The destination: Universal Orlando Resort

Welcome to the unforgettable adventure that is Universal Orlando Resort. Since opening its doors in 1990, Universal Orlando has captivated millions with its thrilling rides and immersive experiences, from the beloved E.T. Adventure, a timeless classic, to the twists, turns and drops of some of the world’s most iconic rollercoasters, including the apex predator of coasters, Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Walk the hallowed halls of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Don your cape and swing through the streets with Spider-Man at Marvel Super Hero Island^® in Universal Islands of Adventure. Join Gru and the mischievous Minions from Illumination on the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™ ride at Universal Studios Florida, then make a splash at the action-packed water theme park Universal Volcano Bay. Next year (giving you even more time to collect those all-important Avios), the gates will open on a theme park world beyond anything experienced before… And get ready for Universal Epic Universe, coming in 2025. What’s more, you can choose from a variety of spectacularly themed Universal hotels, each including exclusive benefits. 

Avios: how many do you need?

To reduce the cost of your adventure to Universal Orlando Resort, a flight to Orlando requires 60,000 Avios + £150 when booking a Reward Flight Saver on an off-peak return travelling in World Traveller (economy).¹ In addition, spend Avios with Avis car hire.²When you land at Orlando International Airport, Universal is only a 20-minute drive away. Alternatively, you can make things even simpler by spending Avios on a full holiday package with British Airways Holidays. Why don’t you spend a week at Universal in Orlando before heading off on a classic US road trip across Florida? Take in highlights such as Cape Canaveral and the Everglades National Park and drive the 113-mile Overseas Highway to Florida Keys before a return flight from Miami.

Step one: improve your home, improve your Avios

Before you pick up a paintbrush, visit our vast shopping portal³ and collect Avios with more than 2,000 online retailers, including a range of home improvement stores such as B&Q, Wickes, Toolstation, Screwfix, Dulux Decorator Centre, Travis Perkins, Plumbworld and Homebase – with whom you can collect up to 4 Avios per £1 spent. Alternatively, spruce up the garden ready for summer with outdoor furniture from Dunelm, also collecting 4 Avios for every £1 you spend. Or shop for plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs at YouGarden.com, where up to 10 Avios can be collected for every £1 spent.

Step two: crunch the (Avios) numbers with a new card

The British Airways American Express^® Credit Card will prop up your Avios in three ways. First, new Cardmembers receive a generous welcome bonus worth 5,000 Avios when they spend £1,000 in the first three months of Cardmembership.⁴ Second, all customers can collect 1 Avios for every £1 spent on the Card, whether that’s on big purchases or simply on your everyday commute.⁵ Third, when you spend £12,000 each membership year, you’ll receive a Companion Voucher to redeem on a Reward Flight in Economy only.⁶ Travel with a loved one on the same flight and cabin for no additional Avios, or solo travellers can use the Companion Voucher to book a Reward Flight with a 50% discount on the Avios price. (From 1 November, you will need to spend £15,000 within each anniversary year to earn a Companion Voucher. T&Cs apply.)

Representative 31.0% APR Variable 
New Cardmembers only. No annual fee. 18+ UK residents, subject to status. Terms apply.

Step three: check in – and collect

Watch your Avios balance grow when you stay at any one of the hot properties available to book via Avios Hotels. With more than 320,000 vetted hotels to choose from, Avios Hotels could see you living the life of luxury at The Peninsula Paris, taking a dip in the rooftop pool at W Amsterdam, chasing the northern lights from 101 Hotel, Reykjavik and gallery-trawling in Florence from central bolt-hole Plaza Hotel Lucchesi. And on top of a perfect stay, you can collect a mighty 15 Avios for every £1 you spend at Avios Hotels until the end of June.⁷ 

Step four: take out a subscription

Subscriptions aren’t just for TV streaming services and meal prep boxes. You can now subscribe to Avios, too, collecting anywhere between 2,000 and 200,000 Avios per calendar year thanks to a choice of four packages – Voyager, Traveller, Explorer and Adventurer – that can be costed on a monthly or annual basis from as little as £26 to £199 a month.⁸ The best-value package means you could collect 16,667 Avios every month or 200,000 Avios annually – more than enough Avios for that trip to Universal.

Step five: toast your new Avios balance with The Wine Flyer

One for the oenophiles, The Wine Flyer is the only wine retailer that lets you spend or collect Avios on every purchase (wines, beers or spirits).⁹ Simply log in to the British Airways Executive Club via The Wine Flyer and collect 5 Avios per £1 spent. To whet your appetite for that forthcoming trip to the US of A, The Wine Flyer has some truly excellent American wines, including elegant Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa right through to refreshing Pinot Noirs from the valleys of Oregon and complex Merlots from the abundant state of Washington. Treat yourself to the stunning Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2021 and collect up to 270 Avios for the pleasure.