Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to upgrade Aer Lingus flights with Avios
Avios is the reward currency of The British Airways Club. [3] The Club publishes terms for using Avios to upgrade a regular cash booking to the next cabin, where there is availability, on selected fares with British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- The published Avios upgrade terms cover regular cash bookings on selected fares with British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines, where there is availability. [4]
- An Avios upgrade moves the booking to the next cabin. [4]
- The Avios required is the Reward Flight Avios price of the cabin you want minus the Reward Flight Avios price of the cabin you booked, calculated one way. [4]
- The Avios amount depends on whether the flight is scheduled on a peak or off-peak date. [4]
What do the published Avios upgrade terms cover?
The British Airways Club publishes terms for using Avios to upgrade a regular cash booking to the next cabin, where there is availability, on selected fares with British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines. [4] This page covers those published terms.
Avios is the reward currency of The British Airways Club, and the Club lists flights and upgrades among the ways members can spend Avios. [3] The Club also lets members pool Avios with family and friends to earn rewards more quickly. [3]
How is the Avios cost of an upgrade worked out?
The British Airways Club calculates the Avios required for an upgrade from the Avios costs for Reward Flights in the cabins you are upgrading from and to. [4] The formula is: Avios for the cabin you wish to upgrade to minus Avios for the cabin you make your booking in equals the Avios required to upgrade one way. [4]
The Avios amount depends on whether your flight is scheduled on a peak or off-peak date. [4]
| Step | What it uses |
|---|---|
| 1. Price the higher cabin | The Avios needed for the cabin you want to upgrade to [4] |
| 2. Price the booked cabin | The Avios needed for the cabin you made your booking in [4] |
| 3. Subtract | The difference between the two figures, which is the Avios required to upgrade one way [4] |
| 4. Apply the date | Peak or off-peak pricing for the flight date [4] |
Reward Flights are priced as a fixed Avios amount plus a fixed cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges. [4]
When can a British Airways Club World upgrade be requested?
For British Airways Club World, The British Airways Club says you can upgrade to business (Club World) using Avios when you book, or later by logging into Manage My Booking, depending on availability. [4]
The published upgrade terms apply to regular cash bookings on selected fares with British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines, where there is availability. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- Next cabin. The published wording refers to upgrading to the next cabin. [4]
- Selected fares only. The upgrade terms apply to selected fares. [4]
- Availability is required. The upgrade terms apply where there is availability. [4]
- Three airlines are named. The British Airways Club's upgrade terms name British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines as the airlines whose selected cash fares can be upgraded with Avios. [4]
- Scope of this guide. This page covers the published Avios upgrade terms for regular cash bookings on the airlines named by The British Airways Club. [4]
Frequently asked questions
How is the Avios amount for an upgrade calculated?
Take the Avios needed for the cabin you want to fly in, subtract the Avios needed for the cabin you booked, and the difference is the Avios required to upgrade one way. [4]
Can a British Airways Club World upgrade be added after booking?
The British Airways Club says you can upgrade to business (Club World) using Avios when you book or later by logging into Manage My Booking, depending on availability. [4]
How do peak and off-peak dates affect the Avios amount?
The Avios amount required for the upgrade depends on whether your flight is scheduled on a peak or off-peak date. [4]
Which airlines' cash fares do the published Avios upgrade terms name?
The British Airways Club's upgrade terms name British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines. [4]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026.
- United Airlines: Earn United Miles on Aer Lingus, checked 18 October 2026
- The British Airways Club: programme overview, checked 18 October 2026
- The British Airways Club: Spending Avios, including flight upgrades with Avios, checked 18 October 2026