Do you earn Avios and tier points on reward or redemption flights?

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Do you earn Avios and tier points on British Airways reward or redemption flights?

In this article I want to look at whether you earn Avios or British Airways Executive Club tier points when you take an Avios reward or redemption flight.

To progress beyond Blue membership with British Airways Executive Club there are several requirements. You must collect enough tier points in a given membership year to cross the tier’s threshold. To achieve Bronze, for example, you must cross 300 tier points.

You will earn tier points on “eligible flights”. The amount you earn will depend on your class of travel and flight length; longer flights and bookings in higher class cabins will all earn you more tier points per segment than a simple economy fare from London to Paris, for example.

Eligible flights count as:

any British Airways operated flight, no matter the flight number

a flight with a British Airways flight code but operated by another airline

an Iberia operated flight with an Iberia flight code

Reward or redemption flights (using Avios) are NOT eligible. You will earn neither Avios nor tier points on such bookings.

Reward flights also do not count towards the two ‘eligible’ BA flights you need along with 300 tier points before you can be promoted to Bronze, or the four ‘eligible’ flights you need along with 600 tier points to be promoted to Silver.

(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.