Whether you’re just starting out or have been a long-time enthusiast, it never hurts to brush up on the best ways to maximize your points and miles. And while transferable points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards often hog the spotlight, it’s important to remember that other lucrative loyalty programs can be just as advantageous.
Enter Avios, the points currency shared by British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Iberia Plus, and Finnair Plus. Not only can you transfer points from most major credit card rewards programs, but it’s also possible to exchange Avios between these five airline programs at a 1:1 ratio. Plus, you can use Avios for flight redemptions on each carrier’s Oneworld alliance partners as well as any associated partner airlines. That kind of flexibility and the nifty distance-based award system are what make Avios one of the most valuable rewards currencies on the market today.
Once you’ve accumulated enough Avios, redeeming them is easy — just create a free British Airways Executive Club account or search point.me to see every available option. Here’s everything you need to know about the best ways to redeem Avios for maximum value.
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Airlines you can book with Avios
Since Avios are used by British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AeroClub, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, you can focus on one program (depending on your travel needs) and transfer points between them at a 1:1 ratio. Note, however, that it’s easier to search for award availability through the British Airways Executive Club website if you’re looking to redeem flights on British Airways, Aer Lingus, or Iberia flights. If you want to book Qatar Airways or Finnair flights, it’s easier to go directly through their respective websites.
Each loyalty program (except for Aer Lingus) is part of the Oneworld alliance, which means you can use Avios to book award flights on any of the following airlines:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
Additionally, each Avios-earning carrier also counts non-alliance airlines among its partners. British Airways, for instance, lets you redeem Avios for flights on the following airlines:
- JetBlue
- Aer Lingus
- airBaltic
- Bangkok Airways
- China Southern
- IndiGo
- Kenya Airways
- Loganair
- Vistara
- Vueling
LATAM Airlines is an affiliate partner of Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Iberia Plus, and Finnair Plus (which only has Oneworld partners otherwise). Qatar Airways includes JetBlue, Virgin Australia, RwandAir, and Middle East Airlines as non-alliance partners. Ibera lists Avianca, Level, Vueling, and Binter Canaries — Aer Lingus also lets you redeem Avios for flights on Vueling.
Best ways to redeem Avios
When it’s time to redeem your hard-earned Avios, there are a few things to be aware of.
For starters, Finnair Plus Avios expire after 18 months of account inactivity, while the other four programs each give you 36 months before that happens.
Keep in mind that British Airways has separate award charts for pricing out flight redemptions on its own aircraft versus its Oneworld partners. It also has another chart for flights redeemed with multiple partners. Either way, the number of Avios you’ll need to redeem is determined by the distance flown. You can use Great Circle Mapper to calculate the mileage between your desired airports, then consult the relevant award chart. Here is the main award chart for British Airways partners outside the U.S.:
British Airways award chart
| Zone (distance in miles) | Economy (off-peak) | Economy (peak) | Premium economy (off-peak) | Premium economy (peak) | Business class (off-peak) | Business class (peak) | First class (off-peak) | First class (peak) |
| Zone 1 (1 to 650) | 4,750 | 5,250 | — | — | 8,500 | 9,750 | — | — |
| Zone 2 (651 to 1,151) | 7,250 | 8,250 | — | — | 13,500 | 15,750 | — | — |
| Zone 3 (1,152 to 2,000) | 9,250 | 10,750 | — | — | 17,750 | 18,350 | — | — |
| Zone 4 (2,001 to 3,000) | 10,000 | 12,500 | — | — | 31,250 | 37,500 | — | — |
| Zone 5 (3,001 to 4,000) | 13,000 | 20,000 | 26,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 68,000 | 80,000 |
| Zone 6 (4,001 to 5,500) | 16,250 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 62,500 | 75,000 | 85,000 | 100,000 |
| Zone 7 (5,501 to 6,500) | 19,500 | 30,000 | 39,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 90,000 | 102,000 | 120,000 |
| Zone 8 (6,501 to 7,000) | 22,750 | 35,000 | 45,500 | 70,000 | 87,500 | 105,000 | 119,000 | 140,000 |
| Zone 9 (7,001 and up) | 32,500 | 50,000 | 65,000 | 100,000 | 125,000 | 150,000 | 170,000 | 200,000 |
While most of the airlines we’re talking about have off-peak and peak redemption rates, Finnair Plus uses a slightly different system based on zones for award flights on its aircraft. There’s also a different award system to calculate redemptions on partner airlines, which varies by carrier. Aer Lingus uses its own zone-based system, though there’s an easy-to-read award chart for redemptions aboard its aircraft.
If you’re only looking to book award flights on British Airways metal, it’s worth searching for availability on the Reward Flight Saver page, which is limited to the carrier’s inventory and offers a way to use Avios to lower the cost of higher taxes and fees.
