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Use our BA Avios Calculator for British Airways Points Redemptions

March 4, 2020 By Ben @ Thrifty Points Leave a Comment

The BA Avios flight Calculator – map how many Avios for a flight…

Let’s face it, the closure of the Avios.com programme in July 2018 (to British Airways Executive Club members) has had limited impact on those who collect Avios points!  However there is one function that I used to regularly recommend to readers – the BA Avios calculator map.

Whilst the British Airways Avios flight calculator was a simple piece of technology it allowed you to input the maximum number of Avios points you had to spend and then showed all available redemption opportunities which met your Avios budget…  With the recent data leak, British Airways have been reluctant to make significant changes to their website and as such we’re unlikely to see a similar tool being released by the BA team anytime soon.

With no other such interactive tool available online, we thought it would be helpful to recreate the BA Avios points calculator for our loyal readers.  As such we take pleasure in introducing the interactive Thrifty Points BA Avios Calculator set out below (scroll down).

Our version of the BA Avios flight calculator has been created to make life easier for those who are looking to book an Avios reward redemption flight.  If you’re new to Avios points you may also find our recent article on Avios Rewards redemptions useful, which includes various tips and hacks to make your Avios points go further…

Thrifty Points’ BA Avios Calculator (full instructions below)

The British Airways Avios reward calculator is designed to be used on a desktop PC.  You can still use it on a phone or tablet however you may want to turn your device on its side to view the full table.  All redemptions assume London as an origin – we’ll be updating to include Manchester and Edinburgh shortly.

British Airways Avios Calculator – how to use

The Thrifty Points’ BA Avios calculator has been created to make life easier for those searching for Avios redemption options as well as helping to maximise those hard-earned Avios points.  We hope it’s straightforward to use, however a couple of tips are set out below:

• Start off by selecting the maximum number of Avios points you’d like to spend. The table is set up as standard for return flights however can easily be changed to one-way.
• Select your preferred class of travel (you can select more than one option). If you’re considering booking an economy ticket you may want to read our recent article on maximising Avios points value – unfortunately economy doesn’t provide great value as we’ll see below.
• British Airways charge different redemption rates depending on whether you’re travelling during peak or off-peak times. You can find a full list of British Airways peak and off-peak dates here .
• To search how many Avios are required for flights between London and your chosen destination simply tick all the filter options on the Avios flight calculator and then use the search box to find your desired city.
• The Avios calculator is set up to list the redemption opportunities based on the required Avios (from highest to lowest). To sort by another category simply click on the heading.

The Thrifty Points’ British Airways Avios reward calculator is the result of a lot of blood, sweat and tears and we’ve tried our hardest to ensure all data is accurate.  If you notice any anomalies or think that any cities are missing please do reach out in the comments section below.

The hard work for us doesn’t stop there.  We will be introducing a connected BA Avios Calculator map shortly.   This is currently in the testing phase so do keep an eye out for this in the not too distant future!

Iberia Avios Calculator

There are unfortunately two reasons why the above doesn’t double as an Avios calculator for Iberia.  The first is that at present all results assume an origin of London, from where Iberia only fly to Madrid.  Secondly, Iberia have a slightly different Avios redemption chart for peak and off-peak dates.

What sweet spots does the BA Avios flight calculator highlight?

Whilst creating this BA Avios flight calculator, I’ve had to pull together a significant amount of data.  An interesting ratio to analyse to see if there are any true sweet spots is the number of Avios points required for each mile flown.  I’ve included a column in the above table (scroll right if you can’t see it) which can also be sorted in ascending and descending order.

Some key takeaways to consider are set out in the table below.

The BA Avios calculator throws out some interesting statistics.  By flying from London to Cape Town in economy you’d be able to use the least amount of miles for the furthest distance travelled.  At the other end of the spectrum would be Manchester in Club Europe (Business) which would set you back a staggering 59.8 Avios for every mile flown!

Now this shouldn’t be confused with the value you’d be receiving for each of these points if you were going to redeem these flights.  Below would be the Avios points value for each of the flights (based on flights in mid-June).

As you can see and as we highlighted earlier on, using Avios points for long-haul economy provides terrible value at 0.5p for Cape Town.  As Algiers is a Reward Saver Flight (inside 2,000 miles) the taxes are artificially low resulting in reasonable value at 1p.  Gran Canaria, which required the least number of Avios per mile flown, also shows good Avios value at between 1.4p and 1.6p.  We would ordinarily value Avios at 1p per point so if you were to redeem for Gran Canaria at 1.4p you’d be doing well!

The best way to earn the Avios points required by the BA Avios Points Calculator

Has the British Airways reward flight calculator highlighted that you’re just a couple of Avios points short of that once in a lifetime trip?  Fear not!  Here at Thrifty Points we cover various ways to both earn and collect Avios points.  Below are a couple of handy tips you may find useful.

• It’s a common myth that the easiest way to collect Avios points is by flying with British Airways. For an economy flight between London and Edinburgh you’d only earn between 125-625 Avios – this is a terrible earnings rate.  That said, if you’ve taken flights in the last 6 months and have forgotten to allocate them to your British Airways Executive Club you’re clearly missing out on some of those hard-earned points.  If you’ve only just signed up to the BA Executive Club you can retrospectively claim points for flights taken in the last 3 months.
• With strong competition between credit card companies, the benefits offered can be incredibly generous. We’d recommend avoiding the British Airways Amex (reviewed here) which offers a sign-up bonus of 5,000 Avios points (6,000 Avios if you use this link ) when you spend £1,000 in the first 3 months.  Why?!  The most generous free credit card on the market is currently the American Express Gold card which offers 10,000 membership reward points when you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months.  This can be increased to 12,000 points using this link .  American Express Membership Rewards points can be easily transferred to Avios at a rate of 1 to 1.  You’ll also benefit from 2 free airport lounge passes.
• British Airways have a number of partners through which you can also earn Avios points. Converting the likes of Tesco Clubcard points at a rate of £2.50 worth of Clubcard vouchers to 600 Avios points is a good option if the Avios miles calculator is showing you’re only a couple of thousand Avios short.  You can also collect Avios points on your online shopping using the eStore portal found here , where you can earn up to 30 Avios for every £1 you spend online.

Using the Avios calculator BA for upgrades

The above table can also be used as an Avios upgrade calculator.  All you need to do is select both the class you’d like to upgrade from as well as the class you’re upgrading to and find the Avios requirement for each class.

To find your destination quickly, simply insert the name of the city in the search box.  Then deduct the Avios points required for the lower class of flight against the upgraded seat and, hey presto! Using the table to calculate Avios points for an upgrade is (hopefully!) as simply as that.

Let’s wrap this up 

Until last year it was relatively easy to search for Avios redemption opportunities using the BA Avios calculator on Avios.com.  With British Airways Executive Club members no longer able to access this tool and limited functionality on the BA website to search by number of Avios points, we’ve pulled together the above British Airways Avios flight calculator.

We hope this will give inspiration to those looking to use their hard-earned Avios points.  If you’d like further ideas on how to earn and book an Avios redemption, why not take a look at my recent BA First Class review .  Using two UK credit cards, I was able to earn enough Avios points to redeem First Class flights to Sao Paulo for less than the price of an economy ticket.  Also included is a step-by-step guide as to how you can also achieve this.

We hope you find the BA Avios points calculator useful and as always please do reach out with comments below.  We welcome your thoughts…

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AVIOS AGONY AUNT • June 2021

You’ve got Avios. Here’s how to spend them

Ally wybrew.

It’s common knowledge among Executive Club Members that Avios equal time in the skies, but what if we told you there’s a whole lot more to these versatile little points than just Reward Flights? Whether you have 5,000 Avios or 50,000,  The Club ’s Avios Agony Aunt is on hand to help you kick-start some smarter spending

What can I do with 5,000 Avios? You’re starting to rack up the Avios, but really there’s nothing more you’d rather collect than  experiences . Luckily, there are hundreds of cultural excursions across the route network – from tango lessons and wine tastings to photography workshops and silent discos – that can be bought with just a smidge of Avios. In London alone you can race around the capital’s most exalted museum (Treasure Hunt at the British Museum from 5,000 Avios per person on selected dates throughout 202 1) 1  or take a two-and-a-half-hour walking tour that celebrates the city’s feminist movers and shakers (Women of Westminster Walking Tour from 4,050 Avios per person on selected dates throughout 2021) 1 .

