eRewards. The amount you collect will vary by survey, but both schemes give you a bonus for completing your first one.

Do Avios expire?
Yes, but only if you haven’t collected or redeemed them in three years. Keep your account active with surveys or buy Avios to top up your account. Look out for promotional periods, usually around Christmas, when you might receive bonus Avios with your purchases.

How can I find out about the latest Avios collection deals?
Don’t move a muscle. We feature regular Avios content right here on High Life. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our monthly newsletter for the latest on our new routes, tips on collecting Avios and making the most of your Club membership.

Download the Avios App

Keep track of your Avios on the go, find new ways to collect with more than 2,000 partners and easily search for Reward Flights

*The British Airways American Express Credit Card welcome offer is available to new Cardmembers only, and is not available if you have held a personal American Express Card within the previous 24 months.