- Mr Plane Guy
- Jul 11
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 30
How I Went from Zero Avios to a Qatar Airways Business Class Upgrade in Just 3 Months
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger and Flight Expert
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my travel blog and allows me to continue creating useful content. Thank you for your support!
If you've ever dreamed of flying in style but thought business class was out of reach, I'm here to tell you that it's possible and you don’t need to spend a fortune to do it! In just three months, I went from zero Avios to securing a business class upgrade on Qatar Airways. Even better? My entire flight from Dublin to Beijing only cost me £300, £200 less than flying from London! Here’s how I made it happen, and how you can too.
Why Dublin Instead of London?
Most people assume flying from London is the cheapest option, but that’s not always the case. When I was booking my flight, I found that tickets from Dublin to Beijing via Doha were significantly cheaper than from London £200 cheaper, to be exact. This is a great example of how being flexible with your departure airport can lead to huge savings.
On top of that, the Dublin-to-Doha sector was available for just 40,000 Avios, making it an even better deal when combined with the Avios I had been earning over the past few months.
If you’ve racked up a stash of Avios, here’s a little trick: you can transfer them over to Qatar Airways Privilege Club in just a few clicks. Since Qatar and British Airways both use Avios, your points balance is interchangeable, no catches. Just log into your British Airways Executive Club account, link it with your Qatar Privilege Club account (free to join, by the way), and move your points across instantly. Perfect if you fancy splashing out on a Qsuite without feeling the full wallet pain.
You may remember my flights to Zanzibar last November were with Qatar so I racked up a few miles already on these sectors. Check out the reviews here,
I absolutely loved Zanzibar I would highly recommend it, check out this amazing hotel!
Blog Post: Is this the Ultimate Hotel in Zanzibar?
Follow me on Instagram for the latest lounge reviews, PLANE tips, and PLANE deals.
How I Earned Avios Quickly
Many people assume that you need to fly frequently to accumulate British Airways Executive Club Avios, but that’s not true. I earned most of my points through everyday spending, smart shopping, and leveraging special deals. Here’s exactly how I did it:
1. Grocery Shopping with Sainsbury’s Nectar Points
I do my weekly shopping at Sainsbury’s, which means I naturally collect Nectar points. What many people don’t realise is that these can be converted to Avios. Every 400 Nectar points convert to 250 Avios, and over a few months, my regular grocery shopping translated into a nice boost of points. One of my biggest hauls came from a single Sainsbury’s grocery shop that earned me 1,700 Avios! ( I signed up as a new customer for Click and collect*)
(*I may have use my old hotmail email address for the 90's mrplaneguy2000@hotmail.com to sign up again)
2. Booking Hotels via Avios eStore
Instead of using traditional booking sites, I started booking my hotels through the Avios eStore, which gives bonus Avios on every transaction. For example, I earned 1,100 Avios just by booking my hotel for a few nights in Abu Dhabi back in January via Avios Hotels ( which is actually just Expedia in disguise)
3. Taking Advantage of Shopping Deals
Many retailers partner with the Avios eStore to offer special bonuses. For instance, I earned 850 Avios from a Christmas shopping bonus and 292 Avios from Dunelm. By making purchases through these portals instead of directly from the retailer, I was able to rack up thousands of extra Avios in just a few months. For example, I earned 1,100 Avios just by booking with Boots.com and 430 Avios from GetYourGuide.
Be ready to take advantage of the amazing offers,
4. Using a Barclaycard Avios Credit Card
This was a game-changer! Every month, my Barclaycard Avios card credited me with points for my everyday purchases. Some of my biggest wins came from paying for essential bills like my council tax and petrol, which I’ll cover next. Over the three months, I accumulated a significant number of Avios just from using this card for daily expenses:
+2,745 Avios from Barclaycard transactions in January
+1,634 Avios in February
+1,149 Avios in March
Tip: Or Use My Amex Gold Referral for a Big Avios Boost
I’m not a financial expert, please do your own research and this isn’t an advert. But if you really want to kickstart your points balance, you can also sign up for an American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card using my referral link and bag up to 45,000 Membership Rewards points, which you can convert into Avios. (This offer is only until 14 October 2025! Be Quick!)
