This post is about how to use transfer Avios between programs, what to watch out for, and which flights are the sweet spots.
One, two, three, four, FIVE! Finnair (Finnair Plus) has joined the Avios party as the fifth airline to use Avios as its point currency, rubbing shoulders with the following programs:
- British Airways (British Airways Executive Club)
- Iberia (Iberia Plus)
- Aer Lingus (Aer Lingus AerClub)
- Vueling Airlines (Vueling Club)
- Qatar Airways (Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
Avios are transferrable between any of these programs at a ratio of 1:1, so each Avios is theoretically worth the same in each program. If you collect points with one of these airlines, you can use them with any of the others. For example, you earn points with Aer Lingus, you can move them to your British Airways or Iberia accounts. It gives you lots of choices.
Avios currency is now more versatile than ever. So understanding how to link these Avios accounts and transfer the points to the programs that offer the best rewards becomes more important, which could save you almost a round trip to South America on business class.
You can read through Avios as a currency concept in our Part 1: How To Best Use Avios To Book The Reward Flights
How To Transfer Avios?
- Finnair
Effective May 22, 2024 you can seamlessly convert Finnar Plus Avios To British Airways Avios and vice versa at 1:1 ratio.
Here’s how to set up:
- Log in to your Finnair Plus account.
- Hit the hamburger menu on the top left and select “Finnair Plus.”
- Navigate to Travel and Fly -> Transfer Avios between Finnair and British Airways.
- You’ll be directed to the “Transfer Avios” page.
- Click on the “log in and link your accounts” button.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Must be at least 18 years old to link your accounts.
- Make sure your first and last names match on both accounts.
- For now, you can only move Avios seamlessly between British Airways and Finnair. If you want to transfer to Qatar or another Avios system, you need to transfer to British Airways first. From there, you can move your Avios as usual at a 1:1 ratio.
- British Airways Avios – Iberia and Qatar Airways
If you’ve got Avios from British Airways, you can easily transfer them to other airlines like Iberia, AerClub, or Qatar Airways. Just log in, go to Executive Club, and click “Combine my Avios.”. The Iberia and Qatar, which are most commonly used, are very straightforward and you’ll see your points instantly in the other airline’s account.
What Are The Sweet Spots When Using Right Avios?
650-mile concept: 6,000 Avios from Miami to Cancun, Mexico
The sweet spot lies in destinations below 650 miles; it only costs you 6,000 Avios for economy class each way. 650 miles distance is like what I illustrate here:
Now look at the two routes I put together to show you the lowest Avios in each Avios program.
So, if you opt for Qatar Airways Avios to secure an economy class ticket to Cancun (CUN), you’ll need just 6,000 Avios for a one-way trip and a mere 12,000 Avios for a round trip. That’s a fantastic deal compared to the 8,250 miles required with British Airways Avios or Iberia Avios for a one-way ticket. You save almost 30% of your miles!
For business class, Qatar Airways also requires the least amount, just 12,500 Avios one way. Since you can easily transfer Avios among these programs free of charge, shifting your Avios from British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, or Aer Lingus to Qatar Airways’ program is simple. This quickly saves you at least 20%.
Here I dive into the award tickets actually found in the system versus the award chart:
651 – 1,150 miles is a hidden gem. You only need 9,000 Avios to fly from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City
The redemption charts for Qatar Airways, British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair differ. By transferring our Avios to Qatar Airways, you can significantly reduce miles used, especially for flights in the 651 – 1,150 mile range. For example, Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City route on Cathay Pacific (CX), using Qatar Airways Avios is the most economical, with taxes and fees $34. Plus, it is not uncommon to see availability for 4 seats, which is ideal for families.
Unique partnership makes redemption possibilities endless
- Qatar Airways with JetBlue
Can you imagine Iberia teaming up with Vueling? Well, Qatar Airways has its own exciting partnership with JetBlue. Only Qatar Airways Avios can unlock the wonders of JetBlue flights for redemption. Now jetting off from the U.S. East Coast to the sun-kissed Caribbean islands: Boston to Aruba.
Checking the Qatar Airways program, it shows 18,500 Avios for a one-way economy ticket on JetBlue. This exclusive JetBlue award availability is reserved for Qatar Airways program due to their tight partnership. So, forget about using British Airways or Iberia Avios for JetBlue flights. This tells you why the ability to transfer Avios between airlines programs is a game-changer!
What’s particularly intriguing are the rates in Qatar Airways’ award chart, which are an absolute steal compared to JetBlue’s TrueBlue program. TrueBlue needs a hefty 30,800 points for economy and a staggering 76,000 points for Mint Class (business class). That’s a sky-high difference! Just a heads-up: Make sure your Qatar Airways account is stocked with miles before you go hunting for those JetBlue flights.
