British Airways Government Membership: Information to Avios, elite standing and switch companions

British Airways is the biggest full-service airline within the United Kingdom and flies to extra locations within the U.S. than every other European provider.

The airline’s loyalty program is at present known as Government Membership, and its forex is Avios. With a considerable international route community and a loyalty at present that’s simple to earn and redeem, it’s a program that ought to be in your radar, even should you aren’t touring to the U.Ok.

This is what you might want to learn about incomes and redeeming British Airways Avios for rewards and learn how to earn elite standing in Government Membership.

What are Avios?

Avios is the rewards forex utilized by the next loyalty applications:

• British Airways Government Membership
• Iberia Plus
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Vueling Membership
• Qatar Airways Privilege Membership
• Finnair Plus

Avios will be transferred between any of those applications at a ratio of 1:1, so every Avios is theoretically price the identical in every program. There are, nevertheless, alternative ways through which Avios will be redeemed in every program. This implies the savvy traveler can obtain completely different values relying on which program the Avios are utilized in — and the way.

This information focuses on Avios earned and redeemed within the Government Membership program.

Related: With 5 airline loyalty applications utilizing Avios, here is why I give attention to British Airways Government Membership

The right way to earn elite standing within the British Airways Government Membership program

Tier factors depend towards standing, and there are 4 completely different standing ranges:

• Blue — the extent the place everybody begins
• Bronze — achieved after 300 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025
• Silver — achieved after 600 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025
• Gold — achieved after 1,500 tier factors are earned by March 31, 2025

Like another airline applications, British Airways Government Membership additionally has two extra ranges of standing that are not revealed:

Up to now, British Airways Government Membership members got a “Tier Level yr assortment finish date” that fell on the eighth day of the month following the date they joined the Government Membership. So, should you joined the loyalty program on Aug. 14, 2023, you’d have till Sept. 8, 2024, to earn your required standing tier. That stated, this modifications on April 1, 2025, when British Airways makes all tier level assortment finish dates March 31.

British Airways will even change to a revenue-based elite standing mannequin April 1, 2025, because it renames Government Membership to The British Airways Membership. Whereas standing advantages is not going to change, standing in “The Membership” might be awarded primarily based on spending (on flights marketed and operated by British Airways, American Airways and Iberia) fairly than distance flown or fare class.

Beginning April 1, 2025, members will earn 1 tier level per British pound (about $1.24) spent on flights on these airways (together with these pesky carrier-imposed surcharges) and ancillary purchases like seat choice, extra baggage and sustainable aviation gasoline, excluding airport charges and authorities taxes.

Nonetheless, if the fare is unavailable or undisclosed (as usually occurs with trip packages), you may earn tier factors primarily based on a proportion of miles flown, your cabin class and reserving class. Likewise, you may earn tier factors primarily based on a proportion of miles flown, your cabin class and reserving class on flights marketed by companions apart from American Airways and Iberia. You’ll be able to verify the odds you may earn for every airline companion on British Airways’ web site.

Moreover, from April 1, 2025, the next tier factors might be wanted to earn standing in The British Airways Membership for the rest of the present tier level assortment yr and everything of the next tier level assortment yr:

• Bronze: 3,500 tier factors
• Silver: 7,500 tier factors
• Gold: 20,000 tier factors
• Gold Visitor Listing: 65,000 tier factors (with a minimum of 52,000 earned by British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays) to earn and 40,000 tier factors (with a minimum of 32,000 earned by British Airways-marketed flights and British Airways Holidays) to resume

For many vacationers, Silver and Gold standing might be tougher to earn below The Membership than the present Government Membership.

Blue advantages

• Accumulate Avios on income flights with BA or its companions
• Share Avios in a family account (as much as six members)
• Choose seats without cost 24 hours earlier than departure (excluding exit-row seats and never together with journey on primary fares)
• Save preferences, akin to particular meals and seating
• Entry Reward Flight Savers

Bronze advantages (Oneworld Ruby)

• All of the Blue advantages
• Precedence check-in and boarding
• Free seat choice seven days earlier than departure
• Bonus Avios when flying British Airways or choose companion airways
• Standing freeze for maternity/paternity/adoption

Silver advantages (Oneworld Sapphire)

Silver is the equal of Gold on many different airways, the place the advantages actually kick in.

