Avios to Nectar transfers are now instant again

When Avios launched the ability to transfer points to Nectar, I warned that it would lead to serious security issues. After all, there are lots of British Airways Executive Club account details and passwords for sale on the dark web. The only reason we hadn’t seen more accounts hacked is that it was difficult to spend stolen Avios in an untraceable way.

Once you could instantly transfer Avios to Nectar, this all changed. Suddenly a hacked Avios account had real value. You can guess what happened next, and if you can’t guess then read this Sunday Times article which I helped to put together (paywall).

For over two years there has been a 10 day ‘security delay’ on transfers from Avios to Nectar. This has now been removed. Transfers from Avios to Nectar are now instant again.

I tried it out and it definitely works. ‘Instant’ means ‘instant’. If you refresh the Nectar app as soon as you’ve clicked the ‘Transfer’ button at ba.com, you will see your points there.

As a reminder, the exchange rate between Avios and Nectar is:

• 300 Avios = 400 Nectar points

• 400 Nectar points = 250 Avios

Remember that:

• you cannot move Avios back and forth to Nectar without penalty – if you reverse a conversion into Nectar, you will end up worse off than when you started. 300 Avios = 400 Nectar points = 250 Avios.

• the ‘floor value’ of an Avios if you transfer out is 0.66p (300 Avios = 400 Nectar points = £2 to spend with a Nectar partner)

How do you transfer Avios to Nectar points?

You start on the British Airways Nectar page as usual – click here which has all the key information.

You are then sent across to the BA shopping site, where you can make a transfer in either direction between your Avios and Nectar accounts.

It is also possible to set up auto-convert in either direction.

Think once, think twice!

The number of conversions FROM Avios to Nectar has – unfortunately for IAG Loyalty – been far higher than anticipated. The pandemic didn’t help of course. With no ability to fly, cashing out to spend at Sainsbury’s, Argos or eBay.co.uk was attractive.

This is why the conversion rate was cut. It used to be that 250 Avios got you 400 Nectar points worth £2 (so 0.8p per Avios). Now, 300 Avios gets you 400 Nectar points worth £2 (so 0.66p per Avios).

In an attempt to cut the flow ever further, look at the begging message that you now get when doing a transfer – to proceed, you need to click the line in small print.

What the message fails to say is that using Avios for ‘seats, baggage, hotels and car rental’ will get you a lower pence per Avios (0.5p to be precise) than the Nectar transfer!

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (September 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 26th September 2024, sign up for FREE Barclaycard Avios Mastercard and you will receive a sign-up bonus of 10,000 Avios. This is double the usual bonus! You only need to spend £1,000 within 90 days. Our full review is here. Click here to apply.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 80,000 Avios. You will receive 8 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 40,000 Avios. You will receive 4 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. The card is FREE for your first year. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

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