We conducted a survey on how British workers are using their annual leave. As it turns out, many aren’t! We’ve created an infographic showing how much British holiday goes to waste.
Annual leave: take it or leave it?
Avios are the travel rewards points that allow you to turn your everyday spending into flights, hotel stays, upgrades, days out and more. 1.4 million people collected Avios with our top partners in 2014, and we think that’s worth shouting about. Discover more ways to treat yourself with The Avios Travel Rewards Programme and explore a Year of Rewards with Avios.
Award-winning airport hospitality specialist No.1 Traveller and global rewards expert Avios have agreed a new partnership offering generous discounts and travel rewards for all No.1 lounge visits.
With more than 6.4 million Avios collectors worldwide, Avios Travel Rewards Programme customers will now be able to access any lounge in the No.1 collection at the discounted rate of £20.00 when booked via No1Traveller.com/Avios; a saving of up to £15.00. The Avios member making the booking will earn 750 Avios when No.1 lounge access is purchased online in advance. Guests without a pre-booking with also benefit, with a £5.00 discount from the on-the-door rate and 500 Avios.
Available to all departing passengers regardless of carrier or class of travel, No.1 Traveller operates premium lounges located at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Edinburgh Airports. The award winning facilities boast complimentary hot food from a bistro-style menu, tended bars offering complimentary soft and alcoholic beverages, free unlimited WiFi, daily newspapers and magazines, and panoramic runway views.
Avios Travel Rewards Programme customers departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 can also collect 500 Avios when they book No.1 Traveller’s exclusive 2-course dining package at Gordon Ramsay Plane Food via No1Traveller.com. The package, which costs £30.00 per adult, includes a breakfast or day set menu combining home-comfort dishes and Continental classics.
Mark Woodcock, Commercial Director at No.1 Traveller said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our partnership portfolio to include the Avios Travel Rewards Programme. Avios’ vast, global network is innovative in the loyalty market and by joining forces, we’re able to reward more frequent travellers than ever before.”
Andrea Burchett, Commercial Director at Avios, added: “This partnership continues Avios’ tradition of rewarding people for travel and everyday spending, making it easy for them to do so. It’s sure to appeal to our customers as, simply by enjoying the comfortable surroundings of No.1 Traveller’s lounges and dining experiences at a discounted price, they can collect Avios and boost their balance for their trip away.”
For more information visit http://www.No1Traveller.com/avios
Collecting Avios is a great way to help turn your everyday spending into the holiday of a lifetime. As you spend money at the petrol pump, supermarket or on your credit card, you could be collecting Avios that you can use towards flights and other travel rewards. But do you know how many Avios you’ve got? Here’s a quick guide:
Find your Avios online
It’s easy to check your Avios balance instantly, whenever you want to! Simply log on to the ‘My account’ page of the Avios website. You’ll be able to see how many Avios you’ve collected, as well as your last 60 transactions, or your activity from the last 12 months.
If it’s your first time logging-on to your Avios account, don’t worry – set-up is easy. Click on ‘Set up online’, and then follow the instructions to get your account up and running. You’ll need to have your membership number to hand, which you should have received in the post. Your Avios membership (account) number will be 16 digits long, and starts 308147.
Can’t find your membership number?
We have a dedicated team on hand that can help you with this, so head over to our Contact page to give them a call.
For other enquiries, the Avios website hosts a useful Live Chat function where our agents are waiting to assist you with your Avios questions and queries.
Can I merge my account into a household account?
Yes, you can pool your Avios, which means combining your household collective balance in one place. All members must be registered on avios.com (with a valid username and password), must all have the same address and be present when the account is created. Further information can be found here.
Can I combine my Avios from another Avios programme?
Go to the specific page on avios.com to combine your Avios from a British Airways Executive or Iberia Plus account.
Check the app
It’s easy to check your balance on your Apple or Android phone. Download the app from the relevant store to log in and check your balance. It’s also a great place to explore more ways to collect Avios, and grow your numbers of points even faster.
As well as being able to check your balance anywhere, the apps also let you book flights or hotels. Simply log in and start spending your Avios!
See your Avios turn into holidays
You can use your Avios towards flights, upgrades and hotels to car hire. Plus, you can use your Avios on flight upgrades, meaning you could travel in even more style! You can also catch the Eurostar and go to Disneyland Paris, all with your Avios. Alternatively, why not stay in the UK and create memories with your family that will last forever at some of the country’s top attractions and experiences, including the West End Theatre, Spectacular London Sky Tours and many more.
Whatever you’re collecting Avios for, with the online account and app, you should always be in control of your account balance. It makes it even easier to save up for an amazing holiday with Avios!
Becoming a member of the Avios Travel Rewards programme is free and easy. Find out more and sign up at www.avios.com
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The new Avios app allows customers to conveniently access their Avios balance and see exciting ways to use Avios
Avios is set to launch one of Europe’s first loyalty programme apps for Apple Watch, available when Apple Watch launches this Friday.
The Avios app for Apple Watch will allow members of the Avios Travel Rewards Programme to easily see their total Avios balance, alert them when it increases, and help them understand the many ways in which they can spend their Avios. This includes using your Avios for flights to a remarkable 182 destinations, ranging from Warsaw to Mauritius, as well as non-flight options to use Avios such as cases of wine and theatre tickets.