• All of the Bronze advantages
• Free seat choice on the time of reserving
• Further Avios when flying British Airways or choose companion airways
• Two 71-pound checked baggage in economic system (excluding primary economic system), relevant to everybody in your reserving
• Enterprise-class lounge entry (with one visitor) when flying BA and companion airways
• Precedence baggage supply
• Precedence cellphone assist

Gold advantages (Oneworld Emerald)

• All of the Silver advantages
• Free seat choice on the time of reserving, together with exit-row seats and unique entry to 1A and 1K in top notch
• Further Avios when flying British Airways or choose companion airways
• Further free checked bag in any class and a weight allowance of 71 kilos per bag, relevant to everybody in your reserving
• First-class check-in desk and lounge entry when flying BA and Oneworld airways (lounge entry consists of one visitor)
• Use of BA arrivals lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) Terminal 5 after a long-haul flight (no visitors)
• Entry to Gold Precedence Rewards, which lets you pressure an Avios reward ticket by paying double Avios for flights (you could ebook greater than 30 days prematurely)
• Further reward availability in economic system

Lifetime Gold is earned after accumulating 35,000 lifetime tier factors earlier than March 31, 2025, or 550,000 lifetime tier factors after April 1, 2025; there is not any restrict on the time you’ll be able to take to gather. Present lifetime tier level balances might be transformed April 1, 2025, so should you’ve earned 50% of the tier factors required by March 31 (17,500), this might be transformed to 50% of the brand new necessities April 1 (275,000 tier factors).

Gold Visitor Listing advantages (Oneworld Emerald)

• All of the Gold advantages
• First-class lounge entry when flying BA and Oneworld airways (with as much as 5 visitors for BA-operated lounges)
• Entry to Gold Visitor Listing redemptions, also referred to as jokers, which permit members to get BA to open up Avios redemption seats (for as much as 5 passengers), supplied sure reserving lessons are nonetheless up on the market
• Precedence help helpline
• Concorde Room card for entry to the Concorde Room at LHR and John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) (with one visitor)
• BA arrivals lounge entry after a long-haul flight (with one visitor)
• Hilton Honors Diamond standing
• Improve to Enterprise First on the Heathrow Categorical
• Reward one Gold and two Silver companion playing cards every membership yr

Associated: Nonetheless higher than enterprise class: A evaluation of British Airways First on the 777 from London to Washington

Requalifying for standing with British Airways requires the identical quantity of tier factors, apart from Gold Visitor Listing. Nonetheless, BA has a “mushy touchdown” for members who do not retain the identical standing degree within the following membership yr. If members fail to take care of their standing, they’re going to slip to the extent straight under, fairly than having to begin once more.

What’s the distinction between Avios and tier factors?

Many frequent flyer applications differentiate between redeemable miles and elite qualifying miles. That is partly as a result of airways award multiples of precise miles flown to passengers in premium cabins or these with elite standing for redeeming, however they award progress towards standing primarily based on precise miles flown.

British Airways Government Membership has a cut up. Somewhat than having elite qualifying miles, BA awards tier factors, which depend towards standing. Typically confusingly for these new to the world of miles, BA calls its mileage forex — the rewards that may be redeemed for flights — Avios.

Avios

Avios are the air miles earned for flying, bank card spending and leveraging different companions. Due to this fact, Avios are the forex clients can use for reward flights, upgrades and different issues like present vouchers.

You’ll be able to earn Avios primarily based in your ticket worth and any add-ons whenever you fly, akin to provider expenses, cabin upgrades, prebooked and pay as you go seats, and extra baggage.

