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Airline Loyalty Rewards

British Airways Executive Club Loyalty Program Review

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BritishAirways.com

Executive Club

London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London City Airport (LCY)

• Reward Flight Finder

1.25 cents per point

• Galleries First Lounge, Concorde Room
• List of U.S. British Airways Lounges & Locations, Hours & More
• How To Access British Airways Lounges
• Best Ways To Earn British Airways Avios
• How To Earn Avios With the British Airways Avios eStore
• Best Ways To Redeem British Airways Avios
• Best Ways To Book British Airways First Class With Points
• Best Ways To Book British Airways Business Class With Points
• Best Ways To Use 10,000 (or Fewer) British Airways Avios
• Guide to the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
• How to Upgrade to Business and First Class on British Airways Flights
• British Airways Review – Seats, Amenities & More
• Guide to British Airways’ Direct Routes from the U.S.
• British Airways Boarding Groups & Process
• British Airways Baggage Fees

British Airways Overview

British Airways’ mileage program is  Executive Club , and Avios is the reward currency.

You can collect Avios not only on British Airways flights, but also through partner airline flights, hotel stays, car rentals, credit card use, and even  online shopping  and dining.

You can also purchase Avios if you are short of a reward, share them with a Household Account, or transfer them to friends for a fee.

Joining British Airways Executive Club

Joining the British Airways frequent flyer program is easy and free. Sign up  online  and begin collecting and redeeming Avios immediately.

How To Sign In to Your British Airways Executive Club Account

Sign in on the British Airways  homepage . You’ll need to enter your login ID and PIN/password.

Viewing Your Account Activity

You can manage your account on the  My Executive Club  page.

Points Expiration

To prevent your Avios from expiring, all you need to do is earn, spend or buy Avios just once every 36 months.

British Airways Mileage Program

British Airways Executive Club has 4 status tiers:

• Blue (general member)

Executive Club Blue:

• Earn and redeem Avios and Tier Points
• No travel benefits
• Member-only offers

Executive Club Bronze:

All Blue benefits, plus:

• 25% Avios bonus
• Priority check-in and boarding
• Free seat selection 7 days prior to departure

Executive Club Silver:

• All Bronze benefits, plus:
• 50% Avios bonus
• Free seat selection at booking
• Additional baggage allowance
• Business class lounge access, including preflight dining at the Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) lounges

Executive Club Gold:

• All Silver benefits, plus:
• 100% Avios bonus
• First class lounge access, including preflight dining at the Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) lounges
• First class check-in
• Additional reward flight availability
• Reaching 2,500 Tier Points: 1 companion upgrade voucher
• Reaching 3,500 Tier Points: 2 companion upgrade vouchers

Executive Club Gold Guest List:

Strictly speaking, BA’s Gold Guest List is not a Tier of its own. However, it does have some distinctive benefits, so it’s definitely important to include here.

You must already hold Gold status and have earned 5,000 Tier Points in a membership year and 3,000 Tier Points in each year thereafter. That’s a lot of flying!

Its benefits are as follows:

• Concorde Room access at London Heathrow Terminal 5 and New York JFK Terminal 7
• You may gift 1 Gold status and 2 Silver statuses to others
• You can force open reward availability for 5 seats, twice per year, so long as A, B, D, and T fare classes are still available
• Eligibility to invite a second guest to BA departure lounges, and a first guest to the Arrivals lounge
• Hilton Honors Diamond status

Hot Tip: Check out our full list of U.S. British Airways lounges , as well as our guide on how to access British Airways lounges .

Value of British Airways Executive Club Elite Status

Many travelers aspire to Executive Club Gold for access to BA first class lounges and Oneworld Emerald status for partner airline first class lounges. Even with Gold, however, you do not get the flight upgrades that are a treasured perk of many competitor programs.

Executive Club Silver is primarily distinguished for business lounge access. Executive Club Bronze is a typical entry-level elite status. At these levels, some travelers opt into alternate Oneworld programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage .

Earning British Airways Executive Club Elite Status

To reach each level of Executive Club status, you must earn a set number of Tier Points each year:

• Bronze: 300 Tier Points (or take 25 BA flights)
• Silver: 600 Tier Points (or take 50 BA flights)
• Gold: 1500 Tier Points
• Gold Guest List: 5,000 Tier Points (3,000 thereafter to retain)

However, British Airways has temporarily reduced the number of Tier Points needed to offset the many months of lost travel due to the pandemic.

The new thresholds are as follows:

• Bronze: 225 Tier Points (or take 18 BA flights)
• Silver: 450 Tier Points (or take 37 BA flights)
• Gold: 1125 Tier Points
• Gold Guest List: 3,750 Tier Points (2,250 thereafter to retain)

Hot Tip: See our article “ Coronavirus (COVID-19): Airline Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates ” for full details on Executive Club updates for 2021 and beyond.

See the Executive Club Tier Points guide and calculator to estimate how your flights on British Airways and partners will earn Tier Points (or not).

Lifetime Executive Club Gold

Reaching Lifetime Gold status with British Airways is the ultimate accolade. Achieving it means earning a staggering 35,000 Tier Points.

There is no lifetime status for Bronze or Silver. Some dedicated flyers go on “Tier Points runs,” which are the BA equivalent of mileage runs.

Oneworld Status

With Bronze, Silver, and Gold status you also receive a corresponding Oneworld status (Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald) and the associated benefits when flying with Oneworld partner airlines.

How To Earn Avios

There are tons of ways to earn Avios that you can redeem for flights on British Airways or one of its partners.

Earn Avios by Flying BA

Every time you fly with British Airways or any of its partner carriers, you will collect a minimum of 125 Avios per flight.

Unlike the U.S. where miles earned are progressively becoming more monetary-based, this means you can still make “mileage runs” and earn extra Avios by having many transfers on your itinerary without having to break the bank.

Your Avios and Tier Points earnings depend on travel class and fare class.

Executive Club elite status members earn even more Avios: 25% bonus for Bronze, 50% bonus for Silver, and 100% bonus for Gold.

Earn Avios by Flying BA’s Partner Airlines

British Airways is a member of the Oneworld alliance which means that you can earn Avios by flying with other members like Alaska Airlines and Iberia. You can also earn Avios by flying with non-Oneworld airlines including Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, LATAM, and some Loganair flights.

Each partner is subject to its own Avios and Tier Points earning rules. It gets complicated, so check carefully .

Earn Avios With Credit Cards

There is only 1 British Airways-branded credit card in the U.S.: the British Airways Visa card . You will earn 5x Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL during your first 12 months of card membership. This reduces to 3x Avios per $1 thereafter.

Cardholders will earn a bonus of 3x Avios per $1 spent on stays booked directly with hotels within the first 12 months of ownership. This reduces to 2x Avios per $1 thereafter.

All other purchases will earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.

British Airways also has partnered with 4 transferable points programs. These partnerships make it easy to transfer points to your Executive Club account whenever you need some Avios for an award booking.

You can use American Express transfer partners , Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners , Capital One miles  , and Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways Executive Club. Both Amex and Chase points currencies transfer to Avios at a 1:1 transfer ratio. Capital One miles transfer to Avios at a 2:1.5 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. If you transfer a chunk of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll even get an additional 5,000 Avios.

Other Ways To Earn Avios

See our article on the best ways to earn lots of British Airways Avios for many opportunities to earn Avios with British Airways’ travel and retail partners. Plus, earn even more when shopping with the British Airways Avios eStore shopping portal .

Branded and Partnered Credit Cards

There are a number of credit cards that can help you earn lots of Avios that can be redeemed for amazing flights.

British Airways Visa Signature ® Card

The most simple method is using Chase’s co-branded British Airways Visa card .

This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.

The British Airways Visa Signature ® Card is a stellar option for travelers who regularly travel with the airline. From all of the Avios the card helps you earn, to a 10% discount off cash tickets, and the award flight statement credits, you can get tons of value out of the card each year.