From time to time, Amex runs bonuses like a recent 30% transfer bonus to British Airways Avios. If that offer’s active when you transfer, your 45k Amex would convert to 58,500 Avios instead!
The Amex Gold earns points on every pound you spend, plus double points on travel and dining, and comes with handy perks like airport lounge passes. You can turn Membership Rewards into Avios at a 1:1 rate, making it one of the fastest ways to get closer to a free flight. Just remember pay off your balance in full every month.
5. Paying My Council Tax Bill on My Credit Card
Yes, you read that right! Instead of paying my council tax directly, I put it on my Barclaycard Avios credit card and paid it off immediately. This helped me accumulate more points without spending extra money. I also did this with my water bill, petrol, food and all expenses.
Blog Post: Big Changes to the British Airways Executive Club
6. Earning Avios from Petrol with BPMe
Since I drive regularly, I started using the BPMe Rewards program, which lets you collect Avios when you buy fuel at BP stations. Every little bit adds up, and I earned 25 Avios just from one petrol purchase.
7. Uber Rides Count Too!
Every time I took an Uber, I made sure it was linked to my Avios account. Even though each ride earned me a small amount, it still contributed to my overall balance. For example, one Uber ride earned me 12 Avios, which might not seem like much, but over time, these add up!
The Qatar Airways Upgrade: How I Did It
By the end of my three-month Avios-earning journey, I had accumulated enough points to book a fantastic deal:
My flight from Dublin to Beijing cost just £300.
I used 40,000 Avios to upgrade from economy to business class on the Dublin-to-Doha leg.
Since I booked via Qatar Airways (a British Airways partner), I was able to use my Avios seamlessly.
This meant I got to experience Qatar Airways’ renowned business class, complete with lie-flat seats, gourmet dining, and access to premium airport lounges, something I never thought I’d be able to afford so soon!
Key Takeaways: How You Can Do It Too
If you want to replicate my success, follow these steps:
Sign up for the British Airways Executive Club if you haven’t already.
Get an Avios-earning credit card like the Barclaycard Avios card and use it for all your daily spending.
Shop smartly by making purchases through the Avios eStore, collecting Nectar points at Sainsbury’s, and booking hotels through Avios partners.
Maximize your bill payments by putting expenses like council tax and fuel purchases on your Avios credit card.
Be flexible with your travel plans, consider flying from alternative airports like Dublin to find better deals.
Monitor Avios promotions for limited-time bonuses and shopping deals that can help you earn points faster.
Ready for take off?
Earning enough Avios for a Qatar Airways business class upgrade in just three months might sound impossible, but as you can see, it’s totally doable! The key is to be strategic with your everyday spending and take advantage of every opportunity to collect points. With a little planning and patience, you too can be sipping champagne at 40,000 feet, without breaking the bank.
Start your Avios journey today, and who knows? Your next long-haul flight might just be in business class!
Exclusive Offer: I was kindly given a 30% off LINK for a Priority Pass, to share with you.
Lounge Access Before You Fly
Before you jet off, why not start your trip in style? Priority Pass gives you access to over 1,700+ airport lounges around the world and I’ve secured a 30% discount just for my readers.
Normally £69/year
With my code: just £48
Includes food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and comfy seats far from the gate chaos
Use my link to get your pass,
Looking for a smart way to manage travel spending?
Related Links
24 Hours in Doha: A Guide to Making the Most of Your Stopover
Is the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow T4 Worth the Hype? Find out HERE
Why W Hotel Doha Should be Your Next Stylish Stay in Qatar: Hotel Review
24 Hours in Doha: A Guide to Making the Most of Your Stopover
How I Traveled Business Class on Qatar Airways for Less Than £250
Qatar Airways Economy Class Review: London to Zanzibar via Doha
Plan Your Airport Parking: Booking in advance can make your journey more seamless.
Purple Parking offers secure, affordable parking options at your local airport, with services starting from just £5.37 per day. The car park is equipped with 24/7 CCTV, perimeter fencing, and regular patrols, earning it the Park Mark® Safer Parking award for added peace of mind.
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading How I Went from Zero Avios to a Qatar Airways Business Class Upgrade in Just 3 Months.
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