Key Points

• British Airways Executive Club rebranded as The British Airways Club on April 1, 2025, with major changes to how members earn Tier Points and Avios.
• The program now uses revenue-based earning where you get 1 Tier Point per £1 spent on flights, with significantly higher thresholds for elite status.
• Most U.S. travelers can still earn valuable Avios through Chase, American Express, Citi, Capital One, Bilt, and Wells Fargo transfer partners.

Introduction

British Airways made sweeping changes to its frequent flyer program in 2025, and if you collect Avios or fly with BA, you need to understand what happened. The Executive Club became simply "The British Airways Club" on April 1, 2025, bringing the biggest loyalty program overhaul in years. The changes affect how you earn Tier Points for elite status, how Avios accumulate on flights, and even when your membership year resets. Here's everything you need to know to maximize your Avios strategy going forward.

What Changed on April 1, 2025

British Airways rolled out three major changes that reshaped The British Airways Club from top to bottom.

The Rebrand and New Structure

The most visible change was dropping "Executive" from the name. British Airways Executive Club became The British Airways Club, reflecting what the airline calls a more inclusive approach to loyalty rewards.

More importantly, the program moved to revenue-based earning for Tier Points. Instead of earning status based on how far you fly, you now earn based on what you spend. This mirrors changes already made to Avios earning in October 2023.

Revenue-Based Tier Points

Starting April 1, 2025, members earn 1 Tier Point for every £1 of eligible spend on flights. Eligible spend includes the base fare and carrier-imposed charges (those controversial fuel surcharges BA loves), but not government taxes like Air Passenger Duty.

You also earn Tier Points on ancillary purchases for the first time. That means seat selection fees, extra baggage charges, and even lounge access purchases now count toward status.

The catch? Status thresholds increased dramatically to match the new earning structure.

New Tier Thresholds (effective April 1, 2025):

• Bronze: 3,500 Tier Points (was 300)
• Silver: 7,500 Tier Points (was 600)
• Gold: 20,000 Tier Points (was 1,500)
• Gold Guest List (new): 65,000 points for new members, 40,000 for renewal

For context, a roundtrip transatlantic flight in economy that might cost £800 would earn you 800 Tier Points under the new system. You'd need 25 of those flights to reach Gold status, compared to just 10 under the old distance-based model.

Unified Tier Point Collection Year

All members now follow the same annual cycle regardless of when they joined. Your Tier Point collection year runs from April 1 to March 31, aligning with the UK's fiscal year.

Previously, your membership year started whenever you took your first flight with BA, creating different renewal dates for every member. The transition happened gradually between April 2024 and March 2025, with BA adding "adjustment" Tier Points to smooth the change.

New Ways to Earn Tier Points

British Airways expanded earning opportunities beyond flights, though these won't replace the need for actual flying for most travelers.

British Airways Holidays Packages

You now earn 1 Tier Point per £1 spent on the total package price with no limit. This is permanent after BA tested it as a promotion.

For high-spending leisure travelers, this creates a new path to status. A £15,000 family holiday package (flight plus hotel) would earn 15,000 Tier Points toward your annual total. The limitation: if you book for four people, those Tier Points split equally among all travelers. You'd each get 3,750 points, not the full 15,000.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contributions

Members can earn up to 1,000 Tier Points annually by purchasing SAF credits. You get 1 Tier Point and 10 Avios per £1 spent on these environmental contributions.

At 1 pence per Tier Point, this is expensive status credit. You'd spend £1,000 to get 1,000 points, which barely makes a dent in the 20,000 needed for Gold. Still, it's an option for those close to a threshold and willing to support sustainable aviation.

Credit Card Spending

BA American Express Premium Plus cardholders can earn up to 2,500 Tier Points per year through card spending. The exact conversion rate hasn't been fully detailed, but reports suggest approximately 1 Tier Point per £10 spent.

That means spending £25,000 on the card would max out your 2,500 annual Tier Point allowance from this source. For U.S. readers, this card isn't available, so this benefit doesn't apply to American travelers.

Milestone Bonuses

The program introduced small Avios bonuses at milestones between tiers:

• 2,500 Avios at 5,500 Tier Points (between Bronze and Silver)
• 4,000 Avios at 11,000 Tier Points
• 5,000 Avios at 16,000 Tier Points (on the way to Gold)

These are nice additions but won't dramatically change your earning strategy. At typical Avios valuations of 1-2 cents each, these bonuses are worth $25-$100.