• 3x Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases
• 2x Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations purchased directly through hotels
• 1x Avios per $1 on all other purchases
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. (when booking through the designated website)
• Travel Together Ticket after $30,000 in card spend in a calendar year
• Up to $600 in award flight statement credits each year
• No foreign transaction fees
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage insurance
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Limited time offer! Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!
• Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
• Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It’s fast, easy and secure!
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

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• Airline Credit Cards
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Rewards Center

British Airways Executive Club

• The Best Ways to Use 10,000 British Airways Avios
• Ways to Use British Airways Avios Without Huge Fuel Surcharges

This co-branded card offers its owners one of the most valuable perks in the airline loyalty world: the British Airways Travel Together Ticket .

Once it’s earned, you can redeem it for a buy-one-get-one-free international award ticket . In other words, you would be spending 100,000 Avios on a redemption for 2 people rather than 200,000.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards might be the best way to find your way to a ton of Avios. Chase cards have plenty of bonus categories to boost your Avios account.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
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Chase Ultimate Rewards

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Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel SM
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
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Chase Freedom Unlimited ®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
• Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
• Ability to pool points
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
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Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• Excellent cell phone insurance
• Mastercard World Elite benefits
• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards ® , our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
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If you’re a business owner, see our list of recommended Chase business credit cards .

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Cards

Like Chase, earning Membership Rewards is a quick way to get your hands on tons of Avios thanks to tons of bonus categories.

Recommended American Express Cards

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

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American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
• Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash : get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• Access to American Express transfer partners
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
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Business owners can review our list of the best Amex business cards .

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Earning Marriott Bonvoy points is another great way to get some Avios. The transfer bonus of 5,000 Avios for every transfer of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points just makes it even better.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

• Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
• 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
• 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
• Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card from Chase ® !
• Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Card.
• 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
• Hotel Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card . The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status
• 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (valued up to 35,000 points)
• One year complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription
• Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Card.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• The 75,000 or 100,000 Bonus Point Offer for the Marriott Boundless
• 23 Valuable Benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card , the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• 15 Elite Night Credits per year
• 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
• 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
• $250 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
• Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy ® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy ® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card ® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Plan It ® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms apply.
• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card  is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy   program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 25 Elite Night Credits each year
• Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
• Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
• Complimentary Platinum Elite status
• Steep annual fee of $650 ( rates and fees )
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card
• Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton ® or St. Regis ® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® : Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck ® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Best Credit Cards with Priority Access

Capital One Miles Credit Cards

You can earn Capital One miles and redeem them for Avios at a 2:1.5 ratio.

Recommended Capital One Miles Cards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Access to Capital One transfer partners
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Fraud coverage
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Benefits of the Capital One VentureOne Card
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• Capital One Platinum Card vs. VentureOne and Venture Cards [Detailed Comparison]
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Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards

A few hotel programs will let you transfer points to British Airways. However, this is almost always a poor use of hotel points.

Unless you are really in a bind, save your hotel points for hotel award stays at your destination.

How To Redeem Avios

Now that we’ve listed the best ways to use Avios, let’s talk about some other details. British Airways Executive Club is significantly different from traditional airline frequent flyer programs. By learning how spending Avios works, you can have fantastic travel experiences!

Traditional airline award charts are priced by geographic region, meaning the miles price is fixed regardless of distance or flight connections in that region. This gives you the traditional 25,000-mile U.S. domestic round-trip award ticket familiar to many travelers.

British Airways has a distance- and segment-based award chart, and understanding it is crucial to get value from flight awards.

Each Avios award redemption is priced by distance for  every segment  of a trip; prices add up fast!

New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD) in economy nonstop, for example, is 9,000 Avios.

If no nonstop is available and you need to connect in Cleveland (CLE), the  price almost doubles  to 15,000 Avios since each segment is priced separately. New York (JFK) to Cleveland (CLE) is 7,500, and Cleveland (CLE) to Chicago (ORD) is another 7,500. Avios charges you for both!

How Much Do British Airways Avios Award Flights Cost?

British Airways no longer publishes an award chart. Instead, you can check out our table below for the most up-to-date redemption costs.

While we’re talking about the overall “cost” of Avios award flights, we should remind you here that in addition to the amount of Avios, you’ll have to pay an additional cash amount that includes taxes, fees, and carrier charges.

There are 4 types of prices, and each varies based on flight distance:

• British Airways flights have peak and off-peak prices
• Iberia flights have peak and off-peak prices that differ slightly from British Airways flights
• Single-partner awards are 1 price with no peak or off-peak dates
• Multi-partner awards are priced by total trip distance

Flights under 650 miles start at 4,750 Avios, except in North America where they start at 7,500 Avios.

List of Alliance and Non-Alliance Airline Partners

British Airways partners with many different airline frequent flyer programs; below are the members of Oneworld alliance. BA is also partners with  Aer Lingus .

Peak or Off-Peak Dates

British Airways has peak and off-peak dates published every year. Our article,  Airline Peak & Off-peak Award Charts: The Ultimate Guide , has these dates across all applicable airlines, including BA.

First vs. Business Class

Not all airlines or flights have all classes of service.

Beware of domestic “first class” flights that are not worth the price! If you were to fly from New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) on an American Airlines narrow-body Airbus A320, paying 51,500 Avios for “domestic first” instead of 13,000 Avios in economy  probably isn’t worth it .

In contrast, some of the coolest Avios awards are for short first or business class flights that grant you access to incredible airline lounges. This may be the cheapest way to experience Cathay Pacific’s The Wing in Hong Kong (HKG) or the Qantas International First Lounge in Sydney (SYD).

Multi-Carrier Award Flights

Multi-carrier means a combination of 2 airlines on a single ticket, and these awards have their own chart.

These awards are  expensive , and you’ll most likely do better by booking separate airlines on separate tickets.

The multi-carrier Avios price is the same regardless of connections, one-way, or round-trip:  only total distance matters . However, taxes, fees, and carrier charges vary widely, so beware!

In general, premium economy is 1.5 times the economy price, business is 2 times economy, and first class is 3 times economy.

What Is Reward Flight Saver?

The British Airways Reward Flight Saver can save you cash on British Airways Europe flights and Comair flights.

Your account must have earned Avios in the past 12 months to be eligible for Reward Flight Saver.

With Reward Flight Saver, award flights on British Airways within Europe and Comair in Africa are charged reduced, flat fees. This is in lieu of other taxes and surcharges.

Reward Flight Saver is  automatically applied  on qualifying itineraries.

Here’s an example:

Thanks to BA’s Reward Flight Saver, you can pay as little as 8,000 Avios for a one-way flight in Club Europe from London to Barcelona (BCN). Passengers are given the option of selecting an Avios and cash combination that best suits their individual wallet.

Hot Tip: At first glance, paying just 70 cents for the 20,000 Avios option might appear to be a steal. However, given Upgraded Points’ valuation of Avios at 1.25 cents per Avios, it puts the total for that option at $250.70, whereas the lowest Avios/highest cash option comes in at a true value of around $200.

What Is Part Payment?

British Airways and some partner airlines may have several payment options that allow you to use a combination of Avios and cash.

If you want to use fewer Avios or don’t have enough to complete a booking, you can choose an option that includes more cash.

Here are the Avios and cash options for London (LHR) to Doha (DOH) with Qatar Airways as an example:

British Airways Avios and cash gives you options to save Avios or save cash. A similar option is available when booking cash tickets to save money by using some Avios.

Hot Tip: Do the math before deciding whether to use your Avios to save money on a flight. In this example, as the amount of money you can save increases, the amount of Avios required to save the money increases disproportionately. This means that the “£10 off with 1,000 Avios” option gives you a value of 1.3 cents per Avios whereas the “£165 off with 38,500” option Avios gives you a value of just 0.4 cents per Avios.

Beware of Surcharges on British Airways Flights

Extremely high fees are added to the Avios award price of many British Airways flights. Exceptions are flights within Europe that qualify for Reward Flight Saver. In recent times, British Airways has also brought down the fees on other long-haul flights, including transatlantic.

In some extreme cases, it’s not unheard for the cash component of a British Airways award redemption to be as much as directly buying a cash ticket!

The highest of the fees are often those tagged on to redemptions in premium cabins.

If we take a British Airways flight from London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) in Club World (business class) as an example, it would cost 62,500 Avios and a whopping $561 !

Bottom Line:  As a general rule of thumb, short-distance, nonstop flights on partner airlines offer the best Avios value. You may also consider our guide on ways to use British Airways Avios without huge fuel surcharges .

