Avios (BA / Qatar / Iberia / Finnair / Aer Lingus)

Use it for

• Qatar Qsuite US to Doha on qatarairways.com: 70,000 Avios off-peak (94,500 peak) plus about USD 60 in taxes
• Qatar Qsuite Europe to Doha: 42,500 Avios off-peak (55,000 peak) plus about USD 120; Europe to Australia via Doha 90,000 off-peak
• Iberia Madrid to JFK, Boston, Chicago, Washington or Miami on iberia.com: 40,500 Avios off-peak plus about USD 127
• Aer Lingus Dublin to the US East Coast booked through Aer Lingus AerClub: 50,000 Avios off-peak, with far lower fees than the same seat on ba.com (one example: CAD 223 versus CAD 786 from Toronto)
• Finnair Helsinki to Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore or New York on finnair.com: 62,500 Avios plus about EUR 100 to 120 in carrier surcharges

Do not use it for

• British Airways' own long-haul flights: London to New York Club World round trip is about 176,000 Avios plus GBP 499 after the 27 May 2026 surcharge rise
• Booking Qatar flights on ba.com when qatarairways.com has the seat: BA passes on Qatar's carrier charges (about USD 235 one-way US to Doha versus about USD 60 on Qatar)
• Speculative Iberia bookings on partner airlines: Iberia does not refund partner awards

Where to search

Search Qatar flights on qatarairways.com with 'Book using Avios' ticked; it opens 361 days out versus 355 on ba.com, and ba.com often shows Qatar seats that will not ticket. Use ba.com for broad oneworld searches (Qatar, American, Japan Airlines, Cathay, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus), iberia.com for Iberia, and finnair.com for Finnair, Qatar, JAL, Cathay, Qantas, BA and Iberia (other partners need Finnair chat or phone). seats.aero covers Qatar Privilege Club (including seats Qatar does not release to partners) as well as BA and Iberia; always confirm on the club site you will book on before moving Avios.

How to book, step by step

1. Open free accounts now in British Airways Club, Qatar Privilege Club and, if you will fly them, Iberia Club, Finnair Plus and Aer Lingus AerClub, all in your passport name; since 29 March 2026 a BA, Iberia, Vueling or Aer Lingus account must be 30 days old before it can send Avios to another club.
2. Link the accounts on avios.com (Qatar and Finnair under 'Combine my Avios'); moves are 1:1, free and instant, but Qatar and Finnair only exchange with BA, so Iberia to Qatar goes Iberia to BA to Qatar.
3. Find the seat on the club that charges the least: Qatar flights on qatarairways.com, Iberia on iberia.com, Aer Lingus on AerClub, Finnair on finnair.com. Walk the booking to the payment page to see the real Avios price and cash fees.
4. For Qsuite, check the aircraft before you commit: only some Qatar 777s have Qsuite, and equipment swaps happen. Qatar now charges for business seat selection unless you hold status.
5. If you are booking for someone else on Qatar, add them first: Burgundy and Silver members can only redeem for up to four Privilege Club members on 'My List' (each must accept the invite, locked for six months) plus a Family and Friends group. If the list is full, move the Avios to BA and book the same Qatar flight on ba.com, accepting the higher fees.
6. Transfer bank points into BA, Iberia or Aer Lingus (Citi goes to Qatar), then move the exact Avios needed into the club that will issue the ticket.
7. Book and pay taxes by card; there are no holds on Avios awards at any of the five clubs. Check for the ticket number (e-ticket) in the confirmation email, and if it has not arrived within a day, contact the club.
8. Note the cancellation deadline: BA and Qatar refund Avios if you cancel more than 24 hours before departure (fees below); Qatar keeps the Avios inside 3 hours of departure.

When you need to phone

Not needed for most bookings. Finnair Plus partner awards that are not online (American, Alaska and others) need chat or phone and cost a 500 Avios service fee one-way (1,000 return).

Fees

BA Club: no booking fee; change or cancel GBP 35 per person (tax refund capped at the lower of GBP 35 or the taxes paid), free for Gold. Qatar Privilege Club: change or cancel USD 25 more than 24 hours out and USD 100 at 3 to 24 hours for Burgundy and Silver; free for Gold and Platinum; no refund of Avios inside 3 hours. Iberia Club: EUR 25 to cancel Iberia flights (EUR 50 for the return leg after flying out); partner awards are non-refundable. Finnair Plus: 500 Avios service fee on phone partner bookings.

Surcharges

Heavy on British Airways long-haul (London to New York Club World round trip about GBP 499 in fees). Qatar flights booked on qatarairways.com carry only taxes (about USD 60 from the US); the same flights on ba.com add about USD 235 one-way. Iberia and Aer Lingus (booked through their own clubs) are low. Finnair adds EUR 100 to 120 on most long-haul business awards, up to EUR 150 on Melbourne.

Getting points in

US: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo transfer 1:1 into BA, Iberia or Aer Lingus; Citi ThankYou goes 1:1 to Qatar; all are usually instant. UK: Amex Membership Rewards 1:1, HSBC Premier 2:1, Nectar 400:250. Canada: Amex Membership Rewards and RBC Avion. Germany: Amex Membership Rewards 5:4. India: HDFC 2:1. Marriott Bonvoy 3:1 with 5,000 bonus per 60,000, taking 1 to 8 days. Moving Avios between the five clubs is 1:1 and instant.

Booking for other people

BA Club: pool Avios in a Household Account of up to 7 people at one address, who can then redeem only for household members and up to 5 Family and Friends nominees (a nominee stays at least six months). Qatar: Burgundy and Silver redeem only for themselves, up to 4 'My List' members (own Privilege Club accounts, six-month lock) and a Family and Friends group; Gold and Platinum can book for anyone. Iberia: add 'beneficiaries' before booking for someone not on your flight. Finnair Plus: no pooling; you can book for others (a power of attorney is asked for in some family cases).