Points can unlock the extraordinary, but there are usually limits when it comes to “peak, peak” travel times.
Unless you’re willing to grind or become a super planner, it just ain’t easy to to bag a coveted seat during spring break to the hottest destination of the year. I say “usually”, because Avios, British Airways and IAG Loyalty are changing the record on that with a very cool opportunity.
Channeling a clever concept from Qantas but with a new level of fanfare, British Airways will offer a series of flights to peak destinations at peak times, every seat of which will be booked using Avios. Yes, every seat on the plane will solely be available using points.
British Airways “Avios Only” Flights
Starting from the home base of London, British Airways is releasing a series of flights for Avios fans and collectors to book the most sought after destinations at the most in demand times.
Rather than four or eight seats being released and people gobbling them up the moment strikes midnight almost a year in advance, entire British Airways planes will be made available exclusively using Avios.
Avios Flights: When And Where?
British Airways will operate “Avios-only” flights starting in November 2023 and continuing in February and March of 2024, with London being the launch city for both. Flights will be available to increasingly popular Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and to Geneva during peak ski season.
- First flight will be London Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh in November 2023.
- Four London – Geneva flights will jet off in February and March 2024.
Specifically the Geneva flights will be flight BA728 from Heathrow to Geneva and BA729 from Geneva to Heathrow on February 10th, 17th, and 24th, as well as March 2nd.
The Sharm El Sheikh “Avios Only” flight will depart Gatwick on November 3rd.
To be clear, these seats go on sale today!
How To Book
These flights will be as hot as a Jordan 1 “Chicago” drop, so make sure you tune your eyes in here for a moment to get it all right. To be eligible to book you’ll need to have an active Avios account with British Airways and have enough points.
Don’t forget that points can be transferred into Avios from Amex Membership Rewards in the UK, and from Amex, Chase, Capital One and Brex in the US, if you’re short.
Simply login to BritishAirways.com and select “Book With Avios” and enter the dates mentioned above. You should see wide open availability if you move fast. If you don’t, you’re too late and will have to wait for the next drop of destination opportunities.
Pricing for London – Geneva starts at 18,500 Avios + £1 each way in economy or £1 plus 30,000 Avios for business class, or you can use more cash to lower the Avios price still.
The London – Sharm El Sheikh flights will run £1 plus 27,500 points for economy or £1 plus 48,500 for business class, with the same opportunity to lower points costs by using more cash. One pound has a nice ring to it.
The good news is that every seat will go using Avios. The bad news is that a larger amount of people than usual will be all over this and want one too. Oh, and just FYI companion vouchers can be used.
More This, Please!
In a time where cash doesn’t seem to go as far as it once did, it’s really cool to see airlines investing in creating memories and experiences for people that bring joy. I can only imagine how many awesome and nerdy conversations will take place on these flights.
Qantas was pretty much the first to trial this before the pandemic, but these new flights take things to the next level and it’s the kind of competition where customers win in every way. I’d be elated if every airline starts doing this in some fashion.
Good lock on the hot Avios seat drop!
