To the point
Discover British Airways Executive Club, a loyalty program easily accessible in Canada. Save big on your travels by collecting and using Avios with our comprehensive guide.
British Airways Executive Club - Collect Avios miles
Open an account
Opening a British Airways Executive Club account couldn’t be simpler: in all cases, go to the British Airways website and follow the instructions.
Membership of the British Airways Executive Club earns you Avios.
Travels with oneworld
British Airways Executive Club is the British Airways frequent flyer programme.
Avioscan be earned on board :
- From 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 Executive Club status
You’ll earn between 25% and 300% of the distance traveled in Avios, with a minimum number of miles for each fare category.
In addition, members with Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive 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 cards welcome bonuses
British Airways Executive 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 offersseven Membership Rewards cards. These reward points can be transferred 1:1 to the British Airways Executive Club program.
Our choice is the American Express Cobalt® Card.
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
The welcome bonus is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for every $750 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category). That’s up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.
You can easily use these points as statement credits for everyday or travel purchases. The value is the same for both: 1,000 points = $10.
Alternatively, transfer them to Aeroplan points, 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 would have the choice of earning up to:
- 15,000 Aeroplan points
- 15,000 Avios points
- 11,250 Flying Blue Miles
- 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Grocery (Métro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) | 5 |
| Home food delivery | 5 |
| Restaurants and bars | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 5 |
| Streaming services | 3 |
| Service station | 2 |
| Transport | 2 |
| Travel | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
This is a 1 to 5% return on all these purchases.
For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or restaurants and/or food delivery, you’ll earn $50 cash back per month, or $600 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!
And if you decide to transfer your points to other programs like Aeroplan, you could get even more value!
In addition, this card provides excellent insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, flight delay, $250,000 travel accident, hotel or motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection Insurance.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
RBC
RBC offers a credit card directly affiliated with the program: the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card.
Through its RBC program Avion Rewards, 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
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
Up to 55,000 Avion Points
Ends Jun 3, 2025
First year value : $1,151
Best of March 2025
-
Transfer your points to airline partners
-
Premium Insurance
-
Visa Infinite Benefits
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
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 cards
Welcome Bonus
60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
First year value : $887
50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
First year value : $762
British Airways Executive 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 Executive Club rates are 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 Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive 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
British Airways Executive Club allows you to change or cancel a reward flight up to 24 hours before departure.
The fee will be CA$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 Executive Club from 355 days before flight departure.
However, for some airlines, tickets will only be posted 300 days before flight departure.
Carrier surcharges
On British Airways Executive Club, when you book an air 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 to find reward tickets on British Airways Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive 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 Executive Club program.
There are three components to know about your British Airways Executive Club Account:
- My family account (7 people)
- My family and friends (5 people)
- My travel companions
Family accounts can be opened for :
- people with an individual British Airways Executive 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 Executive Club member to another. We do not recommend this option (prefer the Family and Friends account option).
Status
British Airways Executive Club has four levels of status:
- Blue
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Status points
To obtain one of these statuses, you need to accumulate status points (which are different from Avios).
The only way to earn status points is by flying with British Airways or itsoneworld alliance partners.
The amount of status points earned will depend on the type and fare class of the ticket.
Here’s an example of a one-way ticket between Montreal and London, as a Blue member.
At the lowest economy fare (Q, O, G), you’ll earn 813 Avios and 20 Status points.
Status qualification year
Unlike other frequent flyer programs, which are based on the calendar year, British Airways Executive Club takes into account the date of joining the program. The amount of status points earned in the 12 months from that date determines your status for the remaining period and the following 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 Status 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 Première Classe lounges
- Free choice of seat, including emergency exit seats
- More choice for reward tickets
Status advantages with Oneworld
Obtaining British Airways Executive Club status means having an equivalent on the Oneworld side.
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 Première Classe lounges
- Access to First Class check-in desks
- Access to priority safety lines
- More seating options (including emergency exits)
British Airways Executive Club - Credit cards
Many credit cards in Canada allow you to earn Avios directly or indirectly. See our best cards on this page.
Bottom Line
The British Airways Executive Club is a major frequent flyer program in the world. 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 in 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:
British Airways Executive Club - Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to the British Airways Executive Club?
The login page can be found here.
How much does it cost to join the British Airways Executive Club?
Membership of the British Airways Executive Club frequent flyer program is free of charge.
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.
