How do I claim missing Avios points?
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In this article I want to look at how you can claim missing Avios points if you think a flight has not credited properly or at all.
British Airways allows you to claim Avios and tier points on completed flights if you believe you are entitled to them and they have not appeared in your account. Once you submit a claim it is reviewed and will automatically be applied to your Executive Club account if your claim is correct.
It is very easy if you booked your flights with British Airways and have a BA-prefixed flight number. To initiate the process all you have to do is fill out a simple form from your Executive Club menu online.
You must wait at least three days after completing the last leg of your booking before claiming. You will need your ticket number, which you receive in the confirmation email upon booking your flight with British Airways.
Based on my last claim in early 2024, the Avios and tier points will post instantly.
How to claim missing Avios from partner airlines
You can also claim missing Avios or tier points from flights with partner airlines. If you provide your Executive Club membership number at time of booking, these should automatically be credited (be aware, however, that earning rates for partner and oneworld airlines vary).
However, if they do not, you can claim seven days after your last flight. Unlike for British Airways flights the claim form is a little more extensive, requiring dates travelled, arrival and departure locations, ticket number and flight class. Even if you lose your boarding pass this information should be on the confirmation email sent to you when you first booked the flight.
For British Airways flights, you can claim up to six months after travel if you were already a member of Executive Club. If you were not a member when you flew, you can claim for flights up to three months prior to joining Executive Club. So, for example, if you flew five months ago but only joined Executive Club last month, you would be ineligible for claiming.
On partner claims, you must be member of Executive Club at the time of flying to claim – you cannot retroactively join and then claim. You can read more about how many Avios and tier points you should expect to receive for a British Airways flights here.
(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which explains how British Airways Club works. You can see all of our ‘BA Q&A’ articles here. )
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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)
As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!
In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
British Airways American Express
5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review
You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
Run your own business?
We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.
Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
American Express Business Gold
20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.
