Points earned under British Airways' program are called Avios. You can collect Avios via flights, hotel stays, car rentals and more. Avios are also flexible when it comes time to redeem with uses including award flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays and car rentals.

Yes, Avios is the name of the reward currency used by British Airways, meaning they are effectively the same thing. However, in 2026, it is important to distinguish Avios from Tier Points. Avios are the "spendable" points you earn from flying, credit card spending, or shopping through the BA portal, which you can use for reward flights and upgrades. Tier Points, on the other hand, are "status" points that determine your level of elite membership (Bronze, Silver, Gold) and reset every year. Since British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Aer Lingus all use Avios as their common currency, you can now link your accounts to move your "BA points" between these airlines at a 1:1 ratio. This flexibility allows travelers to pool their Avios to book flights on whichever partner offers the lowest taxes or best availability. In short, while "BA points" is the common term people use, Avios is the official currency that acts like a global travel gold standard across the IAG group and its partners.