Ask Alisha: British Airways Reward Flight Basics
Alisha23 Jun 2025
Last Updated: 09 Nov 2026
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AlishaLast Updated: 09 Nov 2026
Searching for a British Airways reward flight can feel daunting, which is why we created Reward Flight Finder (RFF) to make the process simpler.
Plenty of sites cater to experienced travellers who know every detail of loyalty programmes.
But many people have some airline points and no real idea where to start, especially if they do not have time to trawl through travel blogs.
So we asked our “Points Professor”, Alisha Collins, to answer questions from UK-based RFF members who are new to booking British Airways flights with points.
Reward flights are airline tickets bought using Avios instead of cash. You'll still pay taxes and fees, but you can save thousands on air travel.
"BA" stands for British Airways, one of Europe's largest airlines serving the UK. A BA reward flight uses Avios on flights numbered "BA", whether operated by British Airways or its partners.
Book Avios reward flights at BA.com across British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, American Airlines, and 12 other Oneworld alliance partners.
Avios is the reward currency of the British Airways Club.
Join the BA Club (previously British Airways Executive Club) to collect Avios when you fly with BA and partners, book holidays, stay in hotels, rent cars, or shop online.
Redeem your Avios for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car hire, and more.
Avios belongs to International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, all using Avios as their currency. UK travellers typically earn and spend through BA.
Airlines run loyalty schemes like supermarkets do, awarding points when you spend with them or their partners.
Historically airlines gave points per mile flown (kilometres never caught on), hence why many still call their currency "miles".
Avios is British Airways' reward currency. Members redeem Avios for flights, travel discounts, and other rewards.
The UK's Air Miles programme closed in 2011 after BA bought it, with Avios replacing it. Brits still use "Air Miles" as a generic term for airline points.
Separate Air Miles schemes continue in Canada, the Netherlands, and the Middle East, unconnected to BA or Avios.
You can earn Avios in many ways. Here are the main categories.
Earn Avios on British Airways and all 13 oneworld partners (Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian). Excludes reward flights and industry discounted fares.
Earn Avios booking through BA's hotel partners including Accor, Airbnb, Best Western, Booking.com, Hotels.com, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott.
Avis, Budget, and Zipcar earn Avios. BA occasionally partners with local providers too, check BA.com from your booking location.
The easiest way to earn Avios passively is with a British Airways American Express credit card. The free BA Amex earns 1 Avios per eligible £1; Premium Plus (£300 a year) earns 1.25 Avios per eligible £1, including spending with British Airways and BA Holidays. Both offer welcome bonuses (5k-30k Avios) and Companion Vouchers after £15,000 spend—book two seats for one's Avios.
For the card basics, the Premium Plus rates are changing, not the way you book a reward flight. On 8 September 2026, the card earns 1.5 Avios per eligible £1 on general purchases and 3 Avios per eligible £1 with British Airways or BA Holidays. The latter means 3 Avios, not three times the standard rate. From 7 October 2026, both become 1.25 Avios per eligible £1, so use that figure for future card-spend estimates.
Amex Membership Rewards cards transfer 1:1 to Avios:
Cashback Amex cards (Everyday free/ Cashback £25) offer 5% intro cashback but no Avios path.
Barclays Avios Plus (£240/year) earns 1.5 Avios/£1 + 25k welcome. Capital on Tap converts business cashback to Avios.
Not financial advice. Do your own research and consult regulated advisors.
BA's shopping portal earns 1-25 Avios per £1 across 1,200+ retailers (Apple, John Lewis, M&S). Stack with an Avios-earning card to accelerate your balance.
Convert Nectar points (Sainsbury's, eBay, Argos) to Avios at 400:250 via the Nectar app.
BPme Rewards (BP stations) converts directly to Avios too.
No, Tesco ended the Avios partnership in 2021. Clubcard holders can now convert to Virgin Points instead.
Avios value depends on your redemption: cabin class, destination, Companion Voucher use, and cash alternative all factor in.
Non-flight redemptions (magazines, shopping) floor the value at 0.5-1.5p per point. "Part-pay with Avios" typically yields 0.6-1.0p.
Note: Part-pay flights mix cash + Avios for the ticket (not pure reward flights).
Every year David and Yuki visit her parents in Japan, normally paying ~£7,000 return in Business Class.
Using their BA Amex 2-4-1 voucher, they booked off-peak for 150,000 Avios + £1,200 taxes = £5,800 saved (3.9p per Avios).
