British Airways American Express

The American Express voucher on Reward Flights

British Airways calls flights booked with Avios Reward Flights, and each one pairs an Avios amount with a cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges. [3] On British Airways-operated Reward Flights that cash amount is fixed, while bookings with Iberia, American Airlines and oneworld partners carry a variable cash amount instead. [3] The Avios price depends on date, destination and cabin of travel, and peak and off-peak dates can be mixed within a single booking. [3] British Airways' examples, correct as of May 2026, start at 10,000 Avios plus £2.50 each way to Europe, or 55,000 Avios plus £150 return further afield, with a Club World return from 154,000 Avios plus £350. [3]

The voucher is described on the same page. British Airways says the American Express voucher can be used within the cabin and dates it is eligible for. [3] Where it is used as a companion voucher, a member flying with a companion pays the Avios for one person and the taxes, fees and charges for both, and a member flying alone pays half the Avios required for one person plus the taxes, fees and charges for one person. [3] The page does not state how a voucher is earned, which cards issue one, or how long it remains valid. [3]

Bookings made with any type of voucher, including a Companion Voucher or a Travel Together Ticket, cannot be handled like a simple Reward Flight and must go through the British Airways contact centre. [3] On Avios-only flights — services operated by British Airways and its subsidiary Euro Flyer and sold only as Reward Flights to Club members — a companion voucher can be used within the cabin and dates it is eligible for. [3]

Earning, holding and expiring Avios

Avios on British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia-marketed flights are earned on eligible spend, meaning the base fare and carrier-imposed charges; government and airport taxes and fees, credit card surcharges and service or change fees earn nothing. [5] Avios for British Airways flights reach the member's account 48 hours after the departure date, and a cancelled booking earns no Avios. [5] Avios cannot be spent until British Airways has recorded them in the member's account. [5] Missing Avios are normally claimed online within six months of the travel date, and a new member may claim for eligible British Airways-marketed flights taken up to three months before joining. [5]

Balances do not last indefinitely. If a member has not collected, spent, purchased or transferred Avios for 36 consecutive months, all Avios accrued to that date expire. [5] Up to seven members of a household, including no more than six people under 18, can hold a household account that earns Avios and redeems them for any one person in that household. [5]

Avios can also move between programmes. British Airways allows transfers between a Club account and Iberia Club, AerClub, Loganair Loyalty, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus accounts, credited immediately and repeatable as often as the member likes. [4] Moving Avios between a linked Club account and a Privilege Club account happens at 1:1 with no fee and no minimum or maximum amount, once the two accounts are linked. [6] Avios have no fixed or par value and are not redeemable for cash. [6]

Card terms the sources do not cover

The Club terms set 18 as the minimum age for membership, allow British Airways to refuse membership at its discretion, and reserve the right not to enrol individuals whose resident address is in certain countries or regions. [5]

Exceptions and limits

• Reward seats are not unlimited. British Airways guarantees at least eight economy, two premium economy and four business reward seats on its own flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick, and two business and two economy seats on flights to and from London City; all other reward bookings are subject to availability and to capacity controls. [3] [5]
• Reward bookings must be made at least 24 hours before the intended departure, and one-way rewards are issued at 50% of the Avios required for a return. [5]
• A Reward Flight can be cancelled or changed for a service fee, but the cancellation must be made at least 24 hours before the first flight to be eligible for a refund, and moving a booking from an off-peak to a peak date can require additional Avios. [3] On Avios-only flights, cancellation up to 24 hours before departure is refunded minus a £35 service fee. [3]
• Avios moved into a linked Privilege Club account then expire under Privilege Club rules rather than the Club's 36-month inactivity rule. [6]
• This profile covers UK-issued consumer cards only; business and invite-only variants are outside its scope.

Related pages

Programme: The British Airways Club. Comparison: Avios credit cards in the UK compared. Guide: How to book British Airways Club awards. Terms: Avios, companion ticket, and the full glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Business and invite-only British Airways American Express variants are not covered, and neither is the card issuer's own card agreement; other Avios programmes appear here only as transfer partners.

1. The British Airways Club — Reward Flights, checked 18 October 2026
2. The British Airways Club — Transfer your Avios, checked 18 October 2026
3. The British Airways Club terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
4. Qatar Airways Privilege Club — terms for linking accounts with the British Airways Club, checked 18 October 2026