Want to fly Aer Lingus and still build up your British Airways Avios stash? You can earn Avios on everything from flights to hotel bookings through the AerClub eStore and easily transfer them to your BA Club account for future use.
How to Earn Avios with Aer Lingus
To start collecting Avios points for flights, you must sign up for AerClub, Aer Lingus's official frequent flyer programme, which can be done through the Aer Lingus website. Once registered, members can start earning points immediately on flights and everyday purchases.
Here are some of the top ways to collect points with the AerClub:
Aer Lingus Flights
Most members earn points through flights, where points are awarded based on ticket price rather than miles flown. AerClub has a revenue-based system for calculating Avios on its flights. Earnings are calculated based on ticket price and the currency used, with the following rates:
- One British Pound (GBP) = 4 Avios
- One Euro (EUR) = 3 Avios
- One Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 2 Avios
- One US Dollar (USD) = 3 Avios
The Avios you earn per flight depends on the fare type and travel class. Generally, more expensive fares and higher travel classes, such as Business Class yield more Avios. For example, booking a flexible Economy ticket will earn more Avios than a basic Economy fare. You’re also awarded extra Avios if you’re an elite member. Silver members receive a 25% bonus, Platinum members get a 50% bonus, and Concierge members enjoy a 75% bonus on each flight.
Keep in mind that Avios are awarded only on the base fare, meaning taxes and additional fees aren’t included in the calculation. And if you pay in a currency other than EUR, GBP, USD, or CAD, the amount is first converted to EUR to determine Avios earnings.
Partner Flights
Aer Lingus operates outside major airline alliances but maintains partnerships with British Airways and United Airlines, the latter of which allows for Avios accrual outside Star Alliance.
Points are earned based on flight distance and fare class, varying from 25% for discount Economy to 300% for First Class on British Airways flights. For itineraries that include both Aer Lingus and a partner airline, Avios are calculated separately for each flight segment according to the specific conditions.
Credit Cards
Co-branded credit cards are another way you can earn Avios with the airline. However, these cards are only available to residents of Ireland and the US. Cardholders can transfer points directly to AerClub through American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards partnerships.
The Aer Credit Card: This is available to Irish residents only. Upcoming changes to this card include a new earning rate of one Avios for every three Euros spent and an annual bonus of 40,000 Avios after spending €10,000 within a year. A sign-up bonus starting January 2025 will offer 5,000 Avios for €3,000 spent in the first three months. It offers travel benefits like lounge access and insurance. It earns one Avios per Euro spent with Aer Lingus and one Avios per four Euros on other purchases.
Aer Lingus Visa Signature Credit Card: The Aer Lingus Visa Signature Credit Card for US residents includes priority boarding and companion tickets for certain spending levels. It offers three Avios per dollar on flights with Aer Lingus and partners, two Avios on hotel stays, and one Avios on other purchases.
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Aer Lingus Partnerships
You can also earn through other purchases with Aer Lingus's partner network, though it may not have as wide a network of hotel and car rental partners as some larger programmes. Points can be earned through the AerClub eStore, which provides access to a range of travel and retail outlets. Members simply shop online through the eStore links or register their cards for in-store shopping to collect Avios on certain purchases.
Some examples of standard earning rates include:
- 10 Avios for every €1 (or £1/$1) spent on Avios Hotels
- Up to 2 Avios per $1 USD spent on Marriott International
- 2 Avios for every €1 spent on The Merrion
- 4 Avios for every €1 you spend with Viator
- 12 Avios per €1 spent with Lounge Pass
Aer Lingus also offers special promotions that can boost your points balance. These include double Avios events, bonuses for flying specific routes, or additional points for using services from specific partners. It’s best to stay updated with AerClub communications and plan purchases around these promotions to accelerate your earnings.
How do I Transfer Avios to the British Airways Club?
Here’s how you can shift your Avios from Aer Lingus to British Airways Club, previously known as the British Airways Executive Club:
- Set Up an AerClub Account: If you don't already have an AerClub account, begin by creating one with Aer Lingus.
- Log Into Avios.com: Once your AerClub account is ready, use your AerClub login details to access Avios.com. If this is your first visit, you might need to set a new password.
- Navigate to 'Combine My Avios': Once logged in, head over to the “Manage my account” section and click on “Combine My Avios.”
- Choose Your Transfer Destination: Your available Avios is reflected in your account. Here, you can select British Airways as the destination for your Avios transfer.
- Execute the Transfer: Log into your British Airways account, decide how many Avios you want to transfer, and confirm the action. Transfers are typically instant and come without any fees.
Once your Avios with Aer Lingus are transferred to the British Airways Club, you can use them across:
- BA reward flights: Use your points to book flights with Avios on British Airways and its partner airlines. This is often the most value-packed use of Avios, especially for booking long-haul, premium cabin flights where cash tickets are typically expensive.
- Upgrades: Apply Avios to upgrade an existing booking to a higher class of service, subject to availability.
- Hotel Bookings: Redeem Avios for hotel stays worldwide.
- Car Rentals: Use Avios to cover car rental agreements.
- Experiences: Spend Avios on unique travel experiences and excursions.
Earning BA Club Tier Points with Aer Lingus
Until recently, the partnership between Aer Lingus and British Airways allowed some shared loyalty benefits, mainly the ability to collect Avios points on Aer Lingus flights. However, tier points were not awarded. Travellers often had to choose between more economical flights on Aer Lingus without earning tier points or selecting potentially pricier codeshare flights that offered tier points accumulation.
However, with the latest updates, British Airways Club members can now accumulate tier points on flights directly operated by Aer Lingus, regardless of the flight number.
The amount of tier points you earn with Aer Lingus varies based on the fare class you choose. Here’s an overview:
- Economy Class: The lowest Economy fares (under categories L, S, R, W) accumulate 10 tier points on shorter routes like London to Dublin and 35 points on longer routes such as London to New York. Higher fare classes in the economy (categories Y, M, N) increase to 20 and 70 tier points, respectively.
- Business Class: For Business Class, the lowest fares (category D) earn 40 tier points on short flights, and 140 tier points on longer flights like those across the Atlantic. More flexible business class fares (categories J, C) also grant 40 tier points on short flights and 140 on longer flights.
British Airways provides a BA Tier point calculator that helps passengers estimate the number of Tier Points they can collect based on the flight's distance and booked fare class.
Make sure to use the BA Tier point calculator before booking to understand how your travel choices impact your Tier Point earnings so you can accelerate your journey towards achieving Silver, Gold, or even Gold Guest List status.
