Does the price of the ticket feel heavy after you land a long flight and think, “Man, that ticket wasn’t cheap”?
What if that flight could have earned you points towards a free trip? Yes, an actual free flight, not “free after you fly 47 more times” free.
The Aer Lingus AerClub Loyalty Program lets you earn points on flights taken, which can be used for future adventures with the airline. Fly once, earn points. Fly more, get status. Fly even more, and suddenly you are boarding first, sitting in lounges, and booking free business class to your destination city.
Sounds too good? Time to break it down!
A Simple Guide to AerClub
AerClub is Aer Lingus’ free loyalty program that rewards you for flying with them. Every flight earns Avios points for your account. Collect enough Avios, and boom! You get free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, whatever you want.
But this is what makes it even more interesting…
What makes Aer Lingus’ frequent flyer program different is that it’s part of the Avios family, which includes British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways. Basically, you can transfer points between these airlines instantly.
So, the AerClub benefits you by allowing you to share Avios with other airlines. There are no conversion fees. No hassle. Instant transfers.
Got 30,000 Avios with Aer Lingus, but British Airways has better award space? Simply transfer them in 60 seconds, and you’re good to go! Such flexibility is very rare to get.
Aer Lingus Frequent Flyer Four Tiers: From Zero to Hero
AerClub membership tiers help in identifying what perks you get. The following are the real benefits you get with the loyalty program.
- Green Tier
Your frequent flyer journey with Aer Lingus starts here. No status, but you are earning towards something. All in all, this level is basic, but you are in the game. It helps you:
✔️Earn Avios on every flight.
✔️Collect tier credits.
✔️Receive member-only deals.
✔️Get no change fees on your bookings.
- Silver Tier
To reach the Silver tier, you will have to collect 120 credits per year, beginning from April 1 to March 31. Getting this level status is totally doable. Three or four transatlantic round-trip? You’re there!
This is where the Aer Lingus loyalty program starts feeling worth it. With this status, you will be getting all the perks that matter:
✔️ Priority check-in (skip the regular line)
✔️Priority boarding (first on = overhead bin space)
✔️Priority baggage (your bag comes out first!)
✔️Lounge access (on transatlantic flights only)
✔️1 free checked bag (even on cheapest fares)
✔️Gift Silver status to someone (partner, friend, mom)
✔️Free same-day flight changes
✔️Fast-track security at select airports
- Platinum Tier
You will get the Platinum status after collecting 300 Tier Credits per year. This is where frequent flyers live. The possibility of a free upgrade alone pays for itself if you fly business class once.
Platinum adds these benefits on top of Silver:
✔️1 complimentary upgrade per year (worth $1,000+ easily)
✔️Priority standby on full flights
✔️Free Wi-Fi on ALL Aer Lingus flights
✔️2 free checked bags
✔️Worldwide lounge access
✔️Bonus Avios earning (more points per dollar)
- Concierge Tier
This is the top! To reach here, you will have to earn 600 Tier credits every year. It can be a lot to some, but the AerClub Concierge Tier offers the maximum benefits. VIP treatment everywhere.
The companion ticket is insane. Fly round-trip to Ireland, bringing your spouse/friend/whoever, completely free. That’s a $500-$800 value right there.
- FOUR complimentary upgrades per year (vs Platinum’s one)
- Free companion ticket annually (bring someone for FREE)
- Dedicated phone line (no hold times)
- Guaranteed seating on sold-out flights
- Maximum baggage allowance
- Highest Avios earning rate
How to Earn Avios with AerClub?
All these perks must have led you to wonder how to earn Avios with AerClub. Flying with the airline is the obvious answer, but there are shortcuts most people miss.
Method #1: Fly with Aer Lingus
The simplest and most basic way to unlock AerClub membership tier benefits is by flying with the airline. Aer Lingus uses revenue-based earnings, which let you earn Avios based on your spending. This is not at all according to how far you fly or how many miles you cover.
- Economy saver → Lower earnings
- Economy smart/flex → Better earnings
- Business class → Highest earnings
Also, you get to earn on partner airlines:
- British Airways flights
- United Airlines flights
- Other Oneworld/Star Alliance partners
Pro tip: Book the cheapest fare to save cash, but you’ll earn fewer Avios. Book flex fares if you’re chasing status.
Method #2: Credit Cards Help You Reach Status Fast
The Aer Lingus credit card is basically a cheat code for racking up Avios without flying. But the benefits keep changing according to the type of card you use.
