More UK-Spain Summer sun routes launched by Iberia – possible Avios redemption ideas

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I have written before about the new Iberia services which are starting from Manchester (September) and Edinburgh (March). These will offer a direct route to Madrid, bookable with Avios points, and an easy option for connecting to an Iberia long-haul Avios redemption.

This all seemed a bit too sensible for Iberia’s route planning department, though. With Iberia now back in profit, anything goes!

At least, that is what is seems like. I can’t think of any other reason for the launch of London Luton to Vigo. Wherever Vigo may be. (In Galicia, it seems, photo below).

Vigo

The route will be operated by Air Nostrum / Iberia Regional on Thursdays and Sundays between 15 July and 27 September.

Seats are now available for Avios redemptions at ba.com. It is 15,000 Avios + £30 in Economy (no Reward Flight Saver on Iberia but taxes out of Luton are low anyway) and 30,000 Avios + £43 in Business.

If you are thinking of booking for cash, look at iberia.com and Air Nostrum as prices and baggage allowances can sometimes vary.

More logical are two new Summer routes launched by Iberia Express. The only surprising thing here is that they are being flown from Heathrow – and Terminal 5 at that – where we are always led to believe that British Airways is struggling to find slots.

The new routes are:

Heathrow to Tenerife North (3 flights per week from 29 March)

Heathrow to Las Palmas / Gran Canaria (4 flights per week from 30 March)

The tax is not great, unfortunately. Las Palmas is 20,000 Avios + £114 return in Economy or 40,000 Avios + £64 in Business. I have no idea why Business is £50 cheaper, I think ba.com is treating the surcharges incorrectly. The pricing for Tenerife is the same.

In Economy, you are better off booking via iberia.com and using Combine My Avios to send your points across. Las Palmas in 20,000 Avios + £59 in Economy, for example, saving you £55 per person. Business Class, on the other hand, has taxes of £80 which is more than ba.com wants.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (June 2022)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards.

Until 18th July 2022 there is an astonishing special offer on these cards. You get 50,000 Avios on the Avios Plus Mastercard and 10,000 Avios on the free Avios Mastercard. You can apply here. We strongly recommend getting the Avios Plus card whilst this offer is running.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

50,000 Avios for signing up (A CRAZY SPECIAL OFFER!) and an upgrade voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

10,000 Avios for signing up (SPECIAL OFFER) and an upgrade voucher for spending £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable card perk – the 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £12,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points.

SPECIAL OFFER: The sign-up bonus on Amex Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 Membership Rewards points until 19th July 2022. This card is free for the first year.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,000 Avios.

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

10,500 points bonus – the most generous Avios Visa for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.