Do you get Avios points with American Express?

Avios is the reward currency of the British Airways Executive Club. You collect Avios when you book flights, hotel stays, car hire and more with British Airways and their partners, including American Express.



Yes, you can earn Avios points with American Express through two primary methods in 2026. First, there are co-branded British Airways American Express Cards where you earn Avios directly on every purchase (e.g., 1.5 Avios per £1 on the Premium Plus card). Second, if you hold a standard Amex Membership Rewards card (like the Gold or Platinum), you can transfer your points to the British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus at a typical 1:1 ratio. In March 2026, Amex and British Airways are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a special "Avios Boost" offer, allowing eligible cardholders to earn up to 25% more Avios on their qualifying spend until April 8, 2026. This makes it an exceptionally lucrative time to use your Amex for travel bookings, as welcome bonuses for new members are also currently elevated to help celebrate the milestone.

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1 American Express Membership Rewards points is worth MORE than 1 Avios. This is because, as well as converting to 1 Avios, it will also convert into 1 Virgin Point, 1 Etihad mile, 1 Flying Blue mile, 2 Hilton points, 1.5 Marriott points, 3 Radisson points, 0.5p of shopping vouchers, 0.45p of statement credit etc etc.

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Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

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While 200K Amex points will typically only give you about $2,000 in value when you shop for flights in the Amex travel portal, you can sometimes find Business or First Class flights — that can normally cost over $10,000 — for only 200K points, when transferred to a frequent flyer program.

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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.

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30% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Executive Club Until August 31, 2023, you can transfer Amex US Membership Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club and receive a 30% bonus. Points are normally transferred at a 1:1 ratio between the two programs, and can only be transferred in increments of 1,000.

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30% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Executive Club Until August 31, 2023, you can transfer Amex US Membership Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club and receive a 30% bonus. Points are normally transferred at a 1:1 ratio between the two programs, and can only be transferred in increments of 1,000.

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Your Avios stay with you as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months — any longer and your Avios will expire and be removed, so remember to take action before those three years are up. There are lots of simple ways to ensure you'll never lose the Avios you collect.

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If you really want to treat yourself, you can get a one-way flight in Aer Lingus' business class on the same routes from just 50,000 Avios (off-peak) or 60,000 Avios (peak). In other words, your 100,000 bonus Avios would be enough for a return flight in business class to Ireland on off-peak dates.

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