Tesco Clubcard: The British Secret Weapon for Avios
Most British households already have a Tesco Clubcard sitting in the back of a wallet. Quietly, it's one of the most efficient ways to earn Avios in the UK, better, on a per-pound basis, than several credit cards people pay annual fees for.
How the partnership works
Tesco Clubcard points can be converted to Avios via the Clubcard Reward Partners page. The published exchange rate changes from time to time, so always check it before transferring. But historically the Avios "boost" has put 50 Clubcard points somewhere in the 150–300 Avios range on transfer. That compares very favourably to the 50p face value of the same points used at the till.
The same Reward Partners page now also lists Virgin Points (Tesco added the partnership in 2023), so you can split your stash between the two programmes if you redeem with both airlines.
How to earn meaningful Clubcard balances
- Tesco Bank credit card. Earns Clubcard points on all spend (variable rate, with bonus categories). Less generous than it was at launch, but the points still feed into the same partner-conversion machine.
- Avios-style "boosts" at Tesco itself. Tesco frequently runs Clubcard Plus promotions (£7.99/month for double points on weekly shops) which makes large supermarket spend much more rewarding for households that already shop there regularly.
- Tesco Mobile. Pay monthly customers earn Clubcard points on their bill. Set-and-forget earning, often worth thousands of Avios a year for a family of four.
- One Stop, F&F, Booker. Multiple Tesco-owned brands quietly contribute Clubcard points if you link your card.
The "convert immediately" rule
Don't sit on Clubcard points for years. The partner exchange rates have been cut more than once, and points that would have bought you a return to Berlin in 2017 buy considerably fewer Avios today. If you have an active Avios redemption goal, move the points across in batches as you accumulate them.
Realistic numbers
A two-adult household that does its weekly shop at Tesco, pays its mobile bill there, and uses a Tesco Bank credit card for everyday spend can comfortably collect 15,000–30,000 Clubcard points a year; enough to fund several short-haul European Avios redemptions or a meaningful chunk of a long-haul Business booking. None of which requires you to do anything you wouldn't have done anyway.
Avios isn't the only redemption option, just the most relevant for this blog. Tesco's wider Reward Partners list also includes Pizza Express, RAC and Disney+ subscriptions if a free Avios flight isn't where you want the points to land.