How does Combine My Avios work moving Avios points from Iberia to British Airways?

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How can you move Avios points from Iberia to British Airways, or from British Airways to Iberia?

The answer is the ‘Combine My Avios’ function.

However, there is a problem. ‘Combine My Avios’ is very buggy. You are likely to get an error message when you try to use ‘Combine My Avios’ to move your points from Iberia to British Airways. You may be told that only one-way transfers are possible. This is rubbish.

Combine my Avios logo

How to use ‘Combine My Avios’ with Iberia Plus

Before I show you how to fix the ‘Combine My Avios’ problem, we need to clarify one thing. You can cannot move Avios into or out of an Iberia Plus account unless:

the Iberia Plus account is 90 days old and

the Iberia Plus has ‘earned’ at least 1 Avios

The easiest way to have the account ‘earn’ an Avios is to transfer 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. You could also credit a BA or oneworld flight to the account or transfer some hotel points.

If this applies to you, you need to wait until your Iberia Plus account meets both of the criteria above before carrying on with this article.

“Combine My Avios” gives me an error message ….

Don’t worry, I can fix that.

You need to use the avios.com website as an intermediary. As BA closed the Avios Travel Rewards Programme in 2018, you need to use a different approach.

In order to open an Avios account which can still be operated at avios.com, you need to visit the Aer Lingus website and sign up for AerClub. Membership is free and you will be given an 18-digit account number.

Once you have signed up for AerClub, this is what you do:

Log in at avios.com using your new AerClub account details

Find ‘Combine My Avios’ in the menus

Use ‘Combine My Avios’ to PULL your Avios from iberia.com to avios.com

Repeat the process to PUSH your Avios from avios.com to ba.com

This process should work – most people are surprised how effective it is.

Moving points between accounts is instant and extremely easy – you can choose how many you would like to shift and complete the transaction. However, ‘Combine My Avios’ does not let you transfer Avios to another person – you must hold both accounts and they must have the same registered address.

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which explains how British Airways Executive Club works. You can see all of our ‘BA Q&A’ articles here. )

(Head for Points is the UK’s biggest frequent flyer website with 1.8 million monthly page views. Want to learn more about earning and spending Avios? Click here to read our latest news stories, click here to join our email list and click here to read our ‘Avios Redemption University’ series.)

How to get 20,000 Avios from Amex Gold or 30,000 Avios from Amex Platinum (December 2021 offer)

The sign-up bonus on American Express Preferred Rewards Gold converts to 20,000 Avios and the card is free for the first year. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

You don’t qualify for the Amex Gold bonus if you have a British Airways American Express card. You DO qualify for the bonus on The Platinum Card, which converts into 30,000 Avios. You can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

If you have your own small business, the best way of earning Avios is via the Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa. It has a sign-up bonus which converts to 10,000 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also look at the British Airways Accelerating Business card, because it currently has a limited time offer of 60,000 Avios when you sign up by 14th November. You can apply here.