How Many Avios Points for a Flight
Today, I sat down at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a big question in my mind. How many Avios points do I really need for a flight?
I had been collecting Avios points for some time now. But honestly, I was never really sure how many points I needed. It always felt a little confusing.
So, I decided to dig deep, learn everything I could, and share it here with you!
Maybe you are like me too. You have some Avios points. You want to travel. But you wonder — how far can these points really take me? Let’s find out together!
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How Many Avios Points for a Flight
First, What Are Avios Points?
Let’s start simple.
Avios points are travel points. You earn them when you fly with airlines like British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways.
You can also earn them by shopping, booking hotels, or using special credit cards.
Think of Avios points like money for flights. But they are not always easy to understand!
Sometimes you need more points. Sometimes fewer. It depends on many things.
What Things Decide How Many Avios You Need?
Before we talk numbers, it’s important to know there is no one answer.
How many Avios you need depends on different things. Here are the main ones:
- Where you are flying from and to (short flights cost fewer points)
- What cabin you choose (Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First Class)
- The time of year you fly (busy seasons cost more)
- Whether you choose a Reward Flight Saver or a normal reward ticket
- Taxes and fees you still have to pay in cash
Sounds a bit much? Don’t worry. I’ll explain each one in simple words!
Short Flights vs. Long Flights
Short flights need fewer Avios points.
If you are flying inside Europe, you can often find flights for as little as 4,750 Avios points one-way.
For example:
- London to Paris: about 4,750 Avios plus about £1-£2 cash (Reward Flight Saver fare)
- London to Amsterdam: also about 4,750 Avios
But if you want to fly to New York, you need a lot more!
- London to New York (Economy): about 13,000 to 20,000 Avios one-way (and taxes)
Question:
“Why does it change from 13,000 to 20,000? Why not one number?”
Answer:
Because airlines have “peak” and “off-peak” dates. Peak means popular days like Christmas or school holidays. Flights cost more Avios during peak times.
What Cabin You Choose
Flying in Economy is the cheapest in Avios points.
Premium Economy costs more.
Business Class costs a lot more.
First Class costs the most.
Example for London to New York one-way:
- Economy: about 13,000–20,000 Avios
- Premium Economy: about 26,000–40,000 Avios
- Business Class: about 50,000–60,000 Avios
- First Class: about 68,000–80,000 Avios
Question:
“Is it worth paying more points for better seats?”
Answer:
It depends!
If it’s a long flight, you might love having a bed in Business Class.
If you are saving points or love adventure, Economy is just fine!
What is Reward Flight Saver?
This is something I didn’t know at first!
Reward Flight Saver (RFS) is a special deal for Avios flights.
When you use RFS:
- You pay fewer cash fees.
- You pay a small set fee like £1–£2 for Europe flights, or £100–£350 for long flights.
If you don’t use RFS:
- You might need to pay £400+ in taxes, even when you use Avios!
Question:
“How do I get RFS?”
Answer:
You must earn at least 1 Avios point in the last 12 months.
Even shopping online through British Airways Shopping works!
Real Examples: How Many Avios for Popular Flights
Let’s make it real with examples.
| From | To | Cabin | Avios (One-Way) | Cash Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Paris | Economy | 4,750 | £1 |
| London | Madrid | Economy | 4,750 | £1 |
| London | New York | Economy | 13,000–20,000 | ~£100 |
| London | Dubai | Economy | 20,000–30,000 | ~£150 |
| London | Tokyo | Economy | 32,500–50,000 | ~£200 |
| London | Cape Town | Economy | 32,500–50,000 | ~£200 |
Prices change depending on peak and off-peak times.
Use our Avios flight points calculator
Peak vs Off-Peak: A Closer Look
British Airways has a calendar.
Some dates are “off-peak,” and you pay fewer Avios.
Other dates are “peak,” and you pay more.
Off-peak examples:
- Middle of January
- Some dates in February
- Some dates in March
Peak examples:
- Christmas and New Year
- July and August (summer holidays)
Question:
“How do I know if my flight is peak or off-peak?”
Answer:
You can check the British Airways Peak and Off-Peak calendar online.
Or when you search for flights, it shows you!
Taxes and Charges
One thing you must know:
Even when you use Avios, you still have to pay some cash.
This cash covers:
- Taxes
- Airport fees
- Fuel surcharges
For short flights in Europe with Reward Flight Saver, it’s very little (like £1 or £2).
For long flights, it can be £100, £200, or even £350.
Question:
“Can I pay all with Avios and no cash?”
Answer:
Sadly, no.
British Airways always asks for some cash.
You can sometimes use more Avios to lower the cash amount, but it’s usually better to keep some cash payment.
What If I Don’t Have Enough Avios?
This was my big fear!
“What if I don’t have enough points? Do I lose my chance to fly?”
Good news — you can mix Avios + cash!
For example:
- If a flight needs 20,000 Avios, you could pay 10,000 Avios + more cash.
British Airways gives you options.
When you book, it shows a slider.
You can choose how many Avios and how much cash you want to pay.