The Avios app for Apple Watch will be available free to download from Apple’s App Store. Users will only be required to log in once with their username and password, ensuring the app is quick and easy to use.
In addition, with the ‘Glance’ functionality on Apple Watch, customers can instantly view their Avios balance without the need to separately open the app.
Gavin Halliday, Managing Director at Avios, comments: “We want to help our customers get as much as they can from Avios and this new Watch app will make it even easier for them to keep track of their points and see the different ways they can use their Avios, not just for flights.
“We are one of the first loyalty programmes in Europe to launch an app for the new Apple Watch. This forms part of our commitment to digital innovation. The way that people interact with brands is changing and digital is a big part of that. We expect the Watch interface to become an increasingly important screen in our collectors’ lives; we have launched this app to ensure that our members can find us there and easily see their balance, and ways to collect and use Avios.”
Apple Watch will be available from 24 April in different sizes and will cost between £299 for an entry-level version and £13,500 for the 18 carat gold model.
For more information about Avios go to www.avios.com
A new partnership between Avios and award-winning multi-utility supplier, Utility Warehouse, means that members can now collect Avios rewards while saving on their energy, telephone and broadband bills.
Utility Warehouse helps keep utility costs lower and makes budgeting simple for customers by combining energy and communication services on a single monthly bill. From this week, UK members of the British Airways Executive Club and Avios Travel Rewards Programme can also collect up to 4,500 Avios in their first year simply by signing up to all the company’s services including Home Phone, Broadband, Mobile, Gas and Electricity, and Bill Protector with up to a further 2,250 Avios for each additional year they remain – that’s half way towards a return flight to Paris or Milan after the first year alone, or en route to some sunshine further afield.
“We’re delighted to be adding Avios to the extensive range of benefits we already offer our members, alongside the UK’s most generous CashBack card and our unique online shopping tool, FindMeTheCheapest. This reflects our ongoing commitment to finding innovative ways of giving customers better value and greater savings through their membership of our Discount Club.”
Charles Wigoder, Chairman, Utility Warehouse
While homeowners that take the full package of Utility Warehouse’s full services receive the most Avios, those signing up for individual services can also collect a significant number of Avios:
To collect Avios, British Airways Executive Club and Avios Travel Rewards Programme members simply need to visit the Utility Warehouse Partner page at http://www.avios.com and click on the link. Customers will be asked to input their membership number when they sign-up and their account will be credited once the chosen services have gone live. Avios will then be credited on a monthly basis going forward.
“This partnership is another way of helping our members collect Avios through everyday spending. By signing up with Utility Warehouse, not only can they reduce their household utility bills, but also save on the cost of their next trip away thanks to the generous Avios collection rate. It’s win-win!”
Andrea Burchett, Commercial Director, Avios
More information
The new Avios app allows customers to conveniently access their Avios balance and see exciting ways to use Avios
On Monday 16 March 2015, Avios unveiled Europe’s first loyalty programme app for the new Apple Watch, available when the Apple Watch launches on 24 April 2015.
The Avios Watch app will allow members of the Avios Travel Rewards Programme to easily see their total Avios balance, alert them when it increases, and help them understand the many ways in which they can spend their Avios. This includes using your Avios for flights to a remarkable 182 destinations, ranging from Warsaw to Mauritius, as well as non-flight options to use Avios such as cases of wine and theatre tickets.
The Avios Watch app will be available free to download from Apple’s App Store. Users will only be required to log in once with their username and password, ensuring the app is quick and easy to use.
The Avios Watch app has the added functionality to appear as a widget in users’ ‘today view’. This means customers can instantly view their Avios balance without the need to separately open the app.
Gavin Halliday, Managing Director at Avios, comments: “We want to help our customers get as much as they can from Avios and this new Watch app will make it even easier for them to keep track of their points and see the different ways they can use their Avios, not just for flights.
“We are the first loyalty programme in Europe to launch an app for the new Apple Watch. This forms part of our commitment to digital innovation. The way that people interact with brands is changing and digital is a big part of that. We expect the Watch interface to become an increasingly important screen in our collectors’ lives; we have launched this app to ensure that our members can find us there and easily see their balance, and ways to collect and use Avios.”
The Apple Watch will be available in different sizes and will cost between £299 for an entry-level version and £13,500 for the 18 carat gold model.
For more information about Avios go to www.avios.com
The Lloyds Bank Avios Rewards Credit Card has been named ‘Best Credit Card Product of the Year’ at The Card & Payment Awards which recognise customer service, excellence and innovation in the UK and Irish card and payment industries. The award-winning Credit Card Representative 23.7% APR variable is packed with great travel benefits including no foreign transaction fees, a British Airways flight upgrade voucher when their spend reaches £7,000 a year, 0% on balance transfers for 18 months and purchases for 16 months as well as the chance to collect 1.25 Avios for every £1 spent.
