Buying Avios vs. earning: Is buying worth it?
Avios are the currency of British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Aer Lingus. Unlike Miles & More, the Avios program allows direct transfers between accounts — making Avios the most liquid mile currency on MilesMarket. But is it worth buying Avios instead of earning them through flights and credit cards? The answer depends on how quickly you need them.
What does buying Avios cost?
On MilesMarket, Avios prices range from 1.0–1.5 cents per mile. For 50,000 Avios, you pay €500–750. British Airways itself sells Avios directly — but at 1.7–2.1 cents per mile, significantly more expensive. Buying through MilesMarket is therefore 30–50% cheaper than the official direct purchase.
How long does earning take?
Through regular flights, you earn about 5,000–10,000 Avios per year if you take 2–3 long-haul flights with British Airways or partner airlines. With a credit card (e.g., BA Visa), it's 15,000–25,000 Avios per year. To reach 50,000 Avios for a long-haul award, you need 2–5 years — or you buy the missing miles in 5 minutes.
When is buying worth it?
Buying is worth it when: (1) you have a specific award ticket in mind and only need a few thousand more Avios, (2) the direct BA booking would be more expensive than buying miles, or (3) you want to use a time-sensitive award (e.g., a promo availability that's only open for a few days). For purely speculative buying without a concrete travel plan, earning is the better option.
FAQ
- How do Avios transfer between accounts?
- Avios can be transferred for free and instantly between British Airways Executive Club accounts — this is the biggest advantage over Miles & More. Sellers on MilesMarket use this official transfer route.
- Are purchased Avios safe?
- Yes, when the transfer goes through the official Avios transfer route. MilesMarket only facilitates official transfers and holds the payment until confirmation. Login credentials are never shared.