How to Collect More Avios Quickly
If you are excited now (like me!), you might wonder, how can I get more Avios faster? There are many ways to collect Avios
Here are simple ways:
- Fly with airlines that give Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways)
- Get a credit card that earns Avios
- Shop through the British Airways Shopping portal
- Book hotels through BA Hotels
- Rent cars through BA’s partners
- Transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards
- Link your Nectar card to Avios (in the UK)
Even small daily things like shopping online can give you points!
COLLECTING AVIOS WITH CREDIT CARDS
My Experience with the British Airways American Express Card
When I first heard that I could collect Avios points just by doing my regular shopping, I honestly thought it sounded too good to be true. But after using the British Airways American Express Card for over a year now, I can tell you—it really does work. And it’s surprisingly easy to make those little purchases add up to big travel perks!
Let me take you through it, step by step.
Why I Got the Card
Like many people, I was doing my weekly food shop—usually at Sainsbury’s or Tesco—and watching the totals climb. £60 here, £80 there, and I realized: if I was already spending that money, why not get something back for it?
The British Airways American Express Card seemed like the perfect entry point. No annual fee (a big plus when you’re just starting out), and 1 Avios point for every £1 spent. That’s every bottle of milk, every loaf of bread, every cheeky packet of biscuits—turning into points I could use toward a flight.
My Weekly Routine: Shop and Swipe
I started using the Amex card for everything—especially my weekly food shop. I’d load up my basket like usual, scan my items, and then instead of reaching for my debit card, I’d tap the Amex. It became a small moment of joy, knowing that even buying bananas and toothpaste was helping me get closer to my next adventure.
The key here is to pay off the balance in full every month. I treat it just like a debit card—never spend more than I can afford. That way, I avoid any interest charges, and the points still roll in.
Watching the Points Add Up
One of the most satisfying things is checking your British Airways Executive Club account and watching those Avios stack up. It’s like a quiet reward ticking away in the background. After about six months of just using the card for groceries, fuel, and the occasional dinner out, I had enough for a return flight to Europe (off-peak, economy).
And when I say return flight, I mean: free. I only had to cover taxes and fees, which was under £40 for a trip to Rome. Not bad for just doing my normal food shopping, right?
Extra Perks & Offers
Every now and then, American Express runs special promotions too. Sometimes it’s double points, sometimes a bonus for referring a friend (which I did—my sister is now also hooked), or cashback on certain retailers. I once got £5 back for spending £20 at M&S. That’s lunch and snacks paid for!
Any Downsides?
Not every shop takes Amex, especially smaller independent grocers or market stalls, so I always carry a backup card. And while the free version of the BA Amex card is great for beginners, I’ve been tempted to upgrade to the Premium Plus version for the 2-for-1 Companion Voucher—but that’s another story.
The £5,000 spending increase to earn a companion voucher on the free BA Amex is a big jump. If you can justify the £300 fee, the BA Premium Plus Amex offers better value with a bigger welcome bonus (if eligible), a 2-year companion voucher, and access to premium cabins. Compare both options at the official BA Amex website.
Tips I Learned Along the Way
- Book Early: Reward seats are limited. Booking 355 days before flying gives you more choice.
- Be Flexible: Look at different dates. You might save thousands of Avios!
- Use Avios for Short Flights: Short flights in Europe are the best value.
- Combine Flights: You can use Avios for multi-city trips.
- Check Partner Airlines: Sometimes flights with Iberia or Qatar cost fewer Avios.
- Watch for Sales: Sometimes British Airways does Avios sales — fewer points needed.
Conclusion
Today, after sitting with my coffee and reading everything, I feel much better about my Avios points!
Yes, it can still feel confusing sometimes.
Yes, there are still small doubts like:
- “Am I getting the best deal?”
- “Should I save points for a bigger trip?”
- “Should I use points for hotels or just flights?”
But now I know how many points I might need for different flights.
And I know that even with a small number of points, I can go somewhere new!
If you have Avios points too, I hope this guide helps you.
Traveling with Avios feels like using a secret treasure chest.
Even a few thousand points can take you to a new city, a new country, and a new adventure!
FAQs
Q1: What are Avios points?
Avios points are travel points.
You earn them by flying, shopping, or using special credit cards.
You can spend Avios points on flights, hotels, or upgrades2. How many Avios points do I need for a flight?
It depends!
Short flights inside Europe can cost as little as 4,750 Avios one-way.
Longer flights like London to New York start from about 13,000–20,000 Avios one-way.
Q2: Why do some flights need more points?
Because of three main things:
- The distance of the flight
- The time of year (peak or off-peak)
- The cabin you choose (Economy, Business, First)
Q3: What is peak and off-peak?
Peak means busy travel times, like Christmas or summer.
Flights cost more Avios during peak times.
Off-peak means quieter times. Flights cost fewer Avios.
Q4: What is a Reward Flight Saver (RFS)?
Reward Flight Saver is a special deal.
You pay a small amount of cash plus Avios points.
For Europe flights, it can be just £1 or £2 in cash!
For long flights, it is about £100–£350 cash.