Where To Search for British Airways Avios Award Flights

You can search for British Airways award flights and most airline partners (with the exception of Air Baltic and Loganair) on ba.com . For Aer Lingus, you can search avios.com or aerlingus.com .

Hot Tip:  Be cautious searching for awards directly on other airline partner websites. Some awards may only be available to their own members, not to partners. For American Airlines, you can only use Avios to book what American shows as MileSAAver awards, not AAnytime awards.

Start 355 Days in Advance

Awards are available up to 355 days before departure, and there are no award holds or waitlists.

Hot Tip:  British Airways can book partner awards up to 355 days before departure, but American Airlines is only 330. With British Airways,  you can access awards weeks before American Airlines members can!

How To Search for British Airways Rewards

Start at ba.com , navigate to Book, then Book a flight with Avios .

When the search screen says You can break your journey with stopovers , select No, I want to continue without stopovers .

This will search partner flights in addition to British Airways flights.

When searching British Airways rewards flights, select no stopover unless you want to visit London.

Flights may not display on ba.com for various reasons:

• Certain partner airlines are not searched
• “Route unavailable” means the website is not programmed for that route
• Multi-connection flight options are not searched

Online Booking Problems? Call and Waive the Fee

Even if you can’t find an award on the website, the good news is that if an award is available, you can call in to have British Airways agents book it!

Ask the agent to waive the $25 phone booking fee since the flight is unavailable online. They will usually do so if you ask.

Bottom Line:  Many award flights are available online. If not, call to book and ask to waive the $25 booking fee since it is not available online!

How To Get a Free London Stopover

When flying British Airways, you have the option of a free stopover in London.

When the award search screen says You can break your journey with stopovers , select, I want to break my journey and choose my stopovers .

Your London stopover can be a few days or even several months.

Given that the pricing for a stopover is the same as booking the same route with a small transfer at Heathrow on the same day, it makes just as much sense to book 2 separate flights if you are planning on staying in London.

Bottom Line:  To minimize fees, the best London stopover value is between 2 U.K. or European cities near to London rather than long-haul flights.

Use British Airways Executive Club Household Accounts to Pool Avios

You can form a  British Airways Executive Club Household Account where you and up to 6 people at the same address can become a Household to pool Avios. You can even add your kids and have them start earning Avios from an early age.

Awards are deducted proportionally from the Household common pool of Avios, and each household member is able to earn Tier Points and progress through the tiers of the Executive Club.

There are some important restrictions about Household Accounts:

• 1 person is the Head of Household who can add/remove members or change the address (1 address change allowed per 6 months)
• You cannot redeem rewards for members not in the Household, except for up to 5 people added to the Friends and Family list (changes are only allowed once per 6 months; from the first change you have 24 hours to complete all changes before the 6-month freeze)
• Household Accounts cannot use the Combine My Avios tool to move Avios between BA and Iberia; instead, you’ll need an avios.com account
• Members must be 18 years old before being able to spend Avios

Bottom Line: Without a Household Account, British Airways charges fees to transfer Avios to another member (Gold members can transfer for free). The maximum you can transfer in a year is 162,000 Avios, and those are capped at 27,000 Avios per recipient. At $290 per 27,000 Avios to transfer, that is absurd!

Low Cancel Fees = Flexibility!

Avios award tickets have some of the lowest booking fees among major airlines and there are no last-minute ticketing fees!

Change or cancellation fees  for those departing North America are relatively low: $55. If the cash portion of your Avios award ticket is less than $55, then you  only forfeit the cash amount you paid . You don’t pay the full $55 unless your ticket’s fees were $55 or more.

Note that the phone fee is an extra $25 if you don’t change or cancel online.

A U.S. domestic nonstop on American Airlines is only charged $5.60 taxes. If you later cancel, you only lose $5.60… a small price to pay for flexibility!

Quick Guide to Iberia Avios

In 2010, Spanish airline Iberia Airlines merged with British Airways to give you another excellent way to avoid British Airways’ fuel surcharges.

You can also transfer  Amex Membership Rewards ,  Chase Ultimate Rewards ,  Capital One miles , and  Marriott Bonvoy points  to British Airways Executive Club and then to Iberia Plus.

If you want to transfer your Avios from BA to Iberia, sign up for an  Iberia Plus  account. To transfer,  your Iberia account must be at least 90 days old  and have earned Avios to make a successful transfer from British Airways.

After 90 days from Iberia account opening, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account, click on  Manage My Account , and select  Combine My Avios  from the drop-down and then again on the next page.

Select Iberia Plus from the list of programs and enter your Iberia Plus number and PIN.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is british airways executive club.

Executive Club is British Airways’ frequent flyer program.

Why should I join British Airways Executive Club? What are the benefits?

BA Executive Club is free to join.

You can earn points, called Avios, that can be redeemed for travel on BA, its airline partners, and for other things.

Elite status levels in the Executive Club are Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Benefits of status include earning additional bonus miles while flying, discounts on in-flight purchases, priority check in, free bags, lounge access, standby access, seat assignments, and more.

What are Avios?

Avios is the name of the points currency used by British Airways Executive Club. Avios is now the points currency of additional airlines including Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and Iberia, though each program remains separate and has its own elite status and award options.

What are Tier Points?

Tier Points are earned on British Airways and partner flights. Executive Club elite status is earned by Tier Points: 300 for Bronze, 600 for Silver, 1,500 for Gold. Use the Avios and Tier Points Calculator to find out how much you will earn for your flight.

Is there a British Airways credit card?

Yes. We’ve reviewed the British Airways Visa card . You can also transfer Amex Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Capital One miles , and Marriott Bonvoy points to BA Executive Club.

How do I join the BA Executive Club?

You can sign up for the club  by using this link .

What is the BA Executive Club login?

You can sign in to  your Executive Club account here .

Who are the BA Executive Club partners?

BA is a member of the  Oneworld alliance , so partners include all of these airlines  and more . BA also has partnerships with Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, LATAM, and Loganair.

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This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

An excellent use of Avios: British Airways’ Reward Flight Saver redemptions

Avios, the rewards currency of the British Airways Executive Club program, are easy to earn and redeem even if you don't travel to the United Kingdom.

Long-haul premium cabin redemptions booked through the Executive Club program can also require significant fees, taxes and surcharges, making this currency appear less valuable.

However, Reward Flight Savers are a fantastic use of Avios, as they allow you to pay less than $1 per flight in fees, taxes and surcharges. That's about as close to free travel as you can get.

Reward Flight Savers are available on all British Airways-operated flights worldwide in all cabins except first class.

Related: Lower fuel surcharges: Reward Flight Saver rolled out on all British Airways flights

Reward Flight Saver basics

Reward Flight Savers are priced per flight, not per journey. So, if you are flying from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Geneva via London on British Airways, the award is priced based on the distance per segment. Since you'll have a stopover in London, it may be more convenient and a better value to book a paid ticket on another airline with a direct flight.

As well as having the Avios available in your Executive Club account, you must have earned at least 1 Avios in the 12 months before booking in order to take advantage of Reward Flight Saver.

Reward Flight Savers can be especially valuable for last-minute flights, as their fixed prices keep costs low. I have regularly used Reward Flight Savers for flights less than 650 miles a few days in advance when revenue fares were more than $200. That's a fantastic use, based on TPG's Avios valuation .

Reward Flight Saver awards are marked with a blue starburst with a bank note icon above the flight number.

Reward Flight Saver for short-haul flights

Reward Flight Savers are an especially great deal for short-haul flights operated by British Airways to or from the U.K. and within the Caribbean . You will need just 50 British pence (about $0.62) per flight plus Avios for flights less than 2,000 miles.

This is a great option if you are Avios rich. Remember, all Avios redemptions include free checked luggage . You can also use any elite benefits with Oneworld partner airlines like American Airlines .

You can also elect to pay more cash and fewer Avios, if you wish. To get the best redemption value for your Avios, the sweet spot on short-haul redemptions is choosing the 17.50 British pounds ($21.90) option in economy or 25 British pounds ($31.30) in business class.

Reward Flight Savers for long-haul flights

Standard Avios pricing for long-haul flights on British Airways can allow you to fly to Europe in business class for as little as 50,000 Avios each way. There's only one catch: There are very high carrier-imposed fuel surcharges .