The Lloyds Bank Avios Rewards credit card is named ‘Best Credit Card Product of the Year’
Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. Do you have anything special planned with your other half? Or is this the first time you’ve thought about it because you’ve been busy trying to recover your energy levels (and bank balance) after Christmas? Either way, now is the time to plan those final romantic touches, and ensure that your loved one is treated as well as she or he deserves to be.
Build up your Avios stash even more by shopping online via the Avios eStore*, which will automatically mean that you’re collecting points, without even noticing.
With online shopping slowly taking over the traditional high street (after all, who would want to trek around town on a Saturday morning, when they can shop within the comfort of their living room?), it’s fair to say that purchasing gifts via the Internet is an appealing idea, especially if it means your loved one will benefit from something more than a cheap card and a voucher for a store they won’t shop at. Head online and shop for something a little more thoughtful from one of the retail giants that are part of the Avios Travel Reward Programme – you’ll be surprised at how many well-known names you will see.
Some of the Avios eStore retailers have some amazing collection rates for you to take advantage of, and if there was ever a good reason to shop at them, it’s for Valentine’s Day. For example, you could pick up some flowers from Interflora and collect 24 Avios for every £1 you spend. Or buy some beautiful accessories, clothes, or trinkets from Notonthehighstreet and collect 8 Avios for every £1 spent. Push the boat out and take advantage of a double Avios deal that is currently running in Selfridges and collect 8 Avios for every £1 you spend on beautiful goods from this high end department store. Alternatively, you could head over to Buyagift and select from a range of fantastic experiences such as spa days, afternoon teas, weekend breaks and swanky meals in top-end restaurants, which you can pamper her with – just because you can (plus you can collect 4 Avios per £1 spend). Fancy surprising her with a special piece of jewellery? Links of London have a great deal on at the moment, which gives you 16 Avios for every £1 you spend, with some stunning pieces to choose from. To top it off, why not book a hotel break with Hotels.com through the eStore, collecting yourself 4 Avios per £1 spend.
Once you’ve collected Avios, you can spend them on a number of fantastic experiences which will make her feel like royalty even more. Choose from treats such as the View from the Shard experience (4,500 Avios), a West End theatre package (from 17,000 Avios per voucher), a comedy night experience for two (3,500 Avios), a champagne trio (17,500 Avios) or a quintessentially British afternoon tea for two at a Park Lane hotel (9,500 Avios).
Spending your Avios points towards a return flight for you both to jetset abroad will always earn you big brownie points on Valentine’s day, so why not dig out those weekend cases and celebrate the holiday of love in true style (without denting the already delicate post-Christmas bank balance) – Avios makes those grand gestures easy!
*Avios will be awarded to accounts within 35 days of purchase. Certain exclusions apply, see individual retail pages within eStore for details. Avios will not be awarded on items that are returned or cancelled. Retailers featured within eStore are subject to change. Standard earn rates vary by retailer, minimum spend applies.
All bookings are subject to availability, prices and activities are correct at the time of going to press but subject to change.
Fly away sooner than you thought with this fantastic new competition, brought to you by Avios and Tesco Clubcard. Simply exchange your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for Avios points, and for every £2.50 you exchange, you will receive one prize draw entry (plus 600 Avios). If you cash in more of your Clubcard vouchers, you’ll be entered more than once – the more entries you have, the more chance of being a winner, so dig out those Clubcard vouchers today!
Plus, there’s not just one chance to win. Avios has got 500 prizes to give away; each of which will reward the winners with 1,500 Avios points to add to their collection – a nice little bonus towards whatever it is you’re saving for. Maybe you will be able to redeem them against your next flight, or enjoy a hotel in the sun that little bit sooner with this points boost? All you have to do is exchange your £2.50 Clubcard vouchers for Avios points, between 1 and 28 February. If you’ve not done this before, it’s easy – read on, and we’ll tell you how:
Exchange of vouchers can either be done automatically (meaning that the Clubcard rewards you accrue are transferred straight away without you doing a thing), or you can choose to trade them in as and when you wish. If you choose to exchange manually, simply sign in to the Avios site, go to the Tesco Clubcard page, select the link ‘get Avios manually’ and choose how many Clubcard vouchers you’d like to exchange using the basket on the right hand side of the page; your Avios account will be credited with 600 points within 28 days, for £2.50 exchange, and you will also be added into the prize draw for extra points on top. You can automatically convert your Clubcard vouchers into Avios by signing in to your ‘My Clubcard Account’ and ticking the box to opt in the ‘My Preferences’ page.
If you are the one of the lucky winners of the 1,500 Avios points, then first of all, congratulations! Now, what can you spend them on? With plenty of options to use them towards, such as flights, hotels, car hire, ferry trips, Eurostar journeys and experience days, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with the choice. However, if you add these 1,500 points to what you already have in your Avios account, and keep collecting them on your everyday shopping and petrol as usual, you will soon see a considerable amount built up, waiting for you to treat yourself.
Entering the Avios points prize draw this February is a quick, easy and effortless incentive to switch your Clubcard vouchers for something even more exciting. If the result of your exchange means that you win one of the 500 prizes that Avios are giving away, then that’s surely a bonus! What have you got to lose? Get swapping your Clubcard vouchers, before the month runs out!
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