How to easily transfer Avios between all 7 airline loyalty programs
Editor's Note
Avios is the rewards currency used by the following airline loyalty programs:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- British Airways Club
- Finnair Plus
- Iberia Club
- Loganair Loyalty
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Vueling Club
If you have a loyalty account with any (or all) of these airlines, you can earn and redeem Avios.
You can transfer Avios between any of these programs at a ratio of 1:1 in any direction at no cost as often as you like (up to generous annual limits), so 1 British Airways Club Avios is worth 1 Finnair Plus Avios and vice versa. But since each Avios program prices award redemptions slightly differently, you need to have your Avios in the right program to take advantage of sweet spots in each.
Fortunately, there is a convenient tool to transfer Avios between all seven programs in one place.
How to use the Avios transfer tool
To start, ensure you have created a loyalty account with each program you want to transfer Avios to. It's not essential to create accounts for all seven at once; however, it's a good idea to start with at least British Airways Club, Iberia Club, Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, as these programs generally offer the best value and/or are the most user-friendly.
Your accounts must have been open for at least 30 days before you can transfer Avios between accounts. There is no minimum number of Avios to transfer; however, most members are limited to transfers of 999,999 Avios per transaction and 1,000,000 Avios per rolling 12-month period.
Ensure you use the same name, email address and date of birth for each account so they can be linked. Then head to the Avios website and log in with any of your affiliated loyalty program account credentials (excluding Qatar Airways Privilege Club; use your British Airways Club details at this point instead).
Once you have logged in, select "Transfer now."
The Avios balance of the account you logged in with will be shown on the left. Choose any of the other Avios airline loyalty programs you want to link. Note that Avios transfers to and from Qatar Airways Privilege Club must go via British Airways Club, though this process can be done using this tool.
How to link your Avios accounts:
- Log in to the account you wish to link
- Pass the two-factor authentication
- Confirm the link (once established, the linked accounts are permanent — so check carefully before submitting)
- Your membership number and Avios balance will be shown under each linked account.
How to transfer your Avios between programs:
Select the programs you want to move your Avios from and to. There is no minimum transfer amount required and no cost for doing so.
Complete the two-factor authentication when prompted and wait for the confirmation message. Transfers should be instant.
How to earn Avios
Aside from having an Avios-earning credit card in your wallet, purchasing Avios or earning rewards with retail partners, most U.S.-based travelers will likely transfer Avios from a credit card program.
By earning transferable rewards, you can transfer your points or miles directly to the following Avios-based programs:
- American Express Membership Rewards points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Club, Iberia Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Bilt Points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Club, Iberia Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Capital One miles: British Airways Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus
- Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Club and Iberia Club
- Citi ThankYou Rewards points: Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Marriott Bonvoy points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Club, Iberia Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Vueling Club
- Wells Fargo Rewards points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Club and Iberia Club
- Rove miles: Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
These transfers are at a 1:1 ratio, except for Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000 Avios bonus offered for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer (60,000 points become 25,000 Avios, for example).
Though not every credit card currency is directly transferable across all seven Avios programs, this tool makes it easy to transfer your rewards between your accounts.
For example, if you have Capital One miles and want to book an Iberia award flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), you can transfer your miles to British Airways Club. Then use the Avios transfer tool to transfer Avios from your British Airways Club account to your Iberia Club account.
Related: The Amex transfer bonus I've waited a year for is back: Get 30% more Avios
Bottom line
While moving Avios between programs might initially seem complicated, it's worth the effort for the excellent flexibility and value it offers. For award travelers, transferring Avios in either direction at no additional cost is exceedingly helpful.
British Airways Club is a safe bet if you want to focus on only one Avios program. It's the largest program and has the easiest-to-use technology. However, each program has its own sweet spots, so if you have a redemption in mind, consider which option will get you the best value for your Avios and use this handy tool to move them around in one place.
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