If you instead choose the Reward Flight Saver option, you will pay more Avios in exchange for reducing the surcharges to a more reasonable level.

Whether you want to part with more cash or more Avios, the choice is yours.

Here's how the Reward Flight Saver pricing breaks down on two popular routes from the U.S. to Europe with return flights on off-peak dates.

Related: British Airways' Club Suites don't disappoint: On board a retrofitted 777 from London to New York

How to earn Avios

Credit cards.

The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios for everyday spending is by applying for the British Airways Visa Signature Card .

This card — issued by Chase and therefore subject to the 5/24 rule — currently offers 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, making the full bonus worth $1,125.

The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per dollar spent.

Transferable rewards cards

Savvy TPG readers know that we usually recommend sticking with cards that earn transferable points because of their added flexibility. This strategy still applies if you're trying to accrue Avios. British Airways is a transfer partner of Capital One , Chase Ultimate Rewards , American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy , making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn .

Most points transfer from Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%). Meanwhile, Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you'll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

The following cards currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:

• American Express® Gold Card : Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Terms apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you're targeted for a 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card : Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

You can also purchase Avios, which sometimes go on sale .

Bottom line

British Airways rightfully has a bad reputation for its surcharges on redemptions in all classes. The airline has addressed this by allowing Executive Club members to use more Avios in exchange for lower surcharges by way of Reward Flight Savers. On short-haul flights, the option of paying less than a dollar plus Avios on a full-service airline across Europe is tough to beat.

For longer-haul flights, travelers with large Avios balances may wish to take advantage of this option to lower the cash cost of their next redemption.

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How Does British Airways Reward Flight Saver Pricing Work?

British Airways Executive Club is one of the most accessible loyalty programs in the Oneworld ecosystem. However, when it comes to redeeming Avios for flights with British Airways, the taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges are often prohibitively high.

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What is british airways reward flight saver pricing, how to book british airways reward flight saver flights, how to maximize british airways reward flight saver pricing, is british airways reward flight saver pricing a good deal.

Reward Flight Saver pricing is a feature available through British Airways Executive Club , whereby you can choose to redeem more Avios and pay less in taxes, fees, and surcharges on British Airways flights.

This feature can be useful if you’d like to make a redemption for a British Airways flight, but you don’t want to incur the high prices that typically come with doing so.

For example, the standard cost for an off-peak one-way flight in business class with British Airways from Toronto to London is 50,000 Avios plus $865 (CAD) in taxes, fees, and surcharges.

However, with Reward Flight Saver pricing, the same flight prices out at 80,000 Avios plus $350 (CAD) in taxes and fees.

In other words, Reward Flight Saver pricing lets you pay an extra 30,000 Avios to save over $500 (CAD) in taxes and fees.

It’s worth noting that you can still choose to pay the standard rate for the flight, since you can customize the amount of Avios you’d like to apply towards a booking on the check-out page.

If Reward Flight Saver pricing is available on your flight, it shows up as the default option, which we’ll explore in depth below.

Reward Flight Saver pricing was introduced to long-haul flights with British Airways in late 2022 ; however, it’s been available on short-haul flights within Europe, and on British Airways’s short-haul fifth-freedom routes, for quite some time.

Reward Flight Saver pricing can apply to all long- and short-haul routes operated by British Airways in economy, premium economy, and business class, which British Airways refers to as World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, and Club World, respectively.

Unfortunately, Reward Flight Saver pricing isn’t available for flights in British Airways First Class .

To be eligible for Reward Flight Saver pricing, you must have collected at least one Avios in the past 12 months. Otherwise, there aren’t any other requirements to unlock the feature.

Reward Flight Saver pricing isn’t available for redemptions with partner airlines, and it only applies to flights with British Airways booked through British Airways Executive Club.

The following chart summarizes round-trip British Airways Reward Flight Saver pricing for flights from London to destinations around the world, with prices in pounds and US dollars. One-way flights price out at exactly half in terms of Avios and cash.

The process of booking a Reward Flight Saver flight follows the same workflow for making any other Avios booking on the British Airways Executive Club website.

After signing into your Executive Club account, select “Book a flight with Avios” from the menu.

After selecting the cabin class, the total price shown has the Reward Flight Saver pricing pre-selected. From there, simply proceed with your booking as per usual.

It’s worth noting that Reward Flight Saver pricing is optional, and if you wish, you can choose a different combination of Avios and cash by selecting “More pricing options” during the booking process.

While Reward Flight Saver pricing presents you with an option to pay more with Avios and less in taxes and fees for British Airways flights, there are a few optimizations you can make to stretch your Avios even further.

Generally speaking, Reward Flight Saver pricing is most advantageous for last-minute bookings or travel during peak season, when revenue fares for flights are higher.

Since there’s a fixed number of Avios and a set price for taxes and fees required for Avios redemptions, the value you get from Avios will be the highest during such times.

Leverage transfer bonuses

One of the best ways to maximize British Airways Reward Flight Saver pricing is by moving transferable points into your British Airways Executive Club account during a transfer bonus event.

In Canada, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards , HSBC Rewards , or RBC Avion points to British Airways Executive Club.

In the US, you can transfer American Express US Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles , and Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Executive Club.

Many programs put on transfer bonus events throughout the year, typically with a 30% bonus. However, there have also been transfer bonuses of 50% in the past.

By converting points to your Executive Club account during a transfer bonus, you’re effectively reducing the number of points required for any given booking.

For example, a one-way, off-peak flight in business class from Montreal to London costs 80,000 Avios.

By transferring points during a 30% bonus event, the effective cost for that flight is around 62,000 points,  since most points convert to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio.

That’s not much more than the standard off-peak price of 50,000 Avios, and to sweeten the deal even more, you’ll only pay $350 (CAD) in taxes and fees with a Reward Flight Saver booking, versus the $865 (CAD) you’d pay with standard pricing.

Offset costs with fixed-value points

While Reward Flight Saver pricing reduces the otherwise burdensome amount of taxes and fees levied on British Airways flights, it’s still more than what other programs might charge, especially in cabins other than economy.

To help offset the cost, you’ll want to make sure you’re paying for your booking with the right credit card.

If you’re looking to reduce your out-of-pocket costs as much as possible, consider paying the taxes and fees with a card that has points you can use for a statement credit.

For example, Scene+ points and HSBC Rewards are flexible fixed-value points currencies in Canada.

You can charge the taxes and fees for a Reward Flight Saver booking on your credit card, and then use points to offset the cost after the fact.

However, you’ll want to be mindful of which cards cover travel insurance on award bookings , or make sure that you have a separate policy in case your travels are disrupted.

Alternatively, you should use a credit card that provides a good category multiplier on travel to get the best return on your spending.

Book on off-peak days

Flights with British Airways booked through Executive Club are subject to peak and off-peak pricing. You’ll pay more to travel on a peak day, than you will on an off-peak day, and this difference also applies to Reward Flight Saver flights.

For example, on peak days, you’d pay the following amount in Avios for a Reward Flight Saver booking between Toronto and London:

• Economy: 30,000 Avios + $100 (CAD)
• Premium economy: 60,000 Avios + $280 (CAD)
• Business class: 90,000 Avios + $350 (CAD)

By contrast, you’d pay the following amount in Avios on off-peak days for the same flight:

• Economy: 25,000 Avios + $100 (CAD)
• Premium economy: 42,500 Avios + $280 (CAD)
• Business class: 80,000 Avios + $350 (CAD)

Therefore, by combining a Reward Flight Saver flight with travel on an off-peak date, you’ll save on the number of Avios required in any class of service.

Save on cancellation fees for short-haul flights

For short-haul Reward Flight Saver flights, which are typically available in Europe but also on some British Airways fifth freedom routes, it’s possible to save on cancellation fees if your plans change.

Recall that for award flights booked through British Airways Executive Club, if you need to cancel, you’ll typically have to pay $55 (USD) or $58 (CAD), which is usually just subtracted from the refund of your taxes and fees.

However, if your taxes and fees are less than $55 (USD) or $58 (CAD), then you’ll just forfeit whatever that amount is.

With Reward Flight Saver bookings, the taxes and fees on short-haul flights can be as low as $1. Therefore, if you need to cancel your flight, you’ll simply forfeit the $1 paid.

