Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Last day to book economy Avios redemptions for 50% fewer points

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Until midnight tonight, 17th June, over 90 British Airways long-haul routes can be redeemed at 50% off, but in Economy only.  

Unfortunately taxes, fees and carrier charges are NOT reduced and will set you back around £350 per person (£275 for the Middle East).

This offer is for flights from or to London Heathrow and Gatwick between 1st September 2018 and 31st May 2019.  In reality, despite what the rules say, regional departures seem to work OK too.  If you live near Inverness this means that you can wipe out the Air Passenger Duty by starting from there as it is exempt.

One way redemptions are allowed.

Avios wing 6

You cannot combine this offer with a British Airways American Express 2-4-1 voucher or a Lloyds Avios Rewards upgrade voucher.

Avios part payments are excluded from this offer, but Avios plus cash is included.  The reduced Avios price will automatically be applied when booking.

Here are some typical off-peak prices for return World Traveller (economy) flights including taxes with this offer:

  • Bermuda for 13,000 Avios + £367.16 (peak 20,000 Avios)
  • Seychelles for 16,250 Avios + £369.61 (peak 25,000 Avios)
  • Hong Kong for 19,500 Avios +£341.35 (peak 30,000 Avios).

Of course, even at half price most of these deals remain poor.  Should I want to go to Dubai, for example, it will cost me 13,000 Avios + £259 on an off-peak date.  Cash tickets can often be had for £295 to £325 which means that the redemption is still a bad deal unless you need the flexibility to cancel if needed.

That said, do the maths.  If you are travelling in high season it may still make sense.  Whilst economy redemptions are usually not great value long-haul, this offer would make sense if a cash ticket would otherwise set you back £550 – £600 or so. This would value your Avios points at 1p each which is fine by us.

You must book by tonight for travel between 1st September 2018 and 31st May 2019 to redeem for 50% fewer Avios – and 0% fewer taxes.

The special offer page for the deal is here.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

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 with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

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

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable 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 10,500 Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 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.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (97)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Tom1 says:
    17 Jun17 June 08:48

    O/t – Lloyds Avios card
    Lloyds upgrade voucher – I have spent £7000 and confirmed on my recent statement – when should I expect to see the voucher? Am I right in thinking it will still currently drop in to my Avios vouchers section?

    Just a bit concerned it will fall in to the black holes.
    Tks

  • Arnold london says:
    17 Jun17 June 09:23

    Still some decent deals to be had. Family of 4 down to Cape Town for Feb half term @100k Avios and £1280. Cash fares over £1000k per person. Ditto for NYC over the late May bank holiday – 66k Avios and £1300 vs cash prices in excess of £700
    And what I value most is the flexibility – as a GGL I can cancel up until 24 hours before the first flight!

    • Ali says:
      17 Jun17 June 10:40

      anyone can cancel avios bookings up to 24 hours before, not just GGL

  • Lumma says:
    17 Jun17 June 09:32

    Regarding the flexibility of these avios tickets, if I was to lock in a flight today, what would happen to the avios required if I needed to change the dates later? Back to full price?

  • Tony says:
    17 Jun17 June 09:38

    On the BA deal, if I want to book a multi city trip (LHR to BOS, then MIA to LHR), does booking two one way trips online work out the same tax/fees wise? Our do I need to call BA to book in one go?

  • What's the Point says:
    17 Jun17 June 09:56

    I normally don’t give these Avios economy deals a second glance, but I’ve picked up some exceptional value out of this one. Booked a number of return tickets to Jordan for various family members – travelling in peak times. Saved them hundreds vs the cash price – especially when you realise that the lowest cash price doesn’t actually include a checked bag anymore!

    Ok, so its not travelling in CW, but the savings can’t be sniffed at for a 5 hour flight.

  • Ed says:
    17 Jun17 June 10:29

    Off topic – can someone please confirm if Amex still do pro-rata refund for card fees. I think this changed in US a while back, but in the UK are we still eligible? Many thanks in advance.

  • david devine says:
    17 Jun17 June 11:34

    Used vueling for man bcn trip this weekend. IAG obviously trawling new depths. I see the north doesn’t qualify for short haul flights from BA. Flight over only left an hour late. Looks like our return flight went tech and we are now sat on an alternative plane on the tarmac somewhere in bcn. Should I be grateful another plane was on standby?

    • vlcnc says:
      17 Jun17 June 18:13

      I’ve said this before and will say it again – Vueling is the worst airline in Europe. Nevermind WizzAir or Ryanair they are literally the pits – yet they seem to get away without much criticism…

      • Rob says:
        17 Jun17 June 18:16

        We are actually giving Excellence class a go in 2 weeks …

        • vlcnc says:
          20 Jun20 June 14:49

          You can dress a turd up all you want Rob but it is still a turd. So you might get a nicer seat and some food but it is still their frankly atrocious and despicable staff, terrible delays and frankly sadistic customer services.

    • Lady London says:
      18 Jun18 June 02:22

      Hang in there if it gets to you landing over 3 hours late then EU261.

      Over 2 hours and they owe you appropriate food and drink for the time of day, accommodation if it turns into overnight, transport to and from said accommodation, whatever the reason -mechanical issues is not an exemption (nor from EU261).

      You might be lucky with Vueling – could run to 3 hours delay. Easyjet seems to be around an hour late on particular routes all the time particularly in the summer, and Ryanair somehow seem to scrape in taking off just 5min short of having to provide care (food, drink etc) over and over again. But Vueling might slip up. If they won’t provide those things or delay unreasonably then just get your own and claim back (within reason).

      Seriously though, good luck and I hope your wait on tarmac is not too long. I think in Europe they have to let you out of a plane if it’s been on the tarmac a certain period.. I think 3 hours.

  • N says:
    17 Jun17 June 13:37

    I’m about to hit my intro bonus on my Gold CC. Any news or routes to upgrade to Plat and earn that bonus? Or is it a straight no go?

    • the real harry1 says:
      17 Jun17 June 13:59

      Just reading the T&Cs to see if you can use the GC upgrade route – doesn’t say yes, doesn’t say no so why not give it a go?
      https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/platinum-charge/upgrade/

      While I was there, I noticed the following – never knew that! 🙂
      Australia: Platinum Cardmember may bring their children between the ages of 2-17 and up to 2 guests into the lounge.
      Brazil: Platinum Cardmember and up 1 travel companion OR Platinum Cardmember’s immediate family may enter the airport lounges at no cost. For any additional guests, the Cardmember will be charged R$22.00 per person (exception: no additional guests allowed in Congonhas lounges).
      India: Platinum Cardmember and up to one complimentary guest allowed and any additional guests will be charged INR750 per person.
      Mexico: Platinum Cardmember plus 2 guests or immediate family (spouse & sons/daughter no limit)
      United States: Platinum Cardmember may bring immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and their children under 18) OR up to two (2) companions into the lounge.

    • Kinkell says:
      17 Jun17 June 19:04

      Several past postings with link ,but Google can bring up a link. I’ve just got my 20kMR pts for the £1000 spend, upgrade Gold to Plat . So it’s still happening.

      • Crafty says:
        17 Jun17 June 22:30

        The question is about the new gold credit card, not the old gold charge card which was an established upgrade route.

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