Are you looking to maximize the benefits of British Airways’ Executive Club program with your family or friends? Consider setting up a British Airways Household Account, which lets you pool Avios and Tier Points with up to six people who live at the same address. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about British Airways Household Accounts.
Table of contents
- What is a British Airways Household Account?
- How do British Airways Household Accounts work?
- What are the benefits of a Household Account?
- What are the limitations of a Household Account?
- What are the Alternatives to a Household Account?
- How to set up a British Airways Household Account
- Household Accounts and children
- What happens if you close a Household Account?
- Conclusion
What is a British Airways Household Account?
A British Airways Household Account is a program that allows you and up to six other people who reside at the same address to pool Avios and Tier Points earned through British Airways’ Executive Club program. By pooling these points, members of a household account can earn rewards faster and use them towards flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and other benefits.
How do British Airways Household Accounts work?
To set up a British Airways Household Account, you need to nominate a Head of Household, who is responsible for managing the account. The Head of Household must be a member of British Airways’ Executive Club and provide their Executive Club membership number when setting up the account.
Once the account is created, the Head of Household can invite up to six additional members to join the Household Account. The invited members must already have an Executive Club account or sign up for one before joining the Household Account. They also need to live at the same address as the Head of Household and provide proof of address when joining.
What are the benefits of a Household Account?
A household account can offer several benefits to Executive Club members. Here are some of the most significant ones:
- Pool Avios: The primary benefit of a household account is the ability to pool Avios points with up to six members of your household. This means that everyone in your household can contribute their Avios points to one central account, making it easier to accumulate enough points for redemptions.
- Easy management: By consolidating all of your household’s Avios points into one account, you can more easily manage your account and track your progress towards redemptions.
- Better redemption options: Since you’ll be pooling your Avios points, you’ll be able to access better redemption options, such as upgrades and reward flights, that might not have been available to you before.
- Free transfer of Avios: Transferring Avios points between household members is free and does not incur any additional fees or taxes.
- Reduced Expiry: Avios points typically expire after 36 months of inactivity. However, when you have a Household Account, the Avios points of all members are combined, and as long as one member of the Household Account earns or redeems Avios points, the expiry date for all the Avios points in the Household Account is reset.
What are the limitations of a Household Account?
While there are many benefits to having a household account, there are also some limitations to consider. Here are some of the most significant ones:
- Limited membership: A household account can only have up to seven members, including yourself. This means that if you have a large family or a lot of people living in your household, you may not be able to include everyone in the account.
- Limited sharing: Only Avios points can be shared between household members. This means that Tier Points, which are used to determine status within the Executive Club program, cannot be pooled.
- Limited transfer options: While transferring Avios points between household members is free, there are still some limitations to consider. For example, you cannot transfer points to a household member who is not already a member of the Executive Club program.
- Limited account control: Since multiple people have access to the household account, there may be some loss of control over the account. For example, a household member could redeem Avios points without your permission, potentially reducing the overall balance of the account.
What are the Alternatives to a Household Account?
While a British Airways Household Account may be a useful option for some, it’s not the only way to share Avios and benefits with family and friends. Here are some alternatives to consider:
- Using the British Airways Friends & Family List: This option allows you to share your Avios balance with up to five people who are not in your Household Account. The Friends & Family List works similarly to a Household Account, but without the requirement to live at the same address.
- Pooling Avios with Iberia Plus: If you are a member of both British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus, you can transfer Avios between the two programs. This can be particularly useful if you want to redeem Avios for a flight with one program but don’t have enough points in that account.
- Transferring Avios to other Executive Club members: You can transfer Avios to another British Airways Executive Club member, but the transfer fee can be high, and there are limits to how much you can transfer.
How does the ‘Friends & Family’ list relate to Household Accounts?
A ‘Friends & Family’ list is a separate program from a British Airways Household Account, but it serves a similar purpose. It allows you to share Avios with up to five people who are not part of your Household Account and do not live at the same address. To use a ‘Friends & Family’ list, you need to have earned at least one Avios in your account in the last 12 months.
Redeeming Avios whilst in a family account? Members of a Household Account can redeem Avios for reward flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and other benefits. To do so, the account must have enough Avios to cover the entire booking. Members of a Household Account can book reward flights for anyone in the account, even if they are not travelling together.
How to set up a British Airways Household Account
Setting up a British Airways Household Account is a straightforward process that can be done through the Executive Club section of the British Airways website. To set up a Household Account, you will need to follow these steps:
- Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account.
- Click on the ‘Household Account’ option on the left-hand menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to add members to the Household Account.
It is important to note that each member added to the Household Account will need to have their own Executive Club account. If they do not already have one, they will need to create one before they can be added to the Household Account.
Household Accounts and children
As mentioned earlier, a Household Account can accommodate up to seven members, including children. Children under the age of 18 can be added to the Household Account as long as they are part of the same household. This means that if you have a child who does not live with you, they cannot be added to your Household Account.
When a child turns 18, they are no longer eligible to be a member of the Household Account, and they must set up their Executive Club account. Any Avios points and Tier Points they have earned will be transferred to their new account.
It is important to note that children under the age of 18 cannot redeem their Avios points without the permission of the Head of Household or the authorized member. This ensures that the Head of Household has control over the use of the Avios points and can prevent unauthorized use.
What happens if you close a Household Account?
If you decide to close your Household Account, all members of the account will lose their membership in the account, and any Avios points and Tier Points earned under the Household Account will be transferred to each member’s individual Executive Club account.
It is important to note that once you close your Household Account, you cannot create another Household Account for six months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, British Airways Household Accounts are a great option for families, friends, and couples who want to pool their Avios points and enjoy the benefits of elite status together. The process of setting up a Household Account is straightforward, and the benefits can be significant, including easy tracking of Avios points, the ability to redeem points for multiple people, and the ability to reach elite status more quickly. However, there are limitations to be aware of, such as restrictions on transferring points to other programs and the inability to earn elite status from other Oneworld alliance airlines. It’s also worth considering alternative options, such as individual accounts, if the limitations of a Household Account do not suit your needs. Overall, British Airways Household Accounts are a valuable tool for frequent travellers, and with the right planning and usage, can lead to significant savings and benefits.