Buying airline points can be a smart strategy, particularly when you’re eyeing first and business class redemptions where you get exceptional value. British Airways occasionally offers bonuses on purchased Avios that could be worth your attention.
The program rarely offers discounted Avios anymore, making bonus promotions notable opportunities for those looking to top up their accounts.
Current Deal on Purchased Avios
You can currently buy British Airways Avios with a 40% bonus, and this sale runs until July 23, 2025. At best, you’ll purchase Avios at 1.64 cents apiece. Is that a good price? Does it make sense to buy?
With the right redemption in mind, this sale could help unlock some very aspirational travel.
You can purchase British Airways Avios in amounts from 2,000 to 200,000 Avios with this offer. With your purchase, you’ll receive a 40% bonus for a grand total of up to 280,000 Avios.
While you’ll get a bonus of 40% no matter how many or how few Avios you buy, the per-Avios cost varies. The cost to buy Avios depends on how many you purchase, with larger quantities offering better per-point pricing.
History of Avios Deals
British Airways rarely offers discounted Avios anymore. These deals have become quite rare in recent years, making each one worth considering if you have specific redemptions in mind.
Here’s the recent history of British Airways Avios purchase bonuses:
- 40% Bonus from July 16, 2025 to July 23, 2025
- 40% Bonus from March 31, 2025 to April 4, 2025
- 40% Bonus from September 9, 2024 to September 11, 2024
- 40% Bonus from December 11, 2023 to December 15, 2023
- 40% Bonus from September 14, 2023 to September 20, 2023
- 40% Bonus from March 9, 2023 to March 13, 2023
- 40% Bonus from January 16, 2023 to January 20, 2023
- 50% Bonus from December 16, 2022 to December 19, 2022
- 50% Bonus from November 17, 2022 to November 20, 2022
- 50% Bonus from September 5, 2022 to September 14, 2022
- 50% Bonus from June 23, 2022 to July 10, 2022
- 50% Bonus from March 18, 2022 to March 24, 2022
- 50% Bonus from January 17, 2022 to January 19, 2022
What Card to Use to Purchase?
British Airways processes Avios purchases through points.com, which means they don’t count as airfare spending. You’ll want to use a card where you’re working toward minimum spending requirements or one that maximizes everyday purchases.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stands out as the best option. It offers 2x miles on all purchases and charges no foreign transaction fees.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express would normally be solid choices for non-bonused spending, but both charge foreign transaction fees.
Redeeming British Airways Avios
British Airways Avios are the currency behind The British Airways Club, and they go a lot further than most people expect. As a Oneworld member, British Airways gives you access to an impressive lineup of partner airlines, including American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Oman Air, Fiji Airways, and Royal Air Maroc, plus non-alliance partner Aer Lingus.
Here's the trick with Avios: British Airways charges by distance rather than by region, and short flights are where the real value lives. A nonstop U.S. hop under 650 miles on American or Alaska runs just 13,500 Avios with minimal taxes. Compare that to long-haul flights on British Airways metal itself, where fuel surcharges can eat up any savings you'd otherwise get.
That's why the smartest play is often booking partner-operated flights instead of BA-operated ones. You can fly Aer Lingus to Dublin, Iberia to Madrid, or Qatar Airways' Qsuites business class to Doha, all while dodging the steep surcharges tied to British Airways-operated routes.
Avios also unlock some incredible lounge experiences for surprisingly low prices, like Cathay Pacific's The Wing in Hong Kong or Qantas' lounges in Australia, both bookable through short business-class redemptions. And if you fly BA in first class, pairing your award with a Travel Together Ticket lets you bring a companion for free, making premium cabins far more attainable.
When Do British Airways Avios Expire?
British Airways Avios expire after 36 months of account inactivity. However, you can extend their validity every time you earn, spend, purchase, or share at least one Avio.
The Verdict
You should only consider purchasing Avios if you have a very high-value redemption in mind or just need a few more Avios for an upcoming award ticket.
The Avios ecosystem has become quite powerful, allowing you to use points across multiple programs including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and Finnair. Avios work well for short-haul awards on oneworld partner airlines and are particularly valuable for premium cabin travel on British Airways and Qatar Airways.
While purchasing miles is almost always exorbitantly expensive, doing so when there’s a bonus offer allows you to get more bang for your buck.
Earning Avios through transferable points currencies like Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, or Chase Ultimate Rewards remains the preferred strategy.
