Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
Avios upgrade rules: BA, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus
Avios upgrades are cabin upgrades paid for with Avios, the currency that members of The British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub and Finnair Plus can move between those programmes at the same value. [7] [6] On British Airways, a Reward Flight can be upgraded using Avios, and such a booking has to be changed through the airline's contact centre rather than online. [6]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Avios can be moved between The British Airways Club and Iberia Club, AerClub and Finnair Plus accounts, the value stays the same, and the transfer can be repeated as often as the member likes. [7]
- British Airways prices Avios travel as Reward Flights: an Avios amount plus a cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges. [6]
- A Reward Flight that has been upgraded using Avios is one of the bookings British Airways says cannot be changed online in Manage My Booking. [6]
- Upgrades between cabins on British Airways Avios-only flights can be made with a Barclays upgrade voucher or a Gold upgrade for one/two voucher, availability depending. [6]
How do Avios upgrades work on British Airways?
British Airways sells Avios travel as Reward Flights, priced as an Avios amount plus a cash amount that covers taxes, fees and carrier charges. [6] On the airline's own flights that cash amount is fixed, and a member can trim the Avios price by paying more cash, or cut the cash price with Avios part payment from as little as 1,000 Avios. [6]
Upgrading sits inside the same booking rules. British Airways lists a Reward Flight that has been upgraded using Avios among the bookings that cannot be handled in Manage My Booking and need the contact centre, alongside bookings that contain a connecting flight or were paid with a voucher. [6]
Avios-only flights are a separate category: services operated by British Airways and its subsidiary Euro Flyer that are sold only as Reward Flights, to Club members, for direct journeys. [6] On those flights a Barclays upgrade voucher or a Gold upgrade for one/two voucher can be used to upgrade between cabins, availability depending, and the upgrade price remains the same as for a standard Reward Flight. [6] Avios-only seats are released on a first-come, first-served basis while they last. [6]
Can Avios be moved between British Airways, Iberia, AerClub and Finnair Plus?
A British Airways Club member can transfer Avios to and from an Iberia Club, AerClub or Finnair Plus account. [7] The member links the two accounts, chooses the direction and the amount, and the Avios are transferred immediately; British Airways says the value is unchanged and the transfer can be made as often as the member likes. [7]
| Programme | Transfer to and from The British Airways Club | Value | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iberia Club | Yes | Unchanged | As often as you like |
| AerClub | Yes | Unchanged | As often as you like |
| Finnair Plus | Yes | Unchanged | As often as you like |
Finnair Plus members collect Avios and tier points from Finnair flights according to the money spent on the ticket, and can spend Avios on travel extras such as extra baggage or on award flights. [5]
What cash charges apply to an Avios booking?
A British Airways Reward Flight carries a fixed cash amount for taxes, fees and carrier charges when the flight is operated by British Airways; when the Reward Flight is taken with Iberia, American Airlines or another oneworld partner, that cash amount is variable instead. [6]
Where a member does not hold enough Avios, British Airways offers Avios & Money payment options at checkout, where available, so that using fewer Avios means paying more cash. [6]
How does availability affect an Avios upgrade?
British Airways guarantees a minimum number of Reward seats on its own flights to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick: at least eight in economy, two in premium economy and four in business. [6] On flights to and from London City the guarantee is two business and two economy Reward seats. [6]
Upgrades made with a voucher on Avios-only flights are subject to availability. [6] For the Avios-only flights named in British Airways' terms, the Avios-only window runs from 3 June 2026 to 24 July 2026, and any seats remaining after 24 July 2026 may be opened to all customers. [6]
Exceptions and limits
- Cancellation window. A Reward Flight must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the first flight in the itinerary to be eligible for a refund. [6]
- Avios-only refunds. An Avios-only flight cancelled up to 24 hours before departure is refunded minus a £35 service fee; if it is cancelled within 24 hours of outbound departure, taxes, fees and charges are refunded to the original form of payment, but on Avios & Money bookings the cash portion is not refunded and the Avios are not refunded. [6]
- Peak and off-peak. The Avios price of a Reward Flight depends on date, destination and class, and one booking can mix peak and off-peak dates. [6] Moving from off-peak to peak may need more Avios, while moving from peak to off-peak refunds the Avios difference; on Avios part payment bookings the money difference is not refunded, and British Airways suggests cancelling the original flights and booking again instead. [6]
- Published price examples. British Airways' Reward Flight examples, correct as of May 2026, are 10,000 Avios + £2.50 each way to Europe, the UK and Ireland, 55,000 Avios + £150 return further afield and 154,000 Avios + £350 return in Club World — Reward Flight prices rather than upgrade prices. [6]
Frequently asked questions
Can a British Airways Reward Flight be upgraded with Avios?
Yes. British Airways refers to Reward Flights that have been upgraded using Avios, and places them among the bookings that must be changed through the contact centre rather than in Manage My Booking. [6]
Do Avios lose value when transferred between these programmes?
No. British Airways says the value of the Avios is the same whether they sit in a British Airways Club account or in a linked Iberia Club, AerClub or Finnair Plus account. [7]
Can an upgrade voucher be used on an Avios-only flight?
Yes, a Barclays upgrade voucher or a Gold upgrade for one/two voucher can upgrade between cabins, availability depending, and the upgrade price stays the same as for a standard Reward Flight. [6]
How many Reward seats does British Airways guarantee on its own flights?
At least eight economy, two premium economy and four business seats on flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick, and two business plus two economy seats on flights to and from London City. [6]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers The British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub and Finnair Plus; Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios, partner-operated flights and operational upgrades are outside its scope.
- Finnair Plus: Collect Avios and tier points from flights, checked 18 October 2026
- The British Airways Club: Reward Flights, checked 18 October 2026
- The British Airways Club: Transfer your Avios, checked 18 October 2026