How Avios Earning Changed in October 2023

While the April 2025 changes focused on Tier Points, BA already moved Avios earning to a revenue model in October 2023. Understanding this earlier change matters because it affects how many Avios you'll accumulate on flights.

Revenue-Based Avios Earning

Since October 18, 2023, you earn 6-9 Avios per £1 spent depending on your elite status:

• Blue members: 6 Avios per £1
• Bronze members: 7 Avios per £1
• Silver members: 8 Avios per £1
• Gold members: 9 Avios per £1

This replaced the old system where you earned Avios based on flight distance and fare class. The change significantly reduced elite bonuses. Previously, Gold members earned a 100% distance bonus. Now they get just 50% more Avios per pound than Blue members.

For expensive routes where BA lacks competition, you'll earn more Avios than before. On competitive routes with lower fares, you'll earn less. BA says 70% of customers collect the same or more Avios under the new model, but that number includes all the expensive business class tickets that always earned well.

What This Means for U.S. Travelers

Here's the reality: earning British Airways elite status from the United States became significantly harder. The math simply doesn't work for most leisure travelers.

The Status Math Problem

Let's say you book a typical transatlantic roundtrip:

• New York to London roundtrip: approximately $800-1,200
• Converting to pounds: roughly £650-950
• Tier Points earned: 650-950

You'd need 21-31 such roundtrips annually to reach Gold status at 20,000 Tier Points. That's not realistic for most travelers, even frequent ones.

Business and first class tickets cost more and therefore earn more Tier Points, but you'd still need $50,000+ in annual spend with BA to reach Gold. That level of spending is corporate travel territory, not personal travel.

The Value Proposition for Collecting Avios

Despite the status challenges, Avios remain incredibly valuable for U.S. travelers who collect them through credit cards rather than flying.

Why Avios Still Matter:

Avios excel at short-haul redemptions. British Airways uses a distance-based award chart where flights under 650 miles cost just 7,500-9,000 Avios in economy. For comparison, United charges a minimum of 10,000 miles for any domestic flight.

You can transfer points from five major U.S. credit card programs to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio. This gives you flexibility to move points only when you've found award availability and want to book.

British Airways partners with American Airlines, giving you access to AA's entire domestic network. You can book American flights using Avios, often for fewer points than through AA's own program on short flights.

Avios work across multiple airlines in the IAG family. You can freely transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways accounts. This lets you shop for the best award pricing across all four programs.

How to Earn Avios from the United States

The best strategy for most American travelers is forgetting about BA elite status and focusing on accumulating Avios through credit card rewards programs.

Transfer Partners

Five major programs transfer to British Airways at 1:1 ratios:

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers instantly to British Airways. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5x on travel booked through Chase, 3x on dining, and 2x on other travel. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10x on hotels and car rentals through Chase, 5x on flights, and 3x on other travel and dining. Both cards make excellent Avios earning tools.

American Express Membership Rewards also transfers instantly. The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x on flights booked directly with airlines and 5x on hotels through Amex Travel. The Gold Card from American Express earns 4x at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 annually).

Citi ThankYou Points transfer to British Airways, though you'll need a premium card like the Citi Premier or Prestige to unlock transfers. Alternatively, transfer to Qatar Airways Privilege Club and then move those Avios to BA for free since all IAG airlines share the Avios currency.

Capital One Miles transfer to British Airways from cards like the Venture X and Venture. Capital One is generous with transfer bonuses, occasionally offering 10-20% extra when moving points to partners.

Bilt Rewards transfers to British Airways, and you can earn Bilt points by paying rent without transaction fees. The Bilt Mastercard earns 3x on dining, 2x on travel, and 1x on rent payments up to 100,000 points annually.

Wells Fargo Autograph points transfer to British Airways from the Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey cards. These cards earn 3x points on travel, dining, gas stations, and several other categories.

Strategic Accumulation

The smartest approach combines points from multiple programs. You might earn Chase points through everyday spending, Amex points from flights and hotels, and Bilt points from rent. When you find a good award flight, transfer only what you need.

This strategy works because:

Points stay more valuable in flexible programs. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards offer multiple airline transfer options. Once you move points to British Airways, they're locked into the Avios ecosystem.

Transfer bonuses happen regularly. Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One all offer periodic 15-30% bonuses when transferring to specific partners. By keeping points in your credit card accounts, you can take advantage of these promotions.

