British Airways Club: Ultimate Guide
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The British Airways Club makes short one-way flights in North America some of the cheapest to book with points. This ultimate guide covers what a Canadian traveller needs to know: how to earn Avios from Canada, where they are worth the most, and how to reach elite status.
British Airways Club: Ultimate Guide to Earning Avios
Open an Account
Opening a British Airways Club account couldn’t be easier: in all cases, you’ll need to visit the British Airways website and follow the instructions.
British Airways Club members earn Avios.
Travels with Oneworld
The British Airways Club is the British Airways loyalty program.
Avios can be earned on board:
- British Airways;
- From one of the 13 member airlines of the oneworld alliance.
With British Airways
Since October 18, 2023, Avios miles are accumulated according to the amount of money spent on the ticket and extras. Eligible expenses include:
- Ticket price
- Fees added by the company
- Cabin upgrades
- Pre-booked and paid seats
- Additional baggage allowance.
For tickets purchased before October 19, 2023, the accumulation of Avios miles follows the old method and depends on:
- The booking class of your ticket
- Flight distance covered
- Your British Airways Club status
You’ll earn between 25% and 300% of the distance travelled in Avios, with a minimum number of miles for each fare category.
In addition, members with British Airways Club status receive a bonus based on distance travelled:
- Blue: 25%
- Silver: 50% discount
- Gold : 100%
To find out how many Avios miles you will earn with your flight, go to this page provided by British Airways Club.
With Partner Companies
Avios can also be earned for flights on any of the 13 Oneworld airlines.
Mileage calculation varies with partner airlines, either according to flight distance or the total amount spent. Details can be found on this page. Here is an example of the accumulation on Qatar Airways:
With Car Rentals
British Airways Club partners with car rental agencies including:
- Review (5 Avios per £1 spent)
- Budget (2 Avios per £1 spent)
This makes it easy to accumulate Avios on each rental.
With Hotel Stays
British Airways Club partners with a number of hotel groups and online booking sites, including:
This makes it easy to earn Avios on every hotel stay .
With Airbnb
British Airways Club is partnered with Airbnb, earning Avios on every rental:
- 3 Avios per US dollar (USD) for stay bookings
- 3 Avios per US dollar (USD) for Airbnb Experiences bookings
With Credit Card Welcome Bonuses
British Airways Club is partnered with two institutions in Canada that offer credit cards enabling Avios to be earned directly or indirectly :
Each of these cards will:
- offer a welcome bonus
- offer Avios for every purchase
It’s a great way to rack up lots of Avios fast!
American Express
American Express offers seven Membership Rewards cards that can be transferred 1:1 to the British Airways Club program.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $250 | |||
| $199 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $0 |
Our choice is the American Express Cobalt® Card.
American Express Cobalt® Card
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best American Express credit card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
The welcome bonus is spread out monthly over the first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points after charging $750 in purchases to your card in the month (in any category: 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.
You can easily redeem these points as a statement credit for everyday or travel purchases. The value is the same either way: 1,000 points = $10.
Or you can transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors.
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you could choose to get up to:
- 15,000 Aeroplan points
- 15,000 Avios points
- 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Catégorie | Points par dollar |
| Épicerie (Métro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) | 5 |
| Livraison de nourriture à domicile | 5 |
| Restaurants et bars | 5 |
| Dépanneurs | 5 |
| Services de diffusion en continu | 3 |
| Station-service | 2 |
| Transports | 2 |
| Voyages | 1 |
| Autres | 1 |
That represents a 1% to 5% return on all those purchases.
For example, if you spend $1,000 a month on groceries, restaurants and/or food delivery, you will get $50 back per month, or $600 back per year with this card for that category of purchases!
And if you decide to transfer your points to other programs like Aeroplan, you could get even more value!
This Card also provides excellent insurance: car rental theft and damage, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, flight delay, $250,000 travel accident, hotel/motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Buyer’s Assurance and Purchase Protection.
