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If you’re a regular business traveller or have the option to use points collected on your business credit card for personal use, it’s worth knowing that some credit cards let you exchange their loyalty points for Avios. For example, you can swap your American Express Membership Rewards points at an exchange rate of 1 Membership Rewards point for 1 Avios, but there is a small caveat that you transfer a minimum of 1,000 points.
Avios is a frequent flyer programme. You can earn points in a number of different ways, including booking flights with partner airlines, shopping at partner retailers (there are more than 1,100, from Apple to Selfridges to M&S) or using a credit card that earns Avios points.
You can then redeem points for a number of rewards, from free flights and hotel stays to wine gifts.
You’re probably the best person to judge if and how your business can benefit from Avios, but here are a few questions to help point you in the right direction:
Bad news first: it can’t. Avios is a “personal” frequent flyer scheme: your Avios account only belongs to you, and you’ll be the only person able to use your membership card. If different people in your business fly often, they’ll have to open different Avios accounts.
However, that doesn’t stop you from earning Avios when you spend using your business card. It just means that points earned by different people can’t be accumulated into a single account.
In order to join Avios, you need to join one of its partner airlines’ clubs. You can choose among British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, AerClub and @MyAirItalyClub. They’re all free, so it all comes down to which airlines you use the most. Once you’ve joined, you’ll be given a card and a membership number that you can use or quote every time you want to collect or redeem Avios points.
You earn points on the card’s scheme every time you use your business credit card. Those points can then be converted into Avios points and added to your personal Avios account, even though they have been collected on business spending.
Unlike with personal credit cards, the selection of credit cards earning Avios points isn’t exactly huge: basically, you can choose between Capital On Tap and American Express business cards. To make the right decision, you should consider:
Ultimately, it’s all about figuring out how much business spending you need to do on the card, and whether it’ll get you enough rewards to make up for the annual fee.
It’s also worth noting that these cards are all about the rewards: they’re far from the best when it comes to borrowing. The Amex business cards are all charge cards, so you’ll have to pay the bill in full every month. Capital On Tap’s credit cards have quite a high representative APR, so carrying a balance on them will prove expensive.
Looking to get more bang for your buck, we’ve put together 5 of our best top tips to get more Avios.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any other frequent flyer business credit cards available on the market at the moment, so if you have a different airline in mind, you’re out of luck. However, Amex’s Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for miles and points with other airlines, including Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Alternatively, you could consider a cashback business credit card: less fancy, more flexible.
Finally, if you’re looking for a business frequent flyer programme, have a look at British Airways’ On Business scheme. With this card you can earn points as a business and redeem them for reward flights, while also earning Avios on your personal account.
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