Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland and a member of the International Airlines Group, alongside British Airways and Iberia. As part of the Avios rewards program, Aer Lingus AerClub members can earn and redeem Avios points for flights on Aer Lingus and its partner airlines.
Here are some of my favorite ways to redeem your Aer Lingus Avios for maximum value and unforgettable travel experiences.
How Many Avios You Need for an Award Flight
To determine how many Avios you need for a free flight, you need to figure out a combination of the following:
- The route (distance in miles).
- The date of your flight (peak or off-peak).
- The fare class (economy or business).
Aer Lingus' Distance Based Zones
Aer Lingus divides its routes into 6 zones based on distance flown. Avios awards are also priced per segment, so if you are connecting in Ireland, you will also need to calculate the distance of the second segment.
Zone 1 Routes (0 to 650 miles)
- Belfast to London.
- Cork to Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Paris.
- Donegal to Glasgow.
- Dublin to Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Bristol, Brussels, Paris, Donegal, Cardiff, Doncaster, Dusseldorf, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kerry, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nantes, Newcastle, Newquay, and Rennes.
- Shannon to Birmingham, Bristol, and London.
Zone 2 Routes (651 to 1,151 miles)
- Belfast to Palma.
- Cork to Alicante, Barcelona, Berlin, Geneva, Faro, Malaga, Munich, Palma, Nice, and Lisbon.
- Dublin to Alghero, Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Bologna, Copenhagen, Faro, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Murcia, Nice, Palma, Perpignan, Pisa, Prague, Pula, Salzburg, Santiago de Compostela, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Warsaw, and Zurich.
- Shannon to Barcelona, Faro, and Malaga.
Zone 3 Routes (1,152 to 2,000 miles)
- Belfast to Alicante, Faro, and Malaga.
- Cork to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Dubrovnik.
- Dublin to Agadir, Athens, Bourgas, Brindisi, Budapest, Catania, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Fuerventura, Gran Canaria, Izmir, Lanzarote, Malaga, Naples, Rome, Split, and Tenerife.
- Shannon to Lanzarote.
Zone 4 Routes (2,001 to 3000 miles)
No routes.
Zone 5 Routes (3,001 to 4,000 miles)
- Dublin to Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Minneapolis, Montreal, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington DC.
- Shannon to Boston and New York.
Zone 6 Routes (4,001 to 5,000 miles)
Dublin to Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Aer Lingus Off Peak and Peak Calendar
You will also need to figure out when you want to fly. Peak dates require more Avios and are generally around spring break, the summer season, and around Christmas and New Year’s.
Peak / Off-Peak Calendar for 2024
Peak: January 1 to January 7, 2024.
Off-Peak: January 8 to March 21, 2024.
Peak: March 22 to April 7, 2024.
Off-Peak: April 8 to June 6, 2024
Peak: June 7 to September 1, 2024.
Off-Peak: September 2 to December 12, 2024.
Peak: December 13 to December 31, 2024.
Peak / Off-Peak Calendar for 2025
Peak: January 1 to 5, 2025.
Off-Peak: January 6 to April 10, 2025.
Peak: April 11 to April 27, 2025.
Off-Peak: April 28 to June 5, 2025.
Peak: June 6 to August 31, 2025.
Off-Peak: September 1 to December 17, 2025.
Aer Lingus Economy Award Chart
Here is how many Avios it will cost to fly in economy class based on your route and when you are flying:
- Zone 1: 4,000 Avios (off-peak) or 4,500 Avios (peak).
- Zone 2: 6,500 Avios (off-peak) or 7,500 Avios (peak).
- Zone 3: 8,500 Avios (off-peak) or 10,000 Avios (peak).
- Zone 4: N/A (no routes).
- Zone 5: 13,000 Avios (off-peak) or 20,000 Avios (peak).
- Zone 6: 16,250 Avios (off-peak) or 25,000 Avios (peak).
Aer Lingus Business Award Chart
Aer Lingus only offers business class awards for Zone 5 and Zone 6. Here is how many Avios it will cost to fly in business class based on your route and when you are flying:
- Zone 5: 50,000 (off-peak) or 60,000 (peak).
- Zone 6: 62,500 (off-peak) or 75,000 (peak).
Partners Award Chart
Aer Lingus partners with several airlines all around the world, but you can only book three partners with Aer Lingus Avios via Avios.com: British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling. Award flights for these three airlines are priced the same as the distance-based award chart above.
