Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to earn Avios and tier points on British Airways flights
The British Airways Club, formerly the Executive Club, is the British Airways frequent flyer programme: members collect Avios, the programme's reward currency, and earn tier points that move them through the Club's membership tiers. [5] Avios are collected on eligible flights with British Airways and its oneworld airline partners, while tier points count towards the thresholds that open Bronze, Silver and Gold. [1] [2]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Joining The British Airways Club is free, and a member collects Avios on eligible flights with British Airways or its oneworld airline partners. [5] [1]
- Status is reached on tier points: Bronze at 3,500, Silver at 7,500 and Gold at 20,000, while Blue is held from joining. [2]
- A flight that does not appear in the account can still be claimed: British Airways accepts Avios and tier point claims up to six months after the flight. [1]
- Avios stay in the account as long as at least one Avios is collected, spent, bought or shared every 36 months. [1]
How flying earns Avios and tier points
The Club runs two separate currencies with different jobs: Avios are spent on flights, hotels, holidays and car rental, while tier points unlock benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in and free seat selection. [5] British Airways names eligible flights with the airline itself and with its oneworld airline partners as a way to collect Avios. [1] The same page adds that a member who contributes to Sustainable Aviation Fuel collects Avios and earns tier points as well. [1]
A member's online account holds both balances and shows what is still needed to reach the next tier. [5] This guide covers British Airways-marketed flights operated by British Airways; flights sold or operated by partner airlines, including oneworld carriers, follow the separate rules in the British Airways Club partner earning guide, and Avios from cards, shopping, hotels and car hire are covered in Avios earning without flying.
How many tier points each tier needs
Blue is the tier every member holds from joining, and the numbered tiers are reached on tier points alone: Bronze at 3,500, Silver at 7,500 and Gold at 20,000. [2]
| Tier | Tier points | Benefits British Airways names |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | None, held as soon as you join | Collect Avios, earn tier points, free Wi-Fi messaging, member-only offers [2] |
| Bronze | 3,500 | Priority check-in and boarding, free seat selection seven days before departure [2] |
| Silver | 7,500 | Priority boarding, free seat selection at booking, business lounge access, extra baggage allowance [2] |
| Gold | 20,000 | First class check-in and boarding, free seat selection at booking, First lounge access, extra baggage allowance, additional Reward Flight availability [2] |
Several of those benefits are marked "some restrictions apply", so a tier opens the benefit in principle rather than guaranteeing it on every flight. [2] Access to British Airways lounges is subject to eligibility and availability. [4] The thresholds and the benefits attached to each tier are set out in more detail in the British Airways Club tier points guide.
How to check that a flight has credited
Avios and tier points post to the member's Club account, which also tracks progress towards the next tier. [5] Where a British Airways flight is missing from the account, the airline allows a claim for Avios or tier points up to six months after the flight. [1] New members have their own window: the Club invites claims for Avios and tier points on British Airways flights flown in the three months before joining. [5]
The order of work is straightforward. Check the account after the flight has been flown, note the date, and if nothing appears, submit the claim inside the applicable window. [1] [5] What a claim needs and how it is filed is covered in the missing miles claim guide.
What happens to Avios after they are earned
Avios do not expire while a member collects, spends, buys or shares at least one Avios every 36 months; after three years without collecting or using any, the Avios expire and are removed. [1] The Club also lets members pool Avios with family and friends so that rewards arrive faster. [5]
When the balance is spent, a British Airways Reward Flight pairs an Avios amount with a fixed cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges, and the price depends on the date, destination and class of travel, with peak and off-peak amounts. [6] The same cash amount is variable rather than fixed when the reward is taken with Iberia, American Airlines or oneworld partners. [6]
Exceptions and limits
- The claim window is six months counted from the flight, and a claim is not open indefinitely. [1]
- The pre-join allowance for new members covers British Airways flights in the three months before joining, not any earlier flying. [5]
- Avios are removed after three years with no collecting or spending, so an inactive account loses the balance it holds. [1]
- Tier benefits marked with an asterisk carry restrictions, and lounge access depends on eligibility and availability rather than on tier alone. [2] [4]
- Blue needs no tier points at all, so every new member starts there rather than at the bottom of the tier point scale. [2]
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim Avios for a British Airways flight I took before joining?
Yes, within limits. The Club accepts claims for Avios and tier points on British Airways flights flown in the three months before a member joins [5], and the general claim window for a flight that has not credited is six months after it [1].
How many tier points do I need for Silver?
Silver requires 7,500 tier points. Bronze sits at 3,500 and Gold at 20,000, while Blue is held from joining. [2]
How long do Avios last?
Avios remain usable as long as at least one Avios is collected, spent, bought or shared every 36 months; after three years without activity they expire and are removed. [1]
Does paying towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel earn anything?
British Airways says members collect Avios and earn tier points when they contribute to Sustainable Aviation Fuel. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Earning with Iberia, Aer Lingus and other oneworld carriers is not covered here, and neither is earning from credit cards, shopping, hotels or car hire; those are covered by the partner earning and non-flight earning pages.
- Collecting Avios, The British Airways Club, checked 18 October 2026
- Tiers and benefits, The British Airways Club, checked 18 October 2026
- British Airways lounges, checked 18 October 2026
- The British Airways Club, checked 18 October 2026
- Reward Flights, The British Airways Club, checked 18 October 2026