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UK Loyalty Programmes Explained: Avios, Virgin Points, Nectar and Clubcard

By PointsExplainedLast reviewed

Make your details match everywhere

Use exactly the same name and date of birth on every loyalty account you might link. Avios lists matching personal details among the first things to check when accounts will not link.

Link accounts before you need them

Avios requires accounts to have been active for 30 days before moving points, and Amex says new partner links can take up to 14 days to verify.

Find the reward first, then transfer

Search for reward availability before converting or transferring points. Transfers out of Membership Rewards cannot be reversed, and conversion rates between programmes are set by the programmes and can change.

Keep Avios active

Earn, spend or buy Avios at least once in every 36 months: the Avios terms say your Avios expire after 36 consecutive months without that activity. Moving Avios between programmes does not count.

Where this comes from

Sources

The documents this guide relies on. If one has changed since we read it, the document is right and this guide is out of date.

  1. Avios: Terms and Conditions

    Avios issued by Avios Group (AGL) Ltd; Airline Partner schemes include AerClub, British Airways Club, Iberia Club and Vueling Club (Part A); Avios and membership expire after 36 consecutive months without earning, redeeming or buying (introduction); members liable for taxes, fees and carrier-imposed charges on reward travel (F.5.8); Combine my Avios requires members aged 18+ with accounts registered to the same individual (F.9.4) and moves do not count as earning/redeeming or prevent expiry (F.9.11); Avios part-payment for selected cash flights (F.10.1); 'Nectar conversions' named as a way Avios are credited (Balance Boost terms).

    avios.com · Accessed
  2. Avios help centre: My account (linking airline accounts)

    Avios can be moved between British Airways Club, Iberia Club, AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Vueling Club, Loganair Loyalty and Finnair Plus; 30-day active requirement; name and date of birth must match exactly; links cannot be undone except BA Club members unlinking Qatar Privilege Club and Finnair Plus; Household Account members can link their own accounts and move only their own Avios.

    avios.com · Accessed
  3. Virgin Atlantic: Flying Club terms and conditions (effective from 30 October 2024)

    UK members over 18 joining on/after 8 Feb 2021 also joined Virgin Red (cl. 1.3(b)); no prescribed redemption time frame while a member (cl. 2.7); no cash value (cl. 3.1.7); no selling or auctioning (cl. 4.1.9); terms, rewards and participating companies may be varied at any time (cl. 1.5); partners may withdraw/change and programme may change (cl. 10.1, 10.5).

    virginatlantic.com · Accessed
  4. Virgin Atlantic: Flying Club - Earn points (Exchange points)

    Exchange partners converting into Virgin Points include American Express Membership Rewards (1 point to 1 Virgin Point), Tesco Clubcard (1 Clubcard point to 2 Virgin Points), Heathrow Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy (as displayed on the en-GB page, 25 September 2026).

    virginatlantic.com · Accessed
  5. American Express UK: Membership Rewards

    Transfers to airline and hotel partners; partner account verification up to 14 days; transfers only to an account in your own name; transfers irreversible; points can be applied as a credit to the card account.

    americanexpress.com · Accessed
Questions

About this guide

Can I share Avios with my family?

Avios says members of a Household Account can each link their own airline accounts, but you can only move Avios that belong to you, not Avios held in another member's account.

Does moving Avios between programmes reset the expiry clock?

No. The Avios terms for Combine my Avios say moving Avios between programmes does not count as earning or redeeming and will not prevent your balance expiring.

Can I turn points into cash?

Not directly. Virgin Atlantic's terms say Virgin Points have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash. Some bank schemes, such as Membership Rewards, let you apply points as a credit to your card account instead.
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