Avios are the loyalty currency of The British Airways Club and of its partner programs. A flight you pay for with them is called a Reward Flight. British Airways says Reward Flights let you fly with British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, airlines in the oneworld alliance and other partners. Air Canada’s own loyalty program is a separate one: Aeroplan, which Aeroplan Inc., an Air Canada subsidiary, operates. From Canada, Avios come from the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card, from converting RBC Avion points and from transferring Amex Membership Rewards points.
Can you use Avios on Air Canada flights?
The airlines British Airways names for Reward Flights are British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, the oneworld alliance’s airlines and other partners. Avios.com’s list adds Aer Lingus. Air Canada sits in a different alliance: it is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Its loyalty program is Aeroplan, which Air Canada’s subsidiary Aeroplan Inc. operates. The Aeroplan hub covers using points on Air Canada.
How is a Reward Flight priced?
On British Airways flights, a Reward Flight costs an Avios amount plus a fixed cash cost that covers taxes, fees and carrier charges. With Iberia, American Airlines and the other oneworld partners, that cash part varies rather than staying fixed. RBC’s terms for its British Airways card say your travel date decides whether you pay the peak or the off-peak Avios amount.
This page has no price table: the Avios amount is peak or off-peak depending on your travel date, so check the price for your dates on ba.com.
Avios.com says Reward Flight seats open for booking 355 days before departure. British Airways also offers Avios part payment, which trims a flight’s cash price using as little as 1,000 Avios. Beyond flights, avios.com lists hotels and car hire among the things Avios pay for.
RBC’s card terms say Avios have no cash value, so this page gives no cents-per-point figure.
How do Canadians collect Avios?
- The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite. Once you’re approved for the card, you’re enrolled in The British Airways Club automatically if you aren’t already a member. The card earns Avios on qualifying net purchases. Its earn rates are in the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite review.
- RBC Avion points. RBC’s rewards terms let British Airways Club members convert Avion points to Avios, 1 point for 1 Avios. Minimums and timing are on Avion transfer partners.
- Amex Membership Rewards. American Express lists British Airways Club as a partner at 1,000 points for 1,000 Avios. The rest is on the Membership Rewards transfer partners page.
- Travel. British Airways says Avios can be collected on holidays, hotel stays and car hire as well as flights. If Avios from a British Airways or partner flight don’t arrive, you have six months after the flight to claim them.
Can you buy Avios?
Yes: British Airways says that if you’re short of Avios for a reward, you can buy more. Avios.com caps buying and gifting at 200,000 Avios a calendar year, in one purchase or several. A purchase also keeps your whole balance active for 36 months from the purchase date. Purchases start from the Avios page on ba.com.
Can you move Avios to other programs or people?
British Airways lets you move Avios in either direction between your British Airways Club account and Iberia Club, AerClub, Loganair Loyalty, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus. You can also give Avios to other people. A household account pools Avios for up to six people in your household, children included.
Do Avios expire?
British Airways says your Avios stay in your account as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios within each 36 months. If three years pass with no Avios collected or used, they expire and are taken off your account.
How do Avios compare with Aeroplan?
| Avios (British Airways Club) | Aeroplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | British Airways’ Reward Flights include airlines in its oneworld alliance | Air Canada is a founding member of the Star Alliance |
| Who runs it | The currency of The British Airways Club and its partners | Aeroplan Inc., an Air Canada subsidiary |
| How the points price is set | An Avios amount plus cash; on British Airways the cash part is fixed, and the date sets peak or off-peak | On Air Canada, related to the ticket’s cash price; on the flight rewards chart, by distance flown |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1,000 points for 1,000 Avios | 1,000 points for 1,000 Aeroplan points |
For RBC Avion holders weighing the two, see Avion vs Aeroplan.