Now live: British Airways switching to revenue-based Avios earning for paid fares

19.10.2023 - 12:17 / thepointsguy.com

Following the lead of major U.S. airline programs and sister airline Iberia, British Airways now has moved to a revenue-based earning program.

Previously, British Airways Executive Club members were awarded Avios based on the distance they flew rather than the amount they spent on their flights.

Related: Complete guide to earning British Airways Avios

Now, Avios for British Airways-marketed flights credited to Executive Club will be awarded as follows per qualifying British pound spent (about $1.20):

Qualifying spending includes British Airways' notorious carrier-imposed surcharges on revenue tickets but not award tickets. Cash upgrades — either online in advance or at the airport counter — as well as prepaid seating charges and excess baggage charges will earn Avios at these new rates.

Government fees and taxes will not accrue Avios on any tickets.

Flights operated by partner airlines (without a BA flight number), including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, will continue to earn Avios at the existing distance-based rates.

Ian Romanis, British Airways' director of retail and customer relationship management, said the following in a statement:

With British Airways promoting the change as a simplified, transparent improvement, is this good or bad news for Executive Club members?

As noted above, the new revenue-based system only applies to British Airways-marketed flights, so for any member who only flies with partner airlines booked without BA flight numbers, nothing has changed. There are also no changes to how elite status is earned — this continues to be measured by how many tier points are earned, with no revenue requirement.

If you purchase things like seat selection or excess baggage, the news is positive, as you now earn Avios on these expenses. Other winners from the change include those who purchase expensive, full-fare cash tickets, such as corporate travelers. The pricier your ticket, the more Avios you now earn.

Those who have likely lost out from the changes include:

For example, during sales for off-peak travel dates, flights from the West Coast of the U.S. to London can be purchased in premium economy for around 800 British pounds (about $970) round-trip. Under the previous distance-based system, a Blue member would have earned around 10,700 Avios. Under the new system, this would now only be 4,800 Avios for a Blue member earning 6 Avios per British pound.

Following the announcement of Iberia's switch to revenue-based Avios earnings, it was only a matter of time before British Airways followed suit, with the changes now live.

For anyone who mostly credits flights operated by partner airlines or only flies British Airways on award tickets, little has changed, and there's no need to