British Airways, renowned for its extensive global network and the popular Avios rewards program, offers even greater value through its strategic alliances and partnerships. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting to explore the world, understanding Ba Travel Partners is key to maximizing your travel experiences and loyalty rewards. This guide delves into the world of British Airways partnerships, showcasing how you can earn and redeem Avios, achieve elite status, and explore destinations far beyond BA’s own route map.
Exploring British Airways’ Extensive Network of Travel Partners
British Airways has cultivated a diverse portfolio of partnerships, ensuring seamless travel and enhanced benefits for its Executive Club members. These partnerships fall into several key categories, each offering unique advantages for travelers.
International Airlines Group (IAG) Partners: Expanding Your Avios Ecosystem
As part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways enjoys close ties with several prominent European airlines:
- Iberia: Spain’s flag carrier, offering a wide network across Spain and Latin America.
- Vueling: A popular low-cost carrier in Europe, perfect for short-haul flights.
- Aer Lingus: Ireland’s national airline, connecting you to Ireland and North America.
- LEVEL: IAG’s low-cost long-haul airline, providing budget-friendly transatlantic travel.
Image: Qatar Airways, a key British Airways partner, expands your travel possibilities.
The most significant advantage of these IAG partnerships is the shared Avios currency. You can effortlessly transfer Avios between accounts across these airlines, consolidating your points for more valuable redemptions. This flexibility allows you to pool Avios earned on Aer Lingus flights, for example, into your British Airways Executive Club account and vice versa.
While you can earn Avios on Vueling and LEVEL flights, redemption options and earning mechanisms have some nuances:
- Vueling Avios: Avios earned on Vueling flights can be transferred to Executive Club, although the process might involve using Avios.com. Redeeming British Airways Avios for Vueling flights directly isn’t possible. However, you can combine Vueling Avios with Iberia Avios for redemptions on either airline.
- LEVEL Avios: Earning Avios on LEVEL flights is tied to booking cash tickets through Iberia. These Avios can then be transferred to your Executive Club account.
Oneworld Alliance: A Global Network at Your Fingertips
British Airways is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, a powerful network of 13 world-class airlines. This alliance dramatically expands your travel horizons, providing access to destinations worldwide and a harmonized system of elite benefits.
Image: Oneworld alliance broadens your travel options with British Airways.
Current Oneworld member airlines include:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
- Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member, soon to be full member)
The Oneworld alliance is often considered the most valuable due to its premium airline members and the reciprocal benefits offered to elite status holders. Looking ahead, Fiji Airways is expected to become a full Oneworld member in 2025, and Oman Air is also anticipated to join around the same time, further strengthening the alliance’s global reach.
Non-Alliance and Codeshare Partners: Expanding Reach Beyond Alliances
Beyond alliances, British Airways strategically partners with individual airlines to further expand its network and offer travelers more choices.
- Non-Alliance Partners: Currently, British Airways partners with China Southern and LATAM, airlines that are not part of the Oneworld alliance. Additionally, SUN-AIR, an independent Scandinavian airline, is also a partner.
- Codeshare Partners: British Airways has codeshare agreements with a diverse range of airlines. Codesharing allows BA to sell tickets on flights operated by these partners, extending its virtual route map. Codeshare partners include Aer Lingus, airBaltic, Airlink, Bangkok Airways, China Southern, Fiji Airways, IndiGo, JetBlue, Kenya Airways, Loganair, Vistara, and Vueling.
Accumulating Avios with British Airways Partner Airlines
Flying with BA travel partners is a straightforward way to boost your Avios balance. The earning structure varies depending on the partner airline. You’ll typically earn Avios based on either the distance flown or a percentage of your ticket cost (revenue-based earning). Crucially, flying with many partners also earns you Tier Points, helping you climb the ranks of the Executive Club elite tiers.
Image: Earn Avios and Tier Points when flying with Oneworld partners like Qantas, especially in premium cabins.
Here’s a summary of earning structures with key partners:
| Airline | Earning Structure | Tier Points |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Distance-based | Yes |
| Alaska Airlines | Distance-based | Yes |
| American Airlines | Revenue-based (6-9 Avios per GBP spent) | Yes |
| Cathay Pacific | Distance-based | Yes |
| China Southern | Distance-based | No |
| Fiji Airways | Distance-based | Yes |
| Finnair | Distance-based | Yes |
| Iberia | Revenue-based (5-8 Avios per GBP spent) | Yes |
| Japan Airlines | Distance-based | Yes |
| LATAM | Distance-based | No |
| Malaysia Airlines | Distance-based | Yes |
| Qantas | Distance-based | Yes |
| Qatar Airways | Distance-based | Yes |
| Royal Air Maroc | Distance-based | Yes |
| Royal Jordanian | Distance-based | Yes |
| SriLankan Airlines | Distance-based | Yes |
It’s crucial to consult the British Airways earning page before flying to understand the specific earning rates for your chosen partner airline and fare class. This proactive step helps avoid any surprises when your Avios are credited to your account.
