Travelling is twice as enjoyable with great company. And while the rising costs of flying may put a spanner in your plans, where there's a will, there's always a way.
We've previously mentioned the British Airways Companion Voucher and how it's a godsend for your wallet. Today, let's go over the best strategies to make the most of the Avios Companion Voucher. Just to sweeten the deal, we're also throwing in our recommendation for the best routes to book using your voucher.
What is a Companion Voucher?
A British Airways Companion Voucher, often called a "two-for-one" (2-4-1) voucher, is a great way to boost your Avios’ value. When travelling with a companion, the voucher works like a two-for-one deal. It effectively lets you book a return flight for yourself and receive a second ticket in the same cabin for a travel partner without using additional Avios. You will still have to pay the usual taxes, fees, and carrier charges for both tickets though. If you're travelling solo, you can use the Companion Voucher to reduce the Avios points cost of your reward flight by 50%, again paying only taxes and fees for your ticket.
Typically, the best use of a Companion Voucher is on long-haul Business or First Class flights, which often yield the best Avios value (around 1p per Avios). However, short-haul Economy flights can be a good option if you're new to solo travel or find a long-haul journey too tiring.
How Do You Earn a Companion Voucher?
You can earn a British Airways Companion Voucher with Amex and Avios. You must first join the British Airways Club, BA's free frequent flyer programme, where your Avios points and Companion Vouchers are stored. Next, you should link your British Airways Club account to a British Airways American Express credit card.
You have two main choices when it comes to Amex credit cards: the fee-free British Airways American Express Card, which requires £15,000 in spending per membership year, earns 1 Avios per £1 spent and offers a voucher valid for one year that can be used only on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus Reward Flight flights in Euro Traveller, World Traveller and Economy class cabins.
The second option is the British Airways Premium Plus American Express Card, which costs £300 per year. It also requires £15,000 in spending but provides a voucher valid for two years for use in any cabin. It earns 1.5 Avios per £1 spent and unlocks extra Business Class availability.
Your membership year starts the day your credit card application is approved. Once you meet the spending requirement, the Companion Voucher is automatically credited to your BA Club account within a few days, and you'll receive an email confirmation shortly thereafter.
Which Card Offers the Best Value?
Deciding which Avios points credit card offers the best value depends on your preferences. From a purely objective point of view, the Premium Plus card might make more sense for frequent travellers as it provides excellent value. If you consider Avios as money, long-haul Business Class flights give you the best value. That's because the jump in Avios and taxes between Economy and Business Class is smaller than the jump in their cash prices. When you effectively get two Business Class tickets for the Avios cost of one, the savings can be huge.
For example, a Companion Voucher on a Business Class flight to New York can save you 100,000 Avios for off-peak dates or 120,000 Avios at peak times. Each Avios is worth around 1p on long-haul Business Class flights, meaning you might save up to £1,200, easily covering the £300 annual fee. By contrast, vouchers from the fee-free card can only be used in Economy, have a lower Avios-to-cash value, and require more spending to earn. Plus, they expire in one year.
Another important thing to keep in mind before you get an Avios points credit card is to make sure you clear your balance every month. You must also collect enough Avios to redeem at least one flight with a Companion Voucher for the credit card to be worthwhile.
Redeeming Your BA Companion Voucher
You can redeem your Avios Companion Voucher online by signing in to your British Airways Club account on the British Airways website, selecting "Book a flight with Avios," and checking the box to apply your voucher. If you have a Premium Plus voucher, you may see extra Business Class seats that aren't usually visible.
Remember that your outbound journey must begin before the voucher expires, although you can return later. If you'd prefer an open jaw itinerary (for example, flying into one city and out of another) or have trouble booking online, you can call British Airways directly. Be aware that BA typically releases a limited number of reward seats 355 days before departure, especially for popular routes and premium cabins, so if you have a specific date in mind — especially during peak times — booking at midnight GMT (or 1 am BST in summer) can improve your chances.