Purchase experiences with Avios

What can I do with 15,000 Avios? Turns out that Avios can take the weight off any upcoming dinner party thanks to the extensive range of high-end wines, beers and spirits that are available for purchase with your Avios. Six bottles of Italian Prosecco, Merlot, rosé or white wine can be delivered to your door for just 15,000 Avios (with some wines available for less than 10,000) 2 , as can an assortment of beers. And consider all palates pampered, with everything from dark and fruity Argentinian Malbecs (13,200 Avios) 2  to light Sauvignons from New Zealand (15,000 Avios) 2 . Choose one of the bargain ‘mixed’ collections if you’re catering to a picky crowd.

Buy wine with Avios

What can I do with 25,000 Avios? Redeeming Avios for flights is one of their most popular uses, and there’s a very good reason: you get a great deal. With British Airways’ Reward Flight Saver, you could be sunning yourself in Porto or lounging on a Venetian gondola for just 23,500 Avios (plus £1) 3 for an off-peak return in Euro Traveller.* Destinations closer to home, such as Paris and Edinburgh, are an even bigger bargain, clocking in at fewer than 20,000 Avios (18,500 Avios plus £1 for an off-peak return in Euro Traveller) a pop. * Reward Flight Savers are British Airways’ best value reward flights. Reward Flight Saver offers customers great value flights with a low, flat fee to cover taxes, fees and carrier charges and a fixed Avios amount. To be eligible for a Reward Flight Saver, you need to have collected at least one Avios in the past 12 months. To find out more about Reward Flights and/or Reward Flight Savers,  click here . All prices shown are Reward Flight Saver redemptions and based on off-peak fares for Euro Traveller (short haul) and World Traveller (long haul); standard Reward Flights will be the same Avios amount but full taxes, fees and charges will be payable. (All Avios amounts quoted in this piece were correct upon date of publication). Reward Flights are subject to availability.

Discover more ways to spend Avios

What can I do with 30,000 Avios? A holiday really begins on the plane, so a strategic cabin upgrade can be a great and truly memorable use of your Avios. On a one-way, off-peak flight upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World from London to New York, you can go from ‘comfortably seated’ to ‘luxuriously prone’, spread out on a six-foot bed ( pictured above ) in Club World , pampered with The White Company goods and delighting in delicious gourmet food – all for just 24,000 Avios 4 . Plus, with priority check-in, extra baggage allowance  and  lounge access, it’ll feel as if you’re a world away before you even take your seat.

“I tend to spend my Avios on shorter European flights to take advantage of the Reward Flight Saver scheme. It’s possible to save hundreds of pounds in exchange for less than 9,000 Avios and £35 in tax”

– Nicky Kelvin,  The Points Guy UK What can I do with around 50,000 Avios? Spending your hard-earned Avios should mean treating yourself, and what better way to do that than with a decadent five-star stay in Europe for you and a loved one? For less than 50,000 Avios (49,700 per person, to be exact), you could be drinking in temple views at  The Royal Olympic  in Athens (based on a double or twin executive room, B&B, non-refundable on selected dates in August 2021) 5 . Or, for just a few more Avios, washing away work worries at  Iberostar Selection Lisboa ’s outdoor pool (two nights for 51,200 Avios per person based on a non-refundable double superior room, room only, on selected dates in August 2021) 5 . Sleep in sumptuous sheets, enjoy top-end amenities and use the money saved on the hotel to book your next trip.

What can I do with around 100,000 Avios? Always dreamed of hitting the open road with nothing but the wind in your hair and money in your pocket? Not only can Avios help make this a reality but, for 103,950 Avios 6 , you can do it in style, too, bagging a Group H car from LAX for seven days. British Airways’ car hire partners   Avis and Budget   offer a range of vehicles, including SUVs, seven-seaters and convertibles, in more than 5,000 locations around the world, so all you need to do is pick a destination, choose a car and head out on that bucket-list adventure.

What can I do with 200,000 Avios? The only thing better than spending your Avios on a Reward Flight, is spending your Avios on a Club World Reward Flight seat, en route to those far-flung destinations you’ve always longed to visit. That could mean flying to an Indian Ocean island paradise or to cosplay conventions in Japan via a Club World bed that’s comfier than the one you have at home (both destinations can be reached in Club World for less than 200,000 Avios off-peak, plus taxes, fees and carrier charges) 7 . Or, opt for economy (from 70,000 Avios + £200 off-peak return to Tokyo and 60,000 Avios + £150 off-peak return to the Maldives) 7  and use your remaining Avios balance on a few nights in a five-star hotel. All without denting the bank balance.  All flights quoted in this piece are subject to availability. To discover more ways to spend your Avios,  click here . For tips and tricks on how to  collect  Avios, read  The Club ’s guide to building your balance from the comfort of home  here

1 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021 for peak dates in September. Price is per person. 2 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021. 3 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021. Off peak return in Euro Traveller on selected dates in November. 4 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021, based on one-way upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World on LHR-JFK route. 5 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021. 6 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021. Based on a seven-day rental, Group H, with pick up and drop off at LAX, on selected dates in November. 7 Prices correct as of 11 June 2021. Based on off-peak economy return LHR-HND flights and off-peak economy return LHR-MLE flights on selected dates in November. Prices quoted are per person.

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged BA , Avios

More from previous issues

Charley boorman’s epic electric drives.

Executive Club Member, electric car super-fan and TV presenter Charley Boorman takes us on his South American odyssey

British Airways celebrates its staff volunteers

Conquering Covid-19 together: this issue we meet some of the British Airways colleagues who have been doing their bit during the pandemic, from helping the vulnerable to administering vaccines

Eight ways to hack the weather

Meteorological magic: our ‘natural navigator’s expert tips mean you’ll be able to spot what’s coming around the corner

An Avios collector’s guide to feelgood shopping

Many of our favourite eStore brands donate profits to charities, so you can shop with a clear conscience – and collect Avios, too

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British Airways Avios Calculator

Want to know how many Avios points you need for British Airways flight destinations? Use our handy Avios Calculator

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So, within 12 months of joining Reward Flight Finder, and having paid £36 in subscription fees, I have saved myself £7,627 With these savings I would happily pay much, much more for this service.

Wonderful tool for seeing all availability ahead for a year. Makes it much easier to plan.

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Well worth the handful of quid a month to get the flights you really want with their Alert service. Have used it multiple times with success!

We have now booked three holidays using the world search as we know the dates we can fly around school term dates and then it's just a matter of deciding where in the world we fancy going! Brilliant!

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28 Best Ways To Redeem British Airways Avios for Max Value [2024]

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Table of Contents

Key takeaways, british airways credit card and airline partners, the 28 best ways to redeem your british airways avios, guide to spending avios on british airways and partners, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

• British Airways Avios can be redeemed for flights on British Airways and partner airlines, with the best value often found on short-haul flights.
• Some airlines will allow you to use a combination of Avios and cash to pay for flights.
• Using Avios for off-peak travel dates and being flexible with your travel plans can help maximize the value of your points.

If you’ve ever been shopping for international flights, you may have noticed the exorbitant fees and fuel surcharges that accompany a British Airways ticket.

You could end up spending hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars on these additional fees, not to mention any money you already spent on the ticket itself.

Even if you use your British Airways Avios, these charges could negate any value you’d get from redeeming the miles in the first place.

Luckily, you can redeem Avios for reward travel without having to pay these ridiculously high fees . You avoid high taxes and fuel surcharges when you focus on flights operated by British Airways’ airline partners.

Let’s explore the best ways to redeem your British Airways Avios for maximum value!

You can earn Avios directly with the British Airways Visa Signature ® Card . You earn 3x Avios for all flight purchases through British Airways , Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level, 2x Avios on hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel, and 1x Avios for everything else.

This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.

The British Airways Visa Signature ® Card is a stellar option for travelers who regularly travel with the airline. From all of the Avios the card helps you earn, to a 10% discount off cash tickets, and the award flight statement credits, you can get tons of value out of the card each year.

• 3x Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases
• 2x Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations purchased directly through hotels
• 1x Avios per $1 on all other purchases
• $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
• Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

British Airways Executive Club

You can also transfer points to British Airways Executive Club from Amex Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , and Marriott Bonvoy .

Several frequent flyer programs use Avios as their currency, so you can transfer British Airways Avios to those programs to book flights, or you can keep them within Executive Club and book BA flights.