As with all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is required.
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
RBC
RBC offers a credit card directly affiliated with the program: the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card.
- Annual fee
- $165
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Total$1,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,000
- Welcome offerAfter $6,000 in 3 months
- 50,000 Avios
Apply Now
on RBC's website
In its RBC Avion Rewardsprogram, RBC Bank offers several credit cards that offer travel points transferable into Avios at a rate of 1:1 :
- RBC Avion Visa Platinum
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- RBC Avion Visa Platinum Business
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card regularly offers promotions to earn between 35,000 and 55,000 RBC Avion points.
Featured
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,190
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 6 months
- Up to 70,000 points
- Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now
on RBC's website
With Purchases Made on Credit Cards
To accumulate Avios more quickly, it’s best to use one of the credit cards (see choices above) as often as possible!
The rate of mileage accumulation will often depend on the issuer and type of card:
- 1 Avios per dollar for most cards, such as the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card or the American Express® Gold Rewards Card
- 2 Avios per dollar with the American Express® Gold Rewards Card for purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies or travel agencies
- 2 Avios per dollar with the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card for restaurant, grocery and meal delivery purchases
- 3 Avios per dollar for British Airways tickets or vacation packages purchased with the British Airways RBC Visa Infinite Card.
- 5 Avios per dollar for purchases in grocery stores, restaurants, bars, convenience stores or home food delivery with the American Express Cobalt® Card
- Annual fee
- $165
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Total$1,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,000
- Welcome offerAfter $6,000 in 3 months
- 50,000 Avios
Apply Now
on RBC's website
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,020
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
With Hotel Points Conversion
Most hotel loyalty programs allow you to convert your points into Avios miles.
It’s a sneaky way to get Avios! Especially since conversion bonuses are offered at certain times of the year.
For example, you can convert Marriott Bonvoy points into Avios.
By maximizing both programs, and converting during a promotional period (such as the one offering 30% extra miles), it is possible to do the following, for example:
If you have the:
But if you’d like to earn Avios instead of using your points for free nights, this is the solution for you!
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
British Airways Club – Using Avios Miles
Let’s discover all the ways in which miles can be used to:
- Airline tickets
- Car rentals
- Hotel nights
Plane Tickets
Avios are best used for booking airline tickets. These are called “Reward” or “Award” flights. But you still need to know the tips and tricks for using Avios correctly.
The Fare Structure for Flights on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling
British Airways Club has a fare structure based on:
- the distance to be covered (divided into 9 zones)
- season (high/low season)
Here is the price list for flights on:
- British Airways
- Aer Lingus
- Iberia
- Vueling
Economy Class
For economy class flights, it will cost:
| Zone | Distance in miles | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-650 | 4,750 | 5,250 |
| 2 | 651-1,151 | 7,250 | 8,250 |
| 3 | 1,152-2,000 | 10,000 | 12,500 |
| 4 | 2,001-3,000 | 10,000 | 12,500 |
| 5 | 3,001-4,000 | 13,000 | 20,000 |
| 6 | 4,001-5,500 | 16,250 | 25,000 |
| 7 | 5,501-6,500 | 19,500 | 30,000 |
| 8 | 6,501-7,000 | 22,750 | 35,000 |