Award availability changes constantly. Rather than speculatively transferring points, keep them flexible until you're ready to book.

Best Uses for Avios

Understanding where Avios shine helps you maximize their value.

Short-Haul Sweet Spots

British Airways charges based on distance, creating excellent value for short flights. Here's the economy award chart for flights operated by BA, Aer Lingus, or Iberia:

• Under 650 miles: 7,500 Avios off-peak, 9,000 peak
• 651-1,151 miles: 10,000 Avios off-peak, 12,500 peak
• 1,152-2,000 miles: 12,500 Avios off-peak, 15,000 peak

Compare this to most U.S. programs that charge 12,500-25,000 miles for the same routes.

Top Short-Haul Redemptions:

East Coast to Florida or Caribbean on American Airlines. New York to Miami runs 1,089 miles, costing just 10,000 Avios off-peak. American charges 12,500 miles minimum.

West Coast to Hawaii. Los Angeles to Maui runs 2,486 miles, costing 12,500-20,000 Avios depending on peak/off-peak dates. Many programs charge 22,500-40,000 miles.

Short flights within Europe on BA, Iberia, or Aer Lingus. London to Barcelona costs 7,500 Avios off-peak. Paris to Rome costs 7,500 Avios.

Positioning flights before international trips. Use 7,500 Avios to get from your home airport to a major hub before starting an international journey.

Peak vs Off-Peak Pricing

British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus each maintain separate peak/off-peak calendars. A date that's peak for BA might be off-peak for Iberia, creating arbitrage opportunities.

For 2025 and 2026, British Airways marks approximately 35-40% of dates as peak. These cluster around school holidays, summer months, and major holidays. Late September through mid-October offers a strong stretch of off-peak dates, as does late February through early April.

Iberia takes a simpler approach. Christmas, New Year, Easter, and summer are peak. Everything else is off-peak. This makes Iberia attractive for shoulder season travel.

Aer Lingus mirrors Iberia's calendar for transatlantic flights from Dublin and Cork.

Booking American Airlines Flights

One of the biggest Avios advantages comes from booking American Airlines domestic flights. As a Oneworld partner, AA makes its award inventory available to BA.

British Airways often charges fewer Avios than American for the same flight, particularly on short routes. The distance-based pricing benefits you when AA's own program uses region-based awards.

You'll pay fuel surcharges on British Airways operated flights, but American Airlines flights booked with Avios don't carry those surcharges. You only pay the minimal taxes that American charges, usually $5.60 each way for domestic flights.

Multi-City and Stopover Options

British Airways allows fairly generous routing rules. You can include connections without additional Avios as long as your routing makes geographical sense. Flying from New York to Los Angeles via Chicago costs the same 12,500 Avios as a nonstop, assuming both flights are on the same day.

However, BA doesn't officially allow free stopovers the way some programs do. Each flight segment prices separately. If you want to stop in London for three days on your way to Rome, you'll pay for New York-London and then separately for London-Rome.

Important Limitations and Gotchas

British Airways Avios aren't perfect. Understanding the limitations helps you avoid disappointment.

Fuel Surcharges on BA Flights

British Airways adds substantial carrier-imposed charges to award tickets on BA-operated flights. These "fuel surcharges" can cost $400-800 on long-haul business class awards, effectively negating much of the value.

The solution: book partner airline flights instead. American, Alaska, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways flights booked with Avios don't carry these surcharges. You'll only pay actual taxes.

Limited Partner Airline Availability

British Airways belongs to Oneworld, giving you access to American, Alaska, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and other partners. However, the award pricing on partners isn't always competitive.

Long-haul partner flights use peak pricing year-round. There's no off-peak discount when booking American long-haul international flights or Cathay Pacific flights to Asia. BA's partner award chart compares unfavorably to American's own pricing in these cases.

Website Search Limitations

The British Airways website only shows BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and American flights in search results. You can't search for Japan Airlines, Qantas, or other Oneworld partners online.

To book other partners, you need to find availability elsewhere (using American or Qantas search tools), then call British Airways to book over the phone. Phone bookings incur fees unless you have elite status.

Award Space Can Be Scarce

British Airways guarantees releasing specific numbers of award seats when flights open (355 days out): four business class, two premium economy, and eight economy seats per flight. First class availability is never guaranteed.

Popular routes and dates fill quickly. The sweet spot flights everyone wants—summer Europe trips, Caribbean holidays—disappear fast. You'll have better luck searching 355 days in advance or hunting for last-minute availability.

