NEW: Transfer Choice Privileges hotel points into Avios

Avios has gained a new hotel partner – Choice Privileges.

With zero fanfare, Choice Hotels has appeared as a transfer partner on the British Airways website (click here) which is good news for any readers who may be sitting on some Choice Privileges points.

This is very possible due to the recent acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas by Choice.

As a quick recap for new readers, Radisson Hotels was acquired in 2018 by a Chinese state-owned hotel group, Jin Jiang.

The acquisition fell foul of the US Government, which was concerned about what may happen to the passport and credit card data shared by guests. In 2022, the Americas arm of Radisson Hotels was sold to Choice Hotels.

At this point, members of Radisson Rewards had a choice. They could see their points converted into Choice Privileges points (which would let them continue to redeem at US Radisson hotels as well as all other Choice properties) or keep them in Radisson Rewards and continue to be able to redeem for Radisson properties outside the Americas.

This is why, even though Choice Privileges has almost no properties in the UK, you may well have some of its points.

What are the Choice Hotels brands?

Choice Hotels is generally focused on the ‘value’ end of the hotel market with the majority of properties being in the United States.

Brands include (apart from the acquired Radisson brands in the US) Cambria, Comfort, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Everhome Suites, Woodspring Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, EconoLodge and Rodeway Inn.

What is the conversion rate from Choice Privileges to Avios?

As you can see here, the exchange rate from Choice Privileges into Avios is 5:1.

You can convert into either a British Airways, Iberia Plus or Aer Lingus account.

Other airline partners include AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France KLM, Alaska, Qantas, Southwest, Turkish, United and Virgin Australia.

I don’t know enough about Choice Privileges to know if 5:1 is a decent ratio or not. However, since Marriott Bonvoy is the only hotel programme I have ever looked at where converting to airlines miles is decent value, I suspect not.

It’s more likely that you have a handful of Choice Privileges points which you had written off as worthless but which may now let you salvage a small number of Avios.

The full list of British Airways hotel partners is here.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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