Now spend Avios on BA’s package trips

HOLIDAYMAKERS can now pay with loyalty currency Avios when booking a holiday package with British Airways.

Travellers choosing a flight and hotel or car package can now pick from up to nine Avios payment options at checkout, allowing them to choose the amount of points and cash they want to spend, starting at £1.

Avios is the benefit currency of the BA Executive Club. Customers collect points when they book flights, hotels and other services such as car hire, which are then converted into rewards. Plus, credit card providers, including Amex and Barclaycard, have tie-ups with British Airways so customers can earn Avios as they shop.

But experts warn it may not be a good way of using up points.

Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head For Points, says: ‘It’s always good to have new ways to spend Avios. But at under 0.5p per Avios in most cases this is not good value.’

For example, you can get 0.67p per Avios by converting them to Nectar to spend at Sainsbury’s.