Miles & More vs Avios — compared in 2026
Lufthansa Miles & More and British Airways Avios are Europe's two most traded currencies. Compare transfer rules, fees, expiry and what 1,000 points are really worth.
| Feature | Miles & More | Executive Club (Avios) |
|---|---|---|
| Official transfer | ja | ja |
| Family pooling | nein | ja |
| Gift points | ja | ja |
| Award for others | ja | ja |
| Processing time | Transfers usually instant to 24 hours; award bookings instant. | Household bookings instant; combining Avios usually instant. |
| Transfer fees | Transferring miles to another member costs a fee (indicative: around €20 per 5,000 miles). Booking an award for another person is free; the traveller pays taxes and surcharges. | Pooling Avios in a Household Account is free. Moving Avios between BA, Iberia, Qatar, Finnair and Aer Lingus is 1:1 and free. |
| Minimum transfer | 5,000 miles (indicative) | 1,000 Avios when combining (indicative) |
| Expiry rules | Miles normally expire 36 months after crediting; status and HON members and credit card holders have different rules. | Avios expire after 36 months without account activity. |
| Currency | Miles | Avios |
| Region | Global | Europe |
Our verdict
Avios move more flexibly thanks to pooling and household accounts, while Miles & More shines on long-haul business awards. For selling: Avios transfer faster, Miles & More often achieves a higher price on large balances.