You can also transfer your Avios to these airlines, which could be a better deal in certain situations than redeeming Aer Lingus Avios for British Airways, Iberia, or Vueling.
Best Ways to Redeem Your Aer Lingus Avios
Here are my favorite ways to use Aer Lingus Avios. They are all long-haul flights because short-haul flights in Europe are generally not a great deal since (1) cash flights are quite cheap within Europe, and (2) you have to pay taxes and other fees when using Avios.
1. Off-Peak US East Coast & Midwest to Ireland in Economy
You can fly from the US East Coast and Midwest in economy class for only 13,000 Avios one-way during off-peak times.
The routes that are included in Zone 5 for 13,000 Avios are:
- Dublin to Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Minneapolis, Montreal, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington DC.
- Shannon to Boston and New York.
2. Off-Peak Other US Cities to Ireland in Economy
Other cities in the US are also a good deal for off-peak economy class, which only costs 16,250 Avios one-way for Zone 6.
The routes covered by Zone 6 include Dublin to Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, and Seattle.
3. Off-Peak US East Coast & Midwest to Ireland in Business
You can fly business class for a reasonable price of 50,000 Avios one-way during off-peak times from Zone 5 cities. These flights usually cost $3,000+ roundtrip, which makes using Avios a good deal overall.
4. Off-Peak Off-Peak Other US Cities to Ireland in Business
You can also fly business class from the other US cities in Zone 6 for only 62,500 Avios one-way during off-peak times. If you live on the West Coast, this could be an even better deal since flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco are 10 hours versus only about 7 hours from New York City.
5. Transfer Avios to Iberia Avios
If you want to travel to Spain or other parts of Southern Europe, then transferring your Aer Lingus Avios to Iberia Avios could be a better deal. I frequently use Iberia Avios to travel to Europe because it is only 34,000 Avios one-way for business class from New York, Boston, Chicago, or Washington D.C. to Madrid.
How to Quickly Earn Aer Lingus Avios
There are several great ways to easily earn Aer Lingus Avios. The fastest way is to transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards (1 to 1), Chase Ultimate Rewards (1 to 1), Bilt Rewards (1 to 1), or Marriott Bonvoy (3 to 1).
Here are my favorite cards that allow points transfers to Aer Lingus:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (review) offers premium travel benefits including lounge access, hotel elite status, and multiple statement credits that can offset its $795 annual fee. With bonus earnings on travel and dining purchases plus the ability to transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners, this card delivers strong value for frequent travelers who can maximize its benefits. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 10x points on Hotels (excluding The Edit) and car rentals and 5x points on flights through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 10x points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards; 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out; 3x points on other travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 1x points on other eligible spending. Card Benefits: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership with unlimited visits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, travel accident, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
American Express Platinum Card®
American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon. Earning Points: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5x points on on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections. Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
Bilt Mastercard®
The Bilt Mastercard® (review) lets you earn valuable travel rewards on rent payments without fees while offering bonus points on dining and travel purchases. This no-annual-fee card stands out for its unique rent payment feature and strong travel benefits like rental car coverage and trip protection. Earning Rewards: 5x points on Lyft; 3x points on dining; 2x points on travel purchases; 1x points on rent payments without any transaction fees up to 100,000 points per year, and 1x points on everything else. (Five transactions are required per billing cycle to earn points.) Card Benefits: No transaction fees to pay rent and earn 1x points, primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection, trip delay and trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
Additionally, if you fly Aer Lingus a few times per year, you should also consider the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card.
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card (review) provides an opportunity to earn valuable Avios rewards that you can transfer between multiple airline programs. The card offers solid value for transatlantic travelers through priority boarding and a companion ticket benefit, but other cards provide better rewards for daily spending. Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months. Earning Avios: 3x Avios on on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia flight purchases; 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel; 1x Avios on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Economy companion ticket good for 12 months when you spend $30,000 on your Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card in a calendar year, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, lost luggage reimbursement, and extended warranty.
The Verdict
Aer Lingus Avios offer a versatile and valuable rewards currency for travelers looking to explore Ireland, Europe, and beyond. Whether you’re redeeming for Aer Lingus flights, partner airline awards, or even experiences on the ground, there are plenty of opportunities to maximize your Avios.
By understanding the best redemption options and strategically earning Avios through credit card spending and other partners, you can unlock incredible travel experiences with Aer Lingus and its Avios program.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
