Avios is the reward currency used by the following aviation loyalty programs:
If you have any (or all) loyalty accounts for these airlines, you can make money and redeem Avios.
You can transfer Avios in any direction at a 1:1 ratio in any direction at a 1:1 ratio in any direction, so 1 British Airways Club Avios is worth 1 Finnair Plus Plus Avios and vice versa. However, since each Avios plan price reward is redeemed slightly differently, you need to put Avios in the right way to take advantage of the sweet spots in each program.
Fortunately, there is now a handy tool to transfer Avios between all seven programs.
How to use the Avios transfer tool
First, make sure you have created a loyalty account to which each program wants to transfer Avios. Creating all seven accounts at once is not essential; however, it is a good idea to start with at least British Airways Club, Iberian Club, Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privileges Club, as these programs usually offer the best value and/or are the easiest to be user-friendly.
Make sure you use the same name, email address and date of birth for each account so you can link. Then head to the Avios website and log in with any of your associated loyalty program account credentials.
After logging in, select “Transfer now”.
The Avios balance of the account you are logged in will be displayed on the left. Select the other Avios airline loyalty programs you want to link to. Please note that Avios round trips to and from Qatar Airways Privileges Club or Finnair Plus must be done through the British Airways Club, although this process can be completed using this tool.
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How to link your Avios account:
- Log in to the account you want to link to
- Passed two-factor authentication
- Confirm the link (after establishment, the linked account is permanent – so double check before submission)
- Your membership number and Avios balance will be displayed under each linked account.
How to transfer Avios between programs:
Select the program to move Avios to and transfer to. No minimum transfer amount is required, nor is there any cost.
Complete two-factor authentication when prompted and wait for a confirmation message. The transfer should be instant.
How to Earn Avios
In addition to having Avios earned credit cards in your wallet, buying Avios, or earning rewards with retail partners, most U.S.-based travelers may transfer Avios from credit card plans.
By earning transferable rewards, you can transfer points or miles directly to the following AVIOS-based program:
The ratio of these transfers is 1:1, except for Bonvoy. Marriott Points are transferred at a 3:1 ratio, with 5,000 Avios bonuses per 60,000 Marriott hotel Bonvoy points (for example, 60,000 points become 25,000 points).
While not every credit card currency transfers it directly to all seven Avios plans, the greatness of this tool is that you can easily transfer rewards between accounts.
For example, if you have a mile of money and want to book an Iberian Award from John Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), you can transfer the miles to the British Airways Club. Then, use the Avios transfer tool to transfer Avios from your British Airways Club account to your Iberia Club account.
Related: Best Avios Earn Credit Cards: Which one is right for you?
Bottom line
While moving Avios between programs may seem complicated at first, it is worth the effort of excellent flexibility and value. For reward travelers, transferring Avios in any direction to an unlimited number of times, no additional costs will be extremely useful.
If you are focusing only on one Avios program, then British Airways Club is a safe choice. This is the largest program with the easiest technology to use. However, each program has its own dessert, so if you have a redemption, consider which option can bring the best value to your Avios and move them to one place with this handy tool.
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