Avios has unveiled a new partnership with Barclays, enabling UK customers to earn monthly Avios and annual return flight cabin upgrade vouchers.

The partnership was first announced in February 2020, but has taken until now to officially launch.

Barclays Avios Rewards will be made available to Barclays Premier Banking and Wealth customers “in the coming weeks”, and costs £12 per month.

For this members receive 1,500 Avios per month, plus an annual British Airways return flight cabin upgrade voucher, valid for two years on Avios reward flight bookings.

In addition new customers switching to an eligible Barclays current account and joining the Barclays Avios Rewards programme will receive a bonus of 25,000 Avios, while existing customers joining the programme will get a bonus of 2,500 Avios.

Avios balances collected through the programme will be transferred to members’ Executive Club accounts each month.

The move follows the new promotion by the Virgin Red rewards club, offering members 15,000 Virgin Points when switching to a Virgin Money current account.

Virgin Red offers 15,000 points for switching to a Virgin Money current account

 

To join the Barclays Avios Rewards customers must be a Premier Banking customer or have a personal Wealth current account. They also need to register for the Barclays app, opt into paperless letters and statements for all accounts and services now and in the future, and opt out of Blue Rewards if they are an existing member.

This page on the Barclays website outlines eligibility for joining Premier Banking – requirements include an annual gross income of £75,000 or more paid into a Barclays current account, or £100,000 or more saved or invested with the bank.

Commenting on the news Jose Maria Carvalho, managing director at Barclays, said:

“Our new Barclays Avios Rewards programme is a great way to help our customers’ get closer to the travel they want by offering them a straightforward way to build up Avios that they can put towards trips and experiences when the time is right.”

“By the end of their first year, customers could have enough Avios to fly peak return to Munich or Nice in Economy and they will also have the option of using their free upgrade voucher for the trip if they wish.”

British Airways Executive Club recently unveiled a new partnership between its Avios loyalty currency and the Sainsbury’s driven Nectar programme.

Avios unveils new loyalty partnership with Nectar

barclays.co.uk, avios.com