Is it worth buying hotel points to transfer to Avios for the 35% bonus?

Until 8th March, British Airways is offering a 35% bonus if you transfer hotel points from seven major loyalty schemes into Avios – click for my article on that deal.

Since most of the hotel programmes allow you to buy points – and some currently have special offers – I thought it would be interesting to see if any of the deals were so good that you were effectively buying cheap Avios points by buying hotel points.

Here are the deals currently running:

Ends TODAY – 100% bonus when you buy IHG points via this link (open to all)

Ends TODAY – 80% bonus when you buy Hilton Honors points via this link (open to all)

Ends TODAY – 40% bonus when you buy Hyatt Gold Passport points via this link (widely targetted)

Test 1:  Starwood Preferred Guest

There is no bonus on buying Starwood points at present.  Ironically, it is still the best deal on this page.

Starwood points convert at 1:1 into airline miles.  When you convert 20,000 at once, you receive a bonus of 5,000 miles.  The extra 35% bonus from the British Airways promotion is on top of this.

Until 8th March, the maths looks like this:

Buy 20,000 Starwood points for $700 (£564, plus any FX fees on your credit card)

20,000 Starwood points gets you 25,000 Avios

The 35% bonus takes that up to 33,750 Avios

Cost per Avios point = 1.67p per point

This is still more expensive than buying points at the standard BA rate of 1.6p,

Note that your Starwood account must be 14 days old before you can buy points so this is not an option if you do not already have SPG membership.

Remember that you can now transfer Marriott Rewards points into Starwood Preferred Guest at the rate of 3:1.

Test 2: Club Carlson 

Club Carlson devalued its conversion rate to airline miles four years ago and was never going to be a contender here at the standard rate.

40,000 Club Carlson points will cost you $280 (£223). These would convert into 4,000 miles + 35% = 5,400 miles. Cost per Avios = 4.13p.

Verdict: Terrible

Test 3: Hilton HHonors

Given the pathetic conversion rate of Hilton points to Avios (10:1) this was never going to be a good deal even with the 80% bonus which ends today.

10,000 Hilton points costs $100 (£80). Transfers into 1,000 Avios + 35% = 1,350 miles. Cost per Avios point = 5.93p

Verdict: Terrible

Test 4: Hyatt Gold Passport

10,000 Hyatt points costs $240 (£192).  If you are targetted for the current 40% bonus which ends today, this means you would receive 14,000 points for the same money.

This transfers into 4,000 Avios + 35% = 7,560 Avios points.  Cost per Avios points = 2.53p

Verdict: Pointless

Test 5: IHG Rewards Club

IHG is currently offering a bonus of 100% when you buy points.  This offer ends today.

30,000 IHG Rewards Club points costs $345 (£276).  This doubles to 60,000 points and transfers into 12,000 Avios + 35% = 16,200 Avios.  Cost per Avios = 1.70p

Verdict:  Still more than you would pay buying the Avios directly from BA

Test 6: Marriott Rewards

30,000 Marriott Rewards points costs $375 (£300).  This transfers into 10,000 Avios + 35% = 13,500 miles.  Cost per Avios = 2.22p

Verdict: Also no use, more expensive than buying directly from BA

Test 7: Shangri-La Golden Circle

You cannot buy Golden Circle points, as far as I can tell

Conclusion

None of these options offer any real value for buying points purely for the purposes of transferring them to BA.

If you are looking for a cheap top up, the best option at the moment is the Groupon / Iberia offer.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (March 2025)

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 Mastercard

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

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 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

30,000 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large 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, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

American Express Business Platinum

Up to 120,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

Up to 60,000 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.