Buying Avios Points
We generally don’t recommend buying Avios, since you can normally get better value exchanging Nectar points or American Express membership reward points for Avios if you need to boost your balance.
On the odd occasion, purchasing Avios can be advantageous. Buying Avios points is rarely inexpensive, but methods that are more cost-effective than others do exist. We definitely don’t recommend buying Avios speculatively, if you don’t have immediate plans to use them, since they don’t represent a good home for your money if you are looking to grow the value of your investment over time.
However, If your current Avios balance doesn’t quite reach the amount required for the reward flight or cabin upgrade that you’ve been seeking, purchasing Avios points can give your balance a boost to reach those magical rewards. The purchase of Avios points can vary anywhere from 0.8p per Avios point, when BA is running point purchase promotions, to as much as 3.1p per Avios point. So it pays to be aware of the exchange rate you are getting and how it compares to other ways in which you can boost your Avios balance.
For example, you might be better off converting unused points from your Nectar account, hotel loyalty scheme or American Express card. If you are planning some shopping, being savvy about which payment card you use with which loyalty card can quickly boost your points. You can consider using the BA Avios eStore too, which awards Avios directly when you buy items from a range of partner retailers. However, occasionally buying points might make sense.
When to buy Avios Points?
Despite the fact that buying Avios points can be quite pricey, there are certain scenarios where getting over the Avios line makes it worth it.
Reaching the Credit Card Welcome Bonus
Credit card sign-up incentives are a proven method for getting off the ground with your Avios points collection.
Once you’ve done your homework and chosen which credit card works best within your budget and spending habits, you’ll normally have a limited amount of time to spend the target amount on the card, required to qualify for your Avios bonus. Most people start off diligently trying to use the right card all the time to earn their bonus, but sometimes life gets in the way, and we may find ourselves a few hundred points shy of the spend needed to earn that extra 10,000 points!
So using the same card to pay for Avios, could be worth it if you know the credit card welcome bonus is on the other side and the cumulative amount of Avios will be enough to redeem for the reward flight you are aiming for, or at least get you closer to the amount required.
Reaching enough points for that last-minute Reward Flight Saver deal
There will be occasions when you need to take a last-minute flight within Europe, whether for business or personal reasons. As we have mentioned previously, Reward Flight Savers can be one of the best types of flights to take when you want to avoid those last-minute extortionate ticket costs for flights. Essentially you can pay a low fixed fee to cover the taxes, then redeem Avios to cover the flight price.
Of course, the seats need to be available and you should compare the fixed fee with low-cost airline prices, but close to the departure date, a reward flight saver is likely to be the cheapest option.
If you find yourself in a scenario where you don’t have enough points but it’s cheaper to buy additional Avios points than it is to pay for a cash ticket, purchasing Avios points can work out a better way to splash less cash overall.
Reaching enough spend for a 2–4–1 Companion Voucher
If you have a British Airways American Express credit card, you need to spend a minimum amount on the card to qualify for that fantastic 2–4–1 Companion Voucher, which takes some dedication. There will be times when we do not spend quite enough in the qualifying period, causing us to fall short of our voucher objectives.
Depending on how close you are to earning the companion voucher with your British Airways American Express credit card (Or British Airways Premium Plus American Express credit card), purchasing Avios points may be a more cost-effective option than missing out.
When you consider that failing to earn your Premium Plus earned 2–4–1 Companion Voucher within 12 months means you’ll have to start over, the fact that it’s good for two years can make it worthwhile to buy Avios points and put them towards your 2–4–1 redemption.
When BA is Running An Avios Purchase Promotion
From time to time BA runs promotions that reduce the purchase price of Avios. For example, in May 2020, the carrier offered a 75% bonus when purchasing Avios, bringing the cost down to less than a penny per Avios. In 2021, it offered a 50% bonus, which was less lucrative but could still bring the cost down to very slightly over a penny an Avios.
By carefully selecting your redemption, likely a long haul flight in Club World or First, you may get a cash equivalent value higher than that for your Avios. You need to work out for yourself though if it’s worth it for your circumstances. If you are just short of the amount you need for a redemption, it could be. Of course, when BA is offering bonus Avios purchase promotions, all the options described previously make even more sense too.
How to Buy Avios Points
- Log into your British Airways Executive Club account.
2. Navigate to the Purchase or gift Avios page.
3. Scroll to the ‘Buy Avios’ section and explore dropdown options of Avios points by price.
Additional Information
Some key pieces of information to be aware of from the BA site regarding purchasing Avios Points.
- You can buy a maximum of 200,000 Avios in any one calendar year.
- You must be a Member of the British Airways Executive Club.
- You must have at least one Avios point in your Executive Club account in order to buy Avios. If you have a balance of zero Avios, you will need to have collected or redeemed Avios in the past 36 months in order to buy Avios.
- You can’t buy Avios if you have a negative balance.
- The ‘buy Avios year’ begins 1 January and ends 31 December.
