Category: Collect Avios

If you are planning your next getaway in Business Class or are just a few miles short of locking in that dream flight, the question naturally arises: can you buy Avios?

The short answer is yes. British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club allow you to buy points directly with cash. However, buying British Airways Avios at standard rates is rarely a smart move.

In this article, we explain exactly how to buy Avios, the best strategies to get cheap Avios with discounts, why you must compare across airlines, and the golden rule to determine if buying points plays in your favor.

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1. How to Buy Avios: A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying Avios is an instant process carried out directly through official airline portals. The steps are straightforward:

1. Log in to your British Airways Executive Club, Finnair Plus, or Iberia Plus account.
2. Navigate to the Avios section and select Buy, Gift, or Transfer Avios.
3. Choose the Avios bundle you need.
4. Enter your payment details (make sure to pay with a points-earning credit card, like a British Airways American Express or Barclaycard Avios Mastercard!).
5. The Avios will be credited to your account almost instantly (usually within 72 hours max).

Annual Limit: As a general rule, each program caps direct purchases at 200,000 Avios per calendar year (excluding promotional bonus points).

2. The Danger of Standard Pricing: Why You Should NEVER Buy Without a Promo

If you head to the British Airways eStore today to buy a small package of 2,000 Avios at standard rates, you will end up paying over 2.5p per Avios. Even if you purchase a larger tier (such as 100,000 Avios), the price sits around 1.8p – 2.1p per point.

Is that a good deal? Absolutely not. In the points and miles community, we value an Avios at around 1p – 1.2p. Paying nearly 2p per point completely destroys the economic advantage of redeeming miles for flights.

That is why the golden rule at First Class Points is clear: only buy Avios when there is a discount or bonus offer active.

3. The Master Trick: ALWAYS Compare Across Partner Airlines (Example: Finnair vs. BA / Iberia)

Because you can link your accounts and transfer Avios instantly and 100% free between British Airways, Qatar Airways, Iberia, and Finnair, never buy blindly on BA without checking active promos across other partner programs first.

The exact same bundle of Avios can carry a drastically different price tag depending on which portal you purchase it from.

Real Example: Buying 100,000 Avios

Take a look at this real price comparison when buying a block of 100,000 Avios:

• Standard Rate (e.g., Iberia/BA baseline): Purchasing 100,000 Avios at full price costs €2,135 (approx. £1,815).

• Finnair Plus (With a 20% Discount Promo): By taking advantage of an exclusive Finnair promotion (20% off), those exact same 100,000 Avios drop to €1,680 (approx. £1,430).

The Result: By purchasing through Finnair during their promotion and transferring the points straight to your British Airways Executive Club account for free, you save roughly £385 (€455) in one go.

4. The Secret to Cheap Avios: Top Discount Strategies

To buy cheap Avios, keep an eye out for three main avenues that significantly drive down the cost per point:

A. Bonus Promotions (50% to 100% Extra)

Several times a year (especially around Black Friday, airline anniversaries, or seasonal sales), Avios programs run flash sales offering 50% to 100% bonus Avios on purchases.

Example: Buying 50,000 Avios with a 50% bonus yields 75,000 Avios for the same outlay, dropping your cost per Avios right into the sweet spot of 1.1p – 1.2p.

B. Direct Discount Sales (20% to 50% Off)

As shown in the Finnair example, airlines sometimes offer cash discounts instead of bonus points. Buying Avios with a direct discount accomplishes the same goal: bringing the cost per point well below market value.

C. Avios Subscription Plans

British Airways offers an official subscription model. By paying a monthly or annual fee, you receive a recurring batch of Avios. If you opt for the prepaid annual plan, the cost drops to as low as 0.89p – 1p per Avios, making it the cheapest and most consistent way to buy Avios throughout the year.

5. When Is Buying Avios Actually Worth It? (Real Scenarios)

Buying Avios just to let them sit in your account is a mistake (points suffer from inflation over time). However, there are two key scenarios where buying points strategically is a brilliant move:

Scenario 1: The “Top-Up” To Lock In a Reward Flight

Imagine you need 50,000 Avios to book a Club World (Business Class) reward seat to New York, but you only have 46,000 in your account. Buying the remaining 4,000 Avios—even at standard price—is 100% worth it, as it instantly unlocks a Business Class ticket worth thousands of pounds.