A few rules are important to remember: you can only use a Companion Voucher on British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus flights (codeshares and other oneworld partners are excluded). The voucher holder must be one of the passengers unless you use two vouchers for four people. You can cancel reward flights for a fee (usually £35 per person) and get the voucher refunded.
Key Strategies to Keep in Mind
Now that we've covered the basics of using a BA Companion Voucher, here are some important points to keep in mind to get the best value out of it:
You’re Saving Real Cash
When using a 2-for-1 Companion Voucher, you're really saving the cost of a cash fare for your companion. Aim for the "1p per Avios" rule to see how much you stand to gain. A good example is an off-peak Business Class return between London and Bangkok, usually costing 400,000 Avios and £1,150 for two people. With the voucher, you pay 200,000 Avios and £1,150, saving £2,000 if you value Avios at 1p each. As a real cash example, if you check the BA website right now, a return Business Class flight in March will cost you £5,331.12 per person. When you compare that to the cash value you pay with Avios Companion Voucher you’re saving a massive £7,512.24 for two people.
Aim for a Long-haul Business Class Redemption
Long-haul Business Class redemptions provide the best value when comparing the cash fare to the Avios equivalent cost. For example, a return off-peak Business Class flight between London and Hong Kong typically costs 200,000 Avios + £575 per person, a total of 400,000 Avios + £1,150 for two travellers. However, if you use a Companion Voucher, the cost drops to 200,000 Avios + £1,150 for two people, saving you £2,000, based on the 1p per Avios valuation. Using the same real cash example above for Hong Kong in April via BA.com, you’re saving £5,395.64 for two people on a long-haul redemption - a saving you certainly won’t achieve in short-haul.
Always Aim for Premium Cabins
Taxes and fees don't vary much by cabin class, so it makes sense to redeem your Companion Voucher for Business or First Class if you can. For example, a Premium Economy flight from London to Chicago might cost £305 in taxes, whereas Business Class is only £375, just £70 more for a far better experience.
Short-haul Business Class Redemptions Can Make Sense in Some Cases
If you don't have enough Avios for a long-haul Business Class redemption or prefer a shorter trip, consider using your Companion Voucher on a short-haul Business Class route. Pick a longer flight, such as from London to Cairo, to enjoy more comfort. An off-peak Economy ticket to Cairo may carry £80 in taxes, but Business Class is only £205, just £125 more for a five-hour journey with extra space and better service.
Take Advantage of Extra Business Class Seats with I-Class
I-Class is a special award seat category that provides additional Business Class availability for travellers using a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher. This means Companion Voucher bookings have access to more Business Class seats that are not available through standard Avios redemptions. Since September 2021, British Airways has opened this I-Class stock for select long-haul routes such as Singapore, Tokyo, or the Maldives if you call BA directly or check the BA website.
Avoid Using Your Companion Voucher on Discounted Long-Haul Routes
Long-haul Economy flights that regularly go on sale (e.g. London to New York) may not be a great use of your Companion Voucher. You'll still need to pay taxes, fees, and surcharges for two people, but you won't need extra Avios for the second passenger. For example, using a Companion Voucher for a return economy flight between London and New York on an off-peak date would cost 50,000 Avios plus £200 in fees for two passengers. However, Economy sale fares to New York can drop to £300 or lower, so you might be better off paying cash and saving your voucher for a more valuable redemption.
Consider Peak Season European Travel
If you must travel during school holidays or peak seasons, consider using your Companion Voucher on European routes. Although it's not typically the best Avios redemption, it can save you a decent amount if summer prices have soared. London to Spain, the Balearic Islands, and Greece often experience steep fare increases during the school summer holidays, so they could be a great option for a short-haul Companion Voucher redemption. Families with tight travel windows might find this especially helpful.