| 9 | 7,001+ | 32,500 | 50,000 |
Premium Economy Class
For flights in Premium Economy class, it will cost:
| Zone | Distance in miles | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-650 | – | – |
| 2 | 651-1,151 | – | – |
| 3 | 1,152-2,000 | – | – |
| 4 | 2,001-3,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 |
| 5 | 3,001-4,000 | 26,000 | 40,000 |
| 6 | 4,001-5,500 | 32,500 | 50,000 |
| 7 | 5,501-6,500 | 39,000 | 60,000 |
| 8 | 6,501-7,000 | 45,500 | 70,000 |
| 9 | 7,001+ | 65,000 | 100,000 |
Business Class
For business class flights, it will cost:
| Zone | Distance in miles | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-650 | 8,500 | 9,750 |
| 2 | 651-1,151 | 13,000 | 15,750 |
| 3 | 1,152-2,000 | 17,750 | 20,750 |
| 4 | 2,001-3,000 | 31,250 | 37,500 |
| 5 | 3,001-4,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 |
| 6 | 4,001-5,500 | 62,500 | 75,000 |
| 7 | 5,501-6,500 | 75,000 | 90,000 |
| 8 | 6,501-7,000 | 87,500 | 105,000 |
| 9 | 7,001+ | 125,000 | 150,000 |
First Class
For flights in First Class, it will cost:
| Zone | Distance in miles | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-650 | – | – |
| 2 | 651-1,151 | – | – |
| 3 | 1,152-2,000 | – | – |
| 4 | 2,001-3,000 | 42,500 | 50,000 |
| 5 | 3,001-4,000 | 68,000 | 80,000 |
| 6 | 4,001-5,500 | 85,000 | 100,000 |
| 7 | 5,501-6,500 | 102,000 | 120,000 |
| 8 | 6,501-7,000 | 119,000 | 140,000 |
| 9 | 7,001+ | 170,000 | 200,000 |
Fares for Flights with Oneworld Partners
British Airways Club has a different fare structure based solely on distance (divided into 9 zones).
This fare structure applies only to travel with other Oneworld members.
| Zone | Distance in miles | Economy | Pr. Eco | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1* | 1-650 | 6 000 | 9 000 | 12 500 | 24 000 |
| 2 | 651-1 151 | 9 000 | 12 500 | 16 500 | 33 000 |
| 3 | 1 152-2 000 | 11 000 | 16 500 | 22 000 | 44 000 |
| 4 | 2 001-3 000 | 13 000 | 25 750 | 38 750 | 51 500 |
| 5 | 3 001-4 000 | 20 750 | 41 250 | 62 000 | 82 500 |
| 6 | 4 001-5 500 | 25 750 | 51 500 | 77 250 | 103 000 |
| 7 | 5 501-6 500 | 31 000 | 62 000 | 92 750 | 123 750 |
| 8 | 6 501-7 000 | 36 250 | 72 250 | 108 250 | 144 250 |
| 9 | 7 001+ | 51 500 | 103 000 | 154 500 | 206 000 |
One Rate Per Segment
British Airways Club allows you to book one-way tickets. However, if your itinerary includes several segments, it will cost you more in Avios.
It is therefore more interesting to find a direct flight (such as Montreal – Miami) than a connecting flight (such as Montreal – Philadelphia – Miami).
Travelling with Children
The British Airways Club program is particularly interesting for families!
There are “baby reward flights” (children aged under 2 AND traveling on an adult’s lap).
The required fee will be 10% of the cost in miles of the adult rate (+ taxes). A one-way ticket costs 7,500 Avios for an adult, but only 750 Avios for a child under 2!
Modifying and Canceling a Reward Flight
The British Airways Club allows you to change or cancel an air award up to 24 hours before flight departure.
The fee will be CAD 58 (no fee if you are a Gold member). Miles and taxes will be refunded in full.
The Reward Flights Availability
Airline awards will be posted on British Airways Club from 355 days before flight departure.
However, for some airlines, tickets will not be posted until 300 days before flight departure.
Carrier Surcharges
On the British Airways Club, when you book an airline award, a fee is added to the amount in miles.
This fee includes:
- airport taxes
- a possible “surcharge” from the carrier
The carrier surcharge was introduced by some airlines such as British Airways or Qatar Airways when the price of oil reached record highs.
Since then, this surcharge has not been removed, and is a way for airlines to make money.
Also, there is an unavoidable departure tax in the UK, so we’ll be looking to avoid leaving the UK.
However, if you look carefully for your airfares, you can avoid carrier surcharges: some airlines don’t charge any surcharges at all!
