Heathrow Rewards is the airport’s loyalty programme for anyone who’s ever said, “I’ll just browse WHSmith,” and walked out £40 poorer. If you pass through the terminals, you might as well earn something back for all that spontaneous spending. Points = perks, and we’re here for it.
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Getting Started
Sign-up is smoother than a BA short haul on a quiet Tuesday. There is one account per household, which feels oddly strict, but we move. The good bit? You get 100 Heathrow Rewards points just for joining. That’s basically free money, and we love that. You’ll need to hoard at least 250 points before you can cash out into Avios or any other partner currency, so hold off on the confetti until you’re halfway there.
Your card is fully digital and lives in Apple Wallet or Google Pay, so there’s no flimsy bit of plastic to lose at Pret. Just flash it when you spend and rack up those points.
Where You’ll Earn Points
The real magic happens when you flash that card like it’s an Amex Platinum. You’ll earn 1 point per £1 spent in Heathrow’s shops, bars, cafés like this one for example, restaurants, lounges and even after arrivals if you’re still in-terminal. Yes, buying a Boots meal deal after a red-eye counts.
Parked your car? Used the Heathrow Express? Booked porter service because your Rimowa’s heavier than it looks? Left your suitcase at left luggage while you popped into London for lunch? Yep, you earn points for all of that. Travelex will also give you 1 point per £10 exchanged, which won’t make you rich, but hey, it counts.
Pro tip: Book hotels through Rocketmiles, and you can sometimes earn thousands of points in one go. Their offers are wildly generous and great for mileage goblins.
Keep an eye out for limited-time promos, too. Heathrow Rewards loves a cheeky holiday push, offering bonus points for spending during festive periods or special events. These promos are usually easy wins if you’re flying anyway.
How to Spend ‘Em
Once you hit 500 points, you can convert them into £5 in Heathrow shopping vouchers. Not bad for something you were going to do anyway. Even better: redeem 500 points towards Heathrow Parking, and you’ll get £10 off. Yes, double value. That’s not just savvy; that’s elite.
You can also use your points to buy Heathrow Express tickets. It feels fancy whether you’re heading into London or pretending to be in a Bond film.
Want to see how I cashed mine in like a pro? Click here for the full redemption story.
Heathrow Rewards Premium
Spend £750 or more in a calendar year, and you’ll unlock Premium status. The reward? You start earning double points on airport spending, which means 2 points per £1 instead of 1. It’s like status but for impulse shoppers.
Transfer Partners
Here’s where it gets juicy. Heathrow Rewards points transfer 1:1 to a bunch of airline loyalty schemes. A tidy little list:
- AerClub (for our Aer Lingus lovers)
- British Airways Executive Club (hello, Avios)
- Emirates Skywards (bougie flyer energy)
- Singapore KrisFlyer (for the mileage scientists)
- Lufthansa Miles & More (if you enjoy pain)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (shiny new cabins and solid red vibes)
You’ll need at least 250 points to transfer, so no funny business with partial balances. Also, no pooling points with your partner, mates, or nan – Heathrow plays solo only.
Expiry
Your points are safe as long as there’s activity once every three years. So earn or burn at least once before your next big passport panic, and you’re golden.
Final Call
Heathrow Rewards is a no-brainer, even semi-regularly, if you’re flying from or through Heathrow. Add your card to Apple Wallet, link it to Rocketmiles, and start racking points like a caffeinated trolley dash through Duty-Free. Honestly, what are you doing if you haven’t signed up yet? Go nab those 100 free points and start stacking.
