Ruth Haines
Access to airport lounges can be costly, with airline club memberships ranging from $300 to $500 annually, and daily lounge access fees averaging $50. However, it is possible to use Avios points to gain entry to some lounges. Avios points are collected through certain International Frequent Flyer memberships and can be earned through flight bookings, hotel bookings, car rentals, and online shopping. While British Airways does not allow Avios points to be used for lounge access, other lounges such as No.1 Lounges can be accessed starting at 3,250 Avios points. Additionally, certain credit cards like the American Express cards offer sign-up bonuses that earn Membership Rewards points, which can be converted into Avios. Lounge access can also be obtained through other methods such as purchasing daily passes or utilizing services like DoNotPay to find lounges that accept Avios points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| British Airways Avios points for airport lounge access | Not allowed |
| American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points | 20,000 points for free for a year and four airport lounge passes |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Rewards points redeemable for airfare, hotels, car rentals, etc. |
| Frequent Flyer programs that award Avios | DoNotPay can help find which airline lounges you can access |
| Avios collection methods | Over 1000 online stores, Tesco Clubcard, Amex British Airways credit card |
| Cost of Avios airport lounge access | Starts at 3,250 Avios |
| Lounge Pass and Plaza Premium Group | 540 lounges between them |
| Barclays Travel Plus Pack | £15.50 per month for 6 lounge visits per year, travel insurance, and UK and European breakdown cover |
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What You'll Learn
British Airways lounges cannot be accessed with Avios points
British Airways has a very impressive set of lounges at its London hubs, as well as some surprising gems overseas. At Heathrow, British Airways has eight lounges, and a brand new BA lounge complex opened at London Gatwick Airport in 2017. However, you cannot use your Avios points to access these lounges. While many airlines have started to offer lounge access for points in recent years, British Airways does not.
There are other ways to access British Airways lounges. The first is by flying first class with British Airways, and only British Airways, meaning a first-class ticket with one of British Airways’ Oneworld partners will not allow you to access the Concorde Room. The Concorde Room at Heathrow is the nicest of all British Airways lounges, so access is restrictive. Your other option is by holding a Concorde Room card, which is an unpublished status level of The British Airways Club loyalty program that is rumored to require around 5,000 Tier Points each year.
You can also access British Airways lounges if you are a Silver or Gold British Airways Club member or a Oneworld elite status holder. However, this does not include the Concorde Room, which again, is only accessible to those flying first class with British Airways or those holding a Concorde Room card.
Priority Pass is another option for accessing airport lounges. The Priority Pass card does not get you into British Airways lounges, but it does get you into the majority of No1, Plaza Premium, and Aspire lounges, as well as many others. The first four airport lounge visits using the card are free, and further visits are charged at £24 each.
Therefore, while you cannot access British Airways lounges with Avios points, there are other ways to access these lounges, as well as other lounges across the world.
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DoNotPay can help find airport lounges accessible with Avios points
While British Airways does not allow you to use your Avios points for airport lounge access, there are other ways to gain entry to these exclusive areas. For example, you can pay for a day pass or an annual membership, but these can be expensive. Luckily, there are other ways to access airport lounges without breaking the bank.
DoNotPay can help you find airport lounges accessible with Avios points. If you are already a member of a frequent flyer program that uses Avios points, DoNotPay can help you turn those points into free lounge access. All you need to do is tell DoNotPay which airport you're flying out of or into, and whether you have any special travel rewards or airline credit cards.
With this information, DoNotPay can seamlessly highlight the best airport lounges available to you. This will save you time and hassle, and you'll be able to start your holiday in style.
If you're not already a member of a frequent flyer program, don't worry – anyone can join one of the frequent flyer programs that award Avios. You can collect Avios points in over a thousand online stores, as well as through Tesco's Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card. You can even get bonus points by applying for certain American Express cards.
Once you've collected enough points, you can use them to pay for airport lounge access without any additional cost. The price starts at 3,250 Avios and includes access to some highly-rated No.1 Lounges. Lounge Pass and Plaza Premium Group have the most extensive coverage, offering 540 lounges between them.
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Avios points can be earned through frequent flyer programs
Several other popular loyalty programs also use Avios as their rewards currency. Avios can be transferred between any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio, so each Avios is theoretically worth the same in each program. However, there are different ways in which Avios can be redeemed in each program, so the value you get from them may vary.
Avios are the air miles earned for flying, credit card spending, and leveraging other partners. You can earn Avios based on your ticket price and any add-ons, such as carrier charges, cabin upgrades, pre-booked and prepaid seats, and additional bags. You can also earn Avios by shopping online with British Airways, where you can collect up to 15 Avios for every £1 spent at over 1,500 online retailers, including Apple, John Lewis & Partners, Selfridges, and Marks and Spencer.
Additionally, you can collect Avios points in over 1,000 online stores, as well as through Tesco's Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card. You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards, which earn Membership Rewards points that can be converted into Avios.
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Avios points can be earned through credit cards
The American Express Platinum Card is another option, offering airport lounge access, multiple travel credits, and automatic hotel loyalty program status. New cardholders may earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points by spending $8,000 in the first six months, which can be transferred to Avios at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, the Barclays Travel Plus Pack provides 6 lounge visits per year for £15.50 per month, along with travel insurance and breakdown cover.
Other ways to earn Avios points include collecting them through Tesco's Clubcard, online shopping at over 1,000 stores, or by using an Avios-affiliated credit card for everyday purchases. These points can then be exchanged for money off flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other experiences.
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Avios points can be earned through online shopping
Unfortunately, British Airways does not allow you to use your Avios points for airport lounge access. However, there are other ways to obtain lounge access. For example, Lounge Pass and Plaza Premium Group offer access to 540 lounges between them.
Now, let's discuss how Avios points can be earned through online shopping. Avios points can be earned in over a thousand online stores, as well as through Tesco's Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card. You can also earn Avios points by shopping at the British Airways High Life Shop, where you collect two Avios points for every £1 spent. Additionally, you can register your cards on the eStore to collect points on in-store purchases with certain retailers.
Converting your Nectar points is another way to boost your Avios points. Every 400 Nectar points can be converted into 250 Avios points. This can be done automatically, so all your everyday purchases, such as shopping at Sainsbury's and getting petrol at Esso, can contribute to your Avios points balance.
Furthermore, you can earn Avios points by applying for American Express cards, which earn Membership Rewards points. These points can be converted into Avios at a 1:1 ratio. For example, the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card offers 20,000 Membership Rewards points as a sign-up bonus, which can be converted into 20,000 Avios points.
By utilising these methods, you can earn Avios points through your online shopping habits and work towards accessing airport lounges or redeeming other rewards.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use Avios points for airport lounge access. However, British Airways does not allow Avios points for their lounges.
Avios points can be collected by participating in certain International Frequent Flyer programs and spending on flights, hotel bookings, car rentals, and online shopping. You can also collect Avios points through Tesco's Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card.
The number of Avios points required for airport lounge access may vary. Some lounges offer access starting at 3,250 Avios points.
Alternatively, you can purchase an airport lounge pass or use a credit card that provides lounge access, such as the Barclays Travel Plus Pack or the American Express Gold Card.
If you travel in Business or First Class, airlines may offer you complimentary lounge access. Additionally, joining an airline's loyalty program can lead to lounge access benefits.