You achieve the greatest value when you transfer Avios or use them to book flights operated by partner airlines, including those in the Oneworld alliance . And because British Airways is a member of Oneworld, you earn Avios (if you so choose) when you fly paid tickets with its alliance partners.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

Collecting Ultimate Rewards points by using a Chase credit card is one of the best ways to earn British Airways Avios because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are very easy to earn and British Airways is a Chase transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%–29.49% Variable

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards .

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Cards

You can also earn British Airways Avios, since the program is an American Express transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio.

You can consider any of the cards mentioned below to start earning Membership Rewards points and then transfer them.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $199 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $325 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
• Get the American Express ® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.

If you’re a business owner, see our list of the best Amex business credit cards .

Capital One Miles Credit Cards

Miles earned with Capital One transfer to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio. See our list of the best Capital One credit cards in our guide.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points with its co-branded credit cards and transfer those to British Airways at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive a bonus of 5,000 additional Avios.

For more details, you can read our article on transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to partners.

Now it’s time for the fun part: looking at all the best ways to redeem your British Airways Avios for maximum value!

1. U.S. Short-Haul Nonstop Flights for 11,000 Avios (American, Alaska)

Nonstop domestic flights within the U.S. under 1,150 miles on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines cost 11,000 Avios. Even better, only a $5.60 tax is added to the flight — quite a bargain!

Flying 1,150 miles gets you halfway across the country. For example, you could fly between the following city pairs and stay within the 1,150-mile threshold:

• Miami (MIA) and Dallas (DFW)
• New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD)
• Palm Springs (PSP) and Austin (AUS)

The American Airlines AAdvantage program has dynamic pricing, which means fares frequently fluctuate. In some cases, an American AAdvantage award may be less than 11,000 miles, and other times it may be more. So you definitely want to compare BA’s award pricing if you have AAdvantage miles. If you used Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles for these flights, it would cost you 12,500 miles, though that program will begin using its updated award charts in March 2024.

Hot Tip: To maximize U.S. domestic Avios awards, look for nonstop flights from American Airlines and Alaska Airlines hubs in Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), and Seattle (SEA).

2. Lie-Flat First: New York to San Francisco or Los Angeles for 64,500 Avios (American)

American Airlines operates specially configured, 3-cabin Airbus A321 aircraft on its most premium domestic routes between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) and between New York and San Francisco (SFO). Generally, award space is hard to find in first class, and AA has variable award pricing in its own program, which often sends tickets soaring way north of the 64,500 miles required to book a seat through British Airways.

If you can find availability, this celebrity-heavy route would cost you 64,500 Avios. Business class would cost you 42,000 Avios each way.

Note that, when you fly in business or first class, you can access American’s priority check-in lanes, which are much quicker than using the self-service kiosks.

Hot Tip: Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking American Airlines first class .

3. New York to Toronto or Montréal for 8,250 Avios (American)

Spending Avios for short-haul international flights is a steal! American Airlines offers multiple daily flights between New York (JFK) and Toronto (YYZ) and between New York and Montréal (YUL).

From the U.S., these are 8,250 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes. The taxes are much higher flying from Canada , so compare the price of cash tickets.

4. Los Angeles to Vancouver for 11,000 Avios (American)

If you’re based on the West Coast, American Airlines offers nonstop flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Vancouver (YVR). If you’re departing from the U.S., you can score a ticket for 11,000 Avios and $5.60 in taxes and fees.

Hot Tip: Avios award tickets on American give you Priority Access, which offers priority security and boarding privileges . You can also get these with credit cards like CitiBusiness ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® Mastercard ® or the Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite™ Mastercard ® .

5. Miami to the Caribbean From 8,250 Avios (American)

American Airlines operates a large hub in Miami, from which it serves many Caribbean islands. You can book a nonstop ticket to islands the airline serves that are 650 miles or less away from Miami for 8,250 Avios plus $5.60.

For example, you could fly between Miami and the following cities and stay within the 650-mile threshold:

• Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
• Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
• Grand Cayman Island (GCM)

Similar to flights departing Canada, flights departing from the Caribbean have higher taxes, so compare prices before you book anything.

6. Miami to Bogotá or Quito for 14,500 Avios (American)

For just 14,500 Avios, you can fly American Airlines from Miami (MIA) to Bogotá, Colombia (BOG), or Quito, Ecuador (UIO) — a pretty great deal, if you ask us! And, for just 1,500 additional Avios, you could get to Lima, Peru (LIM).

7. Dallas to Mexico City for 11,000 Avios (American)

You can spend 11,000 Avios to fly nonstop between Dallas (DFW) and Mexico City (MEX). Alternatively, you can spend 14,500 Avios to fly nonstop to Mexico City from Los Angeles (LAX) and Phoenix (PHX).

Hot Tip:  Find out what you can do with 10,000 (or fewer) British Airways Avios ! 

8. U.S. West Coast to Hawaii for 16,000 Avios (American, Alaska)

Spending Avios on a one-way nonstop flight from the West Coast to Hawaii on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines is one of the least expensive ways to get to Hawaii . Because these flights are typically between 2,001 and 3,000 miles in total distance, it only costs 16,000 Avios each way for a seat in economy.

Most of these routes are operated by normally configured aircraft, so don’t expect a lie-flat seat up front. Consider splurging for business class to other destinations instead.

9. Los Angeles to Tokyo From 25,750 Avios (American, Japan Airlines)

In general, booking with Avios isn’t the best value for long-haul flights, but the program provides pretty good value on the Los Angeles-to-Tokyo route. Plus, Tokyo is a fantastic destination to cross off your bucket list.

First class from LAX to NRT costs 103,000 Avios each way, with taxes and fees of around $334. The same route in business class is around 77,250 Avios, while economy is just 25,750 Avios each way.

While these aren’t the lowest rates around for first or business class (especially if you want to connect to a further destination because British Airways charges separately for each flight segment), it’s not a bad option if you want to experience Japan Airlines first or business class or American Airlines first or business class .

Hot Tip: Read our in-depth reviews of JAL’s Boeing 777 in business class and first class .

10. Off-Peak U.S. East Coast to Ireland for 13,000 Avios and No Fuel Surcharges (Aer Lingus)

British Airways employs peak and off-peak pricing for Aer Lingus awards. The award costs are the same as they are for British Airways flights, but the peak and off-peak dates are different. And, you save big on fees compared to British Airways flights.

For example, you can fly in economy from the East Coast cities of Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), or Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Dublin (DUB) for just 13,000 Avios and $167 in taxes and fees.

You can search for Aer Lingus award availability directly on British Airways’s website, which is arguably the most user-friendly of the various different websites (including Qatar Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus).

11. Off-Peak Florida and U.S. West Coast to Ireland for 16,250 Avios and No Fuel Surcharges (Aer Lingus)

Aer Lingus has a U.S. network that extends to Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando (MCO), and San Francisco (SFO). Off-peak flights from all these cities to Dublin (DUB) cost 16,250 Avios in economy.

12. Off-Peak Boston, Chicago, or  New York to Madrid for 17,000 Avios (Iberia)

For peak dates, you pay 20,000 Avios each way for economy flights between Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), or New York (JFK) to Madrid (MAD), but you can shave 3,000 Avios off that rate by booking in off-peak dates. Economy tickets add about $98 in total fees. Business class tickets cost 34,000 Avios each way, and you need to pay about $130 in taxes and fees.

13. Off-Peak Miami to Madrid for 21,250 Avios (Iberia)

You pay 25,000 Avios for one-way economy flights between Miami (MIA) and Madrid (MAD), plus around $98 in fees, during peak dates. However, during off-peak dates, you can save 3,750 Avios each way. Business class is 42,500 Avios one-way, with taxes and fees of about $130.

You can log in to your Executive Club account to check for off-peak dates.

14. Intra-Caribbean Flights for as Few as 2,950 Avios (British Airways)

Looking for an affordable way to explore multiple Caribbean islands ? British Airways’ short-haul award pricing is an excellent option.

Fly from Nassau (NAS) to Grand Cayman (GCM) or Providenciales (PLS) on British Airways for as low as 2,950 Avios one-way on off-peak dates. If the available flight offers British Airways’ Reward Flight Saver option, you can also choose to spend more Avios in order to reduce your fees, taxes, and surcharges.

You can also book other nonstop flights, such as those between St. Lucia (UVF) and Grenada (GND) or Tobago (TAB). BA also operates nonstop flights from Antigua (ANU) to Aruba (AUA) or St. Kitts (SKB).

