British Airways: Tesco customers to lose Avios points option

‘Waitrose is potentially an even better fit with the Executive Club customer base,’ said Rob Burgess, editor of Head for Points

Elephant in Rome: BA’s loyalty scheme currently offers very good deals to the Italian capital, though no longer on Jumbo jets (Simon Calder)

Tesco customers will soon lose the option to convert their Clubcard points into British Airways’ Avios loyalty scheme.

BA is writing to collectors to tell them the partnership with the supermarket chain will end on 18 January 2021.

The airline told The Independent: “Tesco customers can continue to convert their Tesco points into Avios until then and their Avios will remain valid for at least 36 months.

“We are contacting our Executive Club members to let them know about the hundreds of other ways they can collect and redeem their Avios.”

Currently, every £2.50 worth of Tesco Clubcard points buys 600 Avios – representing typically £7.50 if redeemed shrewdly.

The BA loyalty scheme currently offers some remarkable deals on last-minute flights. A same-day departure from Heathrow to Rome “costs” 8,250 Avios (plus a token 50p) one-way, which equates to less than £35-worth of Tesco Clubcard points.

The cash price for the same flight is £307.

Rob Burgess, editor of the business travel website, Head for Points, said he believed the number of Tesco Clubcard points in circulation has fallen recently with the closure of Tesco Direct – which he described as “an exceptional source of bonus point opportunities”. 

He added that the number of collection opportunities has dwindled with the closure of Tesco Wine, and the ending of the Esso partnership.

British Airways is likely to be seeking an alternative supermarket tie-up, but Mr Burgess said: “There is no obvious solution. Sainsbury’s is arguably a better ‘fit’ with the BA Executive Club customer base, but how would Avios fit with Nectar [the Sainsbury’s loyalty scheme]?

“Waitrose is potentially an even better fit with the Executive Club customer base. Waitrose is only a fraction of the size of Tesco, however. It also has no points-based loyalty programme, though its parent John Lewis is believed to be considering one.

"It appears that Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club scheme will remain as a Tesco Clubcard partner.  There are also many other travel-related Clubcard redemptions available, including using your points for Hilton Hotels or at Hotels.com."

Many Tesco customers currently have their Clubcard points automatically converted into Avios. This will end on 22 October 2020.

“After the cut-off date for your November statement, from 23 October up to and including 18 January 2021, you can continue to convert your points manually online via the Tesco website,” collectors are told.