Almost all long haul upgrades to business class or first class require between 18,000-30,000 points one way, depending on peak or off peak and how far you're going.

To calculate how many Avios points you need for an upgrade in 2026, you use a simple formula: the Avios cost of a "Reward Flight" in the cabin you want to move into minus the Avios cost of the cabin you originally booked. For example, if a flight costs 20,000 Avios in Economy and 30,000 in Premium Economy, the upgrade will cost you exactly 10,000 Avios. Because British Airways uses Peak and Off-Peak pricing, the specific amount will vary depending on your travel date; a flight to New York might require 15,000 Avios to upgrade to Club World during a quiet week but 25,000 during the holidays. It is important to note that you can only upgrade by one cabin class (e.g., Economy to Premium Economy, or Business to First) and your original ticket must be in an "eligible" fare bucket—the cheapest "Basic" or "Light" fares (often G, O, or Q classes) are usually excluded from mileage upgrades. You should check the British Airways "Upgrade Calculator" or "Manage My Booking" portal to see the exact real-time point requirement for your specific itinerary.