Beyond Flying: Other Ways to Earn Avios with Partners
Earning Avios isn’t limited to flights. British Airways provides numerous avenues to accumulate points through financial and lifestyle partners.
Credit Card Partnerships: Accelerate Your Avios Accumulation
For travelers in the U.S., the British Airways Visa Signature® Card issued by Chase is a primary tool for earning Avios on everyday spending.
If you’re focused on Avios, the current welcome bonus of 100,000 Avios after spending $7,500 within the first six months is highly attractive.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Annual Fee: $95
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Avios after you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
Why We Like It & Earning Rates:
This card offers a solid earning structure:
- 3X Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases.
- 2X Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations.
- 1X Avios per $1 on all other purchases.
A standout perk is the Travel Together Ticket, awarded after spending $30,000 annually. This allows you to book a second award ticket for a companion for just the taxes and fees when redeeming Avios, or receive a 50% discount for solo travel. Additional benefits include up to $600 in statement credits for reward flights annually and a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating from the US.
Related: British Airways Visa Card Full Review
You can also indirectly earn British Airways Avios through the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card and Iberia Visa Signature® Card, also issued by Chase. Points earned on these cards are also Avios and can be freely transferred to your British Airways Executive Club account.
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Avios after you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Credit Score: Good/Excellent
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Iberia Visa Signature® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Avios after you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Credit Score: Good/Excellent
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Transferable Point Partners: Leverage Existing Rewards
British Airways partners with a wide array of major transferable point programs, offering a convenient way to convert your existing credit card rewards into Avios. These partners often offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, and periodically feature transfer bonuses to the Executive Club, further enhancing the value.
Key transfer partners include: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards.
| From | To | Transfer Ratio | Min. Transfer | Avg. Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex (Membership Rewards) US | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,000:1,000 | – | Immediate |
| Amex (Membership Rewards) Canada | British Airways (Executive Club) US | – | – | 8 hours |
| Amex (Membership Rewards) UK | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 500:500 | 1,000 | Unknown |
| Capital One | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 100:100 | 1,000 | Immediate |
| Chase (Ultimate Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,000:1,000 | – | Immediate |
| Bilt Rewards | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,000:1,000 | 2,000 | Unknown |
| Diners Club (Club Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 11,000:10,000 | – | Unknown |
| HSBC Rewards US | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,250:1,000 | – | 2 days |
| HSBC Rewards Canada | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 10,000:4,000 | 25,000 | Immediate |
| HSBC Rewards UK | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 25% bonus (through Feb 2025) | – | 2 hours |
| Livelo (Clube Livelo) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,750:500 | 35,000 | 2 days |
| RBC (Avion Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1:1 (Avion cardholders only) | – | Unknown |
| RBC (Avion Rewards) Canada | British Airways (Executive Club) US | – | – | 18 hours |
| RBC Royal Bank Visa | British Airways (Executive Club) US | – | – | 1 day |
| Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1:1 | – | Unknown |
This extensive partner network means a vast landscape of credit cards effectively become BA travel partners, allowing you to earn points transferable to Avios. Top consumer credit card options include:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $695 Rates & Fees (Terms apply)
Credit Score: Excellent, Good
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Credit Score: Excellent, Good
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee: $395
Credit Score: Excellent
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
For small business owners, business credit cards also offer pathways to Avios:
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $695 Rates & Fees (Terms apply)
Credit Score: Excellent, Good
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on select business-related purchases.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Credit Score: Excellent, Good
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising on social media and search engines each account anniversary year.
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
Capital One Venture X Business
Welcome Bonus: Earn 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $395
Credit Score: Excellent
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on other eligible purchases
Hotel Partners: Less Optimal but Still an Option
While generally not the most valuable redemption, you can convert hotel points to British Airways Avios from various hotel programs. The transfer ratios are typically unfavorable, making direct hotel award bookings a more rewarding use of hotel points.
| From | To | Transfer Ratio | Min. Transfer | Avg. Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 3:1 | 3,000 | 10 hours |
| Accor Group (ALL) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 4,000:2,000 | – | Unknown |
| Choice Hotels (Choice Privileges) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 1,000:200 | 5,000 | Unknown |
| Hilton (Honors) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 10,000:1,000 | – | Unknown |
| IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 10,000:2,000 | – | Unknown |
| Meliá (MeliáRewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 100:30 | – | Unknown |
| Radisson Hotels (Radisson Rewards) | British Airways (Executive Club) US | 2,000:200 | – | Unknown |
Beyond Flights and Points Transfers: Diverse Earning Avenues
Further expanding your Avios earning potential, British Airways partners with various lifestyle brands. You can earn Avios through Airbnb rentals, hotel stays booked through partners, vacation packages, rental cars, Heathrow Rewards, and even everyday shopping through the British Airways shopping portal. Earning rates vary, providing ample opportunities to accumulate Avios in numerous ways.