Airlines Without Surcharge
To avoid carrier surcharges, you need to know which airlines do not charge them on award tickets.
The following airlines DO NOT charge surcharges:
- Aer Lingus
- American Airlines (except transcontinental flights)
- Alaska Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Iberia (to Spain only)
- Qantas (excluding transcontinental flights)
- Japan Airlines (excluding transcontinental flights)
Short-Haul Flights: The Best Bargain
An excellent use for Avios: to book short-haul airfares. These are “local” destinations.
In North America, certain flights operated by American Airlines will cost 7,500 miles one way, or 15,000 miles round trip. Like Montreal – New York, for example.
However, this is particularly useful in countries such as Japan. Here is an example of an award ticket between Tokyo and Osaka:
Award Ticket Search Tools
There are several free and paid tools available for finding award tickets for the British Airways Club.
While Expertflyer is aimed at advanced users, Seats.aero is easier to access and offers a free version.
For Car Rentals
Avios can be used to rent a car.
Here’s an example of a one-week car rental in Miami.
For Hotels
Avios can also be used to book hotel nights. However, point valuation is far from optimal.
British Airways Club – Manage your Avios Miles
The Value of Miles
The value of an Avios depends on how you use it. However, it is generally agreed that1 Avios = 1.7¢.
You could get much more value from short-haul airfares in Asia or flights in premium cabins (business/first class).
Miles Expiration
Avios do not have an expiration date based on their accumulation date.
This means that all Avios will remain in your account as long as you generate activity every 36 months.
Claiming Missing Miles
Have you travelled on British Airways or a Oneworld airline without giving your membership number?
Or have you forgotten to use your British Airways Club membership number with a partner?
It is possible to make a claim for missing miles up to 6 months after the transaction. To do this, you will need to complete the claim form available on the mileage credit request page.
The Family and Friends Account
This is a major advantage of the British Airways Club program.
There are three components to your British Airways Club account:
- My family account (7 people)
- My family and friends (5 people)
- My travel companions
Family accounts can be opened for :
- with an individual British Airways Club account
- residing at the same address
And it’s a way for kids under 18 to earn Avios on their travels!
Once the accounts have been combined, Avios can be accumulated and used together!
Transfer Avios Miles
It is possible – but very expensive – to transfer miles from one British Airways Club member to another. We do not recommend this option (prefer the Family and Friends account option).
Status
British Airways Club has four levels of status:
- Blue
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Tier Points
To reach one of these statuses, you need to collect Tier Points, which are separate from Avios. Since April 1, 2025, they are earned based on what you spend, no longer on your booking class.
The basic rule is simple: £1 of eligible spend earns 1 Tier Point on British Airways flights. Eligible spend includes the fare and carrier-imposed charges, but excludes airport and government taxes.
Three other sources add to this base:
- fixed bonus Tier Points on every flight, based on cabin and fare type
- British Airways Holidays Flight + Hotel and Flight + Car packages, at £1 = 1 Tier Point on the total package cost
- paid extras: baggage, seat selection and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) contributions
Since April 1, 2026, these extras earn 2 Tier Points per pound instead of one. SAF contributions are capped at 2,000 Tier Points per membership year.
Bonus Tier Points
Every flight earns a fixed number of Tier Points on top of your spend, based on cabin and fare type. Basic Economy fares are excluded.
| Cabin | Base fare | Semi-Flex | Flex | Fully-Flex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro Traveller (short-haul) | 75 | 175 | n/a | 275 |
| Club Europe (short-haul) | 175 | 275 | n/a | 375 |
| World Traveller | 150 | 250 | 350 | 450 |
| World Traveller Plus | 275 | 375 | 475 | 575 |
| Club World | 500 | 700 | 900 | 1,100 |
| First | 650 | 850 | 1,050 | 1,250 |
American Airlines and Iberia flights also earn bonus Tier Points, but by cabin only: 75 in short-haul economy, 175 in short-haul business, 150 in long-haul economy, 275 in premium economy, 500 in business class and 650 in First.
