Do you have American Express Membership Rewards points piling up and dream of flying to exciting destinations? If so, you're in the right place! Converting your Amex points to Avios, the loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, can unlock incredible travel opportunities. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, to help you maximize your travel rewards. Let's get started on turning those points into your next adventure! ✈️
Step 1: Understanding Avios and American Express Membership Rewards
Before you dive into transferring points, it's crucial to understand what Avios are and how they relate to your American Express Membership Rewards.
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| How To Convert American Express Points To Avios |
What are Avios?
Avios are the loyalty points used by several airlines within the International Airlines Group (IAG). The primary programs that use Avios are:
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British Airways Executive Club: This is perhaps the most well-known program for Avios. It's excellent for short-haul flights within Europe and offers good value on specific long-haul routes, especially when using their "Reward Flight Saver" option.
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Iberia Plus: Iberia is the flag carrier of Spain. Its Avios program can be particularly valuable for flights to and from Spain, and sometimes offers better redemption rates than British Airways for certain routes, especially transatlantic flights.
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Aer Lingus AerClub: The national airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus also uses Avios. This program can be a sweet spot for flights between North America and Ireland.
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Qatar Airways Privilege Club: Qatar Airways also uses Avios, and importantly, you can freely move Avios between your British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts at a 1:1 ratio, and vice-versa. This flexibility can open up even more redemption options.
American Express Membership Rewards (MR)
American Express Membership Rewards is a flexible points program. This means your points aren't tied to a single airline or hotel chain. Instead, you can transfer them to a variety of travel partners, including the Avios programs mentioned above. This flexibility is one of the biggest strengths of Amex MR points.
Step 2: Ensure You Have an Avios Account
To transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Avios, you must have an existing Avios account with one of the participating airlines (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or Qatar Airways). If you don't have one, it's a straightforward process to set one up.
Creating an Account
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Choose your primary Avios program: While you can later link and transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus (and Qatar Airways), it's best to start with one. British Airways Executive Club is a popular choice due to its broad network and partnerships.
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Visit the airline's website: Go to the website of your chosen Avios program (e.g., ba.com for British Airways Executive Club).
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Sign up: Look for the "Join" or "Sign Up" option. You'll typically need to provide your personal details, including your name, address, and email. Make sure the name matches the name on your American Express account to avoid any transfer issues.
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Note your membership number: Once you've successfully created your account, you'll receive a membership number. Keep this number handy as you'll need it for the transfer process.
Step 3: Link Your American Express Account to Your Avios Account
QuickTip: Pause at transitions — they signal new ideas.
This is a critical step that establishes the connection between your Amex points and your chosen Avios program.
Navigating the American Express Website
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Log in to your American Express online account: Go to the American Express website for your region (e.g.,
americanexpress.com/us -
Access the Membership Rewards section: Once logged in, navigate to the "Membership Rewards" section. This is usually found under a "Rewards" or "Benefits" tab.
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Find "Transfer Points" or "Travel Partners": Within the Membership Rewards portal, look for an option like "Transfer Points," "Airline Partners," or "Frequent Traveler Participants."
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Select your desired Avios partner: You'll see a list of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Find British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, or Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
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Link your account: Click on the Avios partner you wish to transfer to. You'll be prompted to "Add Another Account" or "Link Account."
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Enter your Avios membership details: Carefully enter your Avios membership number and any other required information, such as your billing address. Ensure all details precisely match what you provided when creating your Avios account. Mismatches can cause delays or even failed transfers.
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Confirm the linking: Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the linking of your accounts. American Express will verify your details with the Avios program.
Step 4: Check for Transfer Bonuses (Crucial for Maximizing Value!)
This is where savvy travelers truly shine! American Express frequently offers transfer bonuses to its airline partners, including Avios.
Why Transfer Bonuses Matter
A transfer bonus means that for every Amex point you transfer, you'll receive more than the standard 1:1 ratio. For instance, a 30% transfer bonus to Avios means 1,000 Amex points would become 1,300 Avios instead of 1,000. These bonuses can significantly boost the value of your points, often making redemptions much more attainable or allowing you to book higher-class travel.
How to Find Transfer Bonuses
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Check the American Express Membership Rewards portal: When you're on the "Transfer Points" page on the Amex website, look for banners or announcements indicating current transfer bonuses.
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Subscribe to travel rewards blogs: Many travel blogs and websites track current transfer bonuses across various loyalty programs. Subscribing to their newsletters is an excellent way to stay informed.
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Monitor Avios and Amex announcements: Keep an eye on official communications from British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and American Express.
It's highly recommended to wait for a transfer bonus if your travel plans aren't immediate. A 25-50% bonus can make a huge difference in how much value you get from your points.
Step 5: Determine Your Transfer Amount and Initiate the Transfer
Once your accounts are linked and you've checked for any bonuses, you're ready to transfer!
QuickTip: Reread for hidden meaning.
Key Considerations Before Transferring
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Conversion Ratio: The standard conversion ratio from American Express Membership Rewards to Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways) is typically 1:1. This means 1,000 Amex points become 1,000 Avios. Remember, this is before any transfer bonuses are applied.
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Minimum Transfer Amount: There's usually a minimum transfer amount, often 1,000 Membership Rewards points, and transfers usually occur in increments (e.g., 100 or 500 points).
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Transfer Time: While some transfers can be instant, it's generally advised to allow up to 5 business days for your Avios to appear in your account. During peak times or with technical issues, it could take longer. Plan accordingly, especially if you're trying to book a popular redemption with limited availability.