Then, you’ll obtain extra Avios primarily based in your elite standing. You’ll earn 7 Avios per British pound (about $1.24) spent as a Bronze member, 8 Avios per pound spent as a Silver member and 9 Avios per pound spent as a Gold member when flying with British Airways, American Airways and Iberia.

Tier factors

British Airways awards tier factors for all flights taken on British Airways, Aer Lingus or any of BA’s Oneworld companions, which depend towards standing in Government Membership. Till March 31, 2025, the variety of tier factors awarded relies on your ticket sort and the category and distance flown.

Brief economy-class flights of lower than 2,000 miles can earn between 5 and 20 tier factors, relying on the fare class booked and the worth. The costlier the ticket, the extra possible you’ll earn extra tier factors. Brief-haul business-class flights (or home first-class flights within the U.S.) of lower than 2,000 miles usually earn 40 tier factors for every sector. So, taking many quick flights in premium cabins can shortly earn elite standing.

Beginning in 2025, all Government Membership members’ tier level assortment years will start April 1 and finish March 31. Beforehand, standing years aligned with when the member joined Government Membership, however as talked about earlier, all members will comply with the identical dates beginning in April 2025.

From April 1, 2025, tier factors when flying BA, Iberia and American Airways might be awarded primarily based on the quantity spent fairly than the gap or fare class flown.

Associated: British Airways rebrands loyalty program, unveils new revenue-based system for incomes elite standing

The right way to earn Avios

Bank cards

The best option to earn a significant variety of Avios on on a regular basis spending is by making use of for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.

This card — issued by Chase and, due to this fact, topic to the 5/24 rule — gives new candidates the chance to earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. In our January 2025 valuations, TPG valued Avios at 1.4 cents every, making the complete bonus price $1,050.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card has a $95 annual price and earns 3 Avios per greenback spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Stage purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on resort lodging when bought straight with the resort. All different purchases earn 1 Avios per greenback spent.

Playing cards with transferable rewards

Savvy TPG readers know we often advocate sticking with playing cards that earn transferable factors due to their added flexibility. This technique nonetheless applies should you’re attempting to accrue Avios. British Airways is a switch companion of Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, American Categorical Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of many best currencies to earn.

Factors or miles switch from Capital One, Chase, Bilt, Wells Fargo and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (along with occasional switch bonuses), whereas Marriott factors switch at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you may get a 5,000-Avios bonus for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred.

The next playing cards all at present supply substantial welcome bonuses that you could simply convert to Avios:

• American Categorical® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.
• Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card: Earn 60,000 Final Rewards factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit score Card: Earn 90,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Different methods to earn Avios embody:

• Buying Avios: They’re usually on sale.
• On-line buying portal: Earn bonus Avios from many on-line retailers, with some shops providing 10 or extra Avios per greenback spent.
• Trip packages: E book by the British Airways Holidays web site to earn an additional 1 Avios per greenback spent. BA additionally companions with main resort manufacturers like IHG and Accor and cruise strains like Royal Caribbean, so you’ll be able to earn extra Avios on nonair journey.
• Airbnb: Earn 2 Avios per greenback spent on trip leases.
• Automobile leases: Earn 3 Avios per greenback spent with Avis and 1 Avios per greenback spent with Finances.
• Uber: Earn 1 Avios for every pound spent for rides in the UK.
• Lounge Cross: Purchase entry to a membership lounge at over 350 airports worldwide and earn 5 Avios per greenback spent.
• Airport parking, Heathrow Categorical airport practice and valet parking at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR): Earn 5 Avios per pound spent.
• Heathrow Rewards: Earn 1 level per pound spent whenever you store, dine or park at Heathrow Airport, British Airways’ main hub. You’ll be able to then convert these Heathrow Rewards factors to Avios at a 1:1 ratio.
• Surveys: Members can use e-Rewards and Avios for Ideas to earn Avios for finishing surveys, together with 600 Avios whenever you full your first survey.

Which airways can I ebook with Avios?

British Airways is a founding member of Oneworld, a worldwide alliance of greater than a dozen airways.

