Avios ecosystem guide

Combine & transfer Avios between programs.

Move Avios freely between British Airways, Iberia, Qatar and Aer Lingus via avios.com. Save hundreds on taxes by booking through the right program.

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Verified June 2026

TL;DR

Six airlines use Avios as their loyalty currency. Four of them (BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar) transfer between each other freely via avios.com at 1:1, instantly, no fee, 500 Avios minimum. The smart move is to earn anywhere, then book through whichever program has the lowest taxes for that route.

Programs linked via avios.com

1:1

Transfer ratio (free)

Instant

Transfer speed

500

Minimum Avios per transfer

The Avios Family of Programs

Six airlines use Avios as their loyalty currency. Four of them (BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar) can transfer between each other freely via avios.com.

British Airways

Executive Club

London (LHR)

Largest Avios network, most partner airline bookings, companion voucher with BA Amex

Best for: Europe, North America, partner airlines (Qatar, JAL, Cathay)

Taxes: High fuel surcharges on BA metal

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Iberia

Iberia Club

Madrid (MAD)

Low taxes to Americas, cheaper Avios purchase price (EUR), off-peak pricing

Best for: South America, Central America, Caribbean, US East Coast via Madrid

Taxes: Very low fuel surcharges — often under $100 return to Americas

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Aer Lingus

AerClub

Dublin (DUB)

Low taxes on transatlantic, priced as short-haul from London via Dublin

Best for: Transatlantic economy and business to US/Canada via Dublin

Taxes: Very low — under $100 return to North America

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Qatar Airways

Privilege Club

Doha (DOH)

QSuite business class, extensive Middle East/Asia/Africa network

Best for: Business class to Asia, Africa, Australasia via Doha

Taxes: Moderate — varies by route

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Finnair

Finnair Plus

Helsinki (HEL)

Shortest Europe-Asia routing, oneworld partner, uses Avios currency since 2022

Best for: Northern Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia via Helsinki

Taxes: Lower surcharges than BA on Finnair metal flights

Uses Avios branding but NOT part of avios.com transfer network. Finnair Avios are a separate pool.

Buy Avios pricing

Vueling

Vueling Club

Barcelona (BCN)

Low-cost carrier across Europe, Mediterranean network

Best for: Budget European flights, Avios earning on low-cost flights

Taxes: Low — budget carrier pricing

How to Transfer Avios Between Programs

All transfers happen through avios.com — the central hub operated by IAG Loyalty.

Step-by-step guide

1 Go to avios.com and create a free account (or log in if you already have one)
2 Navigate to "Link accounts" and enter your membership numbers for BA Executive Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, and/or Qatar Privilege Club
3 Verify each account via the confirmation email or code sent by each program
4 Go to "Transfer Avios", select the source and destination accounts, enter the amount, and confirm
5 Avios arrive in the destination account within minutes (occasionally up to a few hours)

Transfer pairs and rules

From	To	Ratio	Fee	Speed	Notes
British Airways	Iberia	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Link accounts at avios.com. Household accounts can combine.
British Airways	Aer Lingus	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Link AerClub account at avios.com.
British Airways	Qatar Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Qatar joined the Avios platform in 2023.
Iberia	British Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Move Avios back to BA after booking via Iberia.
Iberia	Qatar Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Can go Iberia → Qatar directly.
Qatar Airways	British Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Useful if you earn Avios on Qatar flights.
Qatar Airways	Iberia	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Transfer to Iberia for low-tax Americas bookings.
Aer Lingus	British Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Transfer back to BA if not using for Aer Lingus flights.
Aer Lingus	Qatar Airways	1:1	Free	Instant via avios.com	Can go Aer Lingus → Qatar directly.

Smart Strategies: When to Transfer

The real power of the Avios ecosystem is booking through the right program to minimise taxes and maximise value.

Book Americas via Iberia for low taxes

Easy

Transfer Avios to Iberia Club and book flights to North/South America. BA charges hundreds in fuel surcharges; Iberia charges under $100 return. Same Avios, fraction of the taxes.

Example: London → Madrid → New York in business class: ~34,000 Avios + ~$80 taxes via Iberia vs 50,000 Avios + ~$600 taxes via BA

Fly Aer Lingus transatlantic at short-haul pricing

Medium

Aer Lingus routes from Dublin to the US can be booked using Avios at short-haul rates — dramatically cheaper than BA's long-haul pricing. Position to Dublin cheaply, then use Avios for the transatlantic leg.

