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

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).

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!

(Want to earn more Avios?  Click here to see our latest articles on earning and spending your points and click here to see our list of current Avios promotions.)