British Airways has introduced a series of Avios-only flights this autumn, giving travellers the chance to secure peak half-term holidays using loyalty points rather than cash fares. The initiative allows British Airways Club members to book entire aircraft using Avios plus a small cash payment, often resulting in significantly reduced travel costs compared with standard fares.
What are Avios-only flights?
Normally, British Airways releases a limited number of reward seats per flight across its cabins. However, on Avios-only services, every seat is available to redeem using Avios, alongside a token cash fee. A report in The Times found that a return economy flight to Madrid recently cost £2 plus 28,000 Avios, with checked baggage included. More recent Avios-only European services have started from about £5 plus 20,000 Avios.
British Airways states that these flights were introduced in 2023 to improve redemption availability on high-demand routes during peak travel periods. Previous Avios-only destinations have included Sharm el-Sheikh, Cape Town and Barbados.
For October 2026, additional Avios-only flights have been announced to Iceland and Tenerife, with fares starting from £5 plus 33,500 Avios in economy or £40 plus 60,000 Avios in business class. However, demand is high and some services have already sold out quickly, as these Avios-only flights are specifically designed to incentivise British Airways Club members to travel.
Why Avios can deliver strong value on travel
Avios is a loyalty currency used across flights, hotels and car hire, with redemptions typically priced as a combination of points and a cash component. In the case of Avios-only flights operated by British Airways, fares are paid entirely in Avios plus a fixed cash amount, without additional carrier-imposed surcharges, which differs from some other airline loyalty programmes such as Lufthansa Miles & More or American Airlines AAdvantage, where taxes and fees are charged separately on reward bookings.
Beyond flights, Avios can also be used for accommodation and transport. For example, hotel stays at properties such as the Madrid EDITION may be available from around £1 plus 58,200 Avios per night, subject to availability. Car hire redemptions can start from approximately £1 plus 6,500 Avios per day in some markets. Balances can be accumulated through both travel and everyday spending, including partnerships with retail and fuel programmes such as Nectar and BP.
What do you think about British Airways’ Avios points initiative this autumn? Let us know in the comments below.
