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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
How to stop your British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Finnair Avios from expiring
Christian Kramer is the General Manager for The Points Guy UK, based in London. Having lived in different countries and with a previous career in financial services, he is an Avios, Oneworld Alliance and general aviation travel expert.
Ben Smithson is a senior writer for TPG and is based in London. Originally from Australia and a qualified lawyer with a financial services background, he has almost a decade of experience writing about a broad range of travel and loyalty topics.
also contributed to this story
August 5, 2024 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Avios are the rewards currency used by several major airline loyalty programs, including British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
Avios can be earned and redeemed through flights, partner activity and various nonairline partners, with flexible options for both accrual and use.
Most Avios programs allow balances to remain active with any earning or redemption activity every 36 months, but Finnair Plus has a stricter 18-month expiration policy.
Transferring Avios between programs may help keep balances active, but Finnair Plus does not reset expiration through transfers from other Avios accounts.
What to consider
Avios in British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus accounts remain valid with any qualifying activity every 36 months, while Finnair Plus requires activity every 18 months.
Finnair Plus only partners with one transferable points program and does not allow expiration to be reset by transferring Avios from other programs.
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of each program's expiration rules and practical strategies for keeping your Avios from expiring.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Flyers can earn Avios with the right credit card by taking flights with any Oneworld alliance partner and through many nonairline partners. The same broadly applies to redemption: Passengers can redeem Avios toward flights on each of the previously mentioned airlines and many others.
However, holding large amounts of Avios carries certain risks. The first risk is devaluation, anunfortunate reality of the points and miles industry. Typically, devaluation means either that the earning rates decrease or the spending rates increase.
While some points and miles, like Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, never expire, Avios do. Knowing when they will expire is important so you don’t suddenly see your hard-earned balance disappear.
The good news is that the Avios programs have generous expiration rules compared to other programs. Let's examine the rules of each program and explain some tips to keep your Avios alive.
Avios expiration policy for British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Iberia Plus
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Your Avios will not expire in your British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways or Aer Lingus accounts if they have some earning or spending activity every 36 months.
Earning activities include:
Crediting a flight taken on British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus or any partner airline of that program
Transferring Avios to your Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, or British Airways Executive Club accounts from another program's Avios account
Transferring Avios from your British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub or Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts to another program's Avios account
Avios expiration policy for Finnair Plus
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Finnair Plus has a stricter expiration policy than the other Avios programs. Avios in your Finnair Plus account expire after just 18 months (so half the time of the other Avios program accounts) when no Avios have been "collected or used." While most of the activities above would keep your Avios alive, remember that Finnair Plus only partners with one credit card currency, Capital One miles.
Also, the program specifically excludes transferring Avios from another Avios program (such as British Airways Executive Club) to reset the expiration clock.
So, if you wish to keep your Avios in your Finnair Plus account, you'll need to be much more conscious of their stricter expiration than if they were in another Avios program.
Five Avios credit cards are available in the U.S., including three from Chase, which come with generous welcome bonuses:
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
The information for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature and Iberia Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Cardless now offers two Qatar Airways-branded credit cards, including the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, which has a $99 annual fee and a welcome offer of up to 40,000 Avios — 20,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 20,000 Avios after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days.
There is also the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which has a $499 annual fee and a welcome offer of up to 50,000 Avios — 25,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after you spend $5,000 in the first 90 days. This card also comes with Privilege Club Gold status.
The information for the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite and Signature cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Here are some of the best cards that earn points or miles you can convert to Avios:
American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $12,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bottom line
You work hard to build up your Avios balance, so you should do everything possible to ensure you don’t unintentionally lose your rewards. The good news is that there are many ways to earn and redeem Avios, especially as so many programs now use Avios as their reward currency.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