Better yet, all of these routes are flown on a wide-body aircraft that features lie-flat seats for those who want to spring for a business-class ticket.

Hot Tip: Check out our in-depth review of British Airways’ Boeing 777-200 Club World from St. Lucia (UVF) to Grenada (GND).

15. Experience the British Airways Concorde Room at London Heathrow for 42,500 Avios (British Airways)

British Airways’ most exclusive product on the ground is called the Concorde Room , a hush-hush space reserved for first class passengers offering the most serene airport lounge experience the airline offers, complete with white tablecloth dining and waiter service.

Starting from 42,500 Avios during off-peak dates and 50,000 Avios during peak dates, you can book a regional first-class flight on British Airways, as long as the flight distance is not greater than 3,000 miles.

Even though British Airways first class is typically reserved only for long-haul flights, the airline does offer a first class product on a couple of shorter routes, including:

• London Heathrow (LHR) – Abuja (ABV) 
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Kuwait City (KWI)

If you’re willing to shell out more Avios for a long-haul flight in first class, here are some routes that range from 3,001 miles to 4,000 miles — meaning they’re bookable for 68,000 Avios during off-peak dates and 80,000 Avios during peak dates:

• London Heathrow (LHR) – Boston (BOS)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Chicago (ORD)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Dubai (DXB)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Lagos (LOS)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Newark (EWR)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – New York (JFK)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Riyadh (RUH)
• London Heathrow (LHR) – Washington, D.C. (IAD)

If you book one of these flights, be sure to show up at the airport early so you can savor the entirety of the Concorde Room experience!

16. Fly British Airways First Class and Use Travel Together To Save Even More! (British Airways)

Fuel surcharges are significant if you want to fly British Airways in first class, but using your miles is still a great way to book a ticket that would otherwise cost $5,000 or more one-way.

This is especially true if you can pair your redemption with a Travel Together Ticket , which is earned by spending on a British Airways co-branded credit card.

A one-way award ticket from London (LHR) to Chicago (ORD) costs between 68,000 and 80,000 Avios (depending on whether you travel on peak or off-peak dates). You can expect the fuel surcharges and taxes to be around $700 to $1,000 in each direction .

Now, about that companion ticket. You first need to get the British Airways Visa card and spend $30,000 in a year to earn the Travel Together Ticket, which is good for 2 years.

It’s not an upgrade voucher but rather a buy-one-get-one-free award ticket. Once earned, the Travel Together Ticket allows you to take a companion on any British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus flight originating anywhere in the world that you’ve booked with Avios. The companion is booked in the same class as the original ticket (yes, even first!) and will only need to pay taxes, fees, and carrier charges.

Don’t have a travel companion? You can also use the Travel Together Ticket as a solo traveler to pay 50% of the Avios fare!

Need help booking?  Read our in-depth guide on booking British Airways first class or business class using points.

17. Hop Around Europe From 6,000 Avios (Finnair)

Short-haul, nonstop flights up to 650 miles on Finnair flights from Helsinki (HEL) cost 6,000 Avios each. Taxes and fees on Finnair flights are reasonable — for example, a nonstop flight from Helsinki (HEL) to Copenhagen (CPH) is 6,000 Avios plus $35.80. However, don’t forget to compare cash prices, as it may be better to save your Avios and pay cash on some routes.

Flights between 651 and 1,151 miles, which covers much of Europe, are 9,000 Avios.

18. Helsinki to Tokyo for 25,750 Avios (Finnair, Japan Airlines)

Both Finnair and Japan Airlines fly between Helsinki (HEL) and Tokyo (HND, NRT), and you can book an economy ticket for 25,750 Avios each way. Taxes and fees are much lower if you can find Finnair availability — $175 on Finnair vs. $300 on Japan Airlines.

19. Off-Peak Madrid to Cairo for 11,000 Avios (Iberia)

You can fly between Madrid (MAD) and Cairo (CAI) on Iberia Express for 11,000 Avios off-peak or 12,500 Avios throughout the rest of the year.

20. Off-Peak Madrid to Dakar, Senegal, for 10,000 Avios (Iberia)

A flight between Madrid (MAD) to Dakar (DSS) on Iberia costs 10,000 Avios off-peak and 11,000 Avios throughout the rest of the year. Africa flights can be really expensive, so this can be a fantastic value.

21. Qsuites From the US to Doha for 70,000 Avios (Qatar)

Qatar Airways’ Qsuites is arguably the best business class around , with the experience even outshining some other airlines’ first class products. One-way flights between the U.S. and Doha can be booked for  70,000 Avios and about $100 in taxes and fees.

If you’re looking for a simple nonstop flight to Doha in Qsuites, using British Airways is a great option. However, if you need to connect onward, the airline tacks on more miles and taxes and fees for a connection.

22. Experience the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge for 21,000 Avios (Qatar)

One of the many things we love about Qatar Airways is that short-haul flights are booked as first class tickets instead of business-class tickets, enabling you to access the Al Safwa First Lounge without booking a long-haul flight .

Note that Avios award tickets are not eligible for the 96-hour free Qatar transit program, since an eligible ticket must be issued directly by Qatar Airways. Regardless, many citizens of many countries are eligible for a Qatari visa on arrival if they want to visit Doha.

23. Hop Around the Middle East From 7,000 Avios ( Royal Jordanian, Qatar)

Short-haul flights from Amman, Jordan, or Doha, Qatar, to many Middle East destinations start at 7,000 Avios in economy nonstop. Taxes and fees are usually around $100 or less.

Here are some sample redemptions:

• Doha (DOH) to Dubai (DXB) for 7,000 Avios
• Doha (DOH) to Muscat (MCT) for 8,000 Avios
• Amman (AMM) to Kuwait City (KWI) for 9,000 Avios

Hot Tip: Mixing Royal Jordanian and Qatar on the same ticket can be expensive because of multicarrier pricing. Instead, book separate Avios tickets for each.

24. Experience Cathay Pacific’s The Wing Business Class Lounge for 20,800 Avios (Cathay Pacific)

You can get a seat at the Noodle Bar in The Wing, Business Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG), by redeeming your Avios for a business class flight on Cathay Pacific.

One-way business class flights that are 650 miles or less, such as Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE), cost 20,800 Avios.

Hot Tip: Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking Cathay Pacific business class .

25. Hop Around Southeast Asia From 6,000 Avios (Malaysia Airlines)

Nonstops on Malaysia Airlines start at 6,000 Avios in economy, and taxes and fees are usually small. The cheapest flights are domestic flights within Malaysia.

Malaysia does not have the kind of fantastic lounges that are a destination in and of themselves, so business or first for short flights may not be worth the extra cost here.

Flights in Southeast Asia are often so cheap that you always want to shop around , especially if there’s a nonstop flight you can take advantage of instead of connecting on Malaysia Airlines.

Once the flight crosses a distance threshold of 650 miles, the cost increases to 9,000 Avios. For example, a nonstop flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Jakarta (CGK) is 9,000 Avios.

26. Sri Lanka to the Maldives for 6,000 Avios (SriLankan)

Flights between Colombo (CMB) and Malé (MLE) in the Maldives cost 6,000 Avios plus $160 in taxes and fees for economy class flights. There are plenty of cheap tickets from around the world to Colombo, and from there it’s just a short hop to the Maldives on Sri Lankan Airlines.

The lounge at Colombo is not fancy, but if you were to book business class, it’d cost 12,500 Avios and $160 in taxes and fees.

27. Experience Qantas Domestic Lounges and Business Class for 12,500 Avios (Qantas)

Domestic business class on Qantas is among the best in the world, and you often get a full meal service even on relatively short flights! Additionally, Qantas lounges are in many Australian cities, and they rival the best international business lounges.

A business class flight between Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) will cost you just 12,500 Avios and about $30 in taxes and fees.

28. Qantas Domestic Lie-Flat for 22,000 Avios (Qantas)

Nonstop flights between Melbourne (MEL) and Perth (PER) on Qantas are around 4 hours in duration and often see Airbus A330 or Boeing 787-9 aircraft operating the route, meaning there are lie-flat seats in business class .

You can book one of these seats for 22,000 Avios each way, while economy costs 11,000 Avios.

Be sure to select a flight with one of these plane types, as some flights are operated by Boeing 737s. Be aware that equipment swaps can happen to meet operational needs, and Qantas doesn’t have to put you on the plane type you booked, though it may help out if you contact customer service.

