How Do You Buy, Gift or Use Travel Points for Yourself or Someone Else?

If you’ve collected travel points through a frequent flyer programme or a credit card, you might be wondering how best to use them — not just for yourself, but maybe even for someone else. This article walks you through the most common options and explains when — and how — to make the most of your points. If you’re new to travel points and want to understand the basics first, you can learn more on our blog: Here.

Can You Use Points for Someone Else?

Yes, in most cases you can use your points to book a flight for someone else. You don’t need to transfer the points to their account — instead, you simply make the booking in their name, using your own points balance.

To do this, you’ll usually need:

• The traveller’s full name (as shown in their passport
• Their date of birth (sometimes required
• Passport details for international travel

It’s a common way to help family, friends, or colleagues travel — especially if they don’t collect points themselves or are unfamiliar with the booking process.

Keep in mind:

• You’ll be responsible for any taxes, fees, or surcharges at the time of booking
• A few programmes may limit redemptions to close family members, but most are flexible and allow bookings for anyone

Can You Gift or Transfer Points?

Some loyalty programmes let you send points to someone else’s account, either by transferring or gifting them. While this might sound convenient, there are often costs and restrictions to be aware of.

Transferring points

• Typically involves a fee (charged per 1,000 points or as a flat rate)
• Often limited by transaction size or number of transfers per year
• Both people need to be members of the same programme
• Transfers may be instant, or they can take a few days to process

Gifting points

• Usually means buying points and sending them to another person’s account
• Also comes with fees and may be subject to purchase limits
• Not all programmes offer this option

While transferring or gifting is possible, it’s often not the best value. A simpler option is to just use your own points to book a flight directly for the other person.

Can You Buy Points for Yourself?

Yes — most loyalty programmes allow you to buy additional points. This can be a helpful strategy in certain situations, but it’s important to understand when (and why) it makes sense to do so.

When buying points can be worthwhile:

• You’re just short of the amount needed to book
  If you’ve found an award flight but don’t have quite enough points to book it, topping up your account by buying the missing amount can be a practical solution.
• You’ve found a high-value redemption
  Sometimes, using points to book a flight — especially in business or first class — can be much cheaper than paying cash. In these cases, it can make financial sense to buy the required points and use them to book a reward seat, as long as the total cost is still favourable.
• There’s a limited-time promotion on buying points
  Loyalty programmes often run campaigns offering bonus points or discounts when you buy. During these periods, the cost per point drops, making it more likely you’ll get good value — especially if you already have a trip in mind.

For example, the Avios currency is used by British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Finnair. Occasionally, Finnair runs promotions allowing you to buy Avios at a reduced rate. These points can then be transferred to your British Airways Executive Club account and used for redemptions on any Avios-partner airline — a useful way to save if you’re booking a premium cabin or a long-haul flight.

What to keep in mind before buying points:

• Only buy if you know how you’ll use them
  In most cases, it’s best to wait until you’ve found the specific trip you want to book — and then buy the points you need. This ensures you’re getting real value from your purchase.
• Avoid speculative buying
  Buying points without a clear plan (or just because they’re on sale) is rarely recommended. Loyalty programmes can change their pricing at any time — known as a devaluation — which means the same trip could suddenly cost more points with little or no warning. Think of points as a perishable commodity: their value can drop over time, so it’s best not to hold large balances “just in case.”‍
• Check transfer flexibility
  Some currencies, like Avios, allow you to move points between accounts (e.g. Finnair to BA) — but this isn’t always instant, and not all currencies offer this kind of flexibility. Make sure you understand how transfers work before purchasing in a different programme.

That said, buying points doesn’t always offer good value. The cost per point is often high, so it’s best to have a specific use in mind before purchasing. In general, buying points makes the most sense when it helps you unlock a valuable redemption.