Earning Avios on Both Sides of the Atlantic
The US and UK routes into Avios, from bank transfers and cards to flying and partners, with the market each rule applies to and how to combine balances across Avios programs.
Avios is one of the few points currencies you can collect in both the US and the UK. That makes it useful for anyone with a foot on each side of the Atlantic, but it also makes it confusing, because the ways to earn depend on where you live and bank. A UK card, a UK partner offer or a UK earn rate usually isn’t open to a US resident, and the reverse is true too.
This guide sorts the main earning routes by market. Each rule below says whether it comes from a US page or a UK page, and when we read it. It covers earning only. For spending Avios and the British Airways Club’s status tiers, see our sister site’s guide to the British Airways Club, Avios, status and how earning works now.
What Avios are and which programs use them
British Airways describes Avios as “the loyalty currency of The British Airways Club and our partners” (British Airways, About Avios, US site, checked November 8, 2026). Avios aren’t only a BA currency, though. Several airline programs count their balances in Avios, which is why “earning Avios” can mean earning in more than one account.
British Airways Club and the other Avios programs
BA’s US site says you can transfer Avios between your British Airways Club account and your Iberia Club, AerClub (Aer Lingus), Loganair Loyalty, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus accounts (British Airways, Transfer your Avios, US site, checked November 8, 2026). Those are the programs this guide means by “Avios programs”.
The practical point for earning: you can collect Avios in whichever of these programs is easiest for you, then combine them later, within the rules covered in the last section.
Earning from US bank points
For most US readers, the largest source of Avios is a transferable bank currency: points earned on a credit card that can be moved to airline programs. If that idea is new, start with what to check before choosing a currency.
Which currencies transfer to Avios
These are the US bank pages we read. Each lists Avios programs among its transfer partners.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (US). Chase’s transfer guide lists AerClub, the British Airways Club and Iberia Club among its airline partners, and says that to transfer you need a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred card (Chase transfer guide, checked November 8, 2026). It says points can typically be transferred only in increments of 1,000, that transfers to travel partners are final, and that they may take up to 7 business days. The page we read doesn’t state a transfer ratio for these partners, so check it in your Ultimate Rewards account before moving points. See what your Chase card lets you do for which cards can transfer.
- American Express Membership Rewards (US). Amex’s US transfer page lists Aer Lingus AerClub, Iberia Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and The British Airways Club, each shown as 1,000 Points = 1,000 Avios (American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners, US, checked November 8, 2026). The same page says that if Amex Rewards Checking or Business Checking are your only Membership Rewards products, your transfer options are limited.
Other US bank programs, such as Citi, Capital One and Bilt, may also list Avios programs, but we haven’t checked their official pages for this guide. Read each bank’s own partner list before relying on it, because partners and ratios change.
Before any transfer, the transfer partners guide walks through name matching, increments and why a transfer usually can’t be undone. Transfer only for a specific award you’ve already found.
US co-branded card
BA’s US site also lists the British Airways Visa Signature card. Its page says the card earns more Avios per dollar on purchases made directly with British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, and on hotels booked directly with the hotel, than on other purchases (British Airways Visa Signature card, US site, checked November 8, 2026). Welcome offers and fees change, so check the current terms yourself. Whether any card fits your spending is a separate question, covered in the beginner’s guide.
Earning from UK cards and partners
The UK has its own set of Avios cards and partners, and most of them are aimed at UK residents.
For readers with UK residency or accounts
UK co-branded cards. BA’s UK site lists British Airways American Express cards for personal and business use. Each listing says “18+ UK residents, subject to status” (British Airways American Express cards, UK site, checked November 8, 2026). If you live in the US, read that as a residency requirement. Whether someone with UK ties but US residency qualifies is a question for the issuer, not something to assume.
UK lifestyle and finance partners. BA’s lifestyle and finance page, priced in pounds, lists ways to collect that include (British Airways, Lifestyle and finance partners, checked November 8, 2026):
- American Express Membership Rewards: the page says you can transfer Membership Rewards points to Avios, terms apply. It doesn’t say which country’s Membership Rewards program it means, and UK terms can differ from the US terms above.
