If you frequently fly with British Airways or its partners, Avios may be a better alternative because it enables for simple redemption for flights and upgrades. Amex Points, on the other hand, may be a better choice if you seek flexibility in redeeming your points across numerous airlines and travel expenses.

In the 2026 rewards landscape, Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points are generally considered superior because of their extreme flexibility. Amex points act as a "universal currency" that can be transferred to over 20 different partners, including Avios (British Airways/Qatar Airways), Delta, and Marriott. This means you are never locked into one airline. Conversely, Avios are a specific "loyalty currency" used primarily by International Airlines Group (IAG) carriers. While Avios are incredibly valuable for short-haul flights in Europe or booking "Qsuite" on Qatar Airways, they are subject to the specific devaluations of those airlines. If you hold Amex points, you can wait for a "Transfer Bonus" (often 20–30% extra) to move them to Avios, effectively making 100,000 Amex points worth 130,000 Avios. Therefore, unless you are an exclusive British Airways flyer with high-tier status, it is always better to earn Amex points first and only convert them to Avios when you have a specific, high-value flight in mind. Amex points provide a "safety net" against airline-specific devaluations that Avios cannot offer.