Dreaming of (Almost) Free Flights? Let’s Talk Avios!
Hey everyone, John here! Have you ever scrolled through social media, seeing incredible travel photos, and thought, “Wow, I wish I could afford trips like that”? Or maybe you’ve been stuck in economy class, peering longingly into business class, and dreamed of stretching out in a comfy seat?
Well, what if I told you there’s a way to make those dreams a little closer to reality, just by doing your everyday shopping? It sounds like magic, but it’s totally real, and it’s all thanks to something called “Avios.”
This little gem of a system can help you fly for way less, or even upgrade your seat to something much nicer, without breaking the bank. Today, we’re going to break down what Avios are, how you can get them, and most importantly, how to use them to unlock some fantastic travel perks. Let’s dive in!
What in the World Are Avios, Anyway?
Think of Avios as a special kind of digital money, but instead of using it to buy groceries, you use it to buy flights or upgrades! It’s a loyalty program currency, mainly used by airlines like British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways.
Lila: “John, when you say ‘loyalty program currency,’ what exactly does that mean? Is it like collecting stamps at a coffee shop?”
John: “That’s a fantastic analogy, Lila! You’re spot on. Imagine your favorite coffee shop gives you a stamp card. Every time you buy a coffee, you get a stamp. Once you have enough stamps, you get a free coffee, right? Avios work in a very similar way. Instead of stamps, you earn ‘points’ called Avios. And instead of a free coffee, you can get a free or heavily discounted flight, or an upgrade to a better seat on the plane. It’s the airline’s way of saying ‘thank you’ for being a regular customer or for choosing their partners.”
So, instead of paying full price in regular money, you pay with these special points you’ve collected.
How Do You Get Your Hands on These Magical Avios?
This is where it gets exciting, because you’re probably already doing some of the things that can earn you Avios without even realizing it!
- Flying with Partner Airlines: This is the most straightforward way. When you fly with an airline that uses Avios (like British Airways), you’ll earn Avios based on how much you spend and how far you fly. It’s like getting a discount on your next flight just by taking this one!
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Using Travel Credit Cards: This is a HUGE one for collecting Avios quickly. Many credit cards partner with airlines or loyalty programs. Every time you use these cards for your everyday purchases — groceries, gas, bills, shopping online — you earn Avios.
- Some cards even offer a big bonus of Avios just for signing up and spending a certain amount in the first few months. It’s like getting a huge head start on your free flight!
- Shopping Online (and Offline!): Did you know many airlines have online shopping portals? If you click through their special link before shopping at your favorite online stores (think clothing, electronics, homeware), you can earn Avios for every dollar you spend. Sometimes, even certain grocery stores or fuel stations have partnerships where you can link your loyalty card and earn Avios.
- Booking Hotels and Car Rentals: Just like with flights, many hotel chains and car rental companies are partners. When you book your stays or rentals through them, you can choose to earn Avios instead of their own loyalty points.
- Converting Other Loyalty Points: If you have points from other loyalty programs, like certain hotel chains or even some credit card rewards programs, you might be able to convert them into Avios. It’s like exchanging one type of currency for another!
Okay, I Have Avios! Now What Do I Do With Them?
Once you’ve started collecting a nice stash of Avios, the fun really begins! Here’s how you can use them:
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Booking “Reward Seats”: This is the holy grail for most Avios collectors — using your points to book flights! Airlines set aside a certain number of seats on each flight specifically for people using points. These are called “reward seats.”
Lila: “Reward seats? Are those different from regular seats? And why are they called ‘elusive’ in the original article?”
John: “Great question, Lila! Yes, ‘reward seats’ are a bit special. Think of it like this: an airline has 200 seats on a plane. They might decide that only 5 or 10 of those seats can be booked using Avios. The rest are for people paying cash. Because there are only a limited number of these special seats, they can be ‘elusive’ — meaning they’re not always easy to find, especially for popular routes or during busy times like holidays. It’s like trying to get tickets to a super popular concert — you have to be quick and sometimes flexible!”
Booking these seats usually means you’ll pay a very small amount of cash for taxes and fees, but the main cost of the flight is covered by your Avios. It feels amazing to fly for almost nothing!
- Upgrading Your Flight: Already booked a flight in Economy but fancy a bit more legroom or a nicer meal? You can often use your Avios to upgrade your seat to a higher class, like Premium Economy, Business Class, or even First Class. This is a fantastic way to experience luxury travel without the luxury price tag!
- Part-Payment: Sometimes, you might not have enough Avios for a whole flight, or you just want to reduce the cash price. You can use a smaller amount of Avios to get a discount on a cash fare. It’s a neat way to save money even if you’re not going for a full “free” flight.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Avios
To really maximize your Avios, keep these tips in mind:
- Be Flexible: If you can be flexible with your travel dates and even destinations, you’ll have a much better chance of finding those “elusive” reward seats. Weekends and holidays are usually harder to book with points.
- Book Early: Reward seats are often released far in advance (sometimes up to a year out!). If you know your travel plans, try to book as soon as these seats become available.
- Look for Promotions: Airlines and credit card companies often run special promotions where you can earn bonus Avios or use fewer Avios for certain flights. Keep an eye out for these deals!
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Combine Avios from Different Sources: You can often pool Av
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