Points enthusiasts have a fresh reason to pay attention this month. Between November 1 and December 1, 2026, Chase is adding a 30% bonus on Ultimate Rewards transfers to three Avios programs: British Airways Club, Iberia Club, and Aer Lingus AerClub. Transfer at the right moment and every 10,000 Chase points becomes 13,000 Avios.
The bonus runs from 12AM ET on November 1 until 11:59PM ET on December 1, and it shows up automatically when you initiate a transfer — no promo code needed. Transfers are usually instant, and these Avios currencies can be moved freely between each other, so picking which of the three to send points to matters less than it used to.
Chase runs airline transfer bonuses of this kind roughly once or twice a year, usually in the 20-30% range. That makes 30% the ceiling — the strongest bonus of its kind seen in 2026 so far.
Why is Avios worth stocking up on? The old playbook of short-haul redemptions on partners like American and Alaska has been heavily devalued. But the Avios ecosystem has grown in interesting ways. The big one is Qatar Airways Privilege Club, which now uses Avios. Qatar holds back most of its business class award space for its own members, meaning Avios holders get access to one of the world's best business class products that other loyalty programs largely can't touch. There are quirky partner sweet spots too — think JetBlue Mint across the Atlantic for 78,000 Avios, which drops to roughly 60,000 Chase points with this bonus factored in.
Beyond Qatar, Avios work across British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Finnair, giving the currency unusual breadth within one ecosystem. Iberia has long offered solid long-haul pricing to Madrid and beyond, and Aer Lingus serves as a budget-friendly bridge to Europe from the US East Coast.
The caveat, as always with speculative transfers: once points leave Chase, they don't come back. If you have a specific trip in mind — a Qatar Qsuite flight, a transatlantic jaunt in Mint, a short-hop Europe itinerary — the maths can be compelling. If you're just sitting on points with no plans, it's worth checking award availability before committing, since Avios pricing has had its share of devaluations over the years.
For anyone eyeing a premium-cabin trip that's been priced out of reach elsewhere, a month-long window at the maximum bonus level is a decent nudge to act. Do note that Avios partner with several other transferable currencies too, and competing bonuses do pop up — so if you bank points elsewhere, it may pay to compare before pulling the trigger.
Story via One Mile at a Time.
