Imagine if you had a special type of "video game currency" that worked across five different major games. Instead of having separate points for each, you could move them around freely to buy the rarest skins or power-ups. In the travel world, that currency is Avios.  

For an Indian flyer, Avios is the powerful "money" you can own because it unlocks everything from a quick IndiGo flight to Goa to a world-class luxury "suite" in the sky.

What is the Avios ecosystem?

Avios is a shared currency used by five main airlines: British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia, and Aer Lingus.

• The Superpower: You can move your Avios between these airlines at a 1:1 ratio instantly and for free. 

• Why it matters: If Qatar Airways has a "sale" on points but yours are with British Airways, you just move them over and book the cheaper deal.

The "Sweet Spots" (Best Deals for You)

The table below presents some of the most consistently valuable Avios redemption opportunities from India.
It highlights how redemption value changes based on the route, operating airline, and most importantly the program used to book the ticket.
Across these examples, clear patterns emerge such as lower taxes on long haul routes, unusually strong pricing in premium cabins, and efficient use of Avios on short international sectors.
This table is intended to help readers quickly identify where Avios provide an advantage over cash fares and where program selection plays a decisive role.
Use it as a reference point to evaluate whether earning and transferring Avios makes sense for your travel goals.

The Reality: The Availability Barrier

Points are powerful, but seats are limited. You cannot always book a flight with points just because it is for sale in cash.

• The Golden Timeline: Airlines release seats 330 to 360 days in advance. To snag a Qsuite to the USA, you often need to set an alarm for 5:30 AM exactly 360 days before your trip.  

• Off-Peak is Best: Availability is much higher in February or September than during Diwali or Christmas.

The Math Class (Value per Point)

To know if you are getting a good deal, use this simple formula to calculate your value per Avios:

Value per Avios = (Cash Ticket Price - Taxes and Fees) / Avios Needed

Across the ecosystem, the following valuation trends are typically observed:

• Economy (Long-Haul): 1.1 cents to 1.5 cents (₹0.90 to ₹1.25). This is often poor value because taxes and fees can be 50–70% of a budget cash fare.

• Business Class (Long-Haul): 2.3 cents to 3.7 cents (₹1.90 to ₹3.10). This is the "sweet spot" where your value is maximised.

• First Class: 4.5 cents to 5.0 cents (₹3.75 to ₹4.20) or higher. These offer the highest theoretical value but have very limited seat availability

The Treasure Hunt (How to Earn in India)

You don’t have to fly to earn Avios. Most people in India earn them through "Credit Card Piggy Banks". Indian credit cards offer multiple paths to earn Avios, each suited to a different spending profile. While some cards rely on accelerated earning and transfers, others focus on direct airline partnerships.

• Axis Bank provides some of the strongest earning options. The Axis Atlas Card is among the fastest earners, with 1 EDGE Mile converting into 2 Avios. For high spenders, Magnus for Burgundy is positioned at the top end. Bookings made through the Travel EDGE portal earn 60 reward points per ₹200 spent, and once monthly spends cross ₹1.5 lakh, regular spending earns 35 points per ₹200. These points transfer at a 5:4 ratio, while the standard Magnus card transfers at a 5:2 ratio, reflecting the difference in card tiers.

• HSBC cards stand out for their straightforward transfer structure, with all reward points moving to Avios at a 1:1 ratio. Through the HSBC Rewards Marketplace, the Premier Credit Card earns 36 points per ₹100 on hotels, 18 points per ₹100 on flights, and 6 points per ₹100 on car rentals, over a base earn rate of 3 points per ₹100. The TravelOne Credit Card earns 24 points per ₹100 on hotels and 16 points per ₹100 on flights, along with 4 points per ₹100 on travel and foreign currency spends, and a base earn rate of 2 points per ₹100.

• HDFC Bank users can maximise Avios earnings by booking through the SmartBuy portal, which offers up to 10X rewards. While direct transfers from Infinia or Diners Club Black to British Airways or Qatar Airways are at a 2:1 ratio, value can be preserved by first transferring points to Finnair Plus at a 1:1 ratio, and then moving them onward to British Airways or Qatar Airways without any loss.

• American Express reward points typically transfer to Avios at a 2:1 ratio. This can be partially offset by using the Amex Reward Multiplier portal, which offers accelerated earning of up to 10X points on the Centurion Card and 5X points on the Platinum Card at partner merchants such as Apple, Dyson, Tanishq, Nykaa, and MakeMyTrip.

• IndusInd Bank offers the only credit card in India that earns Avios directly into an airline loyalty account. The card has a ₹10,000 joining fee and earns 6 Avios per ₹200 spent on physical swipes in a selected preferred region. High spenders can earn up to 36,000 bonus Avios annually, split across milestones at ₹8 lakh and ₹16 lakh. For regular usage, the card earns 3 Avios per ₹200 on domestic and international spends, and 5 Avios per ₹200 on Qatar Airways and British Airways transactions. A limited-time joining offer provided 40,000 bonus Avios on spending ₹5,000 within 30 days, for applications made by 7 January 2026.

Other Ways to Earn Avios in India

Flying is no longer the only way to earn Avios in India. Today, Avios can be earned not just through flights, but also via travel partners and regular spending. While flying still plays an important role, a large portion of Avios is now accumulated through airline partnerships and smart use of cards.

