If you’re a savvy traveler who takes advantage of loyalty programs, then you already know that you can get great value using Avios points on flights. The program offers opportunities to travel in very flexible and rewarding ways, whether it’s a short domestic flight or long-haul international travel. Many travelers miss out on the unique benefits of using Avios for their travels.
In this guide, we will explain how to earn Avios points, how to book flights using Avios points, and provide you with some proven tips and tricks so you can make the most of every Avios point you earn, when you use Avios points to fly, you’re able to get a much better value compared to other airline programs and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Flights booked using Avios points are reward flights redeemed with Avios (a form of loyalty currency) from multiple major airlines, including British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Lingus AerClub. Most traditional airline loyalty programs have mileage-based pricing. However, because Avios uses distance-based pricing, Avios points have a higher value for short- and medium-distance flights.
Avios airline rewards offer the most flexibility of any airline loyalty program. For example, you can book round-trip or one-way tickets, mix your payment methods (either cash or points) to pay for your flights, and even upgrade flights with Avios! For those savvy on how to earn and spend their Avios wisely, you will save a significant amount of money.
Avios Reward Flights are priced based on how far you fly and what type of cabin you travel in, not just by which region you're flying between. For this reason, a flight that is close to you may be available for many fewer points, as low as several thousand Avios, and with low taxes. There is also an additional benefit of purchasing Avios Reward Flights in that you will always know the amount of points and taxes you’ll need to pay because they are made available to you before you determine how to manage your travel expectations. You can also travel on one of their partner airlines through Avios Airline Rewards, giving you access to an extensive global network.
A solid understanding of how to earn Avios points is essential for maximizing the potential of flights with Avios points. Luckily, there’s no requirement to fly often to earn Avios!
The following are the primary avenues to earn Avios points while traveling:
1. Avios Partner Airlines: Traveling with the airlines in the Avios program will earn you points based on the fare class and distance traveled. Points accumulate at an accelerated rate when booked in premium cabins or when purchasing flexible fares.
2. Credit Card Purchases: Co-brand travel credit cards provide a quick way to learn to accumulate Avios points. You can earn Avios from everyday shopping, such as groceries, gas stations, and restaurants.
3. Avios Hotel and Car Rental Partners: In addition to airlines, numerous hotel and car rental companies offer Avios rewards. That's a great way to earn rewards while traveling, without actually flying!
4. Online Shopping Sign-up Portals: By signing up with an Avios program, you only need to make another purchase to earn Avios from a brand that you already buy from. Signing up through Avios is one of the primary ways to earn points. Most of the time, people forget to earn Avios points by shopping this way!
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The effective use of Avios points for flight redemption can mean the difference between acceptable and outstanding value.
Short-haul routes that offer the maximum Avios redemption value.
The best way to utilise Avios on flights is via short-haul routes, which require much lower taxes and also require fewer Avios to book.
Another advantage of Avios is the ability to book one-way flights without incurring any penalties. Therefore, the traveller has many options for flying back home (i.e., mixing airlines or returning on the same airline with another program).
It is recommended that travellers book off-peak Avios flights to minimise the number of Avios required for booking during peak travel periods.
Avios is great for people who like flexibility and the ability to use their points easily, as fixed-value points are less valuable if you can't use them for the times and dates that work best for you.
Frequent flyers save money by using Avios points when booking a trip for work or personal use, thereby avoiding paying for their journey. Occasional flyers can also earn Avios through spending, and it's easy to do at any time.
When booking flights with Avios points, strategic planning is the most critical factor. The following Avios tips will give you the most opportunities to maximise your redemption potential.
Due to limited award availability, booking early will give you a better chance of securing an award flight on a popular route with Avios points.
You can partially redeem Avios points with an airline programme's cash and Avios award prices, and apply the remaining balance to the award using cash or credit. This is especially useful for those who want to take advantage of Avios savings but do not have enough Avios points to pay for the entire award.
Pooling Avios from family members into one household account allows you to combine your earnings and redeem more Avios points per household as quickly as possible for reward flights.
Avios points can be earned with several airlines, giving travelers extensive travel options. British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus are part of the oneworld alliance so that Avios can be redeemed for flights with those airlines and other oneworld partners. With this broad reach, Avios can be used to redeem for flights between Europe and North America, Asia, and other regions of the world. Knowing the partner airlines is one of the best Avios travel tips that a traveler can have, particularly when traveling internationally.
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Avios as rewards have great power; however, they may not always be the best way to go. In some cases, low-cost cash fares provide greater value than using Avios points.
Be sure to compare cash prices before redeeming Avios points. If the redemption value is low, then you should hold on to your Avios for a future opportunity to redeem them for a higher value.
Many Avios travel rewards users fail to maximize their value because they don't know how to use them effectively. Don’t make these mistakes:
1. Using Avios for routes with high taxes.
2. Not taking advantage of off-peak pricing.
3. Allowing Avios to expire.
4. Missing out on partner airline availability.
Understanding how to collect Avios is only part of the picture; the other piece of the puzzle is how to use them effectively.
Frequent travellers can benefit significantly from travelling on Avios Points Flights because of the ability to earn points quickly and have flexibility when it comes to redeeming Avios Points for flights. Access to Avios Airline rewards is also available through multiple carriers, giving Avios Airlines an outstanding level of value not offered elsewhere.
Less frequent travellers can also take advantage of Avios Reward Flights as a way to book short-haul flights quickly, as well as for booking last-minute tickets for short-haul flights or last-minute flights.
It doesn't take a PhD in travel or finance to master Avios; you need to develop some good habits for earning Avios points, planning your redemptions, and using travel tips documented by other users. By using these three areas of expertise, you'll be able to transform your day-to-day purchases into incredible adventures throughout your lifetime.
Avios offers various ways to book award flights, and whilst many new users may wish to book their very first Avios award flight, experienced users may seek to enhance their Avios award redemption strategy to give them greater flexibility and choice of flights.
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Avios points flights are ideal for short-haul routes, travelling at off-peak times, and booking one-way flights with flexibility, where taxes are low, which makes for the best redemption value.
A beginner can learn how to earn Avios points through credit card use, shopping on affiliate websites, using hotel stays, and flying occasionally with airlines that are Avios partners.
You can use Avios to book flights when ticket prices are at their highest. Although there is value in using Avios to upgrade your current ticket, there are limitations that affect your ability to do so.
There are no blackout dates for Avios flights; however, flight availability is subject to the airline's schedule. To secure the best chance of getting a ticket at your desired time, book your flight as early as possible.
Yes, Avios airlines are good options for travellers flying internationally, especially if they are using other airlines' flights and flying Avios flights during an off-peak season.
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