IAG Loyalty has added another string to its bow with a brand-new partnership between British Airways Club and Le Shuttle, the Channel Tunnel car train service connecting Folkestone and Calais. Avios collectors can now earn and redeem their points on cross-Channel travel for the first time.
What makes this partnership especially interesting is that Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is the first non-airline partner to adopt Avios as its main loyalty currency. This means IAG Loyalty is extending well beyond flights to position Avios as a true travel rewards ecosystem.
Those regular Channel Tunnel crossings can now translate into more Avios earned for future trips, and existing balances can be put to work offsetting travel costs on one of the fastest ways to reach mainland Europe by car.
What is Club LeShuttle?
As LeShuttle opens the doors to Avios, it’s also launching Club LeShuttle, a new membership programme designed to reward frequent travellers. Although still rolling out in stages, Club LeShuttle has a full slate of extra benefits lined up for the months ahead.
Some of the features on the horizon include:
- Surprise perks and unexpected treats
- Customised rewards geared towards families, pet owners, and leisure travellers
- Early-bird access to special promotions
- Dynamic rewards that adjust based on how often and how you travel
In the meantime, Club LeShuttle members already get access to a solid lineup of immediate benefits:
- Special sales and discounts throughout the year
- Monthly competitions to keep things interesting
- Exclusive offers through partner brands
- The option to save your passenger, vehicle, and pet details for quicker, hassle-free bookings
Key Details About the Partnership
So, how does the partnership work? Let’s break down exactly how you can start collecting and spending Avios with LeShuttle.
Earning Avios
Club LeShuttle members can collect Avios when booking eligible LeShuttle tickets, as long as they’re signed into their Club LeShuttle account during the booking process or book via the LeShuttle call centre.
You earn 3 Avios per £1 spent on:
- Day Trip and Overnight tickets
- Short Stay Saver tickets
- Standard tickets
- Standard Plus tickets
You earn 6 Avios per £1 spent on:
- Short Stay Flexiplus tickets
- Flexiplus tickets (This includes both taxes and peak day charge fees)
Redeeming Avios
Members can also use Avios to offset the cost of their LeShuttle bookings by exchanging points for vouchers via the Avios.com website.
- The redemption rate is 1,000 Avios for £5 of LeShuttle credit.
- A maximum of £500 worth of vouchers can be applied per booking.
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months from issue.
At a rate of 1,000 Avios for £5 of LeShuttle credit, you’re basically getting 0.5p per Avios. While that’s not as high as what you might get from Business Class flights, it’s better than many non-flight redemptions like gift cards or shopping. If you’re planning a family road trip or just want to knock some cash off a Channel crossing you were already going to book, it’s a solid way to get value from your points.
Avios vouchers can be applied to the cost of:
- All ticket types, including Flexiplus
- Accessories such as roof racks, roof boxes, bike racks, caravans, and trailers
However, vouchers cannot be used for:
- Insurance (Travel or Motor Breakdown cover)
- Pet travel supplements (though you can still book your vehicle using an Avios voucher)
- Amendment fees or charges
- Any payments made on the day of travel
Why This Makes Sense for Group Travel
Even though you’re earning Avios per vehicle rather than per person, there’s actually a lot of value here for families and groups. A single LeShuttle booking can cover up to nine people in one car, so you’re only paying once, but transporting several people. When you redeem Avios, the value stretches across the whole group, bringing the cost-per-person down.
Let’s say you use 12,000 Avios to cover a £59 fare. If you’re a family of four, that works out to just 3,000 Avios per person. That’s a great return, especially when you compare it to many flight redemptions during busy travel periods.
Moreover, families often travel with extras such as roof boxes, bike racks, etc. These are all things you can pay for with Avios vouchers. So, while you’re earning a single Avios total for the car, you’re also saving money on the accessories and transport extras that families typically need.
Earning Avios
You’ll first need to join Club LeShuttle to start earning Avios. Membership is free, and it’s a requirement for collecting Avios on bookings.
When booking your trip, make sure you’re signed into your Club LeShuttle account online or through their call centre. This way, your Avios will be credited properly after your journey. Once you’ve completed your Le Shuttle booking, you’ll be prompted to enter your British Airways Club membership number on the confirmation page.
Quick Note: Only British Airways Club account numbers are currently accepted. Members of other IAG loyalty programmes such as Iberia Club, Finnair Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, or Loganair Loyalty must first transfer their Avios to a British Airways Club account to take advantage of this partnership.
Redeeming Avios
The process for redeeming Avios for LeShuttle travel starts on the Avios.com website. You’ll need to log in using your British Airways Club account details. Once signed in, you can exchange your Avios for a LeShuttle voucher and choose from several denominations depending on how many points you wish to use.
After receiving your voucher code, head over to the LeShuttle website to make your booking. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your voucher under the ‘Personal Details’ section of the booking form during the reservation process
Keep in mind that only one LeShuttle voucher can be redeemed per British Airways Club account per day through the Avios website. You’ll need to factor this daily redemption limit into your planning if you plan to make multiple bookings.
Avios Expansion Continues
The LeShuttle partnership is the latest sign of IAG Loyalty slowly broadening the Avios ecosystem beyond flights. Over the past year, we’ve seen a string of new non-airline partnerships that give members more ways to earn and spend their points across the wider world of travel: Royal Caribbean International recently joined the fold, allowing members to earn 3 Avios per £1 or €1 spent on balcony and suite bookings through the cruise line’s UK, Spain, and Ireland websites. On the hotel front, the Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Marriott Bonvoy partnership opened the door for Avios holders to convert their points into Marriott Bonvoy rewards. Even closer to home, Scottish regional airline Loganair fully adopted Avios as the currency for its own loyalty programme in 2024.
Now, with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle coming on board, travellers have yet another way of earning and spending Avios. Already one of the fastest ways to reach mainland Europe, the service becomes even more appealing when you factor in the ability to turn your Le Shuttle bookings into future travel rewards. It’s one more example of Avios becoming less about just flights and more about rewarding the entire travel experience.
If you’re planning your next trip, you can check the latest Le Shuttle timetable to find the best departure times for your crossing.