Speaking of taxes, they can really add up, especially on long-haul flights. To get the best value, aim to redeem Avios for short-haul flights. If you prefer business class, aim for short- and medium-haul redemptions with partner carriers.
It’s always a good idea to shop around and price out your trip through a few of the partner programs before pulling the trigger. That’s because you may face higher taxes and fees for using one over the others. In cases like this, it all depends on whether you want to spend extra money or extra Avios
While the best use of your Avios ultimately comes down to your personal travel preferences, there are a few redemptions that stand out among the rest.
Business-class seats from the East Coast to Spain for 34,000 Avios
One of the most popular Avios redemptions is for nonstop flights on Iberia from East Coast U.S. cities — within the 3,001–4,000 mile mark like New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) — to Madrid (MAD) for 34,000 Avios one-way. If you’re coming from other cities like Miami (MIA) that are 4,001–5,000 miles from Madrid, it’s still just 42,500 Avios one way to fly in business class.
Search for award availability on the British Airways website for Iberia flights. Stick to off-peak travel dates, as peak times will cost you more Avios (50,000 from the first group of cities and 62,500 from Miami).
A recent search for one-way business-class tickets from New York (JFK) to Madrid (MAD) in February 2026 revealed nonstop flights on Iberia for 34,000 Avios, plus $115.60 in taxes and fees.
Off-peak from the East Coast to Ireland for 13,000 Avios
Similarly, if you’re just looking to fly to cross the pond or are planning a trip to the Emerald Isle, one-way economy seats on off-peak dates start at just 13,000 Avios between Dublin (DUB) and Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Indianapolis (IND), Minneapolis (MSP), Nashville (BNA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Toronto (YYZ), or Washington, D.C. (IAD).
One-way flights from Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SFO), or Seattle (SEA) cost just a bit more at 16,250 Avios.
In this example, let’s look for a one-way economy flight from Boston to Dublin in early September on the British Airways website. The results showed nonstop flights on Aer Lingus for 13,000 Avios and $112.50 in taxes.
Short-haul flights within Europe from 4,000 Avios
For cheaper flights within Europe, it all depends on which country you’re starting in and your final destination. If you’re traveling from Ireland to the U.K., for instance, one-way flights on Aer Lingus start at just 4,000 Avios.
Starting your trip in Finland? Flights from Helsinki (HEL) to other parts of Northern Europe begin at 6,500 Avios on Finnair. Here’s the carrier’s award chart:
If you’re coming from Madrid, one-way off-peak economy tickets start at 4,500 to 7,500 Avios, depending on where you’re going. British Airways uses a distance-based award system, with short-haul flights within 650 miles requiring just 4,000 Avios. Remember to calculate the distance between your desired airports with Great Circle Mapper first.
Let’s try looking for a one-way nonstop economy class ticket from Dublin (DUB) to Paris (CDG) in September. The British Airways website revealed flights on Aer Lingus for 4,000 Avios and a mere $14 in taxes for the 489-mile journey.
Flights within (and from) the U.S. for 11,000 Avios
The trick here is to use Avios from Finnair Plus or British Airways Executive Club to book flights on their Oneworld partners, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. While the redemption rates might not be as impressive if you’re flying between two short-haul cities, this method is more useful for medium-haul trips around the U.S. or flights from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
If you’re using Finnair Plus for Alaska Airlines flights, use the chart below for reference. Avios can also be used to book affordable one-ways between the continental U.S. and Canada (from 11,000) as well as Mexico (from 12,500) and Hawaii (13,500).
For American Airlines flights, Finnair Plus uses a separate chart to calculate redemption rates. Domestic U.S. and Canada flights start from 16,500 Avios, and trips from North America to Mexico and the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Central America start at 15,000 Avios each way.
When booking with British Airways Avios, redemption rates on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are as follows:
- Zone 1 (0–650 miles): 12,000 in economy or 24,000 in business/first
- Zone 2 (651–1,150 miles): 16,000 in economy or 32,000 in business/first
- Zone 3 (1,151–2,000 miles): 18,000 in economy or 40,000 in business/first
- Zone 4 (2,001–3,000 miles): 20,000 in economy or 50,000 in business/first
Note that these calculations also include flight redemptions for transcontinental flights on American Airlines, which you can fly for fewer Avios compared to American’s regularly priced premium seats. For example, here’s what to expect for a one-way business-class flight from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in early January 2026:
It’s a distance of 2,475 miles, so you’d pay 50,000 Avios by booking it through British Airways instead of splashing out 96,500 AAdvantage miles for the same one-way seat.
