Let me start off by saying that British Airways Avios are awesome. If you fly short, non-stop flights, British Airways Avios cannot be beat. I’ve written a few posts about British Airways Avios in the past:
- Book British Airways Avios Award Tickets
- Cancel / Refund British Airways Avios Award Tickets
- Transfer British Airways Avios to Iberia Avios (useful to save on fuel surcharges)
- 2 Tickets to Hawaii for $105 (great for many flights from the West Coast)
With that said, I have been asked a few times about the current 40% Transfer Bonus to British Airways from American Express Membership Rewards that is ending on January 31. To me, this is probably the best Membership Reward transfer bonus I have seen in the last 2 years.
I transferred a big chunk of my Membership Reward stash to British Airways. Should you do the same? Maybe, maybe not. It just depends where you live and where you want to fly to. British Airways Avios can be used on the following OneWorld Alliance and airline partners:
Award flights using British Airways Avios are distance-based, meaning short flights require fewer British Airways Avios and longer flights require more British Airways Avios. Business Class requires double the amount of British Airways Avios and First Class requires triple the amount of British Airways Avios. Pretty simple concept, right?
In this post, I will show you all the non-stop flights from San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and San Jose (SJC) that you can book with British Airways Avios. Dan’s Deals has details for several other airports here. I have broken up all the flights into the various “mileage bands,” starting with the shortest distance. Note: Alaska Airlines and Aer Lingus can be booked with British Airways Avios, but you will have to call British Airways to book the award ticket. Please read Book British Airways Avios Award Tickets for more information.
Distances between 1 – 650 miles = 4,500 British Airways Avios
This is how to read each line of the table: “Alaska Airlines flies to RNO (Reno-Tahoe) from SJC (San Jose) for 4,500 British Airways Avios and $5.60 in taxes/fees each way.” These short flights are great for getting around the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.
| Airline | Destination | Distance | Taxes Out | Taxes In | Total Taxes |
| Alaska Airlines | RNO (SJC) | 188 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | LAX (SJC) | 308 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | LAX (SFO) | 337 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | PSP (SFO) | 421 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | BOI (SJC) | 523 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | PDX (OAK) | 543 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | PDX (SFO) | 550 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | PDX (SJC) | 569 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | SLC (SJC) | 584 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | SLC (SFO) | 599 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| US Airways | PHX (SJC) | 621 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| US Airways | PHX (OAK) | 646 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
If you want to fly to Phoenix, you are better off leaving from Oakland, since that flight is only 646 miles and requires only 4,500 British Airways Avios. If you fly from San Francisco, the flight is 651 miles (1 mile too far!) and requires 7,500 British Airways Avios.
Distances between 651 – 1,151 miles = 7,500 British Airways Avios
This “mileage band” is great for getting to and from Seattle. You can probably find several award flights to each airport every day.
| Airline | Destination | Distance | Taxes Out | Taxes In | Total Taxes |
| US Airways | PHX (SFO) | 651 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | SEA (OAK) | 672 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | SEA (SFO) | 679 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | SEA (SJC) | 697 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
Distances between 1,152 – 2,000 miles = 10,000 British Airways Avios
Alaska Airlines has several flights to Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas (SJD), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), and Guadalajara (GDL). Taxes/fees for flights to Mexico are higher than domestic flights and watch out for taxes/fees for flights from Mexico, they are even higher. This “mileage band” will get you to and from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago (ORD), both huge American Airlines hubs.
