Is Avios or Amex better?

Transferable points, such as American Express Membership Rewards and HSBC Premier points, are more valuable than non-transferable points such as Avios. The most valuable transferable points of all are those that transfer instantly.



Whether Avios (the currency of British Airways and Qatar Airways) or Amex Membership Rewards is better depends on your flexibility and travel goals. In 2026, Amex Membership Rewards is generally considered "better" because it is a flexible "transferable" currency. You can move Amex points to over 12 different airline partners, including Avios, as well as Marriott or Hilton. This gives you the high-value ability to search for the best "award flight" across multiple alliances. However, Avios can be superior if you are a frequent traveler between the UK and the US or within Europe, as the "Reward Flight Saver" program offers fixed, low-cost redemptions. If you use an Amex British Airways co-branded card, you can also earn a "Companion Voucher," which is a peer-to-peer "win" for couples. In short: use Amex for maximum versatility and to protect yourself against "devaluations" of a single airline's miles, but focus on Avios if you are a loyalist who can maximize specific route "sweet spots" like short-haul European hops or Qatar Airways "Qsuite" redemptions.

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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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You can book 14 round-trip tickets from Boston (BOS), Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) or New York-JFK to Madrid (MAD) — in business class — with your 1 million Avios. You can do this by transferring your Avios to Iberia and then booking flights on off-peak dates, which spans most of the year.

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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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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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Flights booked using Avios are called Reward Flights. Reward Flights can be taken with British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines and our oneworld partners.

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When it comes to air miles, a balance of 300,000 points opens up a world of destinations, from the beaches of the Seychelles to the buzz of San Francisco. Transfer your points to Avios to enjoy two return business class flights to some of British Airways most coveted US destinations.

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Yes, selling Avios points online is an extremely easy and hassle-free process. We offer competitive rates and a quick and hassle-free process for selling your miles. Give us a call at 1-800-511-0315 and one of our executives will assist you with the process.

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