Are you ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities with Avios? American Express offers some fantastic ways to earn Avios, whether directly through their co-branded British Airways cards or by converting Membership Rewards points. Let's dive in and explore how you can maximize your Avios earnings!
Step 1: Understanding the Two Paths to Avios with American Express
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it's crucial to understand that there are two primary ways to collect Avios with American Express in the UK:
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Direct Earning through British Airways American Express Cards: These cards are specifically designed for Avios collectors. Every eligible pound you spend directly earns Avios that are automatically credited to your British Airways Executive Club account.
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Converting American Express Membership Rewards Points: Many other American Express cards, like the Preferred Rewards Gold Card or The Platinum Card, earn Membership Rewards points. These are a flexible currency that can be transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways Executive Club (for Avios), at a specific conversion rate.
Knowing which type of card you have (or are considering) is the first crucial step to understanding your Avios earning potential.
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| How Many Avios Points From American Express |
Step 2: Earning Avios with British Airways American Express Cards
If you're serious about collecting Avios for British Airways flights, these co-branded cards are often the most straightforward and rewarding option.
Sub-heading: The British Airways American Express® Credit Card (No Annual Fee)
This is an excellent entry-level option for those new to Avios or who prefer not to pay an annual fee.
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Earning Rate: You'll earn 1 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.
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Welcome Bonus: New cardmembers can often receive a welcome bonus, for example, 5,000 Avios after spending a certain amount (e.g., £2,000) within the first three months. Always check the latest offer when applying, as these can change!
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Companion Voucher: A key benefit! If you spend £15,000 in a Cardmembership year, you'll earn a British Airways Companion Voucher. This voucher allows you to:
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Take a companion with you on a British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus reward flight in Economy for no extra Avios (you both still pay taxes and fees).
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Or, if traveling solo, get a 50% discount on the Avios price of an Economy ticket.
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Sub-heading: The British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
For more frequent flyers and higher spenders, this card offers accelerated earning and a more versatile Companion Voucher, though it comes with an annual fee.
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
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Annual Fee: This card typically has an annual fee (e.g., £300).
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Earning Rate: You'll earn a superior 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.
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Accelerated Earning on BA Purchases: You can earn an even higher rate, such as 3 Avios per £1, when you spend directly with British Airways or BA Holidays.
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Welcome Bonus: This card often features a more substantial welcome bonus, for instance, 30,000 Avios after meeting a higher spending requirement (e.g., £6,000) within the first three months. Again, verify the current offer!
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Companion Voucher: Similar to the no-fee card, you earn a Companion Voucher after spending £15,000 in a Cardmembership year. The significant advantage here is that this voucher can be used for reward flights in any cabin, including Business Class (Club World), and often grants access to additional reward seat availability. This can represent huge value for premium cabin travel.
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Annual Bonus: Some iterations of this card also offer additional tiered Avios bonuses, for example, 10,000 bonus Avios for every £20,000 spent, up to three times a year (30,000 bonus Avios annually).
Step 3: Converting American Express Membership Rewards Points to Avios
Many American Express cards, particularly their charge cards, earn Membership Rewards (MR) points, which are incredibly flexible.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Conversion Rate
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The standard conversion rate for Membership Rewards points to Avios (British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub) is generally 1 Membership Rewards Point = 1 Avios.
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Minimum Transfer: You typically need a minimum of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to initiate a transfer, and transfers must often be in increments of 500 or 1,000 points.
Sub-heading: Popular American Express Cards Earning Membership Rewards
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American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card:
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Earning Rate: Earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on most purchases.
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Bonus Categories: Earns 2 points per £1 on airline spending and foreign currency purchases, and 3 points per £1 with American Express Travel.
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Welcome Bonus: Often offers a generous welcome bonus, e.g., 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending a certain amount (e.g., £3,000) in the first three months.
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Annual Fee: The first year is usually fee-free, with an annual fee in subsequent years.
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Bonus Points: May also offer additional bonus points for hitting spending thresholds (e.g., 2,500 bonus points for every £5,000 spent, up to five times per year).
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The Platinum Card® from American Express:
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Earning Rate: Generally earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on eligible purchases. In some regions (like India), this can be 1 MR point per Rs. 40 spent, with potential for 3x rewards on international spends.
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Welcome Bonus: Known for substantial welcome bonuses, often 50,000+ Membership Rewards points, after meeting significant spending requirements.
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Annual Fee: This is a premium charge card with a significant annual fee, justified by extensive travel benefits like lounge access, hotel elite status, and travel credits.
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Sub-heading: The Transfer Process
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Log in to your American Express Online Account: Access your Membership Rewards dashboard.
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Select "Travel Partners" or "Transfer Points": Navigate to the section dedicated to transferring your points to loyalty programs.
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Choose British Airways Executive Club (Avios): Select British Airways from the list of airline partners.
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Enter your British Airways Executive Club Number: Ensure this matches your Avios account exactly to avoid delays.
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Specify the Amount to Transfer: Enter the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to convert.
