Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Avoiding British Airways fuel surcharges when flying from Brazil

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There is a messy way of avoiding BA fuel surcharges if flying from Brazil.

You would need to book your redemption at ba.com as 2 x one-ways to benefit from this, which means no Amex 2-4-1 vouchers can be used.

Avios wing 10

However, Million Mile Secrets misses a big point – you can book the same flight via avios.com whilst also not paying a fuel surcharge so no need to mess about with your address.

It is not fully clear if BA Executive Club is breaking Brazilian law in charging UK residents a fuel surcharge when leaving the country on a ticket starting in Brazil. Other airlines seem to think you would be, because they don’t. It is also not clear why avios.com does not add the surcharge when ba.com does!


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Comments (2)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Colin says:

    Taxes on Iberia redemptions – even out of London and on BA numbered flights – are often cheaper than on BA and Avios!

    • Raffles says:

      Do be aware that booking a BA flight with Iberia Avios means it is non cancellable, as I understand it is treated as a OneWorld booking.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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