Assuming there’s award availability, you should use your Avios out of your British Airways accounts for flights on any Oneworld airways:

• Alaska Airways
• American Airways
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Join companion, turning into a full member in 2025)
• Iberia, together with Iberia Categorical and Air Nostrum
• Japan Airways
• Malaysia Airways
• Oman Air (becoming a member of in 2025)
• Qantas, together with QantasLink and Jetconnect
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• Royal Air Maroc
• S7 Airways (at present suspended)
• SriLankan Airways

Along with the Oneworld companions listed above, you can even use Avios from British Airways Government Membership to redeem for flights on:

• Aer Lingus (additionally an incomes companion)
• Vueling
• Solar-Air, a BA franchise companion in Scandinavia

Hawaiian Airways is ready to affix the Oneworld alliance following the Alaska Airways-Hawaiian Airways merger.

What number of Avios will I would like?

Although British Airways Government Membership doesn’t publish an official redemption chart, TPG has discovered that the airline follows this award pricing for one-way Avios redemptions operated by British Airways:

British Airways launched Reward Flight Savers on all BA-operated routes. This program permits Government Membership members to pay extra Avios in change for lowering the numerous gasoline surcharges, a number of the trade’s highest.

Right here is the companion award chart for flights operated by companion airways, excluding American Airways and Alaska Airways Zone 1-4 (all flights are charged on the peak worth):

For some flights operated by companion airways utilizing Avios, you might even see barely completely different pricing than within the desk above when redeeming by British Airways Government Membership. For instance:

• Aer Lingus Zone 1 flights are priced at 4,000 Avios in economic system.
• Iberia Zone 1 flights are priced at 5,000 Avios in economic system.
• Qatar Airways Zone 1 flights are priced at 8,000 Avios in economic system.

Associated: 5 variations of Avios: When to make use of Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Finnair Iberia and British Airways

For shorter flights operated by American Airways or Alaska Airways, the next costs apply:

Government Membership expenses per leg, so in case you are taking connecting flights you will have so as to add collectively the price of every.

If you wish to ebook home flights in economic system for fewer Avios, take into account transferring your Avios from Government Membership to Finnair Plus. This program expenses simply 11,000 Avios for flights anyplace within the continental United States and Canada operated by Alaska Airways, or 16,500 Avios for flights operated by American Airways.

How do I ebook flights with British Airways Avios?

First, you will have a British Airways Government Membership account to switch factors or search award availability. You’ll be able to join on the British Airways web site should you do not have already got an account.

British Airways’ web site is likely one of the greatest choices for looking out Oneworld award availability. Most redemptions will be booked on-line by the Government Membership web site.

There are two fundamental methods to seek for award availability. Instantly after logging in to BA’s web site, I hover over the “E book” tab within the higher left nook and click on “E book a flight with Avios.”

BA helps you to simply search plus or minus three days on the prime of the outcomes web page.

When you choose your most well-liked flight, you’ll then see the worth in Avios together with charges and taxes.

Can I take advantage of a mix of Avios and money?

There are two alternative ways to do that:

• You’ll be able to partly pay with Avios to scale back the price of a money ticket. This isn’t depending on award availability, and you’ll earn Avios and tier factors as regular.
• Paying extra money (along with the charges and taxes) can scale back the variety of Avios wanted for redemption.

You could not have adequate Avios in your account to cowl the price of your entire flight, or you might not want to use so many Avios for one redemption. So, British Airways offers you the choice to pay with a mix of Avios and money for redemptions on British Airways or its companions.

Backside line

British Airways has an enormous route community, particularly in North America and throughout Europe, making it an awesome choice for these flying from the U.S. to Europe. Plus, BA stays dedicated to sustaining worldwide top notch, and whereas none of its merchandise are world-leading, they’re pretty constant.

Avios are one of many best loyalty program currencies to earn and redeem. Redemptions for short-haul journey can supply nice worth, although gasoline surcharges stay the largest frustration with this system.