Never Let It Expire
A Companion Voucher can be worth hundreds if not thousands of pounds in saved airfare, so it's a huge loss if it goes unused. Keep track of your voucher's expiry date to ensure you get the most out of your Avios.
Make Your Companion Voucher Work Even Harder with Wise
Using your Companion Voucher can already save you hundreds (or even thousands) in flight costs—but when it comes to actually spending abroad, the right travel payment tools can stretch your savings even further.
Enter Wise—a multi-currency account and debit card built for travellers who want to avoid the hidden costs of international spending. Wise gives you access to:
The real exchange rate (the one you see on Google)
Low, transparent fees on foreign transactions
ATM withdrawals worldwide
The ability to hold and convert over 40 currencies in-app
While you might use your BA Amex to earn Avios on flight bookings or major travel expenses, Wise is perfect for on-the-ground purchases—think taxis in Tokyo, hotel bar tabs in Singapore, or even museum tickets in Tel Aviv.
Use your Companion Voucher to fly better. Use Wise to spend smarter. Together, they give you the best possible value for your adventures—without the foreign transaction fees that often sneak up on traditional credit cards.
What are the Best Routes to Use these Strategies?
Of course, not all routes are created equal. If you’re focused on cold hard cash savings, you need to find the sweet spot where the Avios spent is worth the distance covered, and the taxes and fees paid are still less than the savings you make. However, value isn’t always cash based - and using your Companion Voucher can help you access Business Class cabins with a much superior in-flight experience to Economy. This is especially desirable when it comes to long-haul routes when sleep is a must. With that said, here are some of our favourite routes where you can use these strategies:
Long-Haul Business Class Redemptions
London – St. Kitts
A return off-peak Business Class flight usually costs 180,000 Avios plus £475 per person, totalling 360,000 Avios and £950 for two. Using a Companion Voucher brings it down to 180,000 Avios plus £950. At a rate of 1p per Avios, that saves you £1,800 theoretically. As a real cash example, if you check the BA website right now, a return Business Class flight in April will cost you £6,654.58 per person. When you compare that to the cash value you pay with Avios Companion Voucher you’d save £10,559.16 for two people.
London – Tokyo
Off-peak Business Class flights for two typically cost 400,000 Avios plus £1,150 (200,000 Avios plus £575 each). With a Companion Voucher, you pay 200,000 Avios plus £1,150, which means £2,000 in savings if you stick to the 1p per Avios guideline. Using the BA website to compare real cash cost, a return Business Class flight in March will cost you £7,929.62 per person. When you compare that to the cash value you pay with Avios Companion Voucher you’d save a huge £12,709.24 for two people.
London – Singapore
An off-peak Business Class return for two generally requires 440,000 Avios (220,000 each) plus £1,250 (£625 each). Redeeming with a Companion Voucher reduces this to 220,000 Avios plus £1,250, saving £2,200 at a 1p per Avios rate. Using the BA website to compare real cash cost, a return Business Class flight in March will cost you £5,348.12 per person. When you compare that to the cash value you pay with Avios Companion Voucher you’d save £7,246.24 for two people.
London – Shanghai
An off-peak Economy reward flight costs £200 in taxes, while Business Class costs £575. Although that's £375 more, you get a lie-flat bed on night flights, plus added privacy in Club World, leaving you far more rested upon arrival.
London – Sydney
Economy on an off-peak return costs £300 in taxes, whereas Business Class is £775, a £475 difference. Given the 24-hour travel time, having a flatbed and extra amenities in Club World can be a major upgrade.
London – Tel Aviv
Though it's technically a short-haul route, the flight takes five hours. Off-peak Economy taxes are £80, while Business Class taxes are £205, a difference of £125. If you don't have BA lounge access through Silver or Gold status, flying Business Class also lets you relax in the lounge at no extra cost (which can otherwise be £30-£40 per person).
*Please note: All information accurate at time of writing and flight search via BA.com on 03/03/25*
