British Airways Club
British Airways
VS
Etihad Guest
Etihad Airways
British Airways Club vs Etihad Guest: which loyalty program wins?
We score British Airways Club and Etihad Guest on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.
Verdict
British Airways Club is best for Frequent flyers, while Etihad Guest is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip British Airways Club if Anyone targeting elite status, and skip Etihad Guest if Domestic flyers.
Overall rating
| British Airways Club | Etihad Guest | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.1 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 5.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 4.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| British Airways Club | Members earn two currencies on BA-marketed flights and oneworld partners: Avios (the spending currency) and Tier Points (the status currency). Avios accrue at 6 per £1 (Blue), 7 (Bronze), 8 (Silver), or 9 (Gold) on eligible BA spending. Tier Points: 1 per £1 of eligible BA spend (fare + extras like seats, baggage), 2 per £1 of Sustainable Aviation Fuel contributions (April 2026 update, max 2,000 tier points/year). Bonus tier points based on fare type (April 2026): flexible fares earn more than standard fares within the same cabin. American Airlines and Iberia flights now earn bonus tier points based on cabin/haul. No Saudi bank issues a BA co-branded card. Avios can also be earned via Marriott Bonvoy transfer (3:1 ratio, 5,000 bonus per 60,000 points). | |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Guest | Members earn Etihad Guest Miles by flying with Etihad Airways or 25+ partner airlines including American Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Australia, SAS, and others. Earning also extends to 300,000+ hotels through Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, car rentals with Avis and Budget, the Etihad Guest shopping portal, and dining partners. Members can also purchase miles (up to 100,000 per year, 150,000 for Platinum) and use the MilesBooster feature for retroactive miles on past flights. For Tier Miles (which qualify members for status), only Etihad flights and Etihad-issued payment cards count — partner flights no longer earn Tier Miles as of June 2024. |
Redemption structure
| British Airways Club | Avios redeem for award flights and upgrades on BA, oneworld partners. Reward Flight Saver offers fixed cash + Avios pricing for select short-haul routes. Standard award flights use variable Avios + taxes/fees. BA award redemptions include high carrier-imposed surcharges (especially on premium-cabin long-haul). Members can use Avios for hotel stays (BA Hotels), car rentals, Avios shopping, BA Cabin Crew Wine, and gift experiences. Cash + Avios part-pay available on most BA bookings. Tier Points cannot be redeemed — they only determine status. | |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Guest | Miles redeem for flights and upgrades on Etihad Airways and 25+ partner airlines using a distance-based award chart. Members can also redeem for hotel stays worldwide via Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, car rentals, and items in the Etihad Guest Reward Shop. Premium-cabin awards (Business and First) on Etihad's own routes deliver the highest typical value. Note: as of November 2025, Value awards are non-cancellable, and higher-tier awards have a 72-hour no-change window. Some partner award redemptions require calling the Etihad Guest call centre. Members can also use the Cash + Miles option for partial payment on flights. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| British Airways Club | Etihad Guest | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 4 | 5 |
| Top tier | Gold | Emerald |
| First-tier qualification | 3,500 points | 25,000 points |
| Point expiry | 36 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 18 months inactivity (reset on earn) |