Does anyone actually understand Avios and can help me, please.

[Cauliflowercheeses]

Hi all

So, have been going round in circles with this and don’t know who to ask. I’ve never used avios before so I need advice on maximising and some guidance so I make the best decisions.

background: we have family in Australia and flew out there for the first time this year. We went via Qatar and were more than happy, would definitely use them again.

I earned 11,000 Avios points. I then got an Amex gold card to try and earn some more, currently up to around 73,000 on that.

so, am I better using my Amex rewards to clear credit card debt = £328 (I’m not in trouble just wondered if that more cost effective then put the money saved towards flights)

I have tried to look in the Qatar app but actually have to select flights and put passport details in before it’ll let me get to the payment page and don’t want to risk accidentally buying flights!

also will the Qatar points expire as we flew March 25 and want to go again April 27?

my amex card is free until the end of the year and I don’t want to pay for next year somewhere can I send my avios to hold ready for when I need them that I’ll be able to transfer them out when the time is right.

Am I understanding this all correctly, what would you do? Want to plan and make sure we’re not missing anything silly.

thanks in advance!

Fairly certain Avios don’t expire (so long as you keep collecting them). My dad has 1.2m points and I can assure you he hasn’t earnt that in a year(!)

I put all my avios onto my British Airways Exec Account, and purchase flights through that.

That means you can use your vouchers too, and anything not spent on your long haul Qatar flights you can spend on European trips with them.

If you want to fly April 2027, I’d be aiming to book ~_April-May 2026 (plus companion voucher if in economy).

You can search through the site/app as a member to see how much the flights will cost in avios.

I always find the best use of my avios is to book and pay for seats, then upgrade with the airmiles.

Have a look at the Headforpoints website. So much info on there

Thanks all, so do you think I’d save more than £328 by using my Amex points for flights or should I knock it off my credit card bill and pay for the flights the usual way?