The Invisible Aviators: How to Earn 10,000 Avios Without Spending a Penny Extra

In Part 1, we established that an Avios point is worth 1p. In Part 2, we looked at the credit cards that supercharge your earning rate. But what if you don't want a new credit card? Or what if you want to stack your earnings so high that your annual holiday is effectively paid for by your weekly food shop?

Welcome to the world of The Multipliers.

Most people think you earn Avios by flying. They are wrong. In 2026, the "Forensic Explorer" earns the majority of their points on the ground, through systems most people ignore. Here is how to build a passive Avios engine that generates thousands of points while you sleep.

1. The BA eStore (The Browser Tax)

If you buy anything online without going through the British Airways eStore first, you are paying a voluntary "lazy tax."

The eStore is a shopping portal. You click a link to a retailer (like Apple, John Lewis, Currys, or Argos), and BA drops Avios into your account as a thank-you. The prices are identical. The only difference is the points.

The Investigator Tip: Install the BA Avios Button on your desktop browser. It will flash whenever you are on a site that offers points. It turns a manual task into a passive one.

2. The Uber Infrastructure

One of the most powerful links in the UK transport system is the partnership between Uber and British Airways.

By linking your accounts, you earn 1 Avios for every £1 spent on any ride in the UK. This includes Uber Boats on the Thames and, crucially, Uber Trains. If you book your National Rail tickets through the Uber app, you bypass the booking fees found on other platforms and collect Avios on the entire ticket price.

For a commuter spending £3,000 a year on rail travel, that is a "free" flight to Europe just for using a different app to buy the same ticket.

3. The Nectar Bridge

Sainsbury’s Nectar points and Avios are now part of the same ecosystem. You can convert 400 Nectar points into 250 Avios.

This creates a "double-dip" opportunity. If you pay for your Sainsbury's shopping using a British Airways American Express card, you earn:

• 1 Avios per £1 from the card.
• 0.625 Avios per £1 (equivalent) from the Nectar points.

Total: 1.625 Avios for every £1 spent on groceries. Over a year, a family spending £100 a week on food will generate 8,450 Avios. That is nearly enough for a one-way flight to Paris before you have even stepped onto a plane.

4. The BPme Pump

Fuel is expensive. You might as well get a rebate. By using the BPme app at BP forecourts, you can convert your BP Reward points directly into Avios.

The rate is 40 BP points to 25 Avios. It is a small trickle, but in the logistics of the unusual, every drop counts.

5. The Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher

While this technically involves a card, it is the only way to earn a "Companion Voucher" style benefit without an American Express. The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard offers a Cabin Upgrade Voucher every year you spend £10,000.

This is the forensic choice for those who want to fly in World Traveller Plus for the Avios price of World Traveller (Economy).

Summary: The Passive Engine

If you align these systems, the numbers become undeniable.

• Weekly Shop: 8,450 Avios.
• Commuting (Uber Trains): 3,000 Avios.
• Online Shopping (eStore): 5,000 Avios.
• Uber Rides: 1,000 Avios.

Total: 17,450 Avios per year.

You have just earned a return flight to most of Europe for £2 in taxes, without spending a single penny more than you were already going to spend.

Sources:

• British Airways eStore - Official Retailer List
• BA Media Centre - Nectar and Avios Partnership
• Uber - Link your Avios account
• Barclaycard - Avios Credit Card Details

Part 4 of our series will look at what to do if you have the points but can't find the flights. We explore the "Ghost Availability" of 2026.