Is the 40% Discount on British Airways Avios Worth It?

Buying Avios and Exciting Offers

In April 2026, British Airways Club announced a fantastic 40% discount on purchasing Avios. This is an excellent chance for frequent flyers with the airline, especially for those looking to redeem Avios for first-class or business-class tickets. Such significant offers are rare, so if you’re in need, this might be the perfect time to buy Avios.

Details on Avios Purchase Requirements

To take advantage of this offer, you need to purchase at least 2,000 Avios in a single transaction. The cost of buying Avios can be quite interesting. Depending on the amount you purchase, the price will vary. For instance, if you buy 280,000 Avios (including the discount), you would pay approximately $4,599 USD, which equates to 1.64 cents per Avios.

Cost of Buying Avios in Different Currencies

Specifically, if you purchase 280,000 Avios in EUR, it would cost around €4,245 (approximately $4,960), which is about 1.77 cents per Avios. Similarly, if you buy in GBP, the cost would be £3,539 (around $4,771), translating to 1.70 cents per Avios. Currently, the cost of buying Avios in USD is the best option due to the depreciation of the dollar.

Maximum Avios Purchase Limit

Typically, British Airways allows each account to buy a maximum of 100,000 Avios per year. However, during this promotional period, that limit has been increased to 200,000 Avios. This means you can purchase more if you have a high demand during this time.

Which Credit Card Should You Use to Buy Avios?

The purchase of Avios is processed through points.com and does not count as a flight ticket purchase for credit card points accumulation. Therefore, it’s best to use a card that you’re trying to meet a minimum spending requirement on or one that maximizes your everyday spending rewards. Some good credit cards for this purpose include the Citi Double Cash® Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

Evaluating the Value of Avios

Avios is becoming one of the most popular reward points, not just for British Airways but also for many other airlines like Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Finnair. Everyone may value Avios differently, but personally, I estimate Avios to be worth about 1.3 cents per point. However, there are many other ways to get better value from Avios.

Expiration of Avios

Avios will expire after 36 months of inactivity. However, every time you earn or use Avios, it refreshes the expiration date of your balance. This means you need to regularly earn or use points to avoid losing them.

Other Ways to Earn Avios

In addition to purchasing, you can also earn Avios through U.S. credit cards such as the Aer Lingus Visa Signature®, British Airways Visa Signature®, and Iberia Visa Signature®. These cards often have attractive Avios accumulation programs and can help you accumulate points quickly.

Conclusion

British Airways is currently offering a rare 40% discount on purchasing Avios. If you plan to use Avios, this is definitely a good time to consider it. If you can’t access U.S. credit cards, buying Avios during this promotion could be a worthwhile option. Are you planning to purchase Avios during this promotion?

Article reference and editing from: One Mile at a Time