Moving Avios between BA, Iberia and Qatar: the rules

Last checked: 1 November 2026.

The short answer: you can move Avios between your own accounts at the British Airways Club, Iberia Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, Vueling Club, Finnair Plus and Loganair Loyalty through avios.com. Qatar Privilege Club has its own link from your BA Club account. Each account must be in your name with matching details and at least 30 days old. Once linked, accounts generally can't be unlinked. The one exception: BA Club members can still unlink Qatar and Finnair accounts. Moving Avios between programmes doesn't count as activity for expiry, so moving them won't keep your balance alive.

Why move Avios at all?

All these programmes use the same currency, but each has its own reward prices, cash charges and seat availability. Moving Avios lets you:

• book a reward with another airline's programme when it suits your trip better;
• pull Avios from several programmes into one account to reach the amount a reward costs;
• use Avios collected elsewhere (for example from Amex or Nectar) wherever the flight you want is bookable.

Compare the same flight in each programme before you move anything, including the cash you'll still pay.

The official rules

From avios.com's Transfer Avios page and FAQs:

• Same person, matching details. Your first name, surname and email address must match on both accounts, and your date of birth too if either account holds it. Avios.com asks you to use your passport details.
• 30-day wait. "Your accounts must be at least 30 days old." You must also wait 30 days after joining a programme before you can move Avios.
• One link per programme. You can link one account from each participating programme.
• No unlinking, with two exceptions. "Once accounts are linked, they cannot be unlinked." Avios's help centre adds that "BA Club members may still unlink their Qatar Privilege Club and Finnair Plus accounts".
• Online only. "Account linking and Avios transfers can only be completed online", not through contact centres.
• Limits. For Blue, Clásica, Green or Basic tier members, a limit of 1,000,000 Avios per programme applies in any rolling 12 months.
• Household accounts. Any household account member can link their own account, but "each household member can only move Avios from their own balance".

Qatar works through BA. Avios.com sends you to a separate Qatar link that you sign in to with your BA Club account. Qatar Privilege Club says linking with BA lets you "move Avios between them instantly and at no cost". Qatar's terms (clause 29) say the link only becomes available 30 days after the account is created.

Where the official terms disagree

Avios.com's FAQs and the Combine my Avios section of the Avios terms and conditions say different things on three points. Until Avios clarifies, treat these as Not yet confirmed:

If you've only just joined Iberia Club, allow for the longer 90-day wait. If you're moving a very large balance, check the limit in your account first.

Step by step: BA Club to Iberia (or Aer Lingus, Vueling, Finnair, Loganair)

1. Join the other programme, using the same name, email and date of birth as your BA Club account. Use your passport details.

2. Wait until both accounts are at least 30 days old. For Iberia, see the conflict above.

3. Go to avios.com → Move Avios → Transfer Avios.

4. Choose where to move from, then the destination, and link the accounts. You'll get a confirmation email once they're linked.

5. Enter the number of Avios and confirm.

6. Check both balances. The Avios T&Cs say moved Avios "will usually be shown against the specified account immediately".

Step by step: BA Club to Qatar Privilege Club

1. Make sure your Privilege Club account is at least 30 days old and your details match your BA Club account.

2. On avios.com's Transfer page, choose Transfer to Qatar Airways. You'll be asked to sign in to your BA Club account.

3. Link the accounts and enter the amount. Qatar says the move is instant and free.

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The expiry trap

Moving Avios around won't keep them from expiring:

• Avios T&Cs: "Moving Points using CMA will not count as earning or redeeming Points and will not prevent the expiry of your Points balance."
• Iberia Club conditions (our translation from Spanish): transfers between the British Airways Club, Vueling Club, Iberia Club and any other Avios programme aren't counted as activity. Nor are transfers between Iberia Club members.
• Qatar counts collecting, spending, buying or gifting at least one Avios every 36 months. If Avios expire, its terms allow you to revalidate them within a year for a fee.

Keep each balance alive with a real earn or spend at least once every 36 months. See our points expiry rules guide.

Worked examples

Example 1: topping up for a Qatar booking. You have 40,000 Avios at BA and 5,000 at Qatar, and the reward you want costs 45,000. Once both accounts are over 30 days old and linked, move 40,000 from BA to Qatar. Qatar says this is instant and free.

Example 2: a new Iberia account. You opened Iberia Club 45 days ago. Avios.com's 30-day rule says you can move Avios. The Avios terms' 90-day Combine my Avios rule says you can't. This is a Not yet confirmed point, so if your booking is urgent, don't rely on the Iberia route.

Example 3: the irreversible link. You have two Vueling accounts and link the wrong one to BA. You can't undo the link (only Qatar and Finnair links can be undone), so you'd never be able to move Avios from the other account. Choose carefully and correct your details before linking.

Related ways to share Avios

• BA household account: pool Avios with people at your address. See How Avios household accounts work.
• Iberia: you can transfer Avios to any Iberia Club member, or use an Iberia Family Account to spend together.
• Qatar Family & Friends: pool Avios with nominated members (see our Qatar profile).

For background, read Avios explained. For the latest scheme changes, see BA Club and Avios changes explained or sign up for RewardsSorted's free email alerts.

FAQ

Can I move Avios to someone else's account? Not through the avios.com Move tool, which is for your own linked accounts. Use a household account, or Iberia's member-to-member transfer.

Is it free to move Avios between BA and Qatar? Qatar says moves between Privilege Club and BA are instant and "at no cost".

Can I unlink my BA and Iberia accounts? No. Avios.com says linked accounts can't be unlinked. The only exceptions are BA Club links to Qatar Privilege Club and Finnair Plus.

Does moving Avios reset the 36-month expiry clock? No. The Avios terms and Iberia's conditions both say transfers between programmes don't count as activity.

How soon can I move Avios after joining Iberia? Not yet confirmed. Avios.com says 30 days, but the Avios terms say Combine my Avios can't be used within 90 days of joining Iberia Club.

Sources and last checked

All checked on 1 November 2026:

• Avios.com, Transfer Avios and FAQs: https://avios.com/move/transfer-avios
• Avios.com, Help centre, My account (unlinking exception for Qatar and Finnair): https://www.avios.com/en-GB/help/my-account
• Avios, Terms and Conditions (Combine my Avios, sections F.9.5 to F.9.11): https://www.avios.com/en-GB/terms-and-conditions
• Qatar Airways, Link your accounts or convert: https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/Privilege-Club/convert-and-link-accounts.html
• Qatar Airways, Privilege Club T&Cs (clauses 8.7, 8.8 and 29): https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/Privilege-Club/terms-and-conditions.html
• Iberia, Iberia Club general conditions (Spanish; expiry and family account sections): https://www.iberia.com/gb/iberia-club/condiciones/
• Iberia, Donate or transfer your Avios (Spanish): https://www.iberia.com/gb/iberia-club/transferir-avios/

RewardsSorted is independent and has no commercial relationship with any airline. Information only, not financial advice.