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Confirm Award Availability (Optional but Recommended): If you have specific travel dates or flights in mind, it's a good idea to check for award availability before transferring your points. Avios redemptions, especially for premium cabins, can be limited. You can check availability directly on the British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus websites.
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Transfers are Final: Once you transfer your Amex points to Avios, they cannot be transferred back to your American Express Membership Rewards account. So, be certain of your decision!
The Transfer Process
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Specify the transfer amount: On the American Express transfer page, enter the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer. The system will usually show you how many Avios you will receive, including any applicable bonus.
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Review the details: Double-check the Avios program you're transferring to, the number of points, and the total Avios you'll receive.
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Confirm the transfer: You'll likely need to confirm the transfer using a security measure, such as your American Express card's CVV or a one-time password.
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Await confirmation: American Express will send you an email confirmation of your transfer request. You'll typically receive another email from the Avios program once the points have landed in your account.
Step 6: Redeeming Your Avios for Flights
Now for the exciting part – using your newly acquired Avios!
Key Redemption Strategies
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Log in to your Avios account: Go to the website of the Avios program where you transferred your points (e.g., British Airways Executive Club).
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Search for Reward Flights: Look for the "Book with Avios" or "Spend Avios" section.
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Enter your travel details: Input your departure and arrival airports, dates, and number of passengers.
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Flexibility is Key: Be flexible with your travel dates and even airports if possible. Award availability can vary significantly. Off-peak dates often require fewer Avios.
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Consider "Reward Flight Saver": For short-haul flights on British Airways, the "Reward Flight Saver" option can offer excellent value, requiring fewer Avios and very low cash co-pays.
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Utilize Partner Airlines: Your Avios can be used on flights operated by partner airlines within the Oneworld alliance (for British Airways and Iberia) or other airline partners. This can open up many more routes. For example, using British Airways Avios to book flights on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines can be a great use of points for US domestic travel.
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Watch out for High Carrier Charges: While Avios can offer fantastic value, be aware that some redemptions, especially on British Airways long-haul flights, can come with significant fuel surcharges and taxes. Always compare the cash price of a ticket to the Avios + cash option to ensure you're getting good value. Iberia and Aer Lingus often have lower surcharges than British Airways for similar routes.
Step 7: Explore Avios Grouping and Combining
One of the most powerful features of Avios is the ability to combine them between different programs.
Household Accounts
British Airways Executive Club allows you to create a Household Account. This lets you pool Avios with family members living at the same address, making it easier to accumulate enough points for larger redemptions.
Combining My Avios (CMY)
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
You can move Avios freely between your accounts with British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club using the "Combine My Avios" feature.
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Log in to one of your Avios accounts: For example, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account.
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Find "Combine My Avios": This option is usually found under the "Manage My Account" or "My Avios" section.
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Select the accounts to combine: You'll be able to choose which accounts you want to transfer Avios from and to.
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Enter the amount: Specify how many Avios you want to move.
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Confirm the transfer: The transfer is usually instant.
Why is this useful?
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Better Redemption Rates: Sometimes, an award flight might cost fewer Avios through Iberia Plus than British Airways Executive Club for the same route.
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Lower Surcharges: Iberia and Aer Lingus generally have lower surcharges on their award flights compared to British Airways.
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Access to More Availability: While generally the same, there can sometimes be minor discrepancies in award availability between the programs.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Express Membership Rewards balance?
You can check your American Express Membership Rewards balance by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" section. Your current points total will be prominently displayed.
How to create a British Airways Executive Club account?
To create a British Airways Executive Club account, visit ba.com, look for the "Join" or "Sign Up" option, and follow the prompts to register with your personal details. You'll receive a membership number upon successful creation.
How to link my British Airways Executive Club account to American Express?
Log in to your American Express Membership Rewards account online, go to the "Transfer Points" or "Airline Partners" section, select British Airways Executive Club, and enter your BA Executive Club membership number and other required details to link the accounts.
How to find out about American Express transfer bonuses to Avios?
Check the American Express Membership Rewards portal frequently, subscribe to reputable travel rewards blogs and newsletters, and monitor official announcements from Amex and Avios partners.
Tip: Read once for gist, twice for details.
How to calculate the Avios I'll receive from an Amex transfer?
The standard conversion is 1:1 (1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Avios). If there's a bonus, simply multiply your desired Amex points by the bonus percentage (e.g., 1,000 Amex points with a 30% bonus = 1,000 * 1.30 = 1,300 Avios). The Amex transfer portal will typically show you the exact amount.
How to know how long an Amex to Avios transfer will take?
American Express generally states an estimated transfer time of up to 5 business days, though many transfers often complete within 1-2 days or even instantly. It's best to plan with the longer estimate in mind.
How to check for Avios award availability before transferring?
You can check for Avios award availability directly on the British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus websites by logging into your Avios account and searching for "Reward Flights."
How to combine Avios from different programs (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus)?
Log into one of your Avios accounts (e.g., British Airways Executive Club), find the "Combine My Avios" feature (often under "Manage My Account" or "My Avios"), and follow the instructions to transfer Avios between your linked accounts.
How to maximize the value of my Avios redemptions?
To maximize Avios value, consider short-haul flights, especially those with low cash co-pays (like British Airways' Reward Flight Saver), utilize off-peak travel dates, and explore redemptions on partner airlines which might have lower surcharges.
How to avoid high taxes and fees when redeeming Avios?
Focus on redeeming Avios for flights with lower taxes and fees. Generally, flights departing from the UK can have high surcharges. Consider redemptions on Iberia or Aer Lingus, which often have lower fees, or for flights on partner airlines where surcharges may be less.
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