| Airline | Destination | Distance | Taxes Out | Taxes In | Total Taxes |
| Alaska Airlines | SJD (SJC) | 1219 | $28.57 | $51.04 | $79.61 |
| Alaska Airlines | SJD (SFO) | 1248 | $28.57 | $51.04 | $79.61 |
| American Airlines | DFW (SJC) | 1438 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | DFW (SFO) | 1464 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | PVR (SFO) | 1554 | $28.57 | $56.71 | $85.28 |
| Alaska Airlines | GDL (SJC) | 1612 | $28.57 | $62.05 | $90.62 |
| American Airlines | ORD (SJC) | 1829 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | ORD (SFO) | 1846 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
Distances between 2,001 – 3,000 miles = 12,500 British Airways Avios
This is the sweet spot for people living on the West Coast. Alaska Airlines flies to all 4 Hawaiian Islands from Oakland and San Jose for 12,500 British Airways Avios each way. You can also fly all the way to the East Coast if you want.
| Airline | Destination | Distance | Taxes Out | Taxes In | Total Taxes |
| US Airways | CLT (SFO) | 2296 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | OGG (OAK) | 2349 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | OGG (SJC) | 2355 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | KOA (OAK) | 2378 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | KOA (SJC) | 2384 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | HNL (OAK) | 2409 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | HNL (SJC) | 2417 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | LIH (OAK) | 2457 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| Alaska Airlines | LIH (SJC) | 2466 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| US Airways | PHL (SFO) | 2521 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | MIA (SFO) | 2585 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| American Airlines | JFK (SFO) | 2586 | $5.60 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
Here is the Great Circle Mapper showing the routes and distances to Hawaii, Aloha!:
Distances between 3,001 – 4,000 miles = 20,000 British Airways Avios
Distances between 4,001 – 5,500 miles = 25,000 British Airways Avios
Distances between 5,501 – 6,500 miles = 30,000 British Airways Avios
Distances between 6,501 – 7,000 miles = 35,000 British Airways Avios
I combined these last 4 bands into one section. Most of the flights, with the exception of Cathay Pacific’s flight to Hong Kong, cost 25,000 British Airways Avios each way. These flights have big taxes/fees (including fuel surcharges), so make sure you look at the out of pocket costs for your “free award flight.”
| Airline | Destination | Distance | Avios | Taxes Out | Taxes In | Total Taxes |
| Aer Lingus | DUB (SFO) | 5098 | 25000 | $15.70 | $40.20 | $55.90 |
| Japan Airlines | HND (SFO) | 5160 | 25000 | $290.00 | $319.11 | $609.11 |
| British Airways | LHR (SFO) | 5367 | 25000 | $256.80 | $377.42 | $634.22 |
| Cathay Pacific | HKG (SFO) | 6927 | 35000 | $100.40 | $123.28 | $223.68 |
Aer Lingus flights SFO-DUB (25,000 British Airways Avios + $15 taxes/fees):
You can actually search for Aer Lingus flights on United’s website, but it can be slow going. Calling British Airways might be faster and easier than hunting and pecking on United’s calendar (like I did for 40+ minutes).
Japan Airlines flights SFO-HND (25,000 British Airways Avios + $319 taxes/fees):
British Airways flights SFO-LHR (25,000 British Airways Avios + $256 taxes/fees):
Instead of spending 25,000 British Airways Avios and $256 in taxes/fees, I would probably choose the bottom Avios and Cash price. By selecting the bottom option, you are essentially buying British Airways Avios from British Airways for 1.14 cpp, a great deal in my opinion.
Cathay Pacific flights SFO-HKG (35,000 British Airways Avios + $100 taxes/fees):
Instead of spending 35,000 British Airways Avios and $256 in taxes/fees, I would probably choose the bottom Avios and Cash price. By selecting the bottom option, you are essentially buying British Airways Avios from British Airways for 1.12 cpp, a great deal in my opinion.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Have a great day everyone!
P.S. If you need more British Airways Avios, please consider using my Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Premier Rewards Gold credit card referral link on my Credit Card Page.
This is super helpful. Thanks, Grant!
You are the world’s fastest reader! I hope this post helps a few people who live in the Bay Area :)
Would love to see this based from OC too!
