Welcome to the big Avios night in

Words: Hannah Ralph and Qin Xie

1. Set the scene

On long, chilly nights, the flickering light of a candle can work wonders to create a cosy mood – just ask the Scandinavians, who light them en masse each winter. Whether you plump for Diptyque’s Ambre (£58 for 190g), evoking precious woods and sweet tonka bean, or the Woods Candle from Byredo (£70 for 240g), which is inspired by the scent of lush pine forests, you’ll find a scented candle that suits your particular brand of hygge. You’ll also collect up to 9 Avios per £1 spent when you shop online with Space NK via the Avios Shop.

2. Plan your 2026 jet-setting

Bangkok? California? Cape Town? Whichever sun-soaked destination you might be dreaming of for next year, book it now and collect Avios while you’re at it. While everyone else is feeling dreary under grey November skies, you’ll be basking in the warm glow of anticipation of your trip to Dubai, Cancun or the Maldives. As a member of The British Airways Club, you’ll stash away 1 bonus Avios for every £1 you spend on flight + hotel or flight + car holiday packages booked through British Airways Holidays. So, what are you waiting for?

3. Indulge in a takeaway

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t feel like cooking. When you order your favourite takeaway via the Avios Shop, you can collect Avios at the same time. Order from the likes of Just Eat or Deliveroo and that margarita pizza, vegan burrito or prawn-topped pad Thai delivery will bring you one step closer to your next trip away. You’ll collect up to 7 Avios per £1 spent with Deliveroo, or from 3 per £1 spent with Just Eat. Avios offers are also available for Uber Eats, Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut deliveries.

4. Crack open a special bottle

After some special tipples for Christmas? The Wine Flyer has you covered. As well as a fantastic selection of wines and spirits, you’ll collect up to 5 Avios per £1 spent when you make your purchase through the Wine Flyer website. You can mix and match your own case from the huge collection or pick up a pre-mixed case. For example, the Wine Flyer Favourites (£159.99) is a case of 12 that includes big, bold reds, zesty and refreshing whites and easy-drinking sparklers. Look out for bonus Avios on selected wines.

5. Up your movie night ante

Why schlep through the rain to a theatre when you can have the big screen experience at home? Invest in a film projector and you can host your own movie nights with bottomless popcorn, no one kicking your seat and the power to hit pause whenever needed. Currys has a top selection, including the Philips NeoPix 130 (£159) and the ACER X1328 DLP (£369.99). You’ll collect blockbuster rewards of up to 3 Avios on every £1 spent when you shop with brands online through the Avios Shop.

6. Cosy up under a heated blanket

Warm up those chilled bones under a plush heated throw, complete with detachable controls, six heating settings and a nine-hour timer. Whether you enjoy it with a good book on the sofa or in bed before drifting off to la-la-land, just be sure to buy your heated throw (£50) from Argos via the Avios Shop so you can collect from 1 Avios per £1 spent to put towards your next getaway. If you need something bigger, Argos also stocks options for king size beds. Try the Slumberdown Warm Hugs electric blanket (£40).

7. Plan a family games night

Sometimes it's hard to beat an analogue winter night in with the family, especially when there’s an exciting new board game to get stuck into. John Lewis & Partners has an extensive range to suit every household, and you can collect up to 1 Avios per £1 spent when you shop online through the Avios Shop. Whether you fancy the Scrabble Retro Edition (£54.99), the Traitors Official Board Game (£20), or a 6-in-1 wooden games compendium (£36), which includes classics such as chess and snakes and ladders, there's something for the whole family.

8. Make self-care a priority

Whether it’s a relaxing bubble bath with the soothing lavender scent of This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak (£26 for 200g) or a dose of light therapy from a Lumie mini lamp (£49.99), making time for self-care can give you a real lift when autumn shifts to winter. Boots has thousands of products that can be added to your routine, and you can collect up to 8 Avios for every £1 spent via the Avios Shop. Suffering from wind-chapped skin? Turn to the ESPA Winter Hydration Collection (£70). Want an instant mood boost? Try Neom’s Wellbeing Feel Good Mood Boost Duo (£25), featuring a scented candle formulated to induce happiness and a magnesium-infused body butter to help raise your spirits.

9. Warm up your wardrobe

Fleece or flannel? Cashmere or merino? Whatever your fabric preference, comfort is essential when the number one item on your agenda is snuggling on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book. You might therefore want to add the Finch Women’s Sherpa Fleece Lined Hoody (£60) from Tog 24 to your wardrobe, and when you shop online via the Avios Shop you can collect up to 6 Avios per £1 spent. Or there’s the Topshop Sydney blanket scarf (£25), which also gets you up to 6 Avios per £1 spent when you buy it on Asos via the Avios Shop. Don’t forget those cosy toes. M&S has pure cashmere socks (£30) from its Autograph collection that are perfect for the job. Even better, when you shop online via the Avios Shop will collect you up to 8 Avios for every £1 spent.

For more Avios tips and tricks, visit our Avios page