Scenario 2: Business Class Arbitrage

Suppose you want to fly from London to New York in British Airways Club World off-peak:

• Cash price for the ticket: £2,500
• Avios redemption price: 160,000 Avios + approx. £350 in taxes and fees.

If you stack an Avios subscription or buy Avios during a 50%+ bonus sale, acquiring those points might cost you around £1,400.

The Math:

• Cost to buy Avios: £1,400
• Taxes & fees: £350
• Total out-of-pocket cost: £1,750 (saving you £750 compared to paying the cash fare).

This is where strategic Avios purchasing turns into massive savings.

6. Pre-Purchase Checklist Before You Click “Buy”

1. Check ALL partner airlines: Compare pricing across BA, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Finnair. Buy wherever the active deal is best and transfer them to your main account instantly.
2. Use the right credit card: Pay with a card that earns points (e.g., BA Amex Premium Plus, Barclaycard Avios Plus, or an Amex Preferred Rewards Gold). You earn points on the purchase of points!
3. Confirm award availability FIRST: Always make sure there are actual reward seats available for your preferred dates before spending a single penny on buying Avios.

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What’s Your Strategy?

Have you ever bought Avios to top up a Business Class redemption, or do you prefer collecting points purely through credit card spending and daily shopping? Let us know in the comments below!

If your travel goal is to collect Avios to fly Business Class with British Airways, Qatar Airways, or Iberia practically for free, you already know that every expense counts. And let’s be realistic: accommodation usually takes up the biggest chunk of our holiday budget.

Today, searching for how to earn Avios with Booking.com is the natural move for most travellers. However, sticking solely to the most obvious option might mean leaving thousands of points on the table.

In this article, we explain how to squeeze Booking.com to the max, which other alternatives (like Agoda) will revolutionise your points balance, and the hidden tricks you must master so your hotel pays for your next Business Class flight.

1. The Classic Way: How to Earn Avios with Booking.com

The alliance between the Avios eStore (or Iberia Plus) and Booking.com is straightforward. The general rule is that you earn between 1 and 4 Avios per £1 / €1 spent on your accommodation bookings, depending on current promotions.

To ensure the Avios credit your account, follow these three golden rules:

1. The Correct Link: You must log in through the dedicated link in the British Airways Shopping eStore or Iberia Plus partner section. If you go directly to the normal Booking.com app or website, you won’t earn anything.
2. Your Membership Number: Enter your frequent flyer number during the booking process.
3. Patience: Avios usually take between 6 to 8 weeks to appear in your account after check-out.

2. The Danger of Comfort: Always Check Other Partners (Agoda to the Rescue!)

Booking.com isn’t the only player on the airline board. You should constantly check temporary promotions across the Avios ecosystem.

For instance, platforms like Agoda or Rocketmiles frequently launch aggressive promotions offering rates of up to 5 Avios per euro/pound spent, or fixed bonuses of thousands of Avios per stay.

First Class Points Golden Rule: Don’t get stuck on Booking out of habit. If a hotel costs £500 on both sites, Booking might give you 500 Avios, but a 5:1 promo with Agoda will net you 2,500 Avios for the exact same spend. Always check both British Airways and Iberia portals; after all, you can combine your Avios instantly and for free.

3. The Official British Airways Portal: Pay and Earn Hotels with Avios

Many travellers miss out on the power of the integrated British Airways platform. Through their official hotel portal (BA Hotels), you get a competitive double advantage:

• High Accumulation Multiplier: You can book hotels directly within their ecosystem, achieving highly competitive Avios accumulation rates per pound or euro invested.
• Smart Redemption (Avios & Money): It allows you to use your accumulated Avios to pay fully or partially for your hotel nights. If you have a surplus of points and want to cut down the cash cost of your holiday, this is one of the most flexible tools available.

4. Double Dipping: Multiply Your Points with the Right Credit Card

Booking through the airline link gives you Avios just for buying the accommodation, but how do you pay for it? This is where double dipping comes in.

If you pay for that reservation using a points-generating card, you will earn twice for the same dollar, pound, or euro:

• British Airways American Express / Chase BA Visa: You earn Avios directly for every everyday purchase. Paying for your hotel with these cards adds a layer of extra Avios per spend.
• American Express Membership Rewards (Amex Gold/Platinum): MR points transfer instantly to British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus at a 1:1 ratio. Paying for your hotel with an Amex ensures no spend goes unrewarded.