Now that we’ve listed the best ways to use Avios, let’s talk about some other details.  British Airways Executive Club is significantly different from other airline frequent flyer programs. By learning how spending Avios works, you can have fantastic travel experiences!

Traditional airline award charts priced by geographic region have become a rarity, as many airline loyalty programs have scrapped them in favor of dynamic pricing. With dynamic pricing, award rates can vary based on distance, peak or off-peak dates, and the flight’s cash price.

British Airways has long had distance- and segment-based award charts, however, they no longer publish award charts, which can make it difficult to determine the value you are getting from flight awards.

Though the specific redemption rates are not published, each Avios award still is priced by distance for each segment of a trip, so prices add up fast if you are not flying nonstop.

List of Alliance and Other Airline Partners

British Airways partners with many different airline frequent flyer programs — the following table details the members of the Oneworld alliance, and BA also has partner Aer Lingus outside of any alliance.

First vs. Business Class

Not all airlines or flights have all classes of service.

Beware of domestic “first class” flights that are not worth the price! Compared to 7,500 Avios in economy, for example, 33,000 Avios for a short American Airlines flight in first class is certainly not worth it for what is mostly just a marginally better product.

In contrast, some of the coolest Avios awards are for short first or business class flights that grant you access to incredible airline lounges.

For example, this may be the cheapest way to experience Cathay Pacific’s The Wing in Hong Kong or the Qantas International First Lounge in Sydney.

Multicarrier Award Flights

“Multicarrier” means a combination of 2 or more Oneworld airlines besides British Airways on a single ticket. These awards have their own chart.

These awards are expensive , and you’ll most likely do better by booking separate airlines on separate tickets. However, if you’re looking to put together an around-the-world itinerary, using the multicarrier award chart may save you Avios compared to separate bookings.

The multicarrier Avios price is the same regardless of connections, one-way or round-trip: Only total distance matters . However, taxes, fees, and carrier charges vary widely, so beware!

As a general rule, premium economy costs 1.5 times the economy price. Business costs 2 times economy, and first class costs 3 times economy.

What Is Reward Flight Saver?

The British Airways Reward Flight Saver can help you lower your out-of-pocket costs for Avios redemptions. With Reward Flight Saver, redemptions on British Airways-operated flights are reduced, flat fees instead of other taxes and surcharges. Your account must have earned Avios in the past 12 months to be eligible for Reward Flight Saver.

Qualifying itineraries show the Reward Flight Saver icon on the page that displays flight options when you’re booking.

What Is Avios and Cash?

British Airways and some partner flights may have several payment options that allow you to use a combination of Avios and cash.

If you want to use fewer Avios or don’t have enough, you can choose an option that includes more cash.

Here are the Avios and cash options for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) for 2 passengers in British Airways first class as an example:

Where To Search for British Airways Avios Award Flights

You can search for British Airways flights and its many airline partners on British Airways’ website . British Airways does not have a calendar view for partner awards, so it may be helpful to search the American Airlines website first for award availability using its calendar and then plug in your dates to BA.com to confirm availability with Avios.

Hot Tip: Be cautious when searching for awards directly on partner airline websites. Some awards may only be available to their own members, not to partners. For American Airlines, you often can only use Avios to book what American shows as its lowest-level awards.

Start 355 Days in Advance

Awards are available up to 355 days before departure, and there are no award holds or waitlists. With British Airways, you can access awards 25 days before American Airlines members can!

How To Book a British Airways Reward Flight

Log in to My Executive Club and search using Book a flight with Avios .

If the search screen says You can break your journey with stopovers , select No, I want to continue without stopovers .

This will search partner flights in addition to British Airways flights.

Flights may not be displayed on British Airways’ website for various reasons:

• Route unavailable means the website is not programmed for that route
• Multiconnection flight options are not searched

Online Booking Problems? Call and Waive the Fee

Even if you can’t find an award on the website, you can call to have British Airways agents book it if it’s indeed available.

Ask the agent to waive the $25 phone booking fee since the flight is unavailable online. They will usually do so if you ask.

Bottom Line: Many award flights are available online. If not, call to book and ask to waive the $25 booking fee since it is not available online!

How To Get a Free London Stopover

When flying British Airways, you have the option of a free stopover in London .

When the award search screen says, You can break your journey with stopovers , select I want to break my journey and choose my stopovers .

Free stopover pricing is different from other Avios awards. The whole stopover trip is priced by the distance as if it were 1 flight rather than pricing each segment separately.

Bottom Line: To minimize fees, the best London stopover value is between 2 U.K. or European cities near London rather than long-haul flights.

Beware of Surcharges on British Airways Flights

Extremely high fees are added to the Avios award price of many British Airways flights. Exceptions are flights within Europe that qualify for Reward Flight Saver.

It is not unheard of for the cash component of a British Airways award redemption to be as much as directly buying a cash ticket!

The fees on transatlantic flights are especially shocking when you fly on British Airways. Consider Aer Lingus or transfer your Avios to Iberia Plus and book Iberia flights.

Bottom Line: As a general rule of thumb, short-distance, nonstop flights on partner airlines offer the best value for your Avios.

Use British Airways Executive Club Household Accounts To Pool Avios

You can form a British Airways Executive Club Household Account . This means you and up to 6 people at the same address can register with BA as a household to pool Avios.

Awards are deducted proportionally from the household common pool of Avios, and each household member earns Avios and British Airways status on their own.

The key limitation is that once you are in a household, you can only redeem Avios for members of the household (same address) or up to 5 family and friends (different addresses).

Family and friends have their own Avios that are not pooled with the household. Any individual must stay on the family and friends list for at least 6 months.

Without a household account, British Airways charges a flat fee of $50 per transaction to transfer Avios to another member (Gold members can transfer for free). The maximum you can transfer in a year is 200,000 Avios, and it’s capped at 60,000 Avios per transaction.

Low Cancellation Fees Equals Flexibility

Avios award tickets have some of the lowest booking fees among major airlines .

There are no last-minute ticketing fees with Executive Club. In contrast, some frequent flyer programs like United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles charge higher redemption prices on last-minute tickets.

Change or cancellation fees are relatively low at $55. If the cash portion of your Avios award ticket is less than $55, then you only forfeit the cash amount you paid . You don’t pay the full $55 unless your ticket’s fees are $55 or more.

Note that if you don’t change or cancel online and do it with a phone agent instead, the phone fee is an extra $25.

Hot Tip: A U.S. domestic nonstop flight on American Airlines comes with taxes and fees of just $5.60. If you cancel down the line, you only lose $5.60 — a small price to pay for flexibility!

Combine My Avios

Iberia and Qatar Airways also use Avios as rewards currency, and the Avios from those airlines can be combined with the Avios from British Airways at a 1:1 ratio.

For example, if you want to transfer Avios from BA to Iberia, sign up for an  Iberia Plus  account. To transfer, your Iberia account must be at least 90 days old and must have had points activity .

Try to transfer too soon and you’ll get this error:

Qatar does not have the 90-day requirement, but you must first link your accounts here .

In order to combine Avios, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account and go to My Executive Club under the Manage tab. Then click on Combine my Avios from the drop-down menu under Executive Club .

From there, you can select Iberia Plus or Qatar Airways Privilege Club from the available programs.

If you’re short on Avios in your accounts, you can also transfer points from the flexible programs, such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards , to one airline and then combine them with your Avios from another airline.

Please note that redemption restrictions are subject to change. We’ll continue to update this article periodically to reflect changes to British Airways redemptions.

Now you know some of the best ways to use British Airways Avios. To get the best value out of British Airways Avios, look into redeeming them with British Airways’ partner airlines.

Short-haul flights in the U.S. on American and Alaska tend to be some of the best redemptions available.

Luxury travelers can experience the world’s premier airline lounges, such as Cathay Pacific and Qantas, for low prices.

Finally, another reason to book flights on partner airlines is to avoid the ridiculously high taxes and fuel surcharges British Airways charges on its own flights.

The information regarding the CitiBusiness ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite™ Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

World’s Best Airline Rewards Programs Of 2024, According To New Report

A new report from Point.me evaluated 62 airline rewards programs to determine which ones make it the easiest for travelers to earn and book award flights. Here’s a look at which ones came out on top.

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Here are the world's best airline rewards programs of 2024, per Point.me.

