British Airways Avios and tier points: the difference explained

British Airways Executive Club members cannot swap Avios points for tier points, or vice versa. The two loyalty currencies are earned through different methods and serve distinct purposes within the airline's programme, a fact essential for frequent flyers aiming to maximise their status and rewards.

Tier points can only be earned via eligible British Airways and partner airline flights, purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits, or spending on the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card. The main method is through flight spending, where members receive one tier point for every £1 spent, net of taxes and charges. Avios, in contrast, is the reward points currency earned from flights and partners such as American Express, Barclaycard, and Nectar. They can be used for 'free' flights, cabin upgrades, or spent with various British Airways partners. The two schemes are totally separate.

What happens to tier points and Avios over time

Tier points determine British Airways status year to year and are reset on 31st March. Any tier-point progress not used by this annual expiry date is lost unless re-earned in the next membership year. Avios, however, do not expire as long as you earn or spend at least one point every 36 months. This makes Avios a reward currency that can be collected over multiple years for free flights or other rewards.

Limited options for converting Avios to tier points

While some partner programmes offer limited exchange options, British Airways does not. Finnair Plus, which also uses Avios as its reward currency, allows exchanging a certain amount of Avios for tier points in its programme each year. No such facility exists for British Airways members, and no policy change regarding Avios-to-tier-point conversion has been announced, though future adjustments are always possible.

Members must therefore earn Avios and tier points separately through specified activities. For instance, purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits yields both currencies: for every £1 spent on SAF credits, you receive 10 Avios and two tier points, with an annual cap of 2,000 tier points from this method. Existing Avios cannot be converted into status-qualifying tier points.

Status progression is based solely on tier points. The British Airways Executive Club has four main tiers: Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The threshold for Bronze status is 3,500 tier points during a given membership year. Hitting this threshold grants status for the rest of the current year and all of the following membership year. Readers should continue earning both currencies through eligible flights, credit card spending, and partner activities to maintain or advance their standing. As one frequent flyer resource noted, "Head for Points is the UK’s biggest frequent flyer website with 2.4 million monthly page views and 80,000 email subscribers."