For example, a one-way off-peak Reward Flight Saver flight in business class between Buenos Aires and Rio de Janiero costs 24,250 Avios plus $1 in taxes and fees.

Should your plans change and you need to cancel, you’ll get all of your Avios back, and you’ll only have lost $1.

The same holds true for short-haul Reward Flight Saver bookings made between London and destinations across Europe.

Stack with a British Airways Companion Award eVoucher

In Canada, RBC British Airways Visa Infinite cardholders can earn a Companion Award eVoucher by spending $30,000 (CAD) in a calendar year.

With a Companion Award eVoucher, the number of Avios required for a solo booking is cut in half, or for a couple, the second passenger isn’t charged any Avios.

This means that an off-peak, round-trip Avios redemption between Vancouver and London in business class would cost a solo traveller 90,000 Avios plus $900 (CAD) in taxes and fees, whereas a couple would pay 180,000 Avios plus $1,800 (CAD) in taxes and fees total.

While the taxes and fees certainly add up, especially in the case of a couple, stacking Reward Flight Saver flights with a Companion Award eVoucher can certainly stretch your Avios to the fullest, and reduce the amount of taxes and fees required versus standard pricing.

Reward Flight Saver pricing can offer great value in some circumstances, and since it’s available on both short- and long-haul flights, it’s something you should be aware of if you’re considering a British Airways flight.

When it comes to short-haul flights in Europe, or on British Airways’s fifth freedom routes in the Caribbean or South America, Reward Flight Saver flights are a great deal in any class of service:

• You’ll pay a minimal amount of taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges
• You can cancel the flight at a very low cost
• All British Airways redemptions booked with Avios come with free checked baggage

However, when it comes to long-haul flights, the value of Reward Flight Saver pricing is less clear-cut, since it depends on a variety of factors.

If you acquire Avios during a transfer bonus promotion, or if you have a large balance to begin with, then you might be fine with paying more in Avios to save on out-of-pocket expenses.

On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to maximize the value of your points, you’ll want to crunch the numbers to make sure you’re comfortable with the value offered through Reward Flight Saver pricing.

For example, the standard cost for a one-way off-peak flight from Vancouver to London is broken down as follows:

• Economy: 16,250 + $440 (CAD)
• Premium economy: 32,500 Avios + $525 (CAD)
• Business class: 62,500 Avios + $850 (CAD)

By contrast, Reward Flight Saver pricing for the same flight is as follows:

• Economy: 30,000 Avios + $150 (CAD)
• Premium economy: 47,500 Avios + $330 (CAD)
• Business class: 90,000 Avios + $450 (CAD)

In economy, you’d spend an extra 13,750 Avios to save a total of $290 (CAD) in taxes and fees, which works out to a value of 2.1 cents per Avios.

In premium economy, you’d spend an extra 15,000 Avios to save a total of $195 (CAD) in taxes and fees, which works out to 1.3 cents per Avios.

In business class, you’d spend an extra 27,500 Avios to save a total of $400 (CAD) in taxes and fees, which works out to 1.45 cents per Avios.

We value British Airways Avios at 2 cents per point (CAD).

In this example, you’d get just above our target value with the economy flight, but less in premium economy and business class.

However, if you’re able to acquire Avios during a transfer bonus promotion, the value per Avios would be increased accordingly.

Keep in mind that British Airways releases a minimum of 14 award seats on every flight: eight seats in economy, two in premium economy, and four in business class.

If you’re unable to find award seats at competitive prices with other programs, or if you value direct long-haul flights, then Reward Flight Saver pricing can offer great value. 

In exchange for access to a reliable number of award seats on every flight, you might just have to pay more than you otherwise would for taxes and fees.

British Airways Reward Flight Saver pricing offers Executive Club members the choice of paying more in Avios and less in taxes, fees, and surcharges on British Airways flights.

Reward Flight Saver pricing is available for both short- and long-haul flights, and can provide great value in some situations.

Keep an eye out for the Reward Flight Saver logo the next time you’re searching for a redemption with British Airways, and then be sure to compare what’s available with other options to stretch your points the furthest.

• Earn 15,000 Avios † when you get approved for the card
• Then, earn 35,000 Avios † when you spend $6,000 in the first three months
• Also, earn 10,000 Avios † when you renew the card for a second year
• Plus, earn 3 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent † on British Airways purchases
• And, earn  2 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent†  on dining and food delivery purchases
• Get a Companion Award eVoucher for an Avios redemption on British Airways flights upon spending $30,000 in a calendar year †
• Annual fee: $165 †

Thank you very much for the information you shared, it’s all I’ve been looking for

Did I miss something? That 30% bonus is from the cobalt Amex or the RBC avion til sept22? Thx

The transfer bonus is available from Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Executive Club.

Nice! but I still waiting for Rbc and Hsbc transfer bonusses…

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The Ultimate Guide To Finding BA Avios Availability

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Your Avios rewards points search is over, at least for information.

You’ve got the Avios, you’ve maybe even got the British Airways 2 for 1 Companion voucher from Chase or Amex, but that doesn’t mean you’ve got an actual seat on a plane. Often, that’s the hardest part.

Finding availability using British Airways Avios Points can be a doddle, or a nightmare, depending on where you look, when you look and how crafty you are with seeing when availability changes. Here’s the ultimate guide to finding seats using Avios, including a few very handy tricks of the trade…

Where You Can Use Avios

You can use Avios, the points currency of both British Airways and Iberia, for flights on both airlines, and also on their partners. This includes airlines like: American , Cathay Pacific , Finnair , Japan Airlines , LATAM , Qantas , Qatar and more, all of which are ways you can spend Avios for flights.

The only catch to this is if you’re using a British Airways Amex or Chase 2 for 1 voucher earned from credit card rewards, you must fly on actual British Airways flights, not any operated or codeshared by others. With this huge network of airlines with which you can redeem your Avios, you can redeem your British Airways Avios points on flights in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

Short flights in these regions start at just 7,500 Avios points one way , and can be a great way to save on flights that can be frustratingly expensive with cash, particularly the shortest ones! In other words, Avios can be great for pesky last minute flights, or expensive routes.

How Avios Availability Works

Some airlines, such as British Airways , guarantee at least two seats in business class, premium economy and economy will be made available on each and every flight. At this time, there’s no guarantee for first class availability using Avios on British Airways flights, and most other airlines have no such guarantee either.

When’s the best time to find Avios seat availability for flights?

Available seats using Avios Points generally works like a reverse bell curve. Just think of a bell upside down. The moment a British Airways flight is available for sale, there are usually seats at least two up for grabs where you can use Avios in each cabin except first. They typically go fast, to people like yourself who have done their homework.

But once those initial seats using Avios go, they often disappear for a long time, and then in the coming months, weeks and days before a flight, they reappear, if any seats are left. Basically, airlines want to fill the plane, so as dates start approaching, they are more likely to release seats on the flight using Avios.

Basically, don’t look once and give up if you don’t find any on your first pass – that’s the biggest mistake. Seats come and go all the time, so setting free alerts or checking back can be crucial to success with your Avios. Fortunately, there are now sites which let you do exactly that, and easily.

Peak Versus Off Peak Using Points

If you’re flying on actual British Airways or Iberia flights, you’ll enjoy peak and off peak calendars. Those dates can be found here , and they determine how many Avios you’ll need for your flights. Obviously, peak British Airways dates will require more Avios.

You’ll pay fewer points in all cabins on off peak dates when using Avios points on these airlines, such as 68,000 points for a first class ticket from London to New York, versus the standard 80,000. On all other airlines you’ll always pay the peak rate.

You really don’t need to worry about this on other airlines, because the price you see on British Airways is the price you get – and there’s no better or worse time if you’re booking a flight on one of these other airlines, like Qatar Airways , using your Avios.

Where To Search For Seats Using Avios

There are a variety of ways to search for Avios availability in any cabin, on any route and any plane, and for whatever reason, British Airways is typically the worst way to search!

The very best ways to search for the flights you desire and dates you desire is with Seat Spy , or Reward Flight Finder . You can even set alerts to let you know when and if availability for your points changes. Yes, using SeatSpy, you can search once, set an alert, and the brilliant app will notify you if any seats come back around. The apps offer free and paid options, so you can decide what’s right for you.