Joining the best airline rewards programs can be a game-changer for travelers looking to unlock extraordinary experiences, score elusive first-class upgrades, and make the most of every trip. But figuring out which program to focus on can be tricky. Each one has its own set of complicated rules and perks, leaving travelers to question whether it’s worth the hassle. How do you know which airline rewards program will make it easy to stack up and redeem your hard-earned miles?

A new report on the world’s best airline rewards programs from Point.me, a search and booking engine that helps travelers use their points and miles, can point you in the right direction.

Its research team partnered with 55 top points and miles experts to analyze extensive data on 62 global airline rewards programs easily accessible to U.S. travelers. Each one could earn a maximum of 100 points based on nine criteria, including the ease of earning miles, redemption rates, and rewards availability on partner airlines.

Here’s what the analysis of the world’s best airline rewards program from Point.me revealed.

What’s the World’s Best Airline Rewards Program?

Air France and KLM's Flying Blue was named the world's best airline rewards program by Point.me.

Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue is the world’s best airline rewards program of 2024, according to Point.me. It earned a whopping 93.06 out of 100 possible points. To put that into perspective, that’s 16 points higher than the score of the second-best airline rewards program, Air Canada’s Aeroplan.

Point.me noted that Flying Blue had exceptional performance across the board, earning top marks in nearly every category and offering great redemption rates. The program also allows travelers to transfer points from all of the major credit card points currencies, which makes it easy to earn enough for a reward flight on Air France, KLM, or more than 40 other airline partners.

Other Top Airline Rewards Programs

Air Canada Aeroplan took second place on the list of the world's best airline rewards programs.

Air Canada Aeroplan also performed well in the report on the world’s best airline rewards programs, earning enough points to clinch second place. While it missed out on some points due to difficulty booking reward flights online and long customer service hold times, the report gave Aeroplan kudos for having wide availability on partner airlines, generous routing rules to make it easy for travelers to use miles outside of Air Canada’s hub cities, and lots of points transfer partners.

“Of all the frequent flyer programs in the world, I think Air Canada Aeroplan is the single most valuable for redeeming points,” said Ben Schlappig, airline loyalty program expert and founder of One Mile at a Time , in the report. “The pricing is fair and consistent across the board, and the passion of the people running Aeroplan shows in how well-designed and balanced the program is.”

Point.me named United MileagePlus the third-best airline rewards program.

With a score of 72.22 points, United MileagePlus took third place in the ranking of the world’s best airline rewards program. Point.me acknowledged that the program has recently received negative attention for devaluing its mileage and increasing the number of miles required to book award flights to certain destinations. However, its overall structure still proved to be among the best for those who aren’t loyal to United or don’t travel very frequently. It accepts transfer points from Bilt, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy and makes it easy to earn miles through a variety of partner and co-branded credit cards.

“With the recent introduction of miles pooling, United has made it easier than ever before for families and friends to create priceless memories together. If there is anywhere in the world you wish to visit, chances are strong that your United miles can take you there,” said Matthew Klint, frequent flyer program expert and founder of Live and Let’s Fly , in the report.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and British Airways Executive Club tied for fourth place with 69.10 points each. Virgin’s airline rewards program had some of the best economy redemption rates of all the programs the researchers evaluated, but had extremely high carrier-imposed fuel surcharges in premium cabins. British Airways Executive Club offers attractive rates on some long-haul flights and offers a very compelling airline-specific credit card, per the report. However, the program was less competitive when booking itineraries that included a connection.

Ranked: World’s Best Airline Rewards Programs of 2024

Here’s a look at the world’s best airline rewards programs of 2024, according to Point.me.

1. Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue

2. air canada aeroplan, 3. united mileageplus, 4. british airways executive club (tied), 4. virgin atlantic flying club (tied), 6. american airlines aadvantage, 7. alaska airlines mileage plan, 8. qatar airways privilege club, 9. jetblue trueblue, 10. avianca lifemiles, 11. emirates skywards, 12. southwest airlines rapid rewards, 13. aer lingus aerclub, 14. hawaiian airlines hawaiianmiles, 15. ana mileage club, 16. cathay pacific asia miles, 17. singapore airlines krisflyer, 18. finnair plus, 19. delta skymiles, 20. aegean miles + bonus, what’s the best airline rewards program for you.

Choosing the right airline rewards program can help you earn award travel more quickly.

Just because Flying Blue (or any other program) was named one of the best airline rewards programs doesn’t necessarily mean it will provide the most value for you. Every traveler’s situation and preferences are different—and your miles may vary.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right airline rewards program for you:

• Travel frequency: If you’re a frequent flyer, look for airline rewards programs that offer generous earning rates for miles and clear, easy access to elite status. For occasional travelers, programs with flexible earning options through credit card partnerships or everyday spending might help you get to your next reward more quickly.
• Airline alliances: Consider which airlines are part of major alliances like Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam. A rewards program affiliated with an airline that’s part of an alliance can give you more ways to redeem points across partner airlines, increasing the number of routes, destinations, and flight times you can choose from.
• Earning opportunities: Check out how easy it is to earn points or miles from non-flight activities, like hotel stays, dining, car rentals, or shopping. The more ways you can earn points through an airline rewards program, the faster you can work toward your next redemption.
• Ease of booking: Your points will feel useless if you need to jump through hoops to use them. Look for an airline rewards program that makes it simple and straightforward to book an award ticket.
• Customer service: Reliable customer service can make a big difference when managing your rewards and in your overall travel experience. If you’ve had a poor experience with an airline, you might not want to invest too heavily in its rewards program.

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Flight Review: British Airways Airbus A380 Club World Class From Washington Dulles To London

Having flown British Airways many times across the Atlantic, I was surprised it took me this long to try one of the legendary Airbus A380 aircraft operated by the oneworld Alliance carrier. So, for my trip back to the UK from Washington, DC, I was able to book a flight on the iconic superjumbo using my Avios points.

Arrival and boarding

The inbound service from London was delayed, which I was able to track before even leaving the house. Upon arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) via the Metro, I walked over to the terminal and went straight to security as I was not checking any bags. I missed the signs for TSA PreCheck and ended up in the regular queue, with almost no wait time, given it was after 20:00.

Get all the latest airline route news right here.

Upon arriving at the gate, I was called up to have my documents checked (as I skipped check-in), and the staff on the ground was quite gracious and kept us regularly updated about the status of the incoming plane. We used biometric boarding, which consisted of just facing the camera, which compared my face to the driver's license photo they had on record and recognized me instantly.

Biometrics At The Airport: The Future Or A Hollywood Dream?

Many airports around the world are talking about launching biometrics, and this seems to have been somewhat of an industry buzzword of late. One airport that is well on the way to implementing biometrics is Frankfurt Airport, which offers the service in Terminal 1 in partnership with the Star Alliance app.

I have found that the service is pretty under utilized in Frankfurt, but I have used it. Most recently I used my face at the pre-security check when traveling to the UK for the Farnborough Airshow. What I found most surprising was that the attendant stopped me for not scanning my boarding pass, and I had to then stop and explain to them how the biometric system works.

Do you think that biometrics will become the norm at the airport, or flop?

Boarding was organized, and people lined up across B44 and the gate beside it, B42, as the A380 had two jetbridges for boarding. My seat was a window on the right side (so you can see the views landing in London) and was one of the unique backward-facing seats.

Scoring the seat

The crew came around shortly after I got settled with drinks and dinner orders. When I arrived, headphones, a pillow, and a bedding bundle were on the seat. A water bottle was already placed in the drawer next to the seat alongside the amenity kit. Inside the kit was a selection of essentials, including a dental kit, earplugs, a sleep mask, hand cream, socks, and an aromatherapy pulse point roller.

On the aisle side was a table that folded out from the side wall, which could be used folded or expanded to cover the seat for meal service. An inflight entertainment screen was also folded out from the side and was stocked with a good selection of music and films.

Discover more aviation news about the passenger experience here.

There were notably two USB-A charging ports in different locations. One was near the floor next to the power outlet, and the other was located near the head of the bed next to an RCA input.

British Airways To Operate Record 400+ Weekly Flights To North America In Summer 2025

Cities like Miami and Vancouver will have two daily flights from Heathrow.

The seats are arranged so that every other seat faces backward. This may require stepping over the person in the seat, but it affords a large, expansive space with three full windows. The footrest and a retractable privacy divider could be folded up when not in use.

Following our pre-flight checks, we were on the way to London.

