Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Hey there points enthusiasts! Welcome back to Smart With Points. I'm absolutely buzzing to share some game-changing news that's going to make your travel planning so much easier.

You know that frustrating wait when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to British Airways? Well, guess what - it's now history! That's right, these transfers are now instant, and I mean genuinely instant, not the 'overnight-ish' wait we've all gotten used to.

In the past, Amex advertised these transfers could take up to three days, though they usually happened overnight. But now, as long as your Membership Rewards and British Airways Club accounts are linked, those points will zip across immediately. Even if your accounts aren't linked yet, you'll only face a short delay for security checks.

This is huge for last-minute bookings. We've all been there - you find that perfect business class seat, but by the time your points transfer, poof! It's gone. Those days are over, folks. Now you can search and book in one smooth process.

Here's an interesting tidbit - Qatar Airways Privilege Club already offered instant Avios transfers from Membership Rewards. I suspect British Airways might have made this move to avoid losing out financially. Think about it - if Amex pays roughly one pence per Avios to their transfer partners, they were potentially paying Qatar Airways first, who then paid British Airways around zero point eight pence when members moved their Avios across. Now, BA gets the full amount directly!

This update is particularly exciting for premium cabin hunters. Whether you're booking those spontaneous weekend getaways or trying to secure multiple seats during peak travel periods, the instant transfer capability is a game-changer.

Remember, if you're eyeing those great-value Qatar Airways flights, you can still transfer your Avios from BA to Qatar Airways after they land in your BA account. This all comes at an interesting time with the introduction of British Airways Club and various changes to the Avios programme.

For those of you looking to boost your Avios earning potential, check out our recommended UK Avios earning credit cards in the show notes. Whether you're a personal or business card seeker, we've got options for you.

Thank you so much for tuning in to Smart With Points! Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit us at smartwithpoints.co.uk for more points and miles wisdom.

Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.