Get ahead on your Christmas shopping and reap the rewards

No one likes getting caught in the last-minute Christmas shopping scramble, so why not enjoy more choice and affordability by getting it sorted early? What’s more, in addition to a less panicky December, you’ll bag Avios on purchases made with your credit or debit card in store at participating retailers, meaning your festive generosity is rewarded with Avios to put towards a fantastic getaway. Simply register your payment cards to your British Airways Executive Club account through shopping.ba.com (before Black Friday to really make the most of it) and prepare to enjoy the feeling of gifts well bought and Avios secured. Looking for present ideas? Read on…

For the fashionista: Harvey Nichols

Collect 6 Avios per £1 spent
Secure the ‘friend of the year’ award by kitting out your fashion-forward bestie with an eye-catching green satin midi dress from ROTATE Birger Christensen. Bright and bold, it’ll keep the festive feel flowing through Christmas and New Year – and even bring a bit of brightness into January. Or if you’re looking to add a dash of subtle style to a pal, bring spring to him with a sleek Belstaff overshirt, which perfectly elevates any casual look and whose classy cream colouring positively emits ‘chic’.

For that someone special: F. Hinds

Collect 5 Avios per £1 spent
Watches are always a gift-giving winner, so why not go one step further with a distinctive pocket ticker? Surprise that special someone with a classical style timepiece, which comes with the added bonus of being a stellar conversation starter at any festive gathering. Fancy something sparklier? Diamonds never fail when it comes to making someone feel extra special. Try F. Hinds’ nine carat white gold drop earrings, which hang from the lobe at a delicate 27mm. Don’t say we don’t spoil you…

For the sweet tooth: Patisserie Valerie

Collect 15 Avios per £1 spent
Christmas and New Year are key calendar events for the sweet-toothed among us but, for many, baking is off the cards. Let Patisserie Valerie help out: pre-order your tasty gift, pick it up on a day convenient to you and pay on your linked credit card. From eclairs and macarons to double chocolate gateau and mini cake boxes, Patisserie Valerie caters to all tastes, whatever picky eaters you have in your clan. Calm, cake and Avios collection. What better present could you wish for?

For the outdoor adventurer: Ellis Brigham

Collect 6 Avios per £1 spent
Most of us have that friend who can’t sit still unless they’re planning their next big adventure. Help them on their way (and get in their good books) by adding some fresh gear to their kit this season. Keen cameramen will love a generous 70-litre backpack designed to carry not only their hiking must-haves, but all their photo-snapping accoutrement too. And after a good day’s shooting? Settle down on a snazzy Rumpl puffy blanket made from recycled polyester, which will ensure a snug night’s sleep whether inside or outside the tent.

For the new mum: JoJo Maman Bébé

Collect 9 Avios per £1 spent
New mums deserve a lot of love at Christmas, so spoil mother and baby with gifts guaranteed to put smiles on tired faces. Go for some adorable baby dungarees, which max out the cute-mometer and come in cuddly warm tones that’ll make Christmas-time cosier than ever. For mum, go for a luxurious box of pampering products, packed with everything from body oil to eye masks. Or maybe really treat her: it’s available as a subscription, so it can be the gift that literally keeps on giving.

For the shoe lover: Clarks

Collect 6 Avios per £1 spent
Kit out your shoe-loving friends with a fresh pair of kicks to see them through the new year. A pair of high-top grunge-style leather ladies’ boots are bound to please, featuring neat loop-around laces and statement high tongues. Or, if 2023 holidays are front of mind, opt for some uber-comfy nubuck deck shoes, which will bring your friend or loved one that little bit closer to living that dreamy boat life.

For the foodie: Gaucho

Collect 5 Avios per £1 spent
Transport your friends and family across the ocean this season by giving them a gift card for Gaucho, the renowned Argentinian steak restaurant helmed by ex-Sushisamba and Nobu London chef Max Castaldo. All they need to do is pick from any one of its 16 UK restaurants, then savour succulent Black Angus ribeye, rump, fillet or sirloin steaks woven through with distinctive South American flavours. Plus, there are group menus available and every restaurant is dog-friendly, so it’s really a perfect treat for the whole family.

For yourself: take a break from shopping and fuel up at YO! Sushi

Collect 7 Avios per £1 spent
Inari pockets, chicken katsu curries and spicy salmon rolls are just the start of the fiesta of flavours on offer at YO! Sushi. Thankfully you can enjoy them all on a break from your shopping spree without missing out on those oh-so-precious Avios. Simply choose what to fuel up on – yakisoba, mushroom ramen, vegetable gyoza or maybe hazelnut and chocolate mochi ice cream. Enjoy some well-earned down time and, before you know it, Avios will be winging their way into your Executive Club account. Tasty.