How to Claim Missing Avios Points
Missing Avios after a flight, hotel stay or purchase? You can usually claim them through your loyalty programme - here's how to get your points back.
Key takeaways
You can claim missing Avios for flights, hotels and partner purchases
British Airways Club claims must generally be made within six months
Keep your booking details and receipts, and track your claim online
Avios are reward points you can collect through airlines, credit cards and participating retailers. They're used by several loyalty schemes, including The British Airways Club, and can be exchanged for flights, upgrades and other rewards.
How to claim missing Avios points
You can claim missing Avios through The British Airways Club or whichever loyalty programme you used once the expected points haven't appeared. Here's how to make a claim through British Airways:
Wait for your points: British Airways recommends waiting at least three days after a BA flight, seven days after a partner flight or four to eight weeks for non-airline purchases
Check your account: Log in to The British Airways Club and review your latest Avios transactions
Gather your details: Find your booking reference, e-ticket number, boarding pass or purchase receipt
Check your membership details: Make sure your name matches your booking and check whether your membership number was linked. You can still claim for eligible flights if it was missing
Submit your claim: Use the British Airways missing Avios claim form, selecting the appropriate flight or partner category
Track your claim: Check its progress online and contact your provider if it hasn't been resolved within the expected timeframe
For Avios earned through another airline or loyalty scheme, check its specific claims process.
How long will it take for Avios points to arrive?
Avios can take anything from a few days to several weeks to appear, depending on the airline or partner - for The British Airways Club, it will usually take the following:
Transaction | Wait before claiming | Claim processing time |
|---|---|---|
British Airways flights | At least 3 days | Up to 7 working days |
Partner airline flights | At least 7 days | Up to 4 weeks |
Non-airline partners | 4–8 weeks | Up to 8 weeks |
How can I track the status of my Avios claim?
You can track missing Avios claims through the British Airways website - just visit the missing Avios and Tier Points page and select 'Track a claim' to see its progress. If your claim hasn't been resolved within the expected timeframe, you should contact British Airways customer services with your claim reference and any supporting documents.
Can I claim missing Avios for a British Airways Holidays booking?
Yes, you can claim missing Avios or eligible Tier Points from British Airways Holidays through its dedicated claims process. Visit the British Airways claims page and select 'British Airways Holidays' rather than the standard flight claim option.
Keep your holiday booking reference and membership details handy. Remember, holiday Tier Points can take up to 14 days after you complete your trip to appear.
Can I claim Avios for transactions made before I joined?
Yes, but only certain transactions qualify. The British Airways Club allows new members to claim Avios and Tier Points for eligible British Airways flights taken up to three months before joining.
However, you can't claim for partner airline flights or non-airline transactions made before you became a member.
How long do I have to make a claim?
You generally have up to six months to claim missing Avios through The British Airways Club. For flights, the deadline runs from your date of travel, while for eligible non-airline purchases, it runs from the transaction date.
Other Avios programmes may have different deadlines, so double check their terms before submitting your claim.
What happens if my claim is rejected?
If your claim is rejected, the missing Avios won't be credited unless the issue can be resolved. Make sure your membership details match those on your booking, your transaction qualifies for rewards, and that you submitted the claim within the deadline.
If you believe the rejection was incorrect, contact British Airways or the relevant partner with your claim reference and any evidence to support your claim.
How do Avios points work?
Avios are loyalty points earned through flights and purchases with participating partners - the amount you earn depends on factors such as your airline, ticket type, spending and the partner's reward rules. You can then redeem your Avios for flights, upgrades, hotels and other rewards.
Avios are different from Tier Points, which help determine your membership status within The British Airways Club.
How can I collect Avios points?
You can collect Avios in several ways, including:
Flying with British Airways or participating partner airlines
Using an Avios-earning credit card for eligible purchases
Booking hotels or car hire through participating partners
Shopping through the British Airways eStore
Converting eligible loyalty rewards, such as Nectar points, into Avios
How can I spend Avios points?
You can use your Avios for various rewards, including:
Reward flights with participating airlines
Cabin upgrades on eligible flights
Hotel stays and car hire
Experiences and purchases through participating partners
The number of Avios required depends on the reward. For flights, availability and pricing can vary by destination, date and cabin class.
Compare rewards credit cards with MoneySuperMarket
A rewards credit card can help you collect points or cashback on purchases. With MoneySuperMarket, you can compare rewards credit cards from a range of providers, looking at interest rates, annual fees, rewards and introductory offers. Not every rewards card earns Avios, so check the scheme before applying.
You can also check your eligibility using a soft search, which won't affect your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
Do Avios points expire?
Yes, Avios in The British Airways Club expire if you don't collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios within 36 months.
Qualifying activity during that period keeps your balance active.
Can I transfer Avios points to someone else?
Yes, The British Airways Club allows you to transfer Avios to other people or share them through a household account.
Transfers may involve fees or restrictions, so check the terms of your membership before moving your points.
Do I need my boarding pass or ticket to claim?
You may need your boarding pass, e-ticket or booking confirmation to support a missing Avios claim. British Airways can request proof of travel, so keep your documents until the points appear in your account.
What if my missing Avios appear after I've submitted a claim?
If your missing Avios appear automatically after you've submitted a claim, check your claim status before taking further action. Contact your provider if you have concerns about duplicate points or an unresolved claim.
Can I claim Avios for shopping purchases that didn't track?
Yes, you may be able to claim missing Avios from eligible shopping purchases. Check the claims process for the retailer or shopping portal you used - you may need your purchase receipt and confirmation that you followed the correct shopping link.
How do I claim Avios from a linked payment card purchase?
If you've linked a payment card to a participating Avios programme, check whether the purchase qualifies and whether your card was correctly registered.
For Qatar Airways Privilege Club, linked-card purchases should usually appear within an average of 14 days. If your Avios are missing, you can submit a claim with your receipt through its missing Avios page.
Will I also receive Tier Points for a missing Avios claim?
You may receive Tier Points if the original transaction qualifies for them. Eligible British Airways and partner flights can earn both Avios and Tier Points, while some other qualifying spending, including certain credit card offers, may also earn Tier Points.
My partner flights didn't earn Avios. What now?
You can submit a missing Avios claim for an eligible partner airline flight through The British Airways Club.
Wait at least seven days after travelling, then check your statement, and if the Avios are still missing, submit a claim with your ticket and booking details.
Can I claim Avios for a cancelled flight?
If your flight was cancelled and you received a refund without travelling, you generally won't earn Avios or Tier Points for that flight. However, if you were rebooked and travelled on another flight, you may still qualify for points.
Will I still earn Avios if my flight was changed to another airline?
Yes, you may still earn Avios if your flight was changed to another airline. For an eligible British Airways ticket, you should receive the Avios and Tier Points associated with your original booking, even if you were transferred to another carrier.
For partner airline bookings, your entitlement depends on the partner's rules - you can submit a claim if your expected points are missing.
Can I earn Avios if I booked using reward points?
No, British Airways reward flight bookings don't normally earn Avios or Tier Points, even if you pay to upgrade your cabin. However, if you booked an eligible cash fare and then upgraded using Avios, you may still earn points based on the original paid fare.
Author
Mehdi Punjwani
Insurance specialist
Mehdi is a financial writer and editor with over six years of experience in personal finance. He has written for organisations and publications including Equifax, The AA, and USAToday, covering a...
