How the Nectar “Count Up to Christmas” Challenge Can Boost Your Travel Points: Thursday Travel Tips

We're going a bit Nectar mad this week... But remember, Nectar = Avios!

Welcome back to Thursday Travel Tips – the weekly series where we uncover clever ways to travel smarter, save money and maximise your rewards.

This week’s hack isn’t at the airport, on a plane, or even travel-branded… but it can absolutely help fund your next trip.

 Nectar “Count Up to Christmas” Challenge

We’re talking about the Nectar “Count Up to Christmas” Challenge – a seasonal promotion hidden in the Nectar app that can earn you bonus points on your usual Sainsbury’s shopping. And if you convert Nectar into Avios, this is effectively free flight fuel.

Let’s break down how it works – and how to make sure you don’t miss out.

What Is It?

Open the Nectar app, tap the Count Up to Christmas tile and click "Join the challenge".

That’s it. You must join by 23:59 on 11 November 2025, or nothing you spend will count (even if it's within the dates).

Once you’ve joined, you’ll see five personalised tasks based on your usual shopping habits. Each task asks you to earn a certain number of standard Nectar points through eligible Sainsbury’s spending. Complete one, and you unlock a bonus. Tasks are separate, not cumulative, and bonuses are the same for everyone, even if the tasks differ.

The earning window runs from 09:00 on 1 October to 23:59 on 11 November 2025. You can shop in store or online - but there are rules.

How to Make Your Shops Count

In store: swipe your Nectar card and spend £1 or more per transaction.

Online: link your Nectar card to your Sainsbury’s online account, and make sure your order is delivered before the deadline, not just placed. Delivery charges are fine, those don’t affect eligibility.

This is key: the Nectar card must be used at the time of the transaction. You cannot apply points afterwards.

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Watch Out for Exclusions

Nectar only counts standard base points from eligible spend. Anything else won’t move your task progress.

Things like alcohol offers, spirits, baby milk, tobacco, lottery tickets, gift cards, medicines, mobile top-ups, PayPoint, travel money and anything from concessions or coffee shops are excluded. So are Swipe & Win points, partner points and goodwill points.

Put simply: stick to regular grocery and household shopping.

When Do You Get the Bonus?

You’ll receive your bonus points within 28 days of the promotion ending, but only for tasks you fully complete.

The app will show a summary of your progress until 18 November 2025, but only if you joined and completed at least one task. Make sure your app is up to date or you might not see it.

Why This Is a Travel Hack (Not Just a Grocery One)

Here’s where it gets exciting. Nectar points can be converted to Avios at a rate of 400 Nectar = 250 Avios.

Which means this isn’t just a supermarket promo, it’s a route to flights, upgrades and travel essentials.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Join as early as possible, more time means easier task completion.

If a task requires a chunk of points, time it with a larger grocery shop or online order. Just be careful with exclusions; one bottle of gin on a shop could stop the whole transaction counting.

Think ahead about what store cupboard essentials you can get now for Christmas, or perhaps keep an eye out for some early Christmas present shopping potentials.

And remember: each task stands alone. Finish one, then move to the next. Standard base Nectar points still apply on everything eligible.

Final Thoughts

The best travel hacks aren’t always glamorous,

they’re smart. The Nectar Count Up to Christmas Challenge quietly boosts your points balance using everyday spending, and those points can go straight towards your next trip.

Join in the app, shop as normal, avoid excluded items and let the bonuses stack up.

It’s free, personalised and surprisingly generous. And if a few extra Avios help you reach a reward seat on your next holiday… that’s what Thursday Travel Tips is all about.

Until next week, happy shopping, happy earning, and happy travelling.

Helena

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