Example: Dublin → Boston: 13,000 Avios one-way in economy, 32,500 Avios in business — with minimal taxes

Access Qatar QSuite with Avios

Easy

Transfer Avios to Qatar Privilege Club for access to QSuite business class — widely considered the world's best business class product. Qatar's own Avios pricing can be competitive.

Example: London → Doha → Bangkok in QSuite: ~70,000 Avios one-way via Qatar Privilege Club

Buy Avios cheapest via Iberia

Easy

Iberia's buy Avios page (in EUR) often works out cheaper per Avios than BA's GBP pricing, especially at higher volumes. Buy via Iberia, then transfer to whichever program you need.

Example: 100,000 Avios via Iberia: ~€1,800 (EUR) vs ~£1,769 (GBP) via BA — Iberia often cheaper after FX

Avoid UK Air Passenger Duty

Easy

UK APD adds significant taxes to flights departing the UK. By booking via Iberia from Madrid or Aer Lingus from Dublin, you avoid UK APD entirely — saving up to $200+ per person on long-haul flights.

Example: London → New York via Dublin on Aer Lingus: avoid ~$200 UK APD vs departing from Heathrow

Combine household Avios for big bookings

Easy

Link household member accounts at avios.com to pool Avios across family members. Each person can earn in their own account, then combine for a single large redemption like first class.

Example: Two partners with 75,000 Avios each → 150,000 combined for a first class return to Asia

Credit Card Transfer Partners

Which card programs transfer to which Avios programs at 1:1.

Card Program	Transfers To	Ratio	Notes
Amex Membership Rewards	British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus	1:1	All three Avios programs available
Chase Ultimate Rewards	British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus	1:1	All three available via Chase portal
Capital One Miles	British Airways, Finnair	1:1	BA and Finnair are direct partners
Bilt Rewards	British Airways	1:1	BA Executive Club only
Citi ThankYou	British Airways, Qatar Airways	1:1	BA and Qatar available

Tip: Chase Ultimate Rewards is the most versatile — it transfers to BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, giving you access to the full range of booking strategies from one card program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways?

Yes. BA Executive Club, Iberia Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Privilege Club are all linked through avios.com. You can transfer Avios between any of these four programs instantly, at a 1:1 ratio, for free. Note: Finnair Plus uses Avios branding but is NOT part of this transfer network.

How do I combine Avios from different programs?

Visit avios.com and create a free account. Link your BA Executive Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, and Qatar Privilege Club membership numbers. Once linked, go to 'Transfer Avios' to move Avios between accounts. Transfers are free, 1:1, and near-instant (usually under an hour). Minimum transfer is 500 Avios.

Is it cheaper to buy Avios through Iberia or British Airways?

Iberia often offers cheaper Avios, especially at higher volumes. Iberia prices in EUR while BA prices in GBP. At the 100,000+ tier, Iberia charges around €1,800 compared to BA's £1,769 — after exchange rates, Iberia is frequently cheaper. You can buy via Iberia and transfer to BA for free.

Why book through Iberia instead of British Airways?

The main reason is taxes. British Airways adds fuel surcharges of $400-800+ on long-haul business/first class flights. Iberia charges minimal surcharges — often under $100 return to the Americas. The Avios cost may differ slightly, but the total out-of-pocket is usually much lower via Iberia.

Can I use Avios earned on Qatar Airways flights with British Airways?

Yes. If you credit Qatar Airways flights to your Qatar Privilege Club account, you earn Avios. These can be transferred to your BA Executive Club (or any other Avios program) instantly via avios.com at a 1:1 ratio for free.

Can I transfer Finnair Plus Avios to British Airways?

No. Although Finnair Plus adopted Avios as its currency in 2022, Finnair is NOT part of the avios.com transfer network. Finnair Avios are a separate pool that can only be earned and redeemed within the Finnair Plus program. You cannot move them to BA, Iberia, Qatar, or Aer Lingus.

Can I pool Avios with my family?

Yes. Through avios.com's Household Account feature, you can link accounts of people living at the same address. This lets you combine Avios from multiple family members into one account for larger redemptions, without any transfer fees.

Are there any limits on transferring Avios between programs?

Transfers via avios.com have no published annual limit and no fees. The minimum transfer is 500 Avios. Transfers are near-instant (usually under an hour) and you can move Avios back and forth as many times as needed. You must link your accounts at avios.com first.

Related Resources

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