5. The Ultimate Trick: Become the Travel Manager for Friends and Family

If you want to see your Avios balance skyrocket exponentially, volunteer to book accommodation for group trips, family getaways, or bachelor parties.

Imagine a weekend trip with 8 friends where you book 4 rooms for a total value of £1,200. If you use the right partner link with a good promo ratio (say 5 Avios/£) and pay with your premium credit card:

• From the partner booking: 6,000 Avios.
• From the card payment: Between 1,200 and 1,500 extra Avios.

In a single weekend, you’ll have gathered over 7,200 Avios using other people’s money. They pay the exact same price, and you take the points.

6. Beware of the Fine Print: Price Traps and Mobile Rates

Before clicking pay, pull out your calculator. The world of points optimization requires attention to detail due to two factors:

1. The Link Markup: Sometimes, prices on Booking.com or Agoda when accessed via an airline link are slightly higher than on the public website. Platforms occasionally adjust the fare to absorb the cost of the Avios they are gifting you.
2. Exclusive Mobile Rates: Booking.com offers discounts of up to 10% or 15% (Genius or mobile-only rates) if you buy from their app. Since you must use a web browser via the partner link to earn Avios, you might miss out on this discount.

A Real Example: When Is It Worth Paying a Bit More?

Let’s say you are looking for a hotel in London for next month:

• Booking App Price (Mobile Rate): £150 (No Avios).
• Booking Price (via Airline Link): £165 (Earns 165 Avios + card points).

In this scenario, paying £15 more for 165 Avios is not worth it (you’d be buying Avios at nearly 9p each).

But look at this other scenario with an aggressive promo partner (e.g., Agoda 5 Avios/£):

• Standard Web Price: £400
• Price via Airline Link: £420 (£20 more expensive).

By purchasing through the link, you collect 2,100 Avios from the stay. Plus, paying with a premium card adds another 400 Avios. Total: 2,500 Avios for a £20 difference. Here, you are acquiring Avios at £0.008 (less than a penny).

Knowing that a domestic or short-haul flight costs from 4,500 Avios, that £20 difference is practically paying for half of your next plane ticket. It is completely worth it because you will later fly for free (paying only minimal taxes).

The biggest mistake most people make about Avios is thinking you can only earn them by flying. The truth is you can accumulate thousands of points every month doing exactly what you already do: shopping online, paying your grocery bill, booking hotels or taking out insurance.

With an annual spend of between £8,000 and £12,000 — perfectly achievable if you channel your purchases well — you can earn enough Avios for a return Business Class flight within Europe completely free. You don’t need to be a frequent flyer. You just need to know where to shop.

In this guide I’ll walk you through every way to earn Avios, from easiest to most advanced.

What are Avios?

Avios are the points currency of the OneWorld alliance, which includes British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, Qatar Airways and Finnair, among others.

Imagine that every time you buy something online — clothes, tech, a hotel, travel insurance — you received a little bonus towards flights. That’s Avios: the loyalty points you can earn through your everyday purchases, at no extra cost.

The best part? You can use those points for free flights — or nearly free, just paying the taxes — on British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Qatar Airways and other airlines in the group. No premium credit cards required, no constant travelling. Just shopping where you already shop, but smarter.

1. Online shopping: the easiest and most underrated way

This is the method that can earn you the most Avios without changing your habits at all. British Airways has agreements with over 500 online retailers that give you Avios for every pound you spend with them.

The system is simple: instead of going directly to Amazon, ASOS or John Lewis, you first visit the British Airways Shopping portal or use our Avios finder — updated weekly — to see how many Avios each store offers, then click through to the shop. That’s it. The rest of your purchase is exactly the same.

The stores offering the most Avios vary week to week, but generally stand out:

• Electronics and technology: typically 2–5 Avios per pound
• Fashion: between 2 and 8 Avios per pound depending on the brand
• Travel (hotels, car hire): up to 10–15 Avios per pound on some platforms
• Groceries and food: fewer points but frequent purchases

💡 Practical tip: before any online purchase, check our finder to see if that store has an Avios agreement and how many points it gives. Two minutes that could be worth hundreds of Avios.

