5 Avios mistakes that quietly cost you

2 June 2026 · Priya Nair · 6 min read

Most lost value with points isn't dramatic. There's no single bad decision — just small, sensible-feeling habits that quietly drain what your balance is worth. Here are five of the most common, and what to do instead.

1. Hoarding through a devaluation

It feels prudent to save points "for something big". The risk is that programmes can change their charts and devalue points with little notice, so the balance you carefully built can buy less than it used to. Points are not a savings account that earns interest — if anything, they tend to drift the other way over time. A redemption you make at good value today usually beats a bigger balance that's worth less tomorrow.

2. Ignoring the surcharges

The "points required" figure is only part of the cost. Many reward flights add taxes, fees and carrier surcharges payable in cash, and these vary widely by route and airline. People fixate on the points and forget to add the cash, then wonder why the "free" flight wasn't free. Always include those charges when you judge a redemption — a high surcharge can turn a great-looking deal into a mediocre one.

• Check the total cash payable, not just the points.
• Compare a couple of routes or carriers — surcharges aren't consistent.
• If the cash add-on is close to the cash fare, the points are doing little work.

3. Burning points on cheap fares

Using points on a low-cost short hop is one of the easiest ways to get poor value. When the cash price is already small, the points you spend save you very little per point. As a rule of thumb, points stretch furthest where cash prices are high relative to the points required — typically premium cabins and longer flights — and least far on cheap economy you could simply pay for.

4. Letting points expire

Points can expire if an account goes inactive, and an expired balance is the worst possible value: zero. Many schemes reset the clock with any qualifying activity, even a small earn or spend, so a little attention goes a long way. Know your programme's rules and keep the account ticking over.

5. Overspending to earn

The most expensive mistake of all is letting a points goal drive your spending. Buying things you didn't need, or carrying a credit-card balance and paying interest, to "hit a bonus" almost always costs more than the points are worth. Points should be a bonus on spending you'd do anyway — never the reason for it.

For the bigger picture on earning and redeeming well, see our full guide on how to use Avios and air miles.