Sampling the snacks

After reviewing the menu, I decided on the Roasted carrot soup for my starter and the roasted salmon teriyaki for my main, which was accompanied by a roasted pepper and purple sticky rice. I found the carrot soup to be quite delicious and appreciated the substantial portion of the salmon. I also liked how the tray could be slid up and down the track to be close when needed and out of the way at other times.

I found the bed folded down quite intuitively, which is not always the case in lay-flat seats. Once settled, I found the space to be ample. As a traveler over 6 feet tall, I struggle with hotel beds, so airplanes are often challenging. What I like about this configuration is that my feet were tucked down in a cubbyhole. Thanks to the rounded design of the seat behind me, I could stretch my legs out along the window side without bothering them.

How To Fly On A British Airways A380 This Winter Using Points And Miles

British Airways A380 routes can be booked through any oneworld frequent flyer program.

I went to sleep immediately and was awoken to the gentle whispers of staff coming around asking if we wanted breakfast. I got the breakfast wrap, which was accompanied by warm danishes and a coconut chai pudding that I especially enjoyed.

Before too long, the captain announced over the loudspeakers that we would be landing soon and invited us to look out at the views of London.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Overall, I really enjoyed my transatlantic hop. Gaynor and the rest of her team were courteous and professional, and I found the lie-flat bed more than comfortable enough for a good night's sleep.

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Airline partnerships

Travel with ease around the world

We’ve partnered with other airlines to bring you more destinations and a seamless travel experience. If your trip with us includes a flight with our partners, you’ll enjoy:

• Even more destinations and flight schedules
• Checking your bag only once – we'll transfer it to your next flight
• Earning and redeeming AAdvantage ® miles

Booking your flight

Our partnerships allow us to sell flights operated by other airlines. This means you can combine flights on American with other partner airlines to create a single trip for an easier flight connection.

Search flights and book

At the airport

Check in with the airline of your first flight to get boarding passes for your entire trip. You’ll only have to check your bag once too – we’ll transfer it between flights. Keep in mind bag policies might differ between airlines, so be sure to check before you go.

Clubs and lounges

Get access to clubs and lounges around the world. There are different ways to become eligible – whether you have a ticket in qualifying premium cabin, a Citi ® AAdvantage ® Executive card, are an Admirals Club ® member or have qualifying status.

Admirals Club ® access

Alliances and partners

The one world ® alliance is made up of the world’s leading airlines, together serving over 1,100 destinations in more than 170 territories.

See where oneworld® can take you

one world® members

Alaska Airlines

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific

Japan Airlines

• Malaysia Airlines

Qatar Airways

• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines

Learn more about one world ® Alliance, including status member benefits, lounge access and more.

one world ® partner alliance

Together, American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair offer:

• 116 average daily flights across the U.S. and Europe
• More flights out of New York and London than any other partnership
• 1 ticket for your trip across multiple airlines
• Access to one world ® global support centers to help with tight connections at select airports*
• A chance to earn and redeem miles
• Lounge access** and one world ® status member privileges across all 4 partners
• A modern travel experience with lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in First and Business, Wi-Fi and power outlets, hundreds of entertainment options and chef-inspired menus on most flights
• The new American Airlines and British Airways Joint Premium Lounges at Terminal 8 in New York Kennedy (JFK) airport
• Joint Premium Lounges

*Subject to operational constraints **Access terms apply

Together, American Airlines and Japan Airlines offer:

• A large network with nonstop and connecting flights between the Americas and Asia
• A seamless experience from check-in to arrival
• A chance to earn and redeem miles in both airline's loyalty programs
• Lounge access** and one world ® status member privileges for both airlines
• A modern travel experience with direct aisle access, lie-flat seats in First and Business, and chef-inspired Japanese menus on flights between the U.S. and Japan

Alaska Airlines and American customers can access:

• More than 1,200 destinations worldwide
• one world ® member benefits and AAdvantage ® status privileges
• Nonstop service from Seattle (SEA) to London Heathrow (LHR) via American
• Access to 50 Admirals Club ® lounges worldwide and 8 Alaska Lounges in the U.S.*

*Access terms apply

Together, American and GOL offer:

• Access to Brazil's largest airline, combining complementary route networks for a seamless travel experience
• The largest number of flights and destinations in North and South America
• Status benefits for AAdvantage ® status members such as Priority check-in and boarding and Preferred Seats on GOL

GOL Airlines

Together, American Airlines and Qantas offer:

• A large network and smooth journey between North America and Australia and New Zealand, with easy connections beyond
• A chance to earn and redeem miles in both airline’s mileage programs

Our strategic partnership with Qatar Airways includes:

• Nonstop services to Doha, Qatar (DOH) and connections to the Middle East, India, Africa and Southeast Asia

Earn and redeem AAdvantage® miles

Learn how to earn and redeem miles with our partners.

Partner airlines

AAdvantage® status

Many of our partnerships allow you to enjoy your AAdvantage ® status benefits earned through American Airlines AAdvantage ® .

AAdvantage® status

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Collecting Avios

There are many ways to collect Avios. Explore the options to boost your balance.

How can I collect Avios?

• Booking British Airways and American Airlines flights, vacations, hotel stays and car hire are great ways to top up your balance.
• Pre-booking seats, paying for extra baggage or upgrading your cabin on a British Airways or Iberia-marketed flight.
• Shopping through British Airways with selected retailers such as Apple, Home Depot and Macy's.
• Booking travel extras like airport parking, rail transfers and more.
• Signing up for and using an Avios credit card .
• Plus we've partnered with a range of lifestyle and finance partners  to make it even easier for you to collect Avios.

Collect Avios every time you fly with us or any of our one world ® airline partners on eligible flights.

Hotels & accommodation

Collect Avios every time you stay at one of our partner hotels across the world.

Earn 100,000 Avios with the British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Boost your Avios balance with 100,000 Avios when you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening. 

Offer ends November 13, 2024.

Hire a car with one of our rentals partners and you can top up your Avios too.

Special offers

Our Member-only offers make it easy to collect Avios, save money and earn rewards sooner.

Vacation packages

Book one of our great value vacation packages and collect bonus Avios at the same time.

Top up your Avios every day with our range of shopping partners.

Lifestyle and finance

Collect Avios with our range of finance and lifestyle partners.

Travel extras

Collect Avios on airport parking, rail transfers and more.

Avios expiry rules

Your Avios won't expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months.

If you don't collect or use your Avios at all for three years, your Avios will expire and be removed, so remember to take action before that time's up.

Buy Avios and increase your balance

Don’t have enough Avios for a Reward Flight or upgrade? Simply buy more to make up the difference.

Claim missing Avios

You can claim Avios or Tier Points up to six months after your flight. New Members can even claim for flights taken before joining.

Download the Avios app

Keep track of your Avios on the go, find new ways to collect and easily search for Reward Flights.

Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is popular with many travelers. While AAdvantage has seen some changes over the last few years — including the removal of published award charts — you can still get a ton of value from the program, especially if you can utilize its sweet spots .

In 2022, American completely overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite status . Rather than being based solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Points across various activities in the AAdvantage program — including spending on American Airlines cobranded credit cards , shopping through online shopping portals and dining.

Plus, American announced a slew of big changes to its AAdvantage program in February. Among these changes, which are set to go into effect on tickets issued from May 1, American will only award AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points for flights booked directly with American, eligible Oneworld and partner airlines, and preferred travel agencies .

After this change, flights booked with non-eligible partners or agencies will not earn miles or Loyalty Points unless you're registered with AAdvantage Business or have a contracted corporate agreement with the airline. American will release its full list of preferred travel agencies in April, so the change's full effect remains to be seen .

Here's everything you need to know about the American AAdvantage loyalty program.

American Airlines partners

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance . Therefore, you can earn and redeem miles with a handful of international partners. American elite members often get benefits, such as lounge access and an extra baggage allowance, when flying with these partner airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member)
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air (future member)
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

The airline also partners with a handful of airlines outside of Oneworld, including:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Gol Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Silver Airways

However, each partner has its own criteria on how you can earn or redeem miles with American, so be sure to review the specific partner page for full details.

American Airlines elite status

American AAdvantage has four public levels of elite status — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum — plus an invite-only level called Concierge Key .

AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points when they fly on American or spend with a cobranded credit card or with select AAdvantage partners. Upcoming changes to the AAdvantage program in May will make it so AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points are only earned when you transact directly with American, select partner airlines and preferred travel agencies, which is important to note if you're looking to accumulate status.