It’s also worth mentioning that Qatar Airways Privilege Club lets you redeem 9,500 Avios for short-haul U.S. flights on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, as long as they’re under 650 miles. However, availability is limited, and the website is difficult to navigate.
Off-peak from the West Coast to Hawaii for 13,500 Avios
You can save on flights to Hawaii from the continental U.S. — notably, West Coast cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Phoenix — by redeeming Avios for American Airlines or Alaska Airlines flights.
Since it’s 2,556 miles from Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL), you can use British Airways to book seats in economy class for 20,000 Avios or 50,000 Avios for business class on either American Airlines or Alaska Airlines.
For a better deal, you could use Finnair Plus to book one-way flights from North America(including East Coast cities) to Hawaii for 13,500 Avios in economy class or 50,500 in business on Alaska Airlines metal. On American Airlines aircraft, the same award will cost 15,000 Avios in economy, 38,000 in business, or 47,500 in first class. Check out the Finnair partner award charts in the previous section for more details.
Note that Qatar Airways Privilege Club also offers one-way flights from the West Coast to Hawaii from 16,000 Avios in economy, with limited availability.
JetBlue Mint, courtesy of Qatar Airways Privilege Club
While it’s possible to redeem 8,500 Avios via Qatar Airways Privilege Club for short-haul one-way domestic economy flights — or 25,000 Avios for a one-way JetBlue economy flight to Europe — you’re better off saving them for something fancier.
You could score a seat in business class for 17,000 Avios or, better yet, in JetBlue Mint on a transcontinental U.S. flight from 74,000 Avios. Transatlantic flights are also available from 78,000 Avios one-way. Keep in mind that rates are based on each segment, not the entire ride.
To compare, a recent search for one-way flights from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in JetBlue Mint revealed options from 105,500 JetBlue TrueBlue points — that’s 31,500 more than you’d spend on the same flight by using Qatar Privilege Club Avios.
Qatar Airways Qsuites from the U.S. for 70,000 Avios
Last but not least, you can book one of the most luxurious business-class seats in the skies for 70,000 Avios one-way between the U.S. and Doha (DOH): Qatar Airways Qsuites. The rate is the same whether you book through British Airways Avios or Qatar Airways Privilege Club –they typically will both match redemption rates.
How to earn Avios
The easiest way to accumulate Avios quickly is to transfer points to your preferred Avios-earning loyalty program from transferable points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. You can also move points over from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio, and you’ll earn 5,000 more Avios for every 60,000 points transferred. Just make sure you have a solid redemption idea in mind before you do so, as transfers are immediate and irreversible.
Here’s a look at the credit card reward currencies each Avios-earning program has a transfer partnership with:
- British Airways Executive Club: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Wells Fargo.
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club: American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy.
- Aer Lingus AeroClub: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Wells Fargo.
- Iberia Plus: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Wells Fargo.
- Finnair Plus: Capital One Rewards.
British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus also offer co-branded credit cards issued by Chase Bank. Signing up for one can help you earn points faster, especially if you can meet the minimum spending requirement and score a lucrative welcome bonus.
Beyond that, you can rack up more Avios by flying on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Finnair, or Qatar Airways — or any of their partners — or by booking hotels, rental cars, and other trip elements through their respective travel websites. You’ll also earn more Avios by using their online shopping portals or spending with partner brands.
How to redeem Avios
To redeem Avios, you’ll need to first create a free account with British Airways Executive Club. Once that’s done, booking awards is straightforward. On the British Airways website, go to the “Book” tab and select “Book a flight with Avios” from the drop-down menu. Log into your account, then enter your travel dates and airport details to search for available options.
A recent sample search for one-way flights from New York City (JFK) to Dublin (DUB) in mid-March revealed economy seats on Aer Lingus for 13,000 Avios and $112.40 in taxes. To complete the booking, just follow the on-screen instructions.
It’s a similar process for pricing out flights on any Avios-earning airline, though your final results will be determined by your destination, travel dates, and award availability.
You can also search for the best possible redemption option on point.me. Simply enter your preferred cities or airports, the class you want to fly in, and your travel dates. Next, filter your search by airline or loyalty program. For this example, I’ll try to find a British Airways flight from New York (JFK) to London (LHR) in mid-May. The results page listed options for several transferable points programs and outlined all taxes and fees.
Summary
Avios can be one of the best programs for maximizing points and miles, especially if you take advantage of each carrier’s partner programs, whether through transferable credit card partnerships or airline alliance networks.
Using Avios to cover short-haul flights (or medium-haul flights in premium classes with partner airlines) will give you the biggest bang for your buck. The only deal breaker may be the taxes that come with each redemption. Be sure to compare all your options by searching through British Airways Executive Club or point.me so you can choose flights that make the most sense for your travel and financial needs.
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