Related: The Complete Guide To Earning and Redeeming British Airways Avios
Redeeming Avios for Flights with Partner Airlines: Unlock Award Travel
One of the most compelling aspects of the British Airways Executive Club is the ability to redeem Avios for award flights on a vast network of BA travel partners. You can book partner awards online for flights with:
- Aer Lingus
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- LATAM
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
- SUN-AIR of Scandinavia
Cathay Pacific aircraft at the gate
Navigating British Airways Partner Award Charts
British Airways no longer publishes a single, unified award chart for partner airlines. Instead, award pricing varies depending on the specific partner, creating a series of individual award charts. While this can add complexity, understanding these charts is essential for maximizing your Avios redemptions. British Airways has adjusted award pricing for partners over time, so staying updated is important.
Here are examples of award charts for key partners:
American Airlines & Alaska Airlines Award Chart:
| Distance/Zone | Economy | Premium Economy | Business (Domestic First) | First (3-Cabin) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 650 miles (Z1) | 12,000 | N/A | 24,000 | N/A |
| Up to 1,151 miles (Z2) | 16,000 | N/A | 32,000 | N/A |
| 1,152-2,000 miles (Z3) | 18,000 | N/A | 40,000 | N/A |
| 2,001-3,000 miles (Z4) | 20,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 80,000 |
| 3,001-4,000 miles (Z5) | 20,750 | 41,250 | 62,000 | 82,500 |
Cathay Pacific Award Chart:
| Flight Distance (miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-650 | 9,750 | 14,300 | 20,800 |
| 651-1,151 | 12,000 | 21,600 | 30,000 |
| 1,152-2,000 | 14,300 | 23,400 | 32,500 |
| 2,001-3,000 | 15,600 | 30,900 | 46,500 |
| 3,001-4,000 | 20,750 | 41,250 | 77,250 |
LATAM Award Chart:
| Flight Distance (miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-650 | 8,500 | 12,500 | N/A |
| 651-1,151 | 13,500 | N/A | 24,750 |
| 1,152-2,000 | 15,500 | 23,000 | 30,750 |
| 2,001-3,000 | 17,000 | N/A | 50,500 |
| 3,001-4,000 | 31,250 | 62,000 | 93,000 |
Qantas Award Chart:
| Flight Distance (miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-650 | 6,000 | N/A | 12,500 |
| 651-1,151 | 9,000 | 16,500 | 16,500 |
| 1,152-2,000 | 11,000 | N/A | 22,000 |
| 2,001-3,000 | 13,000 | N/A | 38,750 |
| 3,001-4,000 | 20,750 | N/A | 62,000 |
A separate award chart exists for Qatar Airways as well. This fragmented approach can be confusing, but understanding these individual charts is key to finding optimal redemption values.
Related: How To Search and Book Award Flights Using British Airways Avios
Multi-Carrier Award Chart: Complex Itineraries Made Possible
For itineraries involving two or more Oneworld partner airlines, British Airways utilizes a distinct multi-carrier award chart. The Avios required are calculated based on the total distance of your entire journey, whether one-way or round-trip.
| Trip Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| 1,501–4,000 | 35,000 | 52,500 | 70,000 | 105,000 |
| 4,001–9,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 | 120,000 | 180,000 |
| 9,001–10,000 | 70,000 | 105,000 | 140,000 | 210,000 |
| 10,001–14,000 | 90,000 | 135,000 | 180,000 | 270,000 |
| 14,001–20,000 | 100,000 | 150,000 | 200,000 | 300,000 |
| 20,001–25,000 | 120,000 | 180,000 | 240,000 | 360,000 |
Be mindful of potential fuel surcharges levied by British Airways on award tickets, particularly on long-haul flights. These surcharges can significantly increase the overall cost of your award redemption.
Related: Which Credit Card Should You Use to Pay Award Taxes and Fees?
Final Thoughts: Unlock a World of Rewards with BA Travel Partners
British Airways’ extensive network of travel partners significantly elevates the value of the Executive Club program. Even if British Airways isn’t your primary airline, the vast partnership ecosystem ensures that Avios can be incredibly valuable for your travel aspirations. From flights to credit cards and beyond, understanding and leveraging these partnerships opens up a world of opportunities to earn, redeem, and explore the globe.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
