Good morning and happy Sunday!
What a week it's been in the UK points and miles world – from record-breaking Avios boosts to loyalty programme shake-ups that have everyone talking. Whether you're a British Airways loyalist or considering jumping ship, there's plenty to digest over your Sunday coffee.
Let's dive into this past week's biggest stories from the UK points and miles world.
Quick Highlights
🚀 Avios launches their biggest ever balance boost – a whopping 500% for British Airways Club members
✈️ Flying Blue is tempting BA elite members with a paid status match to SkyTeam
🛒 Turn your Tesco shop into Virgin Atlantic flights with a generous 5,000 bonus points offer
💔 Vueling just made it much harder to earn Avios on budget flights across Europe
🍷 Iberia slashes Avios redemptions by up to 40% whilst Wine Flyer sale ends soon
🏆 Our Top Pick: Avios Launches Record 500% Balance Boost – But Is It Worth It?
If you've been sitting on a modest Avios balance and wondering whether to top it up, this week brought the biggest incentive we've ever seen. British Airways is offering Club members up to 500% bonus Avios when purchasing points before 6 February – though as with all 'buy points' offers, the devil is very much in the details.
The offer is tiered, meaning the percentage bonus increases with the amount you purchase. Whilst the headline 500% figure sounds extraordinary, it's only available on the largest purchase tier. For most UK points collectors, the key question isn't just about the bonus percentage – it's whether buying Avios at any price makes sense when there are so many earning opportunities through credit card spending, hotel stays, and supermarket partnerships.
This limited-time promotion is particularly interesting given the recent changes to the Avios ecosystem. With Vueling making it harder to earn Avios on budget flights (more on that below), and Iberia offering better-value redemptions, there's a strategic case for topping up your balance if you've got specific redemptions in mind – especially long-haul business class seats that can deliver exceptional value per Avios.
Key considerations before buying:
Calculate the effective cost per Avios after the bonus – is it better than earning through normal spending?
Only buy if you have a specific redemption in mind (never speculatively purchase points)
Consider whether Iberia's improved award chart makes this more attractive for European trips
Remember that The British Airways Club membership may be required to access this offer
👀 This Week's Must-Reads
Flying Blue Status Match: Should BA Members Jump Ship to SkyTeam?
Air France-KLM is making a bold play for British Airways elite members with a paid status match to Flying Blue. If you've been frustrated with BA's recent devaluations or fancy better access to SkyTeam lounges and benefits, this could be your ticket – though you'll need to pay for the privilege. The offer raises an interesting question: is the grass actually greener on the SkyTeam side, especially for UK-based flyers who predominantly depart from Heathrow? Read more here.
Get 5,000 Bonus Virgin Points by Switching On Tesco Clubcard Auto-Exchange
Here's a genuinely easy win: Tesco is offering 5,000 bonus Virgin Points just for enabling automatic conversion of your Clubcard vouchers to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. Given that Tesco already offers one of the best supermarket earning rates for points collectors, and Virgin Points can get you to New York in Upper Class for remarkable value, this is worth five minutes of your time. The offer runs until May, but there's no reason to delay. Read more here.
Vueling Just Killed Avios Earnings for Most Flyers
In less welcome news, IAG's budget carrier Vueling has introduced a €200 spending threshold before you can earn any Avios on flights – a significant blow for occasional travellers who've been using Vueling as an easy way to top up their British Airways balance on European city breaks. This follows a pattern of loyalty programme 'enhancements' that seem designed to push casual collectors out of the ecosystem. Plus, there's better news from Iberia with redemption rates slashed by up to 40%. Read more here.
🌍 Week in Review
Tuesday: 🛒 Easy 5,000 Virgin Points bonus from Tesco Clubcard auto-exchange
Tuesday: 💔 Vueling introduces €200 threshold to earn Avios (plus Iberia redemption improvements)
Thursday: ✈️ Flying Blue tempts BA elite members with paid status match to SkyTeam
Friday: 🚀 Avios launches record 500% balance boost for British Airways Club members
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and here's to a great week ahead.
Cheers,
Smart With Points