Is it worth buying Avios?

Usually no. At standard pricing of 1.75p to 2.45p per Avios, you're paying more per point than most redemptions return. It's worth it in three cases: topping up a small gap to lock a specific reward seat, buying during a strong bonus offer with a clear premium-cabin booking in mind, or buying for a long-haul business redemption paired with a Companion Voucher. Outside those, alternatives are almost always cheaper.

How much does it cost to buy Avios?

At standard pricing on ba.com, buying Avios costs around 2.45p per point for small purchases such as 2,000 Avios, dropping to roughly 1.78p per point at the 100,000-Avios level. The annual cap is 200,000 Avios per calendar year. Buy-Avios bonuses of 30% to 50% appear several times a year and reduce the effective price meaningfully.

How do you buy Avios?

Log in to your British Airways Club account, open the Collect menu, and choose Purchase Avios. Select the quantity, pay by credit or debit card, and the points usually post within minutes. You can also buy through Iberia Club, Qatar Privilege Club, or Finnair Plus into the same currency, then transfer to BA via Combine My Avios if needed.

Yes. The British Airways Club lets members buy up to 200,000 Avios per calendar year. You need an active BA Club account, at least one Avios on the balance, and Avios-earning activity in the last 36 months if your balance has been at zero.

Is it worth buying Virgin Points?

Usually no, but sometimes yes. The case is strongest when a buy-points bonus is live and you're booking a premium-cabin redemption that returns 2p or more per point. For short-haul reward flights or low-value redemptions, the maths does not hold.

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11 Jun 2026Richard Viner

Should You Buy Avios? When It's Worth It (and When Not)

Usually no. Buying Avios outright is one of the most expensive ways to add points to your account, and most of the time there's a cheaper option sitting right next to it on the Bri

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