Economy would have saved just £500, but the voucher unlocked Business Class they'd otherwise skip.
This is why the Companion Voucher delivers unmatched value.
Sandra books London-New York return: 26,000 Avios + £300 taxes vs. £450 cash.
She saves £150 (0.6p per Avios) and calls it worthwhile regardless of "value".
I target 1p+ per Avios. Nectar's 400:250 ratio = 0.8p baseline, if flights dip below, I shop at Sainsbury's instead.
BA's distance-based pricing varies by route length, cabin class, and peak/off-peak dates (aligned with UK school holidays).
Short-haul economy starts at 4,750 Avios one-way off-peak (London-Amsterdam). Use RFF to see exact requirements across all cabins/routes for the next 12 months.
BA allows Avios part-pay on most flights, but true reward seats (100% Avios) are limited.
Since 2021, BA guarantees 4 Business, 2 Premium Economy, 8 Economy seats per flight at release. First has no guarantee.
Set RFF alerts to grab new availability first.
Flights open 355 days ahead for both cash and Avios bookings.
Search "Book with Avios" on BA.com at T-355, or call the US line (+1-800-325-4504) just before midnight GMT for premium routes like LHR-SYD Business.
Sign up at RFF for instant alerts when seats drop.
BA releases extra reward seats whenever revenue forecasts show empty cabins, typically 2-4 weeks out, 90-120 days ahead, or after cancellations/schedule changes.
Peak holiday routes (LHR-SYD Business, Maldives summer) sell out fast at T-355. High-frequency routes like New York get steady releases.
RFF alerts catch every drop instantly.
"Best" means actually getting where you want to go. London-Moscow gives great points-per-mile, but who wants to go there in 2026?
I target 1p+ per Avios (vs 0.8p Nectar baseline). Avoid long-haul economy (high taxes eat value) and "part-pay with Avios" (usually <1p).
Top value: BA Amex 2-4-1 vouchers for long-haul Business, then Reward Flight Saver deals.
A Companion Voucher lets you book two reward seats for one person's Avios.
In 2021, I used my voucher for 2x Japan Business Class (LHR-NRT): cash price £6,950 vs 150,000 Avios + £1,200 taxes = £5,750 saved (3.9p per Avios).
RFS caps taxes at £35/£99 return (Economy/Club Europe) on 2000+ routes. Delivers 1.5-2.5p per Avios value.
2026 LHR-FRA example: 9,500 Avios + £35 vs £200 cash = £165 saved (1.7p/Avios).
BA's tiered options (18,500 Avios + £1) burn extra points for tiny savings, always pick £35 cap for best value.
Pro tip: Start from low-tax airports (Jersey, Inverness) or position via Amsterdam cash ticket + partner reward leg.
Book 2 reward seats for 1 person's Avios. Earned via BA Amex after £15,000 annual spend.
Yes, if natural spend hits the threshold. Skip manufactured spend.
Long-haul Business delivers 3-5p per Avios. Flexible (change/cancel returns voucher + Avios).
2026 example: 2x LHR-NRT Business = 150k Avios + £1,200 taxes vs £7,000 cash.
Convert Nectar to Avios at 400:250 via the Nectar app or BA.com. Use Avios to book BA, American, Iberia, JAL and other Oneworld flights.
Yes, but skip BA First; the Club World (Business) experience is nearly identical for 25-30% fewer Avios.
LHR-NYC example: First = 68k/80k Avios one-way (off-peak/peak); Business = 50k/60k.
Use Avios for JAL domestic First instead (15.5k short-haul). BA releases First seats sporadically. Set RFF alerts.
BA reward flights often beat Ryanair total cost when you factor lounge access, 32kg bags, Fast Track, Club Europe seats, and primary airports.
2026 AMS example: Ryanair EIN £40+bag fees vs BA 8,500 Avios + £25 (lounge/priority/32kg included).
Ryanair wins pure cash, loses on comfort/flexibility/long-haul access.
Yes, typically £550-650 Business, £280-350 Economy return from UK. Use Reward Flight Saver (£35/£99 caps) for 1.5-2.5p/Avios value.
Minimize taxes: Start in Jersey/Inverness, or cash to AMS/MAD + Oneworld reward leg.
Same thing,"reward" (UK/Europe) = "award" (US). Pure Avios tickets either way.
Join RFF free for real-time availability.
*Not financial advice. Do your own research. RFF discusses but doesn't provide financial products.
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