Avios is a loyalty forex created by the Worldwide Airways Group (IAG), which shaped after British Airways and Iberia Airways merged in 2011. At present, 4 airline loyalty packages use Avios as a factors forex: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
One of many distinctive traits of this partnership is that Avios may be simply transferred between the 4 packages that use it as a factors forex.
This characteristic can turn out to be useful if in case you have factors sitting round in separate accounts and want to maneuver them round to make the most of a selected program’s candy spot.
What Are the Completely different Kinds of Avios?
The concept of getting 4 completely different loyalty packages that use the identical Avios forex could be a bit complicated at first.
To be clear, the 4 airways have separate loyalty packages: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
Nonetheless, what’s distinctive is that the 4 separate loyalty packages use the identical factors forex, Avios, for incomes and redeeming. On this sense, you may consider every loyalty program as a distinct “flavour” of Avios.
Moreover, you may freely switch between completely different flavours of Avios at a 1:1 ratio, which may be helpful for a number of causes.
For instance, it’s simple to earn British Airways Avios, because it’s a switch accomplice with many transferable factors currencies in North America. Different flavours of Avios are harder to entry; nonetheless, since you may switch Avios between packages, you may basically entry all 4 by means of British Airways Avios.
In the same vein, every loyalty program has quite a lot of candy spots. Somewhat than reserving, say, Qatar Airways Qsuites with British Airways Avios, you may stretch your factors farther by making a redemption with Qatar Airways Avios as an alternative.
How one can Earn Completely different Kinds of Avios
In North America, it’s simpler to return by sure kinds of Avios than others.
British Airways Avios
Of the 4 flavours of Avios, British Airways Avios are by far the best to earn.
In Canada, you may entry British Airways Avios as a switch accomplice of American Categorical Membership Rewards, RBC Avion, and HSBC Rewards. Amex MR and Avion factors switch at a 1:1 ratio, whereas HSBC Rewards has a 25:10 switch ratio.
You can even earn British Airways Avios straight with the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card.
Canadian Credit score Playing cards for Incomes British Airways Avios
| Credit score Card | Finest Provide | Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
100,000 MR factors $499 annual payment |
100,000 MR factors | $1,976 |
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|
70,000 MR factors $250 annual payment |
70,000 MR factors | $1,654 |
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|
90,000 MR factors $699 annual payment |
90,000 MR factors | $1,646 |
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|
75,000 MR factors $199 annual payment |
75,000 MR factors | $1,561 |
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|
As much as 77,000 MR factors $99 annual payment |
As much as 77,000 MR factors | $1,419 |
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|
50,000 Avios $165 annual payment |
50,000 Avios | $899 |
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|
As much as 80,000 HSBC Rewards factors First Yr Free |
As much as 80,000 HSBC Rewards factors | $724 |
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|
30,000 MR factors $156 annual payment |
30,000 MR factors | $636 |
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|
35,000 RBC Avion factors $120 annual payment |
35,000 RBC Avion factors | $580 |
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|
35,000 RBC Avion factors $120 annual payment |
35,000 RBC Avion factors | $580 |
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|
35,000 RBC Avion factors $175 annual payment |
35,000 RBC Avion factors | $525 |
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|
35,000 RBC Avion factors $399 annual payment |
35,000 RBC Avion factors | $301 |
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|
20,000 RBC Rewards factors $120 annual payment |
20,000 RBC Rewards factors | $280 |
Apply Now |
Furthermore, there are occasional switch bonuses of as much as 50% from all three packages. In case you handle to make the most of considered one of these promotions, your Avios steadiness will develop fairly shortly.
In case you dabble in US bank cards, Amex US Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Final Rewards additionally switch to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio. As is the case in Canada, it’s not unusual to see a switch bonus of as much as 50%.
On either side of the border, Marriott Bonvoy factors will also be transferred to British Airways Avios at an optimum ratio of 60,000 factors = 25,000 Avios.
Aer Lingus Avios
The Irish flag provider Aer Lingus additionally makes use of Avios as a factors forex.
Other than transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors on the optimum ratio of 60,000 factors = 25,000 Avios, you’ll must look to US bank cards for switch companions.
Amex US MR, Bilt Rewards, and Chase Final Rewards all switch to Aer Lingus Avios at a 1:1 ratio.
It’s value noting that there are occasional switch bonuses to Aer Lingus Avios; nonetheless, the promotions have a tendency to return round much less usually, and after they do, it’s normally with a decrease bonus than we see with British Airways Avios.
Iberia Avios
Iberia Avios is a switch accomplice of Amex US MR, Bilt Rewards, and Chase Final Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Whereas there have been some situations of switch bonuses previously, they are typically fairly rare and don’t go above 30%.
You can even switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to Iberia Avios on the optimum ratio of 60,000 factors = 25,000 Avios.
Qatar Airways Avios
The most recent member of the Avios household, Qatar Airways, joined this system in March 2022. This addition was an enormous boon for the Avios program, because it gave technique to a brand new candy spot for Qatar Airways Qsuites.
Whereas it could appear shocking that Qatar Airways determined to hitch forces with Avios, Qatar Airways is the one largest shareholder in Worldwide Airways Group, the dad or mum firm of Avios.
Within the US, Citi ThankYou factors switch to Qatar Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio.
