175 British Airways Executive Club questions, answered
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Do you want to know how British Airways Executive Club and the Avios scheme works? Our ‘BA Q&A’ series covers 175 key questions you may have, along with the answers.
We have broken the questions down into categories to make them easier to follow. If your question still isn’t answered below, please email us at hello [at] headforpoints.com and we will try to answer it. We can then add your question to our database.
These articles were last updated in April 2021 so please double-check any information before acting on it. Feel free to email us if you are unsure.
SECTION ONE: British Airways seating questions
Does British Airways charge for seat selection?
How to find out what aircraft type is operating your British Airways flight
Who can book and sit in exit row seats on British Airways?
Who can book and sit in Row 1 on British Airways?
SECTION TWO: British Airways Executive Club
Executive Club basics:
How do I join British Airways Executive Club?
Is there a promotional code to use when joining British Airways Executive Club?
Is it free to join British Airways Executive Club?
What are the benefits of joining British Airways Executive Club?
What is the difference between British Airways Executive Club and avios.com?
What is the difference between British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus?
How old do I have to be to join British Airways Executive Club?
Do I have to live in the UK to join British Airways Executive Club?
Do I earn Avios and tier points if I book British Airways flights via Expedia or Opodo?
Can I get British Airways priority boarding if I join the Executive Club?
Do I get free seat selection as a British Airways Executive Club member?
How do I open a British Airways Executive Club Household Account?
How do I open an Avios family account?
How do I close a British Airways Household Account? What happens to the Avios?
How does a British Airways ‘Family & Friends’ list work?
What is a British Airways Executive Club ‘third party nominee’?
What is the baggage allowance on British Airways?
What is the British Airways First Class telephone number?
SECTION THREE: British Airways Executive Club tiers and tier points
Executive Club membership years:
How do British Airways Executive Club membership years work?
Can I get an extension to my British Airways Executive Club membership year?
Can I change my British Airways Executive Club membership year end?
British Airways status questions (general):
What are the British Airways Executive Club tiers?
How long does my British Airways status last for?
Will British Airways match my tier status with another airline?
Does British Airways Executive Club offer lifetime status?
Does British Airways Executive Club have soft landings?
British Airways tier points (general):
What are British Airways tier points?
How many British Airways tier points do I earn per flight?
Which British Airways Club Europe routes earn 160 tier points return?
Is there a downloadable list of British Airways tier points by route?
Do British Airways tier points work on a calendar year or membership year?
What happens to my British Airways tier points at the end of my membership year?
If I upgrade my British Airways flight what tier points and Avios do I earn?
Do I earn tier points on a British Airways codeshare flight?
Do I earn tier points on reward or redemption flights?
Can I swap Avios points for British Airways tier points?
Can you buy British Airways tier points?
Do I need to fly British Airways to get British Airways elite status?
What is the British Airways Executive Club telephone number for Blue members?
Executive Club Bronze status:
How do I get British Airways Executive Club Bronze status?
What are the benefits of British Airways Executive Club Bronze status?
Which British Airways lounges can I use with a British Airways Executive Club Bronze card?
Can you use business class check-in with a British Airways Executive Club Bronze card?
Do I drop from Bronze to Blue in British Airways Executive Club if I don’t earn enough tier points?
What is the British Airways Bronze telephone number?
What is the baggage allowance for British Airways Executive Club Bronze members?
Executive Club Silver status:
How can I get British Airways Executive Club Silver status?
What are the benefits of British Airways Executive Club Silver status?
Which British Airways lounges can I use with a British Airways Executive Club Silver card?
What is the British Airways Silver telephone number?
What is the baggage allowance for British Airways Executive Club Silver members?
Executive Club Gold status:
How can I get British Airways Executive Club Gold status?
What are the benefits of British Airways Executive Club Gold status?
Do I get additional Avios seat availability as a British Airways Gold member?
Which British Airways lounges can I use with a British Airways Executive Club Gold card?
Do I drop from Gold to Silver in British Airways Executive Club if I don’t earn enough tier points?
What is the British Airways Gold Priority Reward?
What is British Airways Executive Club Gold Guest List?
How do I get British Airways Gold Guest List status?
What is a British Airways Gold Upgrade For Two / For One Voucher?
What is the British Airways Gold telephone number?
What is the baggage allowance for British Airways Executive Club Gold members?
SECTION FOUR: Avios
General Avios questions:
Is there an Avios joining bonus?
How do I book a flight using my Avios points?
How many Avios seats are there on each British Airways flight?
What is the Avios award chart?
What is the best use of Avios points?
How can I avoid Avios fees, taxes and charges?
