Earn Up to 10,000 British Airways Miles for Avis Rentals

With the recent 100,000-mile sign-up offer for new British Airways credit card customers, there's been an uptick in interest among U.S.-based travelers in the Executive Club program.

For its part, British Airways will have to keep the promotion pipeline filled with U.S.-focused offers in order to maintain the interest of Americans, most of whom fly rarely if ever to Europe or beyond.

This Avis promotion is a step in the right direction.

Offer Details

Through August 31, British Airways Executive Club members with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada can earn up to 10,000 bonus miles for Avis rentals, as follows:

• 2,000 bonus miles for the first rental
• 3,000 bonus miles for the second rental
• 5,000 bonus miles for the third rental

Each qualifying rental must be of a Group C car type or higher, for three or more days.

And finally, to earn the bonuses, "reservations must be made using a British Airways/Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: Gold members N744400; Silver members N744300; Blue members N744100. Reservations made on ba.com (after Executive Club login) and avisba.com (with Executive Club passenger type selected) will automatically have the correct AWD embedded in the rental."

Deal or No Deal

There are two aspects to this offer that require consideration.

First, is the required AWD rate a competitive one, or at least not so onerously high that paying it amounts to overpaying for the extra miles? Compare the AWD rate with the lowest rate you can get through your preferred distribution channel before booking.

And second, could you earn more miles for comparable rentals from a different program? Or the same bonuses from a program in which you're more invested? Again, check and compare before committing.

Reader Reality Check

Are you a U.S. Executive Club member? How engaging do you find the program?

Other Posts of Interest

• British Air Card Now Offers 50,000 Bonus Miles, No Foreign Transaction Fees
• What Would You Do With 100,000 British Air Frequent Flyer Miles?
• Q&A: How Could a British Airways Award Ticket Cost More Than $500?
• Q&A: Help, I Can No Longer Afford That "Free" Ticket!
• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?

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Comments

[Susan]

We were hoping to fly to Scotland using British Airways miles gained by using their credit card. When I tried to book flights, there was no availability this summer. When I called them, they said they only allow nine reward seats per plane--no wonder everything was booked! When I checked with their partner, American, the tax and fuel surcharge would be even higher. For the two of us it would cost over $1,400 in tax and surcharges and this is with 100,000 points! It's a waste of the points if you ask me. We're better off using them for four domestic round trips or maybe tickets to Hawaii on American. I know the domestics are only $5 per person using points. I'm disappointed with British Airways for giving their customers such a bad offer on their own flights.

[Matt]

I'm signed up in the program only from the Chase BA VISA promo. I have yet to redeem for travel, but similar to other complaints, the fuel-surcharges are a detracting feature of the program.

Specific to this deal, a recent check of pricing with this AWD would have resulted in an additional $100 on a 5-day rental vs. the AWD I usually use. And since I primarily fly *A, what am I going to do with the extra miles?

[Denny]

The BA Executive Club membership is a joke! Unless you fly business class all the time, you can never qualify to get to their Silver level at the end of each year, which is where some of the benefits start.

Not only have I stopped flying BA, but I am hoping to trade/exchange my 48,000 miles on Points.com for Star Alliance points.