British Airways Executive Club uses Avios as its loyalty currency, similar to Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways, though each program manages its Avios separately. Understanding the BA Executive Club's specific expiration rules is key to protecting your balance.

British Airways Avios Expiration Policy

According to the British Airways Executive Club terms, Avios will expire if you do not collect, spend, purchase, or share at least one Avios point within a period of 36 consecutive months.

This means your account needs some form of qualifying activity at least once every three years to keep your entire Avios balance active. Any qualifying transaction resets the 36-month clock for all the Avios in your BA Executive Club account.

How to Keep Your British Airways Avios From Expiring

Preventing your BA Avios from expiring is relatively simple. You need at least one transaction involving earning, spending, buying, or transferring Avios within any 36-month window. Common ways include:

  • Earn Avios:
    • Fly with British Airways or its oneworld® alliance partners and other airline partners.
    • Use a British Airways co-branded credit card (like the Chase British Airways Visa Signature® Card in the US) for purchases.
    • Transfer points from flexible credit card programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Bilt Rewards.
    • Earn Avios through hotel stays, car rentals, the BA shopping portal (eStore), or other non-airline partners.
  • Spend Avios:
    • Book reward flights ("Reward Flight Savers" or standard awards) on British Airways or partner airlines.
    • Use Avios for upgrades on BA flights.
    • Pay for seat selection, baggage, or onboard refreshments with Avios (where offered).
    • Redeem Avios for hotel stays or car rentals.
  • Purchase Avios: Buy Avios directly from British Airways (often comes with bonuses).
  • Share Avios: Transfer Avios to another Executive Club member (fees may apply, but it counts as activity).

Any single qualifying activity will reset the 36-month expiration clock.

Earning British Airways Avios with Transferable Rewards

One of the easiest ways to build a balance of Avios is by using credit cards that earn transferable points. British Airways is a transfer partner of all the major programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

  • Amex, Chase, Capital One, Bilt, and Wells Fargo all transfer to Avios at a 1:1 ratio, often with periodic transfer bonuses.
  • Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000 Avios bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

This broad network makes Avios one of the most accessible airline currencies to accumulate.

Credit Cards That Transfer to Avios

Several credit cards offer strong welcome bonuses and ongoing earning potential that can be converted to Avios:

Other Ways to Earn Avios

Beyond credit card transfers, you can earn Avios through a variety of everyday activities and partner programs:

  • Purchasing Avios (often available during promotions with bonus offers).
  • Shopping portals – Earn bonus Avios at hundreds of online retailers.
  • Vacation packages – Book through British Airways Vacations to earn Avios on bundled travel.
  • Hotels – Earn Avios when booking stays with IHG, Accor, and other partners.
  • Airbnb – Earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on vacation rentals.
  • Car rentals – 3 Avios per dollar with Avis and 1 Avios per dollar with Budget.
  • Uber (UK only) – Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent.
  • Heathrow services – Earn Avios for lounge access, parking, Heathrow Express tickets, and Heathrow Rewards (which convert to Avios 1:1).
  • Surveys – Earn Avios through platforms such as e-Rewards and Avios for Thoughts.

Redeeming British Airways Avios

British Airways is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, which gives members access to flights on more than a dozen global airlines. You can redeem Avios for flights on:

  • Oneworld members: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Royal Air Maroc, SriLankan Airlines, and soon Oman Air.
  • Other partners: Aer Lingus, Vueling, Sun-Air (Scandinavia franchise), and Fiji Airways (currently a Oneworld Connect partner).
  • Future partner: Hawaiian Airlines, expected to join following its merger with Alaska Airlines.

With such a wide redemption network, Avios can be used for both short-haul and long-haul flights, often unlocking excellent value when booking partner awards or regional flights within Europe and Asia.

Official Policy

For the most current and detailed information, always refer to the official Executive Club documentation:

By staying aware of the 36-month activity requirement and ensuring you complete at least one qualifying transaction within that timeframe, you can easily keep your British Airways Avios balance safe.

Summary

British Airways Avios will only expire after 36 months of inactivity, making it simple to keep your balance safe with even a single qualifying transaction.

Earning Avios is easy through flights, partner activities, and transfers from nearly every major credit card program, while redemption options span the entire Oneworld alliance plus additional partners. With its broad earning network and wide range of redemption opportunities, the Executive Club remains one of the most versatile ways to collect and use Avios.

Disclaimer: Always use credit responsibly. Program terms and conditions can change. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Verify details directly with British Airways.