Both offer free tools which will show you an entire calendar year of availability using Avios in any cabin, with just one search, unlike BA’s website which only shows you a week of dates at a time, or a few at best. It can take absolutely forever searching for Avios seat availability on British Airways, so save yourself the hassle.

You can’t book seats using Avios or companion vouchers directly from these websites, but they save time in finding what you need, so that you can then go and book quickly on British Airways website, or over the phone with BA too.

You can find availability using your Avios for all the airlines mentioned above at British Airways website, by logging into your Executive Club account, clicking “Executive Club” in the top right corner, logging in, and then clicking “Book” and then “Book A Flight With Avios”. Here’s a shortcut .

Seats on other airlines will appear directly below the search results for British Airways own flights, so be sure to scroll down the page. Classic mistake – most people forget to scroll to the bottom of the page and miss tons of opportunity. Direct flights will appear before other options.

Finding The Tricky Seats

Certain destinations are always en vogue, and always nearly impossible to book using Avios, if you don’t think outside the box. If your home base is London, it can be worth searching from Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam and other nearby cities for long haul flights, and simply booking separate tickets to get to one of these cities.

For example, Helsinki often offers fantastic points availability using your Avios from your Executive Club on Japan Airlines and Finnair. It can be worth booking a cheap flight, or using points to book separate flights to a city like this to take advantage of open availability.

How To Set Free Seat Alerts

In entirely made up statistics, 90% of people who can’t find the seats they’re looking for simply haven’t set up seat alerts. Some people are just better at maximizing their British Airways Executive Club accounts than others! Someone who searches at noon on November 1st could forever miss out on seats released later that day or the next morning.

Rather than spend the entire working day refreshing availability, the best thing to do is set seat alerts, and there are two ways to do this. Once again, Redemption Finder and Seat Spy . These free tool allows you to set alerts and receive an email if any seats open up on British Airways flight only.

The other, slightly more robust tool: ExpertFlyer . This is a paid tool, but searches for seats more often and allows you to search on British Airways and also on partner airlines like Cathay, Qantas, American and so forth. You can set as many alerts as you like, for as many dates as you can swing and you’ll get emailed if your dream seats become available. That’s clutch!

Take What Seats You Can Get

One underrated benefit of using points is that change fees are minimal, especially compared to change fees associated with cash tickets. For this reason, it’s great to pinch seats as they come along, even if you can’t get two in the same cabin initially.

For example, if two people are hoping to fly to Tokyo and only one first class and one business class seat are made available, it can be worth booking the two. This gets both passengers on the same flight and for around $35 , you’ll be able to move the other passenger up or down to the desired cabin if availability changes.

In these situations something is better than nothing, so it’s better to take what’s available and improve rather than wait for a perfect score. If nothing ever opens, you can always cancel.

Upgrading Cash Flights With Avios

You can upgrade flights booked directly with British Airways using Avios. Key word: booked with British Airways. If for example you book British Airways flights through American Airlines, you won’t be able to upgrade the flight using Avios Points.

Upgrades using Avios generally only make sense from Premium Economy to Club World, or Club World to First. This is due to minimal extra taxes and fees. Upgrades from economy to premium using Avios generally incur steep cash fees on the side, which takes away a lot of value. Upgrading Premium Economy to Business Class is one of the best ways to use Avios .

Earning More Avios

There’s at least 23 easy ways to earn Avios , many of which don’t even involve flying. Without a doubt, the fastest is via a lucrative welcome bonus from a rewards credit card. British Airways partners with Chase and American Express in the USA, and Amex in the UK to provide credit cards which can yield hundreds of thousands of points. Here are the best current offers for US cards…

Gilbert Ott

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly... More by Gilbert Ott

Join the Conversation

How do I find Avios flight destination availability by simply entering dates (or a date range or month) please?

This post was so helpful, thanks a lot for sharing this information. I am new to avios and I feel that in few minutes I got many tricks that made me feel like a pro.

This may be the nicest comment ever written on the blog!

Thank you for this article. We have thousands of Avios points but we are finding it almost impossible to find a seat in BA Business class using our points. We signed up for ExpertFlyer but now we are confused as to whether they will show us seats that can be paid for by Avios. Please enlighten! Thank you,

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Simple, easy to use and accurate. Has saved me many hours of searching the BA website. It is a sanity-saving service which helps you find the BA reward seats you want. I really present how BA makes it hard to find reward availability on their website so this site is a gem.

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Reward Flight Finder Gold membership is worth the minimal cost of £5. Saves so much time as you just set up your preferences and they let you know when the seats open up. Easy.

So, within 12 months of joining Reward Flight Finder, and having paid £36 in subscription fees, I have saved myself £7,627 With these savings I would happily pay much, much more for this service.

Wonderful tool for seeing all availability ahead for a year. Makes it much easier to plan.

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We have now booked three holidays using the world search as we know the dates we can fly around school term dates and then it's just a matter of deciding where in the world we fancy going! Brilliant!

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Dream getaways since 2014, helping thousands of members find their dream getaways since 2014, it’s easy to collect avios points but a lot harder to enjoy them..

We think people should be able to use their points to see the world. Not just to save money using reward flights but to experience new adventures and make cherished memories.

The only snag is that finding reward flights can be frustrating. Airlines only release a limited number of reward seats on each flight. New reward seats can become available anytime, day or night.

Frustrated by the challenges of booking with Avios on British Airways, we built the original reward flight tracker, BA Redemption Finder, now Reward Flight Finder. We do the searching for you. All you need to do is set your Alerts. We do the rest for you.

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Change is in the air for Reward Flight Saver

Our brand new Reward Flight Saver offers you a way to buy flights for a fixed Avios price plus a lower cash amount to cover charges.

This means you could be flying to London for just $200 and 50,000 Avios.

Benefits of Reward Flight Saver

Your next trip could be closer than you think with Reward Flight Saver. Travel return to London from $200 plus 50,000 Avios in World Traveller.

Return Club World flights are available from $700 plus 160,000 Avios, while World Traveller Plus Reward Flight Saver flights are available from $560 plus 85,000 Avios return.

Reward Flight Saver Ins and Outs

• Prices start from just 160,000 Avios plus $700 for a return ticket travelling in our new Club Suite.
• Baggage is included with Reward Flight Saver. The allowance starts from 23kg per person.
• Change or cancel bookings easily for a small fee of $55 per person.
• We guarantee 14 Reward Seats on every long-haul flight.

How it works

Reward Flight Saver offers customers great value flights with a low, flat fee to cover charges, plus a fixed Avios amount.

To be eligible for Reward Flight Saver, you need to have collected at least one Avios in the past 12 months.

No, if you hold a non-Reward Flight Saver booking, it's not possible to change this to a Reward Flight Saver booking.

Yes, normal cancellation fee and Terms & Conditions apply to Reward Flight Saver bookings ($55 per person fee for changes and cancellations).

You will see the Reward Flight Saver option only if you have collected at least 1 Avios in the last 12 months.

Reward Flight Saver from the USA to UK starts from 50,000 Avios plus $200. This is for a return journey in World Traveller, off-peak.

Visit ba.com, follow 'Book a flight with Avios' and book your Reward Flight as usual, on the flight display page you will see the Reward Flight Saver (RFS) icon indicating you are booking a Reward Flight Saver flight.

Yes, Reward Flight Saver bookings can be upgraded to the next cabin if there is reward seat availability.

With Reward Flight Saver you pay a low, flat fee to cover charges. Reward Flights have the full taxes, fees and carrier charges to pay.

Reward Flight Saver will be available to all long-haul and short-haul routes on the British Airways network for flights operated by the airline.

Yes, American Express Companion Vouchers and Visa Signature Travel Together tickets can be used with Reward Flight Saver bookings.

Yes, customers travelling from/to any UK domestic destination served by British Airways will be able to use a 'free-feeder' flight together with their long-haul Reward Flight Saver booking.

