How Much Are My Avios Points Worth? – Everything You Need to Know

Understanding the value of Avios points is an important step for anyone looking to get the most out of the British Airways Club or other Avios-earning programmes. While Avios can be used in a variety of ways — including flights, upgrades, and part-payment on tickets — the actual value you receive varies depending on how and when you redeem them.

Whether you’ve earned Avios through flights, credit cards, or partner offers, this guide will help you assess when and how to use your points most effectively. If you want to learn more about how the British Airways Club works, we’ve put together a helpful guide on our blog: Here.

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What are Avios?

Avios is the rewards currency used by British Airways Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and a few other airline loyalty programmes. You can collect Avios by flying, using an Avios-linked credit card, shopping through partner portals, or converting points from other loyalty schemes like American Express Membership Rewards.

But collecting points is only half the story — the real value lies in how you use them.

How much is one Avios point worth?

The value of Avios points depends entirely on how you redeem them. To calculate the value per Avios, you take the cash price of a ticket for a given route, subtract the taxes and fees you would pay on an Avios redemption, then divide that difference by the number of Avios needed.

For example, let’s look at a trip from London to New York:

• Economy Class (return)
  
  • Cash ticket price: £400
    
  • Avios needed: 50,000
    
  • Taxes and fees on Avios booking: £200
    
  • Value per Avios = (£400 - £200) / 50,000 = 0.4 pence per point
    
    
• Business Class (return)
  
  • Cash ticket price: £4,000
    
  • Avios needed: 160,000
    
  • Taxes and fees on Avios booking: £600
    
  • Value per Avios = (£4,000 - £600) / 160,000 = 2.25 pence per point
    

While the business class redemption requires more Avios and higher taxes, the value you get per Avios is significantly higher — over five times the value of the economy redemption.

This example highlights why using Avios for long-haul premium cabin flights often provides better value compared to economy redemptions or other uses like hotel stays or part payments.

What about “Avios & Money” or cash discounts?

British Airways allows you to use Avios to reduce the cost of a cash ticket. This is simple and flexible, but usually gives you poor value — around 0.5p per point. It’s easy, but not the most rewarding use of your points.

Other factors that affect value

Here are a few more things to consider:

• Peak vs Off-Peak Pricing: British Airways uses a peak/off-peak calendar. Flying off-peak costs fewer points for the same route.
  
• Taxes and fees: Many Avios bookings, especially with British Airways, come with high surcharges. That’s why it’s important to look at both the Avios cost and the cash element when assessing value.
  
• Partner airlines: Booking with partners like Qatar Airways or Iberia can offer better value and lower surcharges – but these redemptions are harder to find and book if you’re not familiar with the system.
  

Should I use my Avios now or save them?

That depends on your travel goals. Points generally don’t increase in value over time — in fact, airlines may devalue their award charts or increase the number of points needed. So if you have a trip in mind and the redemption offers good value, it’s often better to use them rather than hold on too long.

That said, it’s smart to plan your redemptions carefully. You want your points to take you further, in more comfort, for less. If you’d like to learn more about how to earn and maximize your points, you can find out more on our blog: Here.

Final thoughts

Avios are a powerful currency in the world of travel — but only if you use them the right way. Understanding what they’re worth helps you make smarter decisions and unlock better travel experiences.

If you’re unsure about what to book or whether to save your points, our agents are available to help through the Chatflights App.