Which Airlines Accept Avios Points?

Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe

Avios is a shared travel-rewards currency used by several airline loyalty programs. The key distinction is that a small group of airlines uses Avios directly, while many more partner airlines can be booked with Avios through one of those programs. Award availability, pricing, fees, and booking rules depend on which loyalty account you use.

What Are Avios?

Avios is a loyalty currency rather than a separate airline program. Members collect Avios in an eligible airline loyalty account and then spend them on rewards offered through that account.

According to IAG Loyalty, the rewards business began as Air Miles in 1988 and evolved into Avios in 2011. The currency has since expanded beyond its original British Airways and Iberia connections.

Avios can be collected from eligible flights, credit-card programs, hotel bookings, car rentals, shopping portals, and other partners. Depending on the program, they may be used for:

• Reward flights
• Cabin upgrades
• Part payment on eligible cash bookings
• Hotel stays and car rentals
• Seats, bags, or other travel extras
• Selected products, experiences, dining, or charity donations

Which Airlines Use Avios Directly?

The following airlines operate loyalty programs that use Avios as their reward currency:

LEVEL is an IAG airline brand, but it does not operate a separate Avios loyalty program. Eligibility for earning or spending Avios on a LEVEL itinerary depends on the loyalty program, flight number, operating airline, and booking channel.

Which Partner Airlines Can You Book With Avios?

Avios can be used for more than the seven airlines listed above. Participating programs also provide access to many partner flights. For example, The British Airways Club allows members to book British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, and other oneworld or partner rewards when seats are available.

As of July 2026, the active oneworld member airlines include:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines

Which of these airlines can be booked, how much the trip costs, and whether it can be booked online depend on the Avios program you use. Additional non-oneworld relationships also vary by program.

How to Earn Avios

Avios can be collected through flying and many everyday activities. However, the earning formula is not the same across every program.

Earn Avios from eligible flights

Add the correct loyalty-program number to your reservation before traveling. The Avios earned may depend on:

• The marketing airline shown by the flight number
• The operating airline
• The ticket price or eligible spending
• The cabin and fare class
• The flight distance
• Your status level in the loyalty program

For example, British Airways-marketed flights generally award Avios according to eligible spending and the member’s Club tier. Some partner flights still use distance, cabin, and fare class.

Earn through credit cards and transferable rewards

Eligible co-branded cards and bank reward programs may earn or transfer points to an Avios account. Availability and transfer ratios vary by country, bank, card, and airline program.

Earn through shopping and travel partners

Depending on your location and account, you may also collect Avios from:

• Online shopping portals
• Hotel bookings
• Car rentals
• Vacation packages
• Airport parking or transfers
• Retail and lifestyle partners
• Promotional bonus offers

Follow the partner’s tracking instructions before completing the purchase. In many cases, missing non-flight Avios cannot be claimed if the correct portal or account link was not used.

Use only one frequent-flyer program per flight

A single eligible flight normally earns rewards in only one loyalty program. Entering an Avios membership number means you generally cannot also collect miles for that flight in another airline program.

How to Redeem Avios for Flights

Reward flights are usually the first option travelers consider because they can provide strong value. The basic booking process is:

1. Choose the Avios program. Decide whether British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Finnair Plus, or another supported account offers the best route and price.
2. Log in before searching. Many airline websites display reward availability only after the member signs in.
3. Select the reward-flight option. Do not use the normal cash-flight search unless the program instructs you to do so.
4. Search flexible dates. Reward inventory is limited and may differ from ordinary paid-seat availability.
5. Confirm the operating airline and cabin. A codeshare number can affect whether a partner award is available.
6. Review the full price. Check the Avios amount, taxes, airport charges, carrier fees, and any booking or service fee.
7. Read the change and cancellation rules. These can differ by airline, program, and booking channel.
8. Compare the reward with the cash fare. A low Avios price is not automatically a good deal if the cash charges are high.

There Is No Universal Avios Reward Chart

The number of Avios needed cannot be predicted from distance alone. The old idea that every flight within a particular mileage band has one shared Avios range does not apply across the entire Avios network.

Taxes, Fees, and the Value of an Avios Reward

A reward flight is not necessarily free. Most bookings require a cash payment for some combination of:

• Government taxes
• Airport or passenger charges
• Carrier-imposed charges
• Booking or service fees
• Partner-airline surcharges

The same route can have different Avios and cash costs when booked through different programs. Compare the complete price, not just the points total.

Simple Avios value calculation

Use this formula to estimate the value you receive:

(Comparable cash fare − reward-ticket cash charges) ÷ Avios used

For example, suppose a flight costs $500 in cash or 40,000 Avios plus $100 in taxes and fees:

($500 − $100) ÷ 40,000 = $0.01 per Avios

That equals one cent of value per Avios. This calculation is only a comparison tool. It does not create a permanent cash value for your points.

Other Ways to Use Avios

Flights are only one redemption option. Available alternatives depend on the account and market.

The official Avios spending guide lists flights, hotels, car hire, and other eligible rewards. Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club also offer selected program-specific products, services, or partner conversions.

How to Transfer Avios Between Airline Programs

Members who hold more than one supported Avios account can often link those accounts and move Avios between them. The British Airways Club identifies the following transfer partners:

• Iberia Club
• AerClub
• Vueling Club
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Finnair Plus
• Loganair Loyalty

Transfers between a member’s supported, linked accounts are generally completed at a 1:1 ratio. This means one Avios leaves one account and becomes one Avios in the other account.

