British Airways Club
British Airways
VS
IHG® One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts
British Airways Club vs IHG® One Rewards: which loyalty program wins?
We score British Airways Club and IHG® One Rewards 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 IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip British Airways Club if Anyone targeting elite status, and skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning.
Overall rating
| British Airways Club | IHG® One Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 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). | |
|---|---|---|
| IHG® One Rewards | Members earn 10 base points per USD spent at most IHG brands. Extended-stay brands (Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) earn 5 points/USD. Elite tier members receive bonus points: Silver +20%, Gold +40%, Platinum +60%, Diamond +100%. Saudi users do not have access to IHG-branded credit cards - the IHG Premier and Traveler cards from Chase are US-only. Members can also earn points through Hertz car rentals (1,500 bonus + 125-500 points/day), OpenTable dining reservations, and point purchases. |
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. | |
|---|---|---|
| IHG® One Rewards | Points redeem for hotel stays at 6,300+ IHG properties in 100+ countries. Variable point pricing applies (no published award chart since 2018) - redemption costs shift based on cash rates. Members can also use Points + Cash flexibility, transfer to 30+ airline partners (typically poor 5:1 or 10:1 ratios), redeem for gift cards, merchandise, or Hertz car rentals. Platinum and Diamond Elite members get exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts. IHG dropped fixed award charts in favor of variable dynamic pricing, making redemption costs less predictable than competitors. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| British Airways Club | IHG® One Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 4 | 5 |
| Top tier | Gold | Diamond Elite |
| First-tier qualification | 3,500 points | 20,000 points |
| Point expiry | 36 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 12 months inactivity (reset on earn) |