No, Reward Flight Saver is only available for British Airways Executive Club Members and on British Airways operated flights that are sold on ba.com, or through the British Airways Call Centre.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A First-Class Premium Travel Card

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

With a big sign-up bonus, elevated rewards on travel and dining, hundreds of dollars in annual credits and other perks, this card is a good choice for frequent travelers.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Ongoing APR

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

High rewards rate

Luxury perks

Premium travel protections

Transfer partners

Primary rental car coverage

High annual fee

Requires excellent credit

For avid travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good deal — even with its $550 annual fee.

Thanks to features such as an annual $300 travel credit, as well as bonus rewards that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several loyalty programs, it stands out as one of the best premium travel cards available.

However, to earn the card’s highest rewards rate, you’ll have to make travel purchases through the Chase portal, which can be limiting. And while the card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and dining, if you can't take advantage of its more niche benefits, a different travel card could be a better fit.

» MORE: Full benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Basics

Card type: Travel .

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $550 .

Ongoing rewards:

10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases.

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase.

3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Through March 2025: 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar spent on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar spent on travel).

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Up to $300 a year in statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.

Access to Chase's Sapphire Lounges in select airports.

Multiple hotel and airline transfer partners.

Primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage.

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS credit, worth up to $100.

“Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature, which grants cardholders access to reservations at popular restaurants across the country.

Trip delay reimbursement.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance.

Lyft Pink All Access membership free for two years and 50% off for the third year when you enroll (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024). This is the highest tier membership available from Lyft and retails for $199.

How much is a point worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned on this card are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. Cardholders can also get more value per point by transferring them to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Otherwise, points are worth less when redeemed for cash back, gift cards and merchandise.

Big sign-up bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features the following generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

To find out whether you pre-qualify for this card, check out NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool.

Bonus rewards

Holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can earn the following:

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased booked through Chase.

Travel and dining-related purchases made through the Chase portal will get you the highest rewards rates, which are lucrative for those who spend heavily in those categories.

And even for travel and dining purchases not made through the issuer, cardholders will still earn bonus rewards.

Plus, if you redeem those points through Chase for travel, they are worth an elevated 1.5 cents, which gives the card an impressive 4.5% effective rewards rate in those popular categories. That's a boon for folks who spend plenty in these areas — in the U.S. and worldwide as well.

Additionally, through March 2025, you can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar on travel). That’s one of the highest earn rates you’ll find for ridesharing purchases on any credit card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards for transit spending

Travel statement credit of up to $300

While many premium cards offer airline fee credits for baggage fees and other select purchases, the travel credit of up to $300 on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers a much broader range of travel purchases , including taxi rides, campground fees and train fares.

Because this credit is applied automatically, taking advantage of it is effortless. Use this card to pay for a $20 Uber ride and — poof! — that travel credit is applied to your credit card statement right away.

Airport lounge access and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS reimbursement

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , your next layover could be spent in an exclusive lounge with a complimentary cocktail in hand. The card comes with Priority Pass Select membership, with access to over 1,000 airport lounges internationally and meal credits at select airport restaurants and bars. Plus, you'll get access to Chase's own Sapphire Lounges . As of February 2024, there are Sapphire lounge locations in Boston, New York (LaGuardia and JFK) and Hong Kong, plus a Sapphire Terrace location in Austin.

With the card's TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS reimbursement, you can also speed through security and get to those swanky lounges a little sooner. The card offers reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) or NEXUS ($50) once every four years.

» MORE: The guide to Chase Lounges

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can move points to several other loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring points and redeeming them strategically can be incredibly lucrative. NerdWallet values the points earned on this card at more than 1.5 cents per point when transferred to some partners.

Here are Chase’s transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Iberia (1:1 ratio).

JetBlue (1:1 ratio).

Singapore (1:1 ratio).

Southwest (1:1 ratio).

United (1:1 ratio).

Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).

Hyatt (1:1 ratio).

InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).

Marriott (1:1 ratio).

Complementary cards

Like a handful of other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns Ultimate Rewards® points. That means if you already have another card in the Ultimate Rewards® family, you can generally transfer points to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , potentially allowing you to get more value on the points earned.

Say you already have the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , which earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on purchases, but lacks 1:1 transfer partners and bonuses when redeeming for travel through Chase. When you log on to your Chase account, you have the option of moving the rewards earned on that card to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , where you can then transfer them to partners or book travel for 1.5 cents per point. That could effectively boost your rewards rate on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to 2.25% or more.

» MORE: How the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fits into the 'Chase trifecta'

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and its lower-priced sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , have had their rewards, perks and bonuses tweaked over the years as the issuer has worked to keep them at the top of travelers' wallets. See our Chase Sapphire cards news page for a rundown.

Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred

If you're looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you might also have your eye on its lower-cost sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That card has an annual fee of $95 , but it lacks the same rich benefits.

Which card is the better deal for you depends on your spending. For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers far more long-term value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for those who don’t plan on using so many perks but still want a large sign-up bonus and elevated point values.

For a more thorough breakdown of the differences, read NerdWallet's full comparison of these two cards. Here's how they stack up at a glance:

Restricting rewards

Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers competitive earn rates for dining and travel spending, you’ll be able to get the highest rewards rate only if you make purchases through the Chase portal. This can significantly limit your options.

For example, restaurants available to you through the Chase Dining portal will depend on your location. This means that cardholders based in larger cities like New York, for instance, will have more options available to them than those based in smaller areas.

Similarly, to earn the card's 10x and 5x rate for travel-related spending, you’ll have to book through the Chase portal, which can prove limiting compared with buying flights or renting cars directly, for example.

Moreover, if you're not an avid spender in either of the card’s bonus categories, travel and dining, you won’t get much use out of the card. A cash-back credit card that offers more diverse and flexible rewards options would be a better fit.

Somewhat limited lounge choice

If your go-to airport doesn’t have a Chase Sapphire Lounge or Priority Pass lounge, you'll be missing out on a key benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Capital One offers a similar alternative with the $395 -annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Cardholders also have access to Priority Pass lounges, plus Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges at Dulles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport.

But if lounge access is a priority for you, a better option might be The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Though The Platinum Card® from American Express has a higher annual fee ( $695 ), this card comes with much broader airport lounge coverage, along with plenty of other top-tier benefits. In addition to giving cardholders Priority Pass Select coverage (once you enroll), the card also offers access to several other lounge networks, including AmEx's own Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for folks flying with Delta on the same day). Keep in mind, however, that the Priority Pass Select coverage on this card no longer includes credits to select airport restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The card also offers several other premium benefits and statement credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash, which can be used toward free Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December). Plus, it comes with a big welcome offer. Terms Apply.

» MORE: Credit cards with airport lounge access

If the $550 fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is too rich for your blood — even with all of its big perks — look to the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead.

As mentioned earlier, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of $95 . It has the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and a similarly robust sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Although it lacks the most attention-grabbing perks, such as the $300 travel credit, it's ideal for folks looking for a versatile travel card with a lower price. Check out NerdWallet's best credit card deals to see how these cards stack up.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no-annual-fee travel credit cards

Spending $550 a year on a credit card is a big deal — and probably isn’t worth it in this case if you’re not a frequent traveler. But if you fly often and can take advantage of the card's many perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth every penny.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

No appetite for actively managing your credit card travel rewards? This card gives you a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Redeem miles to "erase" any travel purchase at a penny per mile. There's a great sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $95 .

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® 10 earns points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards®, 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per dollar on dining and travel not booked through Chase and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. But rewards alone aren't enough to justify the hefty $550 annual fee. The card comes with an array of travel perks that can significantly reduce the cost of carrying it.

For its higher fee ( $550 , versus $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns richer bonus rewards, provides more perks and protections (travel credits, airport lounge access and more) and gives you a higher point value when you redeem for travel (1.5 cents apiece versus 1.25 cents). Both cards offer the option of transferring points to about a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs.

If you’ll use the travel perks — like the $300 annual travel credit and lounge access — and maximize the way you earn and redeem points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can be a good value . If you don’t travel much, you're better off with a different card.

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify for this card. That generally means a score of 720 or better, but credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Your income and other factors will also be considered.

When you pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you’ll get primary collision damage and theft protection up to $75,000. The card also offers trip delay/cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and emergency medical evacuation.

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards® points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to 13 travel partners , including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG.

