Unlock New Routes: Xiamen Airlines Partners with Avios
Chinese carrier Xiamen Airlines has recently joined as a new Avios partner, significantly expanding the opportunities for users to earn and spend Avios. This addition brings the total to 35 airlines for spending and 37 for earning. Interestingly, Xiamen Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, not the oneworld grouping typically associated with British Airways and Qatar Airways, which provides a unique redemption avenue.
While official publicity has been minimal, Avios flights on Xiamen Airlines are, in theory, bookable via Qatar Airways Privilege Club, although direct booking through ba.com is not an option. A crucial caveat is that, despite Qatar Airways stating that members can now collect and spend Avios, redemptions currently seem to be functional only for flights between Xiamen and Doha. To access these benefits, users must first open a Qatar Airways Privilege Club account, if they don't already possess one, and then link it to their existing British Airways Club account.
A notable limitation for many Avios collectors is that only Avios from an individual's personal British Airways Club account can be used for redemptions; household accounts are not supported. This means individuals must personally hold enough Avios for their desired booking. Xiamen Airlines does not serve the UK, but its extensive long-haul network from Xiamen includes destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Maldives, Doha, Melbourne, and Sydney. This theoretically enables exciting redemptions like Paris to Sydney or Amsterdam to the Maldives. The airline also boasts numerous short-haul connections across Asia, including popular cities like Osaka, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Seoul. An added benefit is that, owing to Xiamen Airlines' SkyTeam membership, Virgin Points can also be redeemed on these routes, offering further flexibility for points enthusiasts.
(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/10/22/earn-redeem-avios-on-xiamen-airlines/)
