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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
Best Avios sweet spots: How to redeem for domestic and international award flights
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.
September 12, 2024 • 12 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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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.
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Quick summary
Avios is a versatile loyalty currency used by five major airline programs, allowing 1:1 transfers between them.
There are notable redemption opportunities, including short-haul European flights, Caribbean island hops and transatlantic business class routes.
Some of the best deals include short European flights for low Avios amounts, U.S. domestic flights via Finnair Plus and JetBlue Mint redemptions through Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
Avios can be earned through various travel rewards cards and by transferring from major transferable points programs.
What to consider
Some award bookings, such as U.S. domestic flights via Finnair Plus, require phone reservations rather than online booking.
Taxes and fees vary by route and carrier, sometimes adding significant cost to otherwise low Avios redemptions.
Award availability, especially for premium cabins or popular routes, can be limited or released close to departure.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of specific Avios sweet spots and which airline program to use for the best value on each route.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Avios has become an increasingly popular loyalty currency.
While you may traditionally think of Avios as the type of rewards only used by British Airways, it is actually the official award currency used by the following five programs:
Avios can be transferred between any of these programs at a ratio of 1:1, so each Avios is theoretically worth the same in each program; however, there are sweet spots in each program to be aware of.
Here are the best Avios sweet spots and which program(s) to book them through.
Book short-haul European flights on British Airways with Avios
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
British Airways Executive Club charges just 4,750 Avios each way for flights that it operates from London to destinations up to 650 miles away on off-peak dates (flights on peak dates are only 5,250 Avios).
This includes destinations in Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
Fees, taxes and surcharges will set you back $31 each way (this can vary depending on current exchange rates), though you also have the option to reduce this to just $1 by redeeming 9,250 Avios, which is about as close to a “free” flight as you are likely to find.
BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM
For flights between 651 and 1,151 miles, the cost is 7,250 Avios each way on off-peak dates (or 8,250 on peak dates). This includes European destinations farther afield, including Portugal and Northern and Eastern Europe, and is still a great deal.
Award flights include full-size cabin baggage and a checked bag, which can be a great way to get around basic fares that include none of these items.
Book domestic flights on American or Alaska with Avios
JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Previously, both British Airways and Qatar Airways had reasonably priced domestic awards flying American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. However, since both programs recently increased the prices of these awards, you'll need to focus on Finnair Plus for the best rates; however, these cannot be booked online.
This program charges a flat 11,000 Avios for all domestic flights within the continental United States (and Canada). For short hops like John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), this is fairly pricey compared with what other programs charge. However, for flights across the country, paying just 11,000 Avios is a great redemption option.
Finnair allows multiple flights to be booked within the same redemption, so, for example, you could book a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) via Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for 11,000 Avios plus minimal fees and taxes.
Island-hop through the Caribbean on British Airways with Avios
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
British Airways operates several fifth-freedom flights between the Caribbean islands using wide-body aircraft before these planes return to London. You can book just the island-hop flights in economy, premium economy or business class — and best of all, as British Airways operates them, you will only pay the Zone 1 pricing starting at just 4,750 Avios.
As these flights are usually not full, award availability is excellent.
BA’s fifth-freedom network does change from season to season, but you can currently book the following:
From Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the Bahamas to Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in the Cayman Islands and Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks and Caicos
From V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) in Antigua to Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) in St. Kitts and Nevis and Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Aruba
From Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in St. Lucia to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) in Grenada, ANR Robinson International Airport (TAB) in Trinidad and Tobago, and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) in Guyana
Thanks to the zone-based chart, Finnair Plus allows you to fly from the United States to the Hawaiian Islands for just 13,500 Avios each way on flights operated by Alaska. That beats the award rate for all major U.S. loyalty programs, and there’s no close-in booking fee either.
You can't mix and match American and Alaska flights on the same itinerary, and Finnair charges a slightly higher 15,000 Avios for American flights to Hawaii. Therefore, to save 1,500 Avios, choose to fly Alaska Airlines, if possible.
While the rates for transcontinental and transatlantic flights are steep, there are some good deals on flights under 2,000 miles in length. These flights cost 26,000 Avios each way in Mint business class (or 13,000 Avios in economy).
This includes flights from the Northeast that feature Mint cabin services to these Caribbean destinations:
Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
Grenada's Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND)
St. Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
St. Thomas’s Cyril E. King Airport (STT)
Book through: Qatar Airways Privilege Club. While online redemptions have sometimes been available, you may need to call Qatar Airways if you receive an error message when searching online.
The key to this amazing sweet spot is to fly a nonstop, Iberia-operated flight of 3,001 to 4,000 miles on off-peak dates (check Iberia’s peak and off-peak calendar).
This is because Iberia and British Airways use a distance-based award chart for their flights.
Iberia operates several transatlantic flights that fall into the 3,001-4,000-mile distance band. As such, you can book Iberia flights between the following city pairs for just 34,000 Avios each way in business class, plus modest taxes and fees:
From Boston or New York to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
From Boston or New York to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
From Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Madrid
While flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to MAD are slightly outside this range, they also price at 34,000 Avios one-way in business class, which is an excellent deal.
Book through: British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus
If you can travel during off-peak dates — which cover roughly eight months of the year — you can fly to Dublin Airport (DUB) from a handful of U.S. cities, including as far west as Chicago. This award will set you back just 26,000 Avios round-trip in economy or as low as 50,000 one-way in business class.
And suppose you live in the South in a city like Orlando or Miami, or the West in Los Angeles or San Francisco. In that case, the price only increases to 32,500 Avios round-trip in economy and 62,500 one-way in business, which is still a great deal considering how long these flights are.
Book through: British Airways Executive Club or Aer Lingus AerClub
Fly to Doha and beyond in Qatar Qsuite with Avios
ZACH HONIG/THE POINTS GUY
Qatar Airways' award-winning Qsuite product is widely considered one of the world’s best business-class products. The carrier’s economy product is also a solid option.
Here are the prices for popular one-way itineraries per person on any date in business class (there is no peak or off-peak pricing):
From New York to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH): 70,000 Avios plus $73.35
From Boston to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 80,000 Avios plus $201.50
From Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Doha: 43,000 Avios plus $198
From Miami to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): 95,000 Avios plus $202.90
While availability on flights from North America is currently scarce, even for Privilege Club members, seats are released at the last minute, and availability on shorter routes, such as those between Europe and Doha, is readily available to book with Avios in advance.
Book through: British Airways Executive Club or Qatar Airways Privilege Club
How to earn Avios
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios is by applying for an Avios-branded credit card, including:
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. Avios are worth 1.4 cents each per TPG's October 2025 valuations, making the full bonus worth $1,050. Each card has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The information for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card and the Iberia Visa Signature Card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios at a 1:1 rate:
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three 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 within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 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.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Bottom line
Avios are quickly becoming one of the most popular and useful currencies.
While many of the best sweet spots can be booked through the British Airways Executive Club website (so this is a good place to start), and that arguably has the best user experience for booking and managing redemptions, there are also benefits to using Aer Lingus AerClub, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus and Qatar Privilege Club.
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.