In general, 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned is equal to 1 Loyalty Point. So, if you earn 500 base miles on an American Airlines flight, you earn 500 Loyalty Points. Likewise, spending $1,000 on a cobranded credit card would earn 1,000 Loyalty Points.

Here's the number of Loyalty Points you must earn during the current qualification period — March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024 — for each elite status tier:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

As an AAdvantage Gold member, you'll get a 40% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats within 24 hours of departure, complimentary preferred seats at check-in (when available) and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Meanwhile, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and two free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Platinum Pro members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Finally, Executive Platinum members get a 120% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

All AAdvantage elite members have access to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Complimentary upgrades on award flights are available to elite members, though it is not a guarantee that you will secure an upgrade on your flight.

AAdvantage elite members get Oneworld status, which provides perks when flying on other Oneworld airlines. Specifically, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald status.

Even if you don't have elite status with American, there are some notable perks to being an AAdvantage member. American AAdvantage announced the following exclusive benefits for AAdvantage members in 2024 (including entry-level members with no elite status):

• The ability to voluntarily cancel basic economy tickets for a partial travel trip credit for a $99 fee
• Complimentary 24-hour ticket holds
• The ability to purchase single-use Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge entry
• The ability to take an earlier flight on the same day at no extra cost

Also new in 2024 is the ability to redeem Loyalty Point Rewards for additional Loyalty Points to help members reach their elite status goals.

You can choose:

• 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 15,000 Loyalty Points)
• 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 175,000 Loyalty Points)
• 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 250,000 Loyalty Points)

Related: American Airlines unveils 10 changes to the AAdvantage program

Coming later in 2024 is the ability to earn redeemable miles and additional Loyalty Points on premium cabin upgrades paid with cash.

How to earn AAdvantage miles

There are many ways to earn AAdvantage miles . Below is a summary of the top ways.

Fly on American Airlines

When you fly on an American-marketed flight, you'll usually earn miles according to your ticket's base price — without taxes and fees. However, it's important to note that after American's changes roll out May 1, you'll have to book the flight directly with the airline , an eligible Oneworld or partner airline, or a preferred travel agency to earn miles and Loyalty Points.

The miles you earn also vary based on your AAdvantage elite status . The higher your status, the more miles you will earn.

Here's how many miles each status tier earns per dollar spent:

• Member (no status) : 5 miles
• Gold : 7 miles
• Platinum : 8 miles
• Platinum Pro : 9 miles
• Executive Platinum : 11 miles

Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Fly on partner airlines

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American's partners. Starting May 1, you'll have to book these flights through the partner or an eligible travel agency to earn miles or Loyalty Points for the trip.

For most partners, you'll earn miles and Loyalty Points based on flight distance. However, the exact earning rate depends on the fare class of your ticket . Here's an example of the earning chart for Qantas-operated flights:

Get and use American Airlines credit cards

One of the easiest ways to earn American AAdvantage miles is through American Airlines credit cards . Here's a list of current offers:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening. Earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American's car rental and hotel booking sites . Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases. Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® : Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on gas station, restaurant and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ): Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases plus telecom merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rentals, and gas stations. Earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® : Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard : Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the annual fee in full in the first 90 days. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard : Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on office supply, select telecom, car rental and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Earn a 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned with the card.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Remember that the sign-up bonuses and bonus category earnings won't get you Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status. You'll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on American Airlines cards.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers

Transfer Bilt points

American AAdvantage partners with just one program with a transferable currency: Bilt Rewards . You can transfer your Bilt points to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so if you're currently earning Bilt points by paying rent , this can be a great option for your rewards.

Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal before shopping online

When you click through the AAdvantage shopping portal , you can earn extra miles when making purchases with select online merchants. Using the portal is simple: Sign up for an account and click through the portal to your merchant of choice before shopping online.

Related: Maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases

Use SimplyMiles

American offers a program called SimplyMiles that allows you to earn miles when shopping online or in person with select merchants. You'll first need to sign up for SimplyMiles, link one or more Mastercards to your profile and enroll in offers.

Then, when you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible purchase at a merchant for which you've enrolled in an offer, you'll earn AAdvantage miles.

Dine at restaurants that participate in AAdvantage Dining

AAdvantage Dining is similar to the AAdvantage shopping portal but for eating at restaurants. Just sign up for an account and link your favorite credit cards for dining . Once you do so, you'll earn miles when you dine at participating restaurants.

You can earn 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a VIP member, 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a Select member and 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent as a basic member.

Book through AAdvantage travel partners

American Airlines partners with major car rental companies so its members can earn miles on car rentals. Check out AAdvantage's car rental partner page for information on partners and earning rates.

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on hotel stays as follows:

• AAdvantage Hotels : Earn up to 10 times more base miles on hotels.
• Hyatt : Earn 500 miles each stay at select properties.
• IHG : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying room rates.
• Marriott : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying charges.

Additionally, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts . After linking accounts, AAdvantage elite members can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.

In addition to the hotel and rental car partners mentioned above, you can earn miles on vacation packages booked at aavacations.com or cruises booked at bookaacruises.com .

Open a savings account

If you open a savings account with Bask Bank, you can elect to earn AAdvantage miles instead of cash as the interest on your account. You can read our analysis here: Introducing Bask Bank, a new way to earn miles . Unfortunately, miles earned with Bask Bank do not count as Loyalty Points.

Buy AAdvantage miles

Finally, you can buy American Airlines miles. Watch for promotions that allow you to buy American Airlines miles with a bonus or a discount.

Related: Book a pricey suite or flight for a fraction of the cost: Points promotions to save you money

How to redeem AAdvantage miles

You'll usually get the best value when you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG's most recent valuations estimate American miles to be worth 1.55 cents each, so try to get at least this value when redeeming miles.

Redeeming miles for American-operated flights

To find out how many miles an American-operated flight will cost, head to the American Airlines website or mobile app and do an award search.

AAdvantage redemptions for travel on American are now exclusively priced dynamically, allowing the airline to adjust the award rate for any flight.

In 2024, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key members will be able to redeem miles to visit the Flagship First dining facility , though the mileage cost is not yet known.

Partner awards

American partners with over a dozen airlines, many world-renowned for their excellent premium-cabin products.

However, these flights aren't always available to partner airlines, as the operating carrier must release saver-level award inventory.

Related: Guide to earning and burning with American Airlines' Business Extra program

AAdvantage sweet spots

While American makes it relatively easy to redeem miles across its own network, many awards can offer spectacular value. These "sweet spots" typically get you well over TPG's valuation of AAdvantage miles.

Here are just a few of these terrific redemptions.

Short-haul flights to the Caribbean

Flights to the Caribbean can cost you hundreds of dollars each way.

Instead, you can book flights from New York to the sunny island of Barbados for just 8,000 AAdvantage miles plus $7.10 in fees and taxes.

Premium-cabin flights to Japan or South Korea

American Airlines divides Asia into three award regions: Asia Region 1, Asia Region 2 and South Pacific. Asia 1 covers Japan and Korea, while Asia 2 includes Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The lower prices on premium flights to Asia 1 apply to Oneworld partners such as Japan Airlines. So, you can book JAL first class from Chicago to Tokyo for only 80,000 miles.

Related: Best sweet spots in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Etihad business class to the Maldives

You can redeem just 70,000 AAdvantage miles for a flight from the United States to the Maldives via Abu Dhabi in Etihad's business class, with flights from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) featuring the carrier's fantastic new A350 product.

While in theory you can book the same itinerary flying Qatar Airways in its award-winning Qsuite, unfortunately, Qatar is currently only releasing business-class availability from the United States at the last minute to AAdvantage members.

Award pricing

While American eliminated saver and anytime awards in 2023, it isn't removing award charts entirely.

Instead, American's refreshed award chart displays initial values for flight awards.

Bottom line

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is far from perfect. But if you know how to make it work, there's still plenty of value, particularly for redemptions on partner airlines, where sensible award charts still exist.

It's important to note the changes coming in 2024 to earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. When these changes go into effect May 1, American will begin limiting earnings to travel booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines, booking through preferred travel agencies and booking anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or as a contracted corporate traveler.

If you're considering earning miles with the AAdvantage program, we recommend applying for an American Airlines credit card . Doing so can give you a big stash of miles from the sign-up bonus and the ability to continue to earn miles with your daily spending. It's also worth using the AAdvantage shopping portal and SimplyMiles , especially if you want to earn Loyalty Points and qualify for American Airlines elite status.