Is there a downloadable list of the Avios needed for every British Airways route?
What is the calendar of peak and off-peak 2022 Avios redemption dates?
How far in advance can you book with Avios?
Can I use Avios points on Virgin Atlantic?
Can I use Avios for Eurostar tickets?
When does British Airways release Avios reward flights?
Which airlines can I book with Avios points?
When do my Avios points expire? How can I stop my Avios expiring?
How do I extend the expiry date of my Avios points?
Can you transfer your Avios points to someone else?
How many Avios do you need to fly in Business Class?
How many Avios do you need to fly in First Class?
How can you book hotels with Avios points?
Is it worth using Avios points for hotels?
What is the Avios distance chart?
Are Avios points useless and worthless?
What are the various British Airways fare classes?
Who are the Avios airline partners?
Can I pay for British Airways buy on board food and drink catering with Avios points?
How many Avios will I earn from my British Airways flight?
Do I earn Avios on a British Airways codeshare flight?
Do I earn Avios on reward or redemption flights?
What are the Avios cancellation fees?
How do I change an Avios booking?
Do I earn bonus Avios as a British Airways Bronze, Silver or Gold member?
Can you earn Avios if you fly with Emirates?
Do I earn extra Avios if I book with BA Holidays?
Can I book a flight for someone else using my Avios points?
Can you convert Virgin Points into Avios points?
How do I claim missing Avios points?
Can I claim Avios if I wasn’t a member when I flew?
Do I earn Avios if I book a flight for someone else?
How many Avios do I need to book a flight for an infant or baby?
How do I move Avios from Iberia Plus to British Airways Executive Club?
How does Combine My Avios work from Iberia Plus to British Airways?
What does it cost to cancel an Avios redemption flight?
How do I convert Avios into Nectar points?
How can you Avios points into cash? Can you sell Avios?
How to upgrade flights with Avios:
How do I upgrade my British Airways flight with Avios?
How many Avios points do I need to upgrade my flight?
How many Avios points do I need to upgrade to Premium Economy?
How many Avios points do I need to upgrade to Business Class?
How many Avios points do I need to upgrade to First Class?
Earn Avios with BA partner airlines:
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Aer Lingus?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Alaska Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with American Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Cathay Pacific?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Finnair?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Iberia?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Iberia Express?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Japan Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with LATAM?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Malaysia Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Qantas?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Qatar Airways?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Royal Air Maroc?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Royal Jordanian?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with S7 Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with SriLankan Airlines?
Can I earn Avios and BA tier points if I fly with Vueling?
Spending Avios with BA partner airlines:
Can I spend Avios on Aer Lingus?
Can I spend Avios on Alaska Airlines?
Can I spend Avios on American Airlines?
Can I spend Avios on Cathay Pacific?
Can I spend Avios on Japan Airlines?
Can I spend Avios on Malaysia Airlines?
Can I spend Avios on Qatar Airways?
Can I spend Avios on Royal Air Maroc?
Can I spend Avios on Royal Jordanian?
Can I spend Avios on S7 Airlines?
Can I spend Avios on SriLankan Airlines?
Earn Avios with non-air partners:
Is it worth buying Avios points?
How much does it cost to buy Avios points?
How do I earn Avios when buying British Airways on-board duty free?
How do I earn Avios from my online internet shopping?
Is it better earning Avios or hotel points from hotel stays?
Who are British Airways hotel partners where I can earn Avios?
Can I earn Avios from Hertz / Avis / Europcar / Sixt or other car rental companies?
Can I earn Avios from Business Traveller magazine?
Can I earn Avios from Heathrow Express?
Can I earn Avios from airport parking?
How do I earn Avios at Bicester Village?
How do I convert Heathrow Rewards points into Avios?
How do I earn Avios from Hackett?
How do I earn Avios from Nutmeg?
How do I earn Avios when buying petrol?
How do I convert Nectar points into Avios?
Travelling from the UK regions:
Where can I fly from Aberdeen with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Belfast with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Birmingham with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Bristol with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Cardiff with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Edinburgh with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Glasgow with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Leeds Bradford with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Manchester with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Newcastle with Avios points?
Where can I fly from Newquay with Avios points?
SECTION FIVE: British Airways and airport lounges
Can I pay to get into a British Airways airport lounge?
Can I use Avios points to get into an airport lounge?
Do I need my British Airways Executive Club membership card to get into a lounge?
Can I use American Airlines lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
Can I use Cathay Pacific lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
Can I use Iberia lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
Can I use Malaysia Airlines lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
Can I use Qantas lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
Can I use Qatar Airways lounges with a British Airways Silver or Gold card?