Household Accounts Required for Combining

British Airways doesn't let you transfer Avios between accounts easily like some programs. To combine points from different people, you need to set up a Household Account, which requires all members to have the same address.

Once established, Household Account members can use each other's Avios for bookings. This works well for families but doesn't help friends trying to combine points for a trip together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn British Airways elite status as a U.S. based traveler?

Technically yes, but it's impractical for most people. You'd need to spend roughly $50,000-100,000 annually on British Airways flights to reach Gold status under the new revenue-based system. Unless you fly BA regularly for business, focus on collecting Avios through credit cards instead of chasing status.

Do Avios expire?

Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity. Any earning or redemption activity resets the clock. If you earn or spend even 1 Avios, all your points get another 36 months of life. Credit card transfers count as earning activity and reset expiration.

Can I use Avios on any Oneworld airline?

You can use Avios on most Oneworld partners, but award availability varies. British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, American, Alaska, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Finnair all participate. However, you can only search for BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and American online. Other partners require phone booking.

Should I transfer Chase points to British Airways or fly direct through the Chase portal?

It depends on the redemption. For short flights under 1,000 miles, transferring to Avios usually offers better value. A 7,500 Avios economy award might cost 12,500-15,000 Chase points to book through the portal. For longer international flights, compare both options. Portal bookings offer simplicity but transfers often provide better value with the right redemption.

What's the difference between British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways Avios?

They're the same currency. All four airlines use Avios, and you can freely transfer them between accounts. The difference lies in award pricing and availability. Each airline maintains its own award chart, peak/off-peak calendar, and releases different availability. It's worth maintaining accounts with all four to compare options.

How do I avoid fuel surcharges when using Avios?

Book flights operated by airlines other than British Airways. American, Alaska, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways flights don't carry high surcharges. If you must fly BA, consider booking through a partner program like Alaska Mileage Plan instead, though this has its own trade-offs.

Can I book one-way awards with Avios?

Yes, and this is one of Avios' strengths. British Airways prices awards one-way, which offers maximum flexibility. You can book just the outbound or return portion of a trip, mix airlines, or use different programs for each direction. There's no penalty for one-way bookings like some programs charge.

Getting Started with Avios

If you're new to collecting Avios or haven't paid attention since the 2025 changes, here's your action plan.

Step 1: Open a British Airways Account

Create your free British Airways Executive Club—er, British Airways Club—account at ba.com. This gives you an Avios account and member number needed for booking awards.

Step 2: Consider Transfer Partner Credit Cards

Apply for at least one card from each major transfer partner family to maximize flexibility. A combination like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold gives you two different earning structures and transfer options.

Review our guides on transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards and understanding Capital One Miles for detailed earning strategies.

Step 3: Learn the Award Chart

Study the British Airways distance-based award chart. Use a tool like Great Circle Mapper to check flight distances and estimate award costs before searching availability.

Focus on short-haul redemptions where Avios offer clear advantages over other programs. These sweet spot bookings deliver 2-3 cents per Avios in value.

Step 4: Understand Peak vs Off-Peak

Check the BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus peak/off-peak calendars when planning travel. A few days' flexibility can save 20-30% on award costs. Late September and February-March offer particularly good off-peak windows.

Step 5: Search American Airlines First

When looking for domestic U.S. awards, search American Airlines routes first. These partner bookings avoid fuel surcharges and often cost fewer Avios than American's own program charges.

Step 6: Keep Points Flexible

Don't transfer points to British Airways until you're ready to book. Keep earning in Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, Bilt, and Wells Fargo programs. Transfer only when you've confirmed availability and want to secure a booking.

Final Thoughts

The British Airways Club's 2025 changes made earning elite status significantly harder for most travelers, but Avios remain one of the most valuable airline currencies for U.S. travelers who collect through credit cards. The distance-based award chart creates sweet spots that other programs can't match, particularly for short flights and American Airlines bookings.

Focus your strategy on accumulating Avios through Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and other transfer partners rather than chasing British Airways status. Master the short-haul sweet spots, avoid fuel surcharges by booking partner airlines, and stay flexible with your travel dates to maximize off-peak pricing.

The revenue-based changes may have shifted the program, but the fundamental value of Avios for smart redemptions remains intact. Learn the new rules, adapt your strategy, and you'll continue getting outsized value from every Avios you collect.

This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.