In any other case, you’d must look to a much less beneficial switch from a resort loyalty program:
- 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors = 25,000 Qatar Airways Avios
- 10 Hilton Honors factors = 1 Qatar Airways Avios
- 5 World of Hyatt factors = 2 Qatar Airways Avios
As you may see, the best technique to earn any flavour of Avios is thru British Airways on either side of the border.
Whereas it’s technically potential to entry different airways’ Avios both by way of resort packages or different factors currencies, your finest guess is to enter the Avios ecosystem by means of British Airways, after which switch to different flavours from inside.
How one can Switch Avios Between Accounts
Previous to shifting Avios between accounts, you should definitely examine that you simply’ve used the very same data to join every program. In any other case, there could also be prolonged delays in transfers, and also you’ll must name in to get your factors to hit the right account.
In the same vein, you aren’t in a position to switch your Avios to a different particular person’s account with this characteristic. You may solely switch Avios between your personal accounts with the beneath strategies.
Transferring Avios to/from Aer Lingus AerClub
On Avios.com, you may switch factors between the three European flavours of Avios.
In case you’re trying to switch Avios into or out of Aer Lingus AerClub, that is the best choice. After getting all your accounts arrange, head to the Avios web site to finish the switch.
It’s vital to notice that if you wish to switch on Avios.com, you should login together with your Aer Lingus AerClub account or Vueling Membership account. Vueling is a Spanish ultra-low-cost provider which was bought by IAG in 2012.
In any other case, you’ll be directed to British Airways Govt Membership or Iberia Plus.
Transferring Avios to/from British Airways Govt Membership
For all intents and functions, British Airways Govt Membership is the perfect hub for transferring Avios.
You may switch Avios from British Airways Govt Membership to and from Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
To provoke a switch, head to the British Airways web site, sign up to your account, choose this system to which you’d prefer to switch Avios, and proceed as per the directions.
Notice that you simply’re unable to switch factors from British Airways Govt Membership to Iberia Plus in case your British Airways account is part of a family-sharing pool.
In case you’re planning to switch Avios to Iberia Plus, there are different restrictions to pay attention to, that are coated beneath.
Transferring Avios to/from Iberia Plus
On the Iberia Plus web site, you may switch Avios to and from British Airways Govt Membership and Aer Lingus AerClub.
Nonetheless, there are two odd caveats to bear in mind throughout this course of.
Transferring factors to and from Iberia requires your Iberia account to be at the very least 90 days previous, and have had some type of exercise previously three years. These necessities can pose a problem for anybody who doesn’t have a tendency to interact with Iberia recurrently.
Subsequently, to have your Iberia Plus account out there for Avios transfers, you’ll both have to switch a small sum of factors from Amex US MR, Chase Final Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy, or discover one other technique to organically earn Iberia Avios. This may be completed by way of a procuring portal, crediting a paid flight to this system, or by buying factors outright.
Transferring Avios to/from Qatar Airways Privilege Membership
On the Qatar Airways Privilege Membership web site, you may switch Avios to and from British Airways. Other than finishing the switch from inside British Airways Govt Membership, you may also provoke it on the Privilege Membership dashboard.
After you’ve linked your British Airways Govt Membership account, you’ll be capable of transfer factors freely between the 2 utilizing the “Mix my Avios” button the dashboard.
Merely enter the variety of Avios you want to switch, click on “Transfer my Avios”, and the brand new steadiness will probably be mirrored immediately.
When Ought to You Switch Avios Between Accounts?
The primary motive for transferring Avios between accounts is to make the most of every program’s candy spots.
For instance, a flight between Montreal and Doha in Qatar Airways Qsuites has roughly the identical value utilizing British Airways Avios and Qatar Airways Avios at 70,000 Avios. On this case, there’s no tangible distinction in reserving with one program or the opposite.
Equally, by persevering with onward to Bangkok in Qsuites, the full value would come to 95,000 Avios in both program.
Nonetheless, in case you have been so as to add an extra leg in Qatar Airways First Class from Doha to Bangkok, you’d most definitely need to e book utilizing Qatar Airways Avios for extra beneficial pricing. Actually, you’d pay the identical 95,000 Avios as you’d have for 2 legs in enterprise class, which is a spectacular deal.
However, to e book one leg in enterprise class and one leg in First Class utilizing British Airways Avios, you’d wind up with a cumulative sum of two separate flights, which might be considerably increased than reserving with Qatar Airways Avios.
Other than the Qatar Airways Qsuites candy spot, you possibly can think about transferring Avios within the following circumstances:
- Switch Avios to British Airways Govt Membership to make the most of a Multi-Service Award or short-haul flights in Europe, Asia, or Oceania
- Switch Avios to Iberia Plus to make the most of the North America–Madrid candy spot for 34,000 Avios in enterprise class
- Switch Avios to Aer Lingus AerClub to make the most of low cost financial system flights between North America and Eire
Conclusion
Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia Airways, and Qatar Airways all use Avios as a factors forex, regardless of having completely different loyalty packages.
One distinctive characteristic of Avios is you can freely switch them between Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
So long as you’ve arrange your accounts persistently and adopted all the guidelines, it’s fairly simple to finish the switch. Transferring Avios round between flavours may be helpful in case you’d prefer to leverage a selected program’s candy spot and have to high up your account.