Earning Avios by Flying

You earn Avios when you fly with airlines that are part of the oneworld Alliance or their partner airlines. Popular oneworld airlines include Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. The number of Avios you earn depends on the distance you fly and the class of your ticket.

For Indian travellers, the IndiGo partnership is especially important. Qatar Airways has a codeshare agreement with IndiGo, which allows passengers to earn Avios on eligible IndiGo flights when they are booked through Qatar Airways. This effectively turns domestic flights within India into Avios that can later be used for international travel. This setup is particularly useful for frequent business travellers who fly often within India.

Earning Avios from Hotels and Car Rentals

Avios can also be earned without stepping onto an aircraft. Hotel loyalty programmes play a big role here. Marriott Bonvoy points can be converted into Avios at a ratio of three Marriott points for one Avios. There is also a bonus opportunity where transferring 60,000 Marriott points earns an additional 5,000 Avios. Hilton and several other hotel partners also allow members to earn or convert points into Avios.

Car rentals are another way to earn Avios. Companies such as Hertz and Avis offer Avios on eligible rentals. Longer rental durations and holding elite status with these partners can help you earn even more Avios.

The 4-Step Redemption Guide

1. Link Your Accounts: Log in to Qatar Airways or British Airways and use the "Link My Accounts" tool. Your name, email, and date of birth must match exactly on both for this to work.

2. Search for Saver Seats: Use the British Airways website to search for "Reward Flights". Even if you want to fly Qatar, the BA search tool is often more accurate for finding the cheapest Saver seats.  

3. Move Your Points: Once you find a seat, transfer your bank points to the airline. Transfers from Amex or Axis are often instant, but some banks take 24 to 48 hours.

4. Book and Pay Taxes: Finalise the booking on the airline's website. You will pay the Avios amount plus the rough taxes listed below in cash.

Beware the "Taxes Trap"

When you "buy" a flight with points, you still have to pay taxes in cash.

• The British Airways Trap: If you book a flight operated by British Airways, they might charge you ₹50,000+ in "surcharges" (extra fees) even if you use points.  

• The Pro Move: Book the same route but choose Qatar Airways or Iberia flights. Their fees are often significantly lower (under $200 or ₹16,500 round-trip), saving you a substantial amount of money.

Beyond the Plane: Ancillary Use Cases

Avios has evolved into a "lifestyle currency" that you can use even when you aren't in the sky.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF) Shopping: If you are transiting through Doha, you can pay for luxury goods and dining using Avios. Your tier status gives you automatic discounts at the register: 10% for Burgundy, 15% for Silver/Gold, and 20% for Platinum members. Note that high-end boutiques like Gucci, LV, and Hermes are usually excluded.  

Hotels and Technology: You can use Avios to book over 100,000 hotels worldwide through the British Airways or Qatar portals. Additionally, a partnership with Apple allows members to spend Avios on the latest iPhones or MacBooks, though travel redemptions still offer 3-4 times better value.  

Extra Perks: Students in the Student Club get an additional 10 kg baggage allowance on Qatar or IndiGo codeshare flights. Furthermore, Qatar Airways now offers complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi (the fastest in the sky) to its Privilege Club members on select routes.  

Pooling Avios: What You Need to Know

Pooling Avios helps multiple people combine their points to reach redemptions faster, but the rules differ between British Airways and Qatar Airways.

British Airways Executive Club allows pooling through a Household Account. Up to seven people living at the same address can join. Each member continues to earn Avios individually, but when a reward flight is booked, Avios are deducted proportionally from all accounts associated with the member. One person acts as the Head of Household and controls the addition or removal of members. Avios can also be used to book flights for up to five nominated friends or family members who live elsewhere.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club uses a Family Programme. One Main Member can add up to nine family members. All Avios earned by family members are credited directly to the Main Member’s account, giving full control over redemptions. However, only the Main Member earns elite status points. If a member leaves, Avios already earned remain with the Main Member.

Avios can be transferred 1:1 between British Airways and Qatar Airways, but only between your own linked accounts. Pooled Avios cannot be moved directly to another person’s account across programmes.

Summary Checklist for Success

The Avios ecosystem remains the most versatile loyalty platform for Indian residents in 2026. Its primary advantage is its flexibility; by maintaining a presence in multiple programs and mastering the credit card transfer chains, an Indian traveller can achieve a lifestyle of global premium travel that is effectively subsidised by their domestic consumption.

• Don't Hoard: Airlines can change the "prices" of points (devaluation). British Airways did this in December 2025, raising prices by ~10%. "Earn and Burn" is the best strategy.  

• Match Your Name: When linking accounts (like BA and Qatar), your name, birthdate, and email must match exactly, or the transfer will fail.

• Centralise family points in a Qatar Airways Privilege Club account to leverage the superior Family Programme rules and lower surcharges.

• Prioritise Business Class redemptions on "Zone 2" routes (e.g., India to Doha) where the value-per-point is highest. 

• Check "Saver" Awards: Always look for "Saver" rates. If the points price appears to be double what's listed above, it's a "Flexi" fare—don't book it unless you're desperate!

• Maintain account activity at least once every 36 months to prevent the forfeiture of hard-earned assets.

By using the right credit cards, you can fly in luxury across the globe for the price of a regular budget ticket!