2. Credit cards: earn on every payment

Bank cards linked to points programmes are another huge source of Avios that most people overlook. The idea is simple: use the card to pay for everything you can (groceries, petrol, restaurants, pharmacy) and accumulate points on every purchase.

British Airways American Express

The most direct card for earning Avios in the UK. It gives 1 Avios per £1 spent on everyday purchases, with a welcome bonus if you meet certain spend requirements. Best of all: the points are directly Avios, no conversion needed. The Premium Plus version gives 1.5 Avios per £1 and includes a free companion voucher each year.

Barclays Avios Mastercard

A great option if you want to earn Avios without an Amex. It gives 1 Avios per £1 spent and is accepted anywhere Mastercard is, making it a good complement to the BA Amex for places that don’t accept American Express.

💡 Practical tip: choose one card based on your goal and use it for everything. Spreading spend across multiple cards slows down accumulation. Concentrate your spending, earn faster.

3. Flights: the obvious one, done right

Yes, flying also earns Avios. But there are ways to maximise it that few people know about.

Fly with OneWorld airlines

British Airways, Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and others all belong to the OneWorld alliance. All flights with these airlines earn Avios that can be transferred between different airline accounts.

The fare matters (a lot)

Not all fares earn the same Avios. The cheapest fares (basic, hand luggage only) usually earn very few points or none at all. Flexible or business fares earn many more. Before booking, check how many Avios each fare earns. As a general rule, the more expensive the ticket, the more Avios you receive.

4. Hotels and car hire

Many hotel chains and car hire companies have agreements with airlines. Some of them include:

• NH Hotels: earn Avios directly when you book
• Meliá: through their MeliáRewards programme, with the option to transfer points
• Booking.com: shows the Avios you’ll earn with each booking when you search through their dedicated portal
• Hertz, Europcar, Avis: car hire also earns points

💡 Practical tip: always book hotels and car hire through the Avios portal or a partner store link. That way you earn on the booking AND on your credit card if you pay with one linked to points.

5. Everyday purchases: supermarket, petrol, pharmacy

This is the big secret most people miss. Everyday spending represents the largest part of any household’s annual outgoings, and almost nobody is optimising it for Avios.

• Electronics (Currys, Apple, Samsung): buy through the Avios portal and earn points
• Petrol stations: some have agreements with British Airways
• Online pharmacies: several are listed on the shopping portal
• Insurance: taking out insurance through partner comparison sites can give you thousands of Avios in one go

6. External tools and surveys

• Opinion surveys: some market research companies reward you with Avios
• Referrals: recommending the Avios app to a friend can earn you a bonus once they make their first purchase through the platform
• Avios for Thoughts: the official Avios survey programme, where you earn points by answering questions

7. Transfers between programmes

• British Airways Executive Club → Iberia Club: use the “Combine my Avios” feature to reach the minimum needed for a redemption
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club: also uses Avios and is compatible
• Bank points: American Express Membership Rewards can be converted into Avios or miles for use on airlines in other alliances

How many Avios do you need for a free flight?

Destination	Economy Class	Business Class
Europe (short haul)	4,500 – 9,000 Avios	15,000 – 25,000 Avios
United States	17,000 – 34,000 Avios	50,000 – 68,000 Avios
Latin America	20,000 – 40,000 Avios	60,000 – 80,000 Avios

Approximate prices in low season. Avios offer the best value on long-haul Business Class flights.

Where to start: a practical plan

1. Open a British Airways Executive Club account if you don’t have one yet (it’s free)
2. Check our finder and note the stores where you already shop that have an Avios agreement
3. From now on, always access those stores through the Avios portal before buying
4. Consider getting a points credit card to earn on everyday spending
5. Check each week which stores have increased their Avios — the best opportunities are temporary

You don’t need to do everything at once. Just by changing where you click before shopping online, you can earn thousands of Avios every month without spending a penny more.

Conclusion

Avios aren’t just for frequent flyers. They’re for smart shoppers. And with the right tools — like the First Class Points finder, where you can see every week which stores give the most points and which have gone up — accumulating becomes almost automatic.

The first step is the simplest: next time you’re about to buy something online, go through the Avios portal first. That’s all it takes.

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Have questions about earning Avios? Write to us at info@first-class-points.com and we’ll help.