I could work on something similar for Orange County and cover SNA, LGB, LAX, ONT, BUR, and PSP. I just do a lot of research on each airport’s wikipedia page and figure out which airlines fly to which airport. For example, here is SNA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations
Ill be waiting for the similar post that covers SNA, LGB, LAX, ONT, BUR, PSP!
I’ll keep working on that post. There are 137 city pairs that connect all of SoCal and I am about 1/3 of the way done. Thanks for the reminder Rich.
In the same vein as US Airways from Oakland to Phoenix, don’t forget Santa Rosa Airport to Seattle, which falls just under 650 miles at 618. Santa Rosa also offers the only nonstops to San Diego. It’s just the one flight a day, but if it works for your schedule, go for it.
That is a good point. There are a few other airports that fall outside the “Bay Area” like Santa Rosa, Stockton, and Monterrey. I had to draw the line somewhere :)
This is awesome post and super helpful! Thank you so much Grant!
You’re welcome Jason, glad you liked the post.
Thank you for posting this, it will help me a lot for sure.
You’re welcome, let me know if you have any questions regarding BA Avios.
Great post, Grant. I have a question for you; I’ll email you…
Thank you Ron, please send me an email and I will do my best to answer it quickly.
Very helpful, Grant!
I didn’t see one of my favorites, LTO on Alaska.
Alaska does fly to LTO (Loreto) but you have to connect in LAX. Do they have a season route that is non-stop from the Bay Area?
Great post. How does this work for a route like SJC to Vancouver BC (YVR) on Alaska? I know you were pointing out the non stops but was wondering if the same lower use of miles could be accomplished on a route like that.
As long as Alaska Airlines operates a non-stop flight and if you can find low-level (saver) award availability, you can call British Airways and they can book the award for you. Are you looking for a particular date? I can check the award space for you and let you know what I find.
Thanks for the reply, sadly after looking it doesn’t look like you can get to Vancouver via a nonstop from the bay area.
It looks like only United and Air Canada have a non-stops to Vancouver.
Grant, this is awesome. Thank you for the resource. I’m undecided as whether I should use my Hawaiian Airlines miles to fly LIH to LAS or Avios LIH to OAK with the 40% AMEX transfer bonus to visit a friend. Too many miles problems, right? haha
If you have Hawaiian Airlines miles, I would use those up first, since there are very few good options to choose from. If you have a ton of MR Points, you might want to move a chunk over to BA Avios.
+100000 for writing this post. I’m so glad you’re one of us Bay Area folks now. You’re my favorite person of the day for documenting this. Thank you!!!
Thank you Star, hopefully you can take advantage of some of the BA Avios routes from the Bay Area (hint: go to Hawaii!)
Grant, are you suggesting Hawaii to Star after reading her blog where she has so many posts about Hawaii? Haha…
Awesome post! Great to have this information all in one post. So happy you’re in the Bay Area too!
I’m glad you liked the post, hopefully it will come in handy :)
Definitely the highest yield post I have seen on the subject of using Avios!! Thanks for your efforts.
To clarify for me: is it true that, if Alaska has ANY saver route available, BA Avios should be able to be used even for nonstop itineraries that you didn’t list here? Thanks again!
Thank you Andy, Alaska is a bit tricky. There are a few different levels of Saver Awards on Alaska Airlines. Only some of those routes can be seen by British Airways. Generally, if you can find Saver Award space, British Airways should be able to book the award space for you. If you need help, tell me the route and dates you are looking at and I can check it out for you.
What is considered Saver Award on Alaska? Some days I see 17.5K awards and others I only see 25K awards. So, if there is no 17.5K awards does that mean it is not bookable using BA? Trying to go from SAN to PVR in Oct? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again
If you can find that same exact award flight (SAN-PVR) on AA.com, then it is bookable with British Airways Avios.
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Hey Grant,
Excellent article. OAK to HNL routes via SEA. Is this also 12.5k Avios?
Thanks,
Ben
No that would probably be 4,500 Avios plus 12,500 Avios since each segment has its own price.
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