British Airways, Uber partner on free rides

Uber users will soon be able to collect Avios on every journey they take by car, coach or train booked via the Uber app, by simply linking their British Airways Executive Club and Uber accounts, the United Kingdom mega airline has said.

From later this month, members of the airline’s loyalty programme would be eligible to collect one Avios for every £1 spent on any ride, whether that be by car, coach or train, booked on the Uber app in the UK. These could then be put towards worldwide flights, upgrades and extras.

BA said that to celebrate the new partnership, members who link their Executive Club and Uber accounts via the Uber app would receive 250 bonus Avios.

Avios is a global loyalty currency used by airlines including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Qatar Airways.

It can be collected by flying worldwide and through everyday spending, with Uber becoming the latest addition to the British Airways Executive Club to help boost travellers’ balances, according to a statement by British Airways.

 Users simply need to link their Executive Club and Uber accounts, by entering their details into the

Uber app in the settings section. To sign up to the British Airways Executive Club, the British airline advised its customers to visit its website, adding that the Avios will then automatically appear in each member’s account after every Uber ride.

The General Manager at Uber UK, Andrew Brem, was quoted as saying, “We’re thrilled to be able to help Uber users collect Avios on every single journey they take. So everyday trips, such as going to work or to the shops is helping you to get somewhere a little more exotic with British Airways.”

The Head of Retail and Customer Relationship Management at British Airways, Ian Romanis, was also quoted to have said, “Avios helps to open up the world, wherever our customers wish to travel.”