Since last year, British Airways’ loyalty program Executive Club makes it possible to buy its reward currency Avios with a yearly subscription: This is quite attractive, as the Avios come at a way lower price than during other promotions. In the best case, you only pay 1.01 euro cents per Avio (cpa) for a yearly subscription. Sadly, you won’t get the Avios instantly but only a certain amount each month. You won’t get the full purchased before three months or one entire year has passed.
British Airways will raise prices for these subscriptions by up to 50% come May 1, 2023. You can only purchase Avios at 1.01 cent per Avio until April 30, 2023.
Prices
You can choose between annual and monthly subscriptions. The former is much more attractive when it comes to Avios per Euro spent:
Monthly subscription (min. 3 months):
- 1.667 Avios per month for €21 (1.26 cpa)
- 4.167 Avios per month for €49 (1.18 cpa)
- 8.334 Avios per month for €99 (1.19 cpa)
- 16.667 Avios per month for €199 (1.19 cpa)
Prices are per month.
Annual subscription (min. 12 months)
- 1.667 Avios per month for €209 (1.04 cpa)
- 4.167 Avios per month for €515 (1.03 cpa)
- 8.334 Avios per month for €1.014 (1,01 cpa)
- 16.667 Avios per month for €2.019 (1,01 cpa)
Prices are per year.
Subscriptions renew automatically if not canceled in time.
Does it Pay Off?
There is no general answer to that question. Avios can be highly valuable and between 1 and 2 cents per unit are a realistic price. You can benefit from the following sweet spots to cross the Atlantic in Business Class for just, 34,000 Avios + €140 (oneway):
The biggest problem is that British Airways, Qatar Airways or Iberia (who all use Avios) can raise prices for award flights or taxes and surcharges at any time, devaluing your purchased Avios. Usually we only advise buying miles or points if you already got in mind how to use them. That’s a problem, since you will receive the full amount at least three months into the future. Even more can happen within a year.
People who only buy a reward ticket now and then will most likely not benefit from the subscriptions. If you are regularly spending Avios anyway, this is a fairly good price to purchase them – and it will soon be gone.
Comment (1)
Looks like prices in USD will drop after 1st of May, my account are in US,
Will this be billed by BA, ie, will one get 3x Avios on charging this to a Chase BA Visa card