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Confirm the Transfer: Review the details and confirm the transaction.
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Transfer Time: Transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways Executive Club are typically instant in the UK, though it's always wise to allow up to 48 hours in case of technical delays.
Step 4: Maximising Your Avios Earning Potential
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Simply having an Avios-earning card is a great start, but here's how you can supercharge your collection:
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Utilise Welcome Bonuses: These are often the quickest way to accumulate a large sum of Avios. Ensure you meet the spending requirements for any sign-up bonuses.
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Put All Eligible Spending on Your Amex Card: From groceries to utility bills, make your American Express card your go-to for all everyday purchases. However, always pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that will quickly outweigh any Avios earned.
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Leverage Bonus Categories: If you have a card like the Amex Gold, use it for airline bookings or foreign currency transactions to earn extra points.
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Take Advantage of Spending Thresholds: Some cards offer bonus Avios or Companion Vouchers after you reach a certain annual spend. Plan your spending to hit these targets if the benefits justify it.
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Refer Friends: Many American Express cards offer referral bonuses. If a friend or family member applies for an Amex card through your referral link and is approved, you could earn a significant amount of bonus Avios or Membership Rewards points.
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Monitor for Transfer Bonuses: American Express occasionally offers promotional transfer bonuses for Membership Rewards to Avios (e.g., a 30% or even 40% bonus). These are prime opportunities to boost your Avios balance significantly! Keep an eye on Amex and Avios websites, or travel hacking blogs, for announcements.
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Combine with Other Avios Earning Methods: Don't forget other ways to earn Avios, such as flying with British Airways or their oneworld alliance partners, shopping via the Avios eStore, or using Avios hotel and car rental partners.
Tip: Keep the flow, don’t jump randomly.
Step 5: Redeeming Your Hard-Earned Avios
Collecting Avios is only half the fun; the real reward comes when you use them!
Sub-heading: Popular Redemption Options
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Reward Flights: This is often the most popular and value-driven way to use Avios. You can book flights with British Airways and its oneworld partners (like Qatar Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, etc.).
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Flight Upgrades: Use your Avios to upgrade an existing cash booking to a higher cabin.
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Part-Payment for Flights: If you don't have enough Avios for a full reward flight, you can often use a combination of Avios and cash to reduce the cost of a flight.
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Hotel Stays and Car Hire: While generally offering less value than flight redemptions, Avios can also be used for hotels and car rentals.
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Experiences: Occasionally, Avios can be redeemed for experiences or attractions.
Sub-heading: Tips for Maximising Redemption Value
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Aim for Long-Haul Business or First Class: This is where Avios often provide the most significant value, especially when combined with a Companion Voucher from the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card.
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Book During Off-Peak Times: British Airways has peak and off-peak calendars. Off-peak dates require significantly fewer Avios for the same flight.
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Book in Advance: Reward seat availability can be limited, especially for popular routes and cabins. Booking as far in advance as possible (up to 355 days out) increases your chances.
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Be Flexible: If your travel dates are flexible, you'll have more success finding Avios availability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to calculate Avios points from American Express?
You calculate Avios based on your card's earning rate: typically 1 Avios per £1 for the free British Airways Amex, 1.5 Avios per £1 for the Premium Plus, or 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Avios from other Amex cards.
How to transfer Membership Rewards points to Avios?
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
Log in to your American Express online account, go to the Membership Rewards section, select "Travel Partners," choose British Airways Executive Club, enter your account details, and specify the points to transfer.
How to maximize Avios earning with American Express cards?
Utilize welcome bonuses, put all eligible spending on your Amex card, leverage bonus categories (e.g., airline spend), aim for spending thresholds to earn Companion Vouchers, refer friends, and look out for Membership Rewards transfer bonuses.
How to get a British Airways Companion Voucher with American Express?
You earn a Companion Voucher by spending £15,000 on your British Airways American Express Credit Card or Premium Plus Card within a Cardmembership year.
How to know the current American Express Avios transfer bonus offers?
Regularly check the American Express UK Membership Rewards website, the Avios.com website, and reputable points and miles blogs for announcements on transfer bonuses.
How to use Avios for flight upgrades?
Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account, go to "Manage My Booking" for an existing cash flight, and check if an upgrade option using Avios is available.
QuickTip: Focus more on the ‘how’ than the ‘what’.
How to combine Avios from different American Express cards?
If you have multiple British Airways American Express cards, the Avios generally accrue to the same British Airways Executive Club account. If you earn Membership Rewards, transfer them all to your single Avios account.
How to check my Avios balance from American Express earnings?
Once your points are transferred or earned, your Avios balance will be visible within your British Airways Executive Club account online or via the Avios app.
How to claim missing Avios from American Express card spending?
Contact American Express customer service for issues related to points not appearing from card spending, or British Airways Executive Club for missing Avios after flight activity.
How to find the best value for Avios redemptions?
Focus on long-haul business or first-class reward flights, particularly during off-peak dates, and utilize any Companion Vouchers to maximise the value of your Avios.
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