Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to upgrade British Airways flights with Avios
Upgrading a British Airways flight with Avios means using Avios, the currency of The British Airways Club, to move a British Airways-operated booking into a higher cabin. British Airways' published Reward Flight rules confirm that a Reward Flight can be upgraded using Avios, and that changes to a booking upgraded this way are handled by the airline's contact centre rather than in Manage My Booking. [2]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- British Airways sells Avios seats as Reward Flights, and a Reward Flight that has been upgraded using Avios must be changed by calling the contact centre. [2]
- On British Airways flights to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, the airline guarantees at least eight Reward Flight seats in economy, two in premium economy and four in business. [2]
- A Reward Flight combines an Avios amount with a fixed cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges on British Airways-operated flights. [2]
How do Avios upgrades work on British Airways?
British Airways calls flights booked with Avios Reward Flights, and they can be booked in any cabin the aircraft offers. [2] Alongside a Reward Flight, the same booking flow offers Avios part payment, which reduces the cash price of a flight using as little as 1,000 Avios, and the more Avios you apply the less cash you pay. [2] At checkout, a range of Avios & Money payment options is shown where they are available. [2]
Separately from Avios, British Airways accepts upgrade vouchers for moving between cabins. On Avios-only flights — flights operated by British Airways and its subsidiary Euro Flyer that are sold only as Reward 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 stays the same as for a standard Reward Flight. [2] If you hold a Companion Voucher, the member travelling with a companion pays the Avios for one person plus the taxes, fees and charges for both, or half the Avios for one person plus the taxes, fees and charges for one person when travelling solo. [2] How the Companion Voucher works
Which cabins and seats can you upgrade into?
Seat supply is the practical limit on any Avios upgrade, and British Airways publishes a floor for Reward Flight seats on its London flights. [2]
| Flights | Cabin | Guaranteed seats |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow and London Gatwick | Economy (Euro Traveller and World Traveller) | 8 |
| London Heathrow and London Gatwick | Premium economy (World Traveller Plus) | 2 |
| London Heathrow and London Gatwick | Business (Club Europe and Club World) | 4 |
| London City | Business (Club Europe) | 2 |
| London City | Economy (Euro Traveller) | 2 |
Avios-only flights are available in all cabins, depending on the configuration of the aircraft. [2] Reward Flight prices depend on date, destination and class of travel, and each date is priced as peak or off-peak; a single booking can use all peak dates, all off-peak dates or a mixture of the two. [2] Cabins can be combined within one booking, for example economy outbound and business inbound, depending on availability. [2] How to book British Airways Club awards
What cash do you pay alongside Avios?
A Reward Flight consists of an Avios amount plus a fixed cash amount that covers taxes, fees and carrier charges. [2] British Airways publishes the following examples, correct as of May 2026. [2]
| Journey | Avios | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Europe, the UK and Ireland, each-way | from 10,000 | from £2.50 |
| Destinations further afield, return | from 55,000 | from £150 |
| Business (Club World), return | from 154,000 | from £350 |
The exact Avios and cash price depends on date, destination and class of travel. [2] The cash amount is fixed on British Airways-operated Reward Flights, whereas on Reward Flights taken with Iberia, American Airlines and airlines in the oneworld alliance it is variable. [2] If your balance is short of the Avios needed, you can reduce the Avios cost by paying more cash, since the fewer Avios used the more you pay in cash. [2]
How do you top up Avios for an upgrade?
British Airways lists three ways to reach a higher Avios balance: buying Avios, asking a friend or family member to share some of theirs, and pooling Avios with other members of The British Airways Club in your household. [2] Avios can also be transferred between a British Airways Club account and an Iberia Club, AerClub, Loganair Loyalty, Vueling Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus account. [3] The value of the Avios stays the same when transferred, the transfer happens immediately once the two accounts are linked, and it can be done as often as you like. [3] The British Airways Club programme guide
Exceptions and limits
- Changes to a Reward Flight that has been upgraded using Avios cannot be made online; they go through the contact centre. [2] The same applies to changing an off-peak date to a peak date, changing a peak date to an off-peak date when you want the Avios refunded immediately, bookings made with any type of voucher such as a Companion Voucher or Travel Together Ticket, and bookings that contain a connecting flight. [2]
- Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the first flight in the itinerary to be eligible for a refund. [2] For Avios-only flights, cancelling up to 24 hours before departure gives a full refund minus a £35 service fee. [2]
- For cancellations within 24 hours of outbound departure on Avios-only flights where taxes, fees and charges have been paid, those amounts 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. [2]
- An Avios-only flight, like any other Reward Flight, cannot be combined with a commercial flight on the same booking. [2] Avios-only flights cover direct journeys exclusively for members of The British Airways Club; flights connecting to or from other destinations are not included and use commercial availability. [2]
- Moving from an off-peak to a peak date can require additional Avios, while moving from peak to off-peak refunds the difference in Avios; for Avios part payment bookings the money portion of the difference is not refunded, and the alternative is to cancel the original flights for a full refund and book again. [2]
Frequently asked questions
Can I change a British Airways flight that was upgraded with Avios online?
No. British Airways asks members to call its contact centre to make changes when a Reward Flight has been upgraded using Avios, rather than using Manage My Booking. [2]
Are taxes and fees included in the Avios price?
British Airways structures a Reward Flight as an Avios amount plus a fixed cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges, so the cash element is part of the price rather than a separate charge. [2]
Can I upgrade between cabins with a voucher instead of Avios?
Yes, on Avios-only 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 is the same as for a standard Reward Flight. [2]
Can I mix cabins on one Avios booking?
Yes. Cabins can be combined within a booking, such as economy outbound and business inbound, depending on availability, and on Avios-only flights one leg can be booked as an Avios-only flight and the other as another Reward Flight. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers Avios upgrades on British Airways-operated flights; upgrades on partner-operated flights and operational upgrades are not covered, and the upgrade rules of other programmes are not described here.
- British Airways, Reward Flights, checked 18 October 2026
- British Airways, Transfer your Avios, checked 18 October 2026