US Cards: Air Lingus Visa Signature
- Up to 100,000 Avios sign-up bonus
- Earn Avios on every purchase
- Annual companion ticket after $30,000 spent
- Priority boarding automatically
Ireland Card: Aer Credit Card
- 2 lounge passes per year
- 2 fast-track security passes
- Annual travel insurance included
- 2 free European flights when you spend €5,000
These cards turn your grocery runs and gas fill-ups into future flights. Not even kidding.
Method #3: Transfer from Credit Card Points
AerClub partners with major credit card programs. If you have points sitting around, then it would be useful to move them over. These are the transfer partner and the ratio at which you can move your points.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 ratio, instant).
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 ratio, instant).
- Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio with 5,000-point bonus at 60K).
Method #4: Use Shopping Portals
Collect Avios through AerClub partners by shopping online through their portal. There are 150+ brand partners, including:
- Amazon
- Hotels (Agoda, Kaligo)
- Car rentals (Hertz, Avis)
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
Click through the AerClub shopping portal before buying anything online, and get an extra 1-5 Avios per dollar spent. It’s free money.
Redeeming Aer Lingus Avios Like a Pro
Earning is great. But knowing how to redeem Avios for Aer Lingus flights efficiently? That’s where you win.
- Book an Award Flight with Aer Lingus
To book a Reward Flight, simply log in at avios.com using your Aer Lingus AerClub number and password. Use the search tool to find flights you want, then book using your Avios points plus cash to cover taxes and fees.
- Pay for a Flight on the Aer Lingus Website or Mobile App
You can also book flights directly on the Aer Lingus website or app, where you’ll find the “Pay with Avios” option at checkout to lower your ticket cost using points.
- Other Ways to Redeem Aer Lingus Avios
Besides the above two options, you can redeem Avios for hotels through Aer Lingus partners, rent cars with Europcar or even Uber, upgrade your seat for a more comfortable flight, or shop via the Avios eStore to earn or spend points on items.
Get Started with the Aer Lingus Loyalty Program
Are you impressed with the AerClub benefits? Ready to jump in? Use this step-by-step guide as your action plan to get started with the Aer Lingus frequent flyer program.
Step 1: Join AerClub (5 minutes)
- Go to aerlingus.com
- Click “Join AerClub.”
- Enter basic info
- Done. You’re a member.
Step 2: Add Your Number to Existing Bookings
- Have an upcoming Aer Lingus flight?
- Add your new AerClub number retroactively.
- Earn Avios and Tier Credits for that flight.
Step 3: Consider the Credit Card
- If you fly Aer Lingus regularly.
- Sign up during bonus promotions.
- Start earning Avios on everyday spending.
Step 4: Book Your First Award Flight
- Search award space on aerlingus.com.
- Look for off-peak dates.
- Book that free trip to Ireland.
The Real Question: Is AerClub Worth Joining?
Aer Lingus loyalty program doesn’t get enough love. It’s underrated compared to other major airlines’ programs, such as United and Delta frequent flyer memberships. However, it can be better for transatlantic flyers.
| Join If You: | Skip If You: |
| Fly to Europe 1-2+ times per year.Live on the East Coast (easiest access).Want amazing award rates to Ireland/Europe.Have Chase or Amex points sitting around.Prefer flexibility (Avios transfers rule).Want elite perks without flying constantly. | Never fly to Europe.Only travel to Asia/Pacific.Already deeply invested in another program.Only fly domestic US routes. |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Aer Lingus has AerClub, which is part of the Avios family alongside loyalty programs from British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Vueling Airlines.
AerClub benefits include earning Avios points, priority boarding, lounge access, free checked bags, complimentary upgrades, and elite status perks across four membership tiers.
No. AerClub is Aer Lingus’s loyalty program. Avios is the points currency used by AerClub and four other airlines for rewards.
No. Aer Lingus is not part of the Star Alliance. However, it partners with United Airlines for earning and has IAG connections.
Yes. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to AerClub at a 1:1 ratio instantly, making Aer Lingus an official Chase transfer partner for points.
Earn Platinum or Concierge status for complimentary upgrades, or redeem 15,000-25,000 Avios to upgrade any economy ticket to business class on flights.
50,000 Avios equals one round-trip business-class ticket to Ireland from the East Coast, valued at approximately $2,000-$4,000 in cash.
Yes. Silver, Platinum, and Concierge tier members receive priority boarding on all Aer Lingus flights and its partner airlines.
Yes, AerClub membership is entirely free to join, with no annual fees or membership costs, and immediate Avios earning and benefits.
Transatlantic upgrades cost 15,000-25,000 Avios one-way. Short-haul European upgrades start at 5,000 Avios, depending on route distance and availability.