Qualification thresholds
| Status | Tier Points required | oneworld equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 0 | n/a |
| Bronze | 3,500 | Ruby |
| Silver | 7,500 | Sapphire |
| Gold | 20,000 | Emerald |
A second route exists, based on the number of flights rather than spend: 25 flights with a British Airways flight number earn Bronze status, and 50 flights earn Silver, over the same collection period.
Milestone rewards
Between two statuses, three milestones pay out an Avios bonus:
- 5,500 Tier Points: 2,500 Avios
- 11,000 Tier Points: 4,000 Avios
- 16,000 Tier Points: 5,000 Avios
Tier Point collection year
The collection year is now the same for all members: it runs from April 1 to March 31. Your joining date no longer sets it.
Your Tier Points reset to zero on March 31. The status you reach stays with you until the end of the current membership year, which ends on April 30, and then for the whole following membership year.
Lifetime Tier Points
Every Tier Point you collect also builds a lifetime balance that never resets. At 550,000 lifetime Tier Points, Gold status becomes permanent and renews automatically every year.
Status Advantages with British Airways
Blue
At this level, there are no particular advantages other than the ability to accumulate and use Avios and Tier Points.
Bronze
Here are the advantages of Bronze status:
- 25% Avios bonus on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines flights
- Free choice of seat 7 days before departure
- Priority check-in and boarding
Silver
Here are the additional benefits of Silver status:
- 50% Avios bonus on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines flights
- Free choice of seat upon booking
- Access to Business Class lounges
- Additional baggage allowance
Gold
Here are the additional benefits of Gold status:
- 100% Avios bonus on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines flights
- Access to First Class check-in desks
- Access to First Class lounges
- Free choice of seat, including emergency exit seats
- More choice for reward tickets
Status Advantages with Oneworld
Obtaining British Airways Club status is equivalent to Oneworld status.
Bronze = Oneworld Ruby
Here are the advantages of Oneworld Ruby status:
- Access to Business Class check-in desks
- Access to more comfortable seats (depending on the airline)
- Priority in waiting lists
Silver = Oneworld Sapphire
Here are the additional benefits of Oneworld Sapphire status:
- Access to Business Class lounges
- Priority Online Check-In
- Priority luggage delivery
- Additional baggage allowance
Gold = Oneworld Emerald
Here are the additional benefits of Oneworld Emerald status:
- Access to First Class lounges
- Access to First Class check-in desks
- Access to priority safety lines
- More seating options (including emergency exits)
British Airways Club – Avios credit cards
Many credit cards in Canada allow you to earn Avios directly or indirectly. See our best cards on this page.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | |||
| $150 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $191.88 | |||
| $165 |
Bottom Line
The British Airways Club is one of the world’s leading frequent flyer programs. In Canada, as you saw above, it’s very easy to earn Avios thanks to credit card partners American Express and RBC.
This program will appeal to:
- those who want to travel to North America with American Airlines
- those who want to travel to Asia (with Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines) and within Australia (with Qantas)
- those wishing to travel within Europe (with British Airways or Iberia)
There are many great uses (sweetspots) in this program. To further your knowledge of the program, here are several articles we recommend:
- Annual fee
- $165
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Total$1,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,000
- Welcome offerAfter $6,000 in 3 months
- 50,000 Avios
Apply Now
on RBC's website
British Airways Club – Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to the British Airways Club?
The login page can be found here.
How much does membership of the British Airways Club cost?
Membership of the British Airways Club loyalty program is free.
How much are Avios miles worth?
The value of Avios miles is subjective and varies according to several factors. In 2023, Milesopedia estimates an average of 1 Avios mile = 1.7¢. So 50,000 Avios miles are worth around $850.
Do Avios miles expire?
Avios miles expire when there is no activity in the account for 36 consecutive months.
