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NEW: Earn Avios on all China Southern flights, not just codeshares

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Since 2019, British Airways has had a Joint Business Agreement with China Southern.

A Joint Business Agreement is stronger than a codeshare agreement. It typically means that:

  • the airlines will co-ordinate their schedules where both fly the same route
  • the airlines will co-ordinate their schedules in order to match longhaul with connecting shorthaul flights
Earn Avios with China Southern
  • the airlines will jointly set pricing on routes where both fly
  • the airlines will jointly share revenue, irrespective of which airline carries the passenger
  • passengers will be able to mix and match airlines on return trips
  • frequent flyer benefits will be fully aligned

China Southern is believed to be heading towards membership of the oneworld airline alliance, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Despite the Joint Business Agreement, it was only possible to earn Avios on China Southern flights if they were booked under a BA flight number. This has now changed.

China Southern flights with a CZ flight number will now earn Avios.

You can see details on the ba.com airline partner page here. The rates run from 25% of miles flown for discounted Economy to 150% of miles flown for First Class.

Note that you will not earn BA tier points on flights booked under a CZ flight code. You will earn tier points on China Southern flights with a BA flight number.


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 (57)

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

  • Chrisasaurus says:

    First wing baggage belts not working this AM and no indication how long will be so was a trip through business checking instead. Same as earlier in the week – south security OK, moving albeit slowly. No fast track at either

  • BJ says:

    Ah, sorry, just commented on the IHG promo under the other article before reading this one.

    • Alex Sm says:

      No worries, someone else here commented earlier on an unrelated subject whatsoever. So 1-1 😁

  • Spare says:

    “If you didn’t receive the email from IHG you may want to see if it works for you anyway, especially if you are opted out of IHG marketing emails. Use promo code 23473 if requested.”

    Also a great way to get your account shut.

    • BSI1978 says:

      Yup, surprised to see this course if action suggested tbh…

      • Rob says:

        No … if you’re not targeted, it refuses your registration.

    • Harry T says:

      IHG are unlikely to shut your account over this.

      • meta says:

        They have closed accounts for minor transgressions than this.

      • Spare says:

        Actually, they are very likely to do so.

      • BJ says:

        Time to get back to school @Harry 🙂 Hope you are ok, some of us were wondering where you were of late.

      • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

        Not a risk many of us are prepared to take.

        I value the totality of my benefits over earning a few thousand non qualifying points.

        Now loads of people will pop along and say “I’ve done it before no problems”. But you rarely hear from those whose accounts have been closed.

        • jjoohhnn says:

          Well, if the IHG/Creation credit card fiasco was anything to go by, I think you would!

    • John says:

      Your account won’t get closed because they fixed the IT and it won’t let you register if they don’t want you to

  • AviosNovice says:

    Does this IHG promo apply to existing bookings? Or do I have to cancel and rebook?

  • Pointofview says:

    I transferred some points from HSBC to Etihad in the last promo and neither the points nor the bonus ever showed up in my Etihad Guest account.

    • Jo More says:

      Same with me, but after some long laborious phone calls with HSBC and Etihad and a couple of emails, both my miles and bonus were credited, albeit almost a year later – literally last week was when my bonus points landed. Obviously with their recent changes to their partner spending, I kind of wish I hadn’t now.

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    If you don’t get the email it may show when you log into your account so may be worth looking there.

  • Olly says:

    Not showing for me, even once the code entered

  • Billy says:

    IHG

    We’re sorry, this offer is not available to you. A list of current offers can be found on the IHG® Rewards Club Offers page. We look forward to having you as a guest

    • davefl says:

      ditto. not amused as I’ve got 10 nights at IHG coming up and a bonus would have been nice.

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

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