- HSBC Premier credit card rewards: convert points to Avios, with terms on HSBC’s UK site.
- Revolut: the page says you collect 1 Avios for every 1 RevPoint you transfer to your British Airways Club account.
- Capital on Tap business cards: points that can be redeemed for Avios, among other options.
- Everyday partners: Uber and Uber Eats (UK and, for Uber, Ireland), bp pulse and BPme Rewards, TodayTix and others, mostly earning per pound spent.
Each of these depends on holding the partner’s account, which in turn depends on that partner’s own eligibility rules. Check the partner’s terms, not just the BA listing.
Flying and partners
Flying is the route that works the same wherever you live, as long as the flight is eligible.
Earning on flights and everyday partners
BA’s US Collecting Avios page says you can collect Avios on eligible flights with British Airways or its oneworld airline partners, and lists booking British Airways and American Airlines flights among the ways to collect (British Airways, Collecting Avios, US site, checked November 8, 2026). The same page lists:
- Pre-booking seats, paying for extra baggage or upgrading on a British Airways or Iberia-marketed flight.
- Vacation packages, partner hotels and car rental.
- Shopping through Avios with selected retailers, and travel extras such as airport parking.
How many Avios a flight earns depends on the fare, cabin and program you credit it to; Airline Ace’s guide linked above covers that in more depth.
If Avios don’t post, BA says you can claim them within six months of your flight, and new members can claim for British Airways flights flown in the three months before joining (BA About Avios page, US site).
Combining Avios across programs and a household
Because several programs use Avios, you can collect in more than one and bring the balances together.
Combine-my-Avios rules and household accounts
Moving Avios between programs. BA’s US page says that between the British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, Loganair Loyalty and Vueling Club, you link the two accounts, enter the amount and the Avios are transferred immediately, “as often as you like”. Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus follow similar steps with their own terms (BA Transfer your Avios page, US site).
The Avios transfer page, which opened in its UK version when we read it, adds two conditions: your name, last name, date of birth and email address must match across the accounts, and you must wait 30 days after joining a loyalty program before you can move Avios, even if the accounts are linked (Avios, Transfer Avios, UK version, checked November 8, 2026). Set up any second program account well before you need it.
Household accounts. BA’s US site says a free household account lets you pool Avios with up to six people, including children; each member still earns tier points individually, and members must be 18 or older to spend Avios (British Airways, Household accounts, US site, checked November 8, 2026). The Avios transfer page says each household member can link only their own individual account to another program and move Avios only from their own balance. This guide doesn’t cover the wider question of sharing points across a household; check BA’s household terms before setting one up.
Keeping Avios alive. BA says your Avios won’t expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months (BA About Avios page, US site). Don’t assume that moving Avios between programs counts as activity; check the transfer terms if you’re relying on that.
Common questions
Can US residents get a UK credit card? BA’s UK site lists its British Airways American Express cards for “18+ UK residents, subject to status.” If you don’t live in the UK, ask the issuer directly rather than assuming you’re eligible.
Which US points transfer to Avios? Of the US pages we checked, Chase Ultimate Rewards lists the British Airways Club, Iberia Club and AerClub, and American Express Membership Rewards lists those three plus Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Check other banks’ own partner pages.
Can I move Avios between British Airways and Iberia? Yes, according to BA’s US site, once the accounts are linked. The Avios transfer page says your details must match and you must wait 30 days after joining a program.
Do Avios expire? BA says they don’t, as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months.
Sources checked November 8, 2026: British Airways (US site) About Avios, Collecting Avios, Transfer your Avios, Household accounts and British Airways Visa Signature card pages; British Airways (UK site) American Express cards page and Lifestyle and finance partners page; Avios Transfer Avios page (UK version); Chase transfer guide; American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners page (US). Programs, partners and ratios change, so check the current pages before you act.
This guide is general education, not individual financial advice.