Basic account-linking process

1. Create an account in each loyalty program you plan to use.
2. Make sure your first name, surname, date of birth, and email address match where required.
3. Enable two-factor authentication if the programs require it.
4. Open the official transfer or “Combine My Avios” service.
5. Authenticate both accounts.
6. Select the direction and number of Avios to move.
7. Check both balances and save the transfer confirmation.

Finnair’s official transfer guidance states that supported transfers are free, use a 1:1 ratio, and normally appear almost instantly.

When Do Avios Expire?

Avios expiration is controlled by the program holding the points. The shared currency does not create one universal expiration rule.

Tips for Maximizing Avios

A strong Avios strategy focuses on the complete trip rather than simply finding the lowest points number.

• Search before transferring. Confirm the seat, Avios price, taxes, and cancellation rules first.
• Compare more than one Avios program. The same partner flight may have different pricing or fees through different programs.
• Check nearby dates. Midweek, off-peak, or shoulder-season travel may provide more reward options.
• Compare one-way and round-trip searches. Separate searches can uncover seats that a combined itinerary does not display clearly.
• Compare with the cash fare. Cheap paid tickets are often a poor use of a large Avios balance.
• Review every segment. A connection may cost more because each flight can be priced separately.
• Watch the expiration date. Complete an activity that the specific program recognizes before the deadline.
• Do not add flights solely to earn more. Extra segments add time and risk, while reward flights generally do not earn Avios.
• Use promotions carefully. A transfer or purchase bonus is useful only when it supports a redemption you actually need.
• Keep records. Save boarding passes, ticket numbers, receipts, and screenshots until all expected Avios have posted.

The best Avios redemption is not always the trip with the lowest points price. It is the option that provides useful travel, reasonable cash charges, suitable dates, and acceptable change rules.

Comparison of Avios Programs

Although the currency name is shared, each loyalty program controls its own earning rates, partners, reward prices, service channels, and expiration rules.

Common Avios Problems and Troubleshooting

No reward seats appear

Try nearby dates, one-way searches, different cabins, or a different Avios program. A seat available for cash is not necessarily available as a reward.

An eligible partner flight does not appear online

Confirm the marketing and operating airlines. Then check the program’s current partner page and official booking instructions. Some eligible itineraries may not display through every website or app.

Account linking fails

Compare the name, date of birth, email address, and account security settings. Even a nickname, missing middle name, or old email address can prevent automatic matching.

Avios from a flight are missing

Allow the program’s normal posting period, then submit a missing-credit request. Keep the ticket number and boarding pass until the Avios appear.

The displayed reward price changed

Reward inventory can disappear while you search, and the price may change when a different flight, date, cabin, or cash-and-Avios option is selected. Recheck the complete itinerary before transferring points or confirming payment.

The transfer arrived but the reward is gone

Airlines do not normally hold a reward seat merely because you are moving Avios. Search again, consider nearby dates, or check whether the transferred balance can be used through another supported partner.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Avios offers access to a wide airline network, but it is not one single loyalty program with one award chart. British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar Airways, Finnair, and Loganair use Avios directly, while many oneworld and additional partner flights can be booked through participating programs.

Before redeeming, choose the program carefully, confirm reward availability, compare the full Avios-and-cash cost, and review the change and cancellation rules. Keeping account information matched and monitoring program-specific expiration dates will also make the shared Avios ecosystem easier to use.

Once your reward flight is booked, comfort can matter on a long journey. This guide to 5 Wired Noise Cancelling Earbuds Perfect for Your Next Flight covers another practical part of preparing for air travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Avios?

Avios is a shared loyalty currency used by several airline programs. Members can collect it from eligible flights and partners, then use it for rewards such as flights, upgrades, hotels, car rentals, or travel extras, depending on the program.

Which airlines use Avios directly?

British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar Airways, Finnair, and Loganair use Avios in their airline loyalty programs.

Can Avios be used on partner airlines?

Yes. Participating programs allow Avios redemptions on eligible oneworld and other partner flights. Examples include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Royal Air Maroc. Availability and pricing depend on the program used.

How can I earn Avios?

You may earn Avios from eligible flights, credit cards, transferable bank rewards, hotels, car rentals, shopping portals, vacation packages, and other program partners. Earning options vary by country and loyalty account.

Can Avios be transferred between airline programs?

Yes. Supported accounts include The British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Finnair Plus, and Loganair Loyalty. Personal details must match, and account linking or two-factor authentication may be required.

Is there one Avios reward chart for every airline?

No. Reward pricing can depend on the loyalty program, airline, route, distance, cabin, travel date, number of flight segments, and cash option. Always use the calculator or booking tool of the program through which you plan to book.

Do Avios expire?

Yes, if the account has no qualifying activity for the period specified by its program. Many Avios programs use a 36-month inactivity period, while Finnair Plus generally uses 18 months. Check the rules of the account holding the Avios.

Can I use my Avios to book a flight for someone else?

Many Avios programs allow a member to book an eligible reward for another traveler. Enter the passenger’s correct legal name and review any household-account, nominee, or family-account restrictions before confirming the reservation.

Sources

1. IAG Loyalty: About Us — Avios history and the current airlines using the currency
2. British Airways: About Avios — collection, spending, transfer partners, and expiration guidance
3. British Airways: Collecting Avios on Flights — current earning methods and partner-flight rules
4. British Airways: Reward Flights — reward booking, pricing, partners, and cash charges
5. oneworld Member Airlines — current alliance membership
6. Finnair: Transfer Avios Between Loyalty Programs — account linking, 1:1 transfers, security requirements, and transfer timing