- British Airways with LATAM
Each airline dances to its own beat when it comes to partnerships. British Airways has its exclusive companion: LATAM. This makes it the ideal match for flights between North and South America. Using British Airways Avios to book your adventure from Miami to Bogota – economy class starts at just 11,000 Avios, while premium economy is a steal at 16,500 Avios.
Fuel surcharges vary among different airlines
For the same British Airways flight, using British Airways Avios costs around $392 in taxes, while using IB Avios costs over $1,000! So, it’s essential to compare before redeeming your Avios, as taxes can differ greatly even if the number of Avios needed is the same.
On the Manchester to Hong Kong route with Qatar Airways business class, you need 75,000 points whether you use BA Avios or QR Avios for the award flight. However, there’s a huge difference in fuel charges and taxes: BA Avios costs about $3,800, while QR Avios is only around $460.
Why It Is A Big Deal to Transfer Avios Between Accounts
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to treat Avios like currencies. The fact is not all Avios are the same. Their value varies depending on the redemption.
Each airlines’ Avios program has its own rules and prices for booking flights. Sometimes British Airways is the best choice, other times it might be Iberia or Qatar Airways. As mentioned, British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus, Finnair all use Avios. They have their own secret recipe for turning them into reward flights! Each airlines’ Avios can get you different deals.
They can be transferred freely, so choosing the right one for your redemption is crucial for maximizing value and saving a significant amount of money. Make sure to take advantage of the best award redemption rates or transfer bonus offered by different programs. For example, with Finnair, the difference in redemption between British Airways and Finnair can range from 34,000 to 58,000 Avios for the same route in the same class, even though they both use Avios as their currency. Since Avios are transferred at a 1:1 ratio, you can redeem reward tickets at a lower rate.
Let’s quickly check out how much you can save with these examples for the Oneworld Partner Award – Cathay Pacific Business Class, by using the best and sweetest Avios award chart. It is 20 – 40%! Each airline has its own rules and fees for using Avios, so it’s important to know which airline offers the best deal for the award you want.
- Manchester, UK – Hong Kong
- British Airways (BA) Avios: 92,750 + $404 (one-way)
- Finnair (AY) Avios: 75,000 + $405 (one-way)
- Chicago – Hong Kong
- BA Avios: 108,250 + $150
- AY Avios: 75,000 + $150
- Chicago – Hong Kong – Taipei
- BA Avios: 129,050 + $204
- AY Avios: 75,000 + $204
Our Take:
The 54,000-avios difference between two programs for the same route and class highlights the importance of comparison. Compare, compare, compare. This number is almost enough for a round-trip ticket from Miami to Bogotá, Colombia, in American Airlines business class through British Airways Avios (29,000 Avios one-way). When you factor in the 25 – 30% transfer bonus on British Airways Avios based on past trends (check out the attached Avios Bonus History), it gets even better. This bonus means you’d only need about 22,300 – 23,200 points for a one-way ticket. And don’t forget, these Avios transfer bonuses have happened 6 – 8 times with different airlines using Avios currencies. It’s all about finding the best deal and making those points work for you!
Avios Award Charts
The British Airways (BA) and Iberia (IB) award charts for travel on their own metal are similar but not identical. Both offer peak and off-peak pricing based on the date flown. Here is the award chart for British Airways:
Here is Iberia’s award chart (which also applies to Vueling flights):
Award chart for travel on a single Avios partner – If flying another airlines using British Airways, Iberia or Qatar Airways Avios, then the following chart is in effect for most partners:
Here is the award chart for Finnair:
How Easy to Earn Avios?
Credit cards are a great way to earn Avios. Currently, major US banks offer two types of Avios-earning credit cards:
- Co-branded credit cards: This includes Chase’s British Airways Visa and Chase Iberia Visa, both with a $95 annual fee and a welcome offer of 85,000 Avios (after spending $5,000 within three months).
- Flexible points cards: Almost any US credit card with flexible points can be transferred to Avios. This opens up many avenues to earn Avios! Nearly any points-earning credit card can accumulate Avios.Here are some great sign-up bonuses you can take advantage of:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, but with a $50 annual credit, it effectively costs $45 to earn 75,000 UR points, which equals 75,000 Avios..
- Amex Gold Card: Amex Gold offers a welcome offer of 60,000 MR points, which equals to 60,000 Avios. Despite the $250 annual fee, it includes a $240 annual credit, making the actual cost just $10.
- Capital One Venture X: It has a $395 annual fee, but with a $300 annual credit and a 10,000 points retention credit, it essentially has no holding costs and earns 75,000 Capital One Miles, equivalent to 75,000 Avios.
Final Thoughts
Avios are very easy to earn in the States, straightforward without very complicated rules with relatively low entry point for award flight redemption. Avios ecosystem is getting more versatile as a type of points you earn when you fly with certain airlines. For every Avios you have, you can swap it 1:1 with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, or Qatar Airways, and now Finnair.
Click here to understand Avios as a currency concept in our Part 1: How To Best Use Avios To Book The Reward Flights.