Chase issues some of the better rewards credit cards on the market, including outstanding options in travel, cash-back and small-business cards. See the best Chase cards here .

About the author

Claire Tsosie

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Every 90 seconds, a British Airways aircraft takes off from somewhere around the globe. Our pilots take millions of customers to hundreds of amazing international destinations every year, doing it in one of the most modern and fuel-efficient fleets of any airline in the world. Wherever they’re travelling to, our Captains and First Officers take great pride in creating unique experiences for our customers and extending a big British welcome to everyone who flies with us. It’s part of our identity as the nation’s flag carrier, and it’s what makes us different.

Job Description

Applications for the Speedbird Pilot Academy are now open. 

Important messages:

• There will be a delay of up to 2 working days between submitting your application and being invited to the first test. 
• After being invited to a test, you will have a maximum of 2 calendar days to complete it (e.g. if you are invited on a Thursday, you have until 23:59 on Saturday to complete it)
• After completing any of our tests, you will receive an update on the next working day after finishing the test module. Please wait for an update before contacting us to check the status of your application.
• If the Speedbird Pilot Academy application window closes early, you can continue with your online testing , provided you have created and submitted an application whilst the window was open.  

British Airways

As the nation’s flag carrier, we take great pride in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

It’s something we’ve been doing for over 100 years, ever since we launched the world’s first international scheduled air service between London and Paris.

This originality has been in our blood since day one. It’s the spirit we share with the people that fly with us, our partners, and our colleagues.

So, whether you are a reassuring voice on the end of a phone, a smile at the door, under a wing keeping the turbines spinning or landing us gently in far-flung places, a job at British Airways is yours to make.

We know great things can happen when you’re inspired to think big and bring your ambition to work every day, which is why, at British Airways the sky is never the limit.

The Speedbird Pilot Academy

Imagine a world where financial barriers no longer limit your dreams of becoming an airline pilot. British Airways' Speedbird Pilot Academy is revolutionising the aviation industry by making this profession accessible to dedicated individuals from all walks of life.

Successful candidates will be offered a place at an approved flight training school and, on passing the course, a position as a British Airways pilot. This will help the airline to ensure it has the right levels of future flying talent for years to come.

With initial training that can cost tens of thousands of pounds, the price of becoming a pilot has made the profession prohibitive for many. This cost will now be funded by British Airways – with a multi-million-pound investment from the airline into its next generation of pilots – making it a genuine career path for all aspiring pilots.

The airline remains committed to further increasing diversity in the aviation industry. It is determined to increase awareness and visibility of this new cadet programme, with the aim of encouraging applications from all backgrounds and not just those who can afford the initial training costs.

What you'll bring

Technical skills are important, but it’s your behaviours as a BA pilot that will really set you apart. British Airways is unique, and our pilots are very passionate and enthusiastic about our purpose and the role they have in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

You’ll need to demonstrate the passion and motivation to excel during the training programme, the ability to remain calm under pressure and solve problems. Your future role will also require you to be an effective team player that can make important decisions in a timely manner.

Your experience

• 17-55 years of age to apply and 18 start training. You'll be 18 on or before 1st January 2025.
• 6 GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9 including Maths, English and a Science or equivalent qualifications. If you have equivalent qualifications, please upload your certificates and we will gain the equivalencies from ECCTIS.
• Fluent in English (and, if applicable, an ICAO Level 6 on completion of training). For non-native English speakers, you will need to bring a certificate proving you have achieved International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Level 5.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any individual area (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). This must be the Academic test, not General Training.
• The right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship.
• A valid passport which permits unrestricted worldwide travel.
• Your height must be between 1.57m (5'2") and 1.90m (6'3"). Height is accurately determined during the assessment process. If you’re taller than 1.90m, you may submit an application, but may be required to undergo a functionality check.
• Able to obtain and hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions and meet British Airways medical criteria.
• Before training starts, you must have completed referencing and pre-employment checks to the satisfactory standard and supply satisfactory UK and international Criminal Record Checks.

If you don't meet the criteria above your application will not be progressed.

What we offer

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It’s one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights. You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

At British Airways you’ll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

We never stand still, and we don’t expect our people to either.

What's included

• Training to obtain a fATPL
• Accommodation 
• Food (FTEJerez) or food allowance (Skyborne)
• Subsistence allowance
• Financial support to obtain your Class 1 medical and relevant Class 2

Benefits we can offer you

• Dynamic Career Path
• Varied Roster Patterns 
• Company pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution)
• Life insurance benefits
• Great family leave benefits

Benefits as soon as you join

• Unlimited discounted airfares for your friends and family
• Discounts at selected car hire, hotels, and retail stores
• A range of voluntary benefits for yourself and family members
• Private medical cover, dental and critical illness cover, Technology scheme, Cycle to Work and Electric/Plug-in Hybrid car scheme
• Competitive salary plus your flight, nightly and time away allowance
• You could be based at London City, London Gatwick, or London Heathrow

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity are a key driver of innovation and we’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

* Please note, if we receive a significant number of applications, we will need to close applications in a shorter time frame. If you are interested to apply, we encourage you to create an application as soon as possible after the opening date

Ahead of applying, we recommend you visit the preparation section of our careers page at  Speedbird Pilot Academy Preparation (ba.com)

Below is the timeline of the assessment process. 

FTEJerez selection dates - weeks commencing 27 May and 03 June (Waterside in-person assessments); weeks commencing 17 June, 24 June and 01 July (virtual assessments)

Skyborne selection dates - weeks commencing 20 May and 27 May (virtual assessments); weeks commencing 24 June, 01 July and 08 July (Waterside in-person)

British Airways Assessment Centre - weeks commencing 22 July, 29 July and 05 August (Waterside in-person)

Please note that the dates are subject to change.

We aim to communicate the outcome to the successful candidates by the end of August 2024.

Inspired to fly

Our incredible and diverse team of pilots are driven by passion. Find out what it means to embark on a career in the skies with British Airways.

Success Profile

It takes something special to work for the nation's flag carrier. Here are some of the qualities we're looking for in a British Airways Pilot.

• Responsible
• Customer orientated

Why British Airways?

Change is always in the air at British Airways. Our story is one of endless innovation and transformation, and our pilots play a huge part in helping us evolve. It’s not just that they’re flying some of the most technologically-advanced aircraft to an ever-expanding network of destinations around the world. We empower our colleagues to take ownership of their role, push original ideas forward and find new ways to help us serve our passengers – all while delivering the exceptional service that our customers expect. We also recognise that every one of our pilots - from our newest Cadet to most experienced Captain - has had their own unique journey to the flightdeck. We celebrate these differences and always encourage our people to showcase their individual personalities and skills. However, we also understand what unites us; a pride to wear the iconic British Airways uniform, and a dedication to delivering excellence in everything we do. In return, we make sure our colleagues feel truly valued for who they are and what they contribute.

Career Path

Senior First Officer

• Training Co-Pilot/Captain
• Training Standards Captain
• Management roles
• Project work: Recruitment/ Training/Sustainability
• Operational management

British Airways is a diverse airline, and I've had the pleasure of working with many different people from all types of backgrounds. There are many perks to the job, from new challenges, to exploring the world but, particularly, being able to be involved in projects outside of the flight deck.

Lovjinder G.

Staff travel

You’ll get access to discounted ‘Hotline’ tickets for yourself, friends, and family from day one, along with unlimited standby and premium standby fares for you and your nominees and an Annual Bookable Concession on completion of six months of service.

We offer a market-leading defined contribution (DC) pension. Enrolled at 2% employee contributions and 7% employer with an option to increase.

We’ll pay the cost of an annual membership upfront, which will then be deducted from your pay over 12 months. Colleagues on a permanent contract will be eligible for this benefit after three months.

Flexible benefits

Choose from benefits including critical illness cover, childcare vouchers, cycle to work, additional life insurance cover, private medical insurance, dental plan, and healthcare cash plan.

Electric car scheme

Colleagues can access a brand new, fully maintained and insured electric car for a fixed monthly amount. Available through salary sacrifice offering tax and NI savings. You’ll be eligible for this benefit after 12 months.

Heathrow Express

Whether you are commuting to Heathrow or heading off on holiday, you’ll be entitled to buy Express Saver tickets with a 75% discount.

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