【August 12, 2026 update】 You can now search award inventory on the Avios family platform, shown by calendar month. Support currently covers British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. More family airlines are expected to join—good news for collectors.

【June 23, 2026 update】 Managing Avios across airline accounts got easier. Transfers used to lean on the British Airways interface; there is now a unified management platform.

https://www.avios.com/en-GB

Aside from Qatar Airways, which is not fully integrated yet, the others can appear under one login—much easier for managing Avios balances.

Avios is a common frequent-flyer currency—do not confuse it with RBC’s Avion points. Several airlines use Avios as the unit in their loyalty programs, so it is worth understanding.

Avios can move between airline programs. In one line: use a British Airways account as the hub. Step-by-step instructions are below. In my experience, transfers post in real time.

The Avios Family

The Avios family includes several airlines worth watching:

  • British Airways

Once famous for short-haul sweet spots. British Airways Executive Club / Avios explained

  • Qatar Airways

Strong for Qatar’s own business-class awards home, and also useful for Xiamen Airlines and JetBlue awards.

Eastern Canada trip report: Qatar QSuite Montreal–Doha, QR YUL–DOH

Eastern Canada trip report: Qatar Airways Doha–Hangzhou, QR DOH–HGH

  • Finnair

Finnair Avios for Cathay awards is a sweet spot; you can also redeem on Finnair metal.

How to book last-minute Cathay business awards | YYZ–HKG and more examples

Finnair to resume Toronto flights｜A new route home?【Awards already bookable】

  • Iberia Airlines
  • Aer Lingus

These two show up less often on this blog. Their niche is that North America–Europe business awards can sometimes be very cheap.

  • Vueling Airlines
  • Loganair

Regional or low-cost carriers—not ones we follow closely.

How to Earn Avios

Common paths include:

  • 1️⃣ Buy miles

From the airline-promotion posts we update regularly, BA, QR, and AY all run buy-miles sales from time to time.

  • 2️⃣ Cobrand cards

In Canada: 🇨🇦 RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

In the U.S.: 🇺🇸 Chase British Airways Visa Signature

  • 3️⃣ Points transfers

Canada: Amex MR : BA Avios = 1:1; RBC Avion : BA Avios = 1:1 (with a transfer bonus twice a year).

U.S.: Amex MR : BA Avios = 1:1; Amex MR : QR Avios = 1:1; Chase UR : BA Avios = 1:1; Citi TYP : QR Avios = 1:1; Capital One Miles : BA Avios = 1:1; Bilt points : BA Avios = 1:1.

How to Transfer Between Programs

As noted at the top, Avios transfers go through a BA account.

Step 1: Sign in to your BA Club account (official link🔗).

Step 2: Under Discover in the top left, choose About Avios.

Step 3: On the About Avios page, you will see Transfer your Avios.

Step 4: You then see the other programs you can transfer Avios to or from.

Step 5: On the transfer page, connect the two accounts first; the up/down arrows control whether you move Avios into or out of BA.