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BOOK NOW: British Airways launches Gatwick flights for next summer – wide open for Avios

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British Airways has finally begun to load its Summer 2023 schedule from London Gatwick.

I’d had a number of reader emails about this so it is good to see them up for sale and redemption at last.

Avios availability is wide open if you book now. The Summer timetable starts in late March 2023 and will continue until the end of October.

Which new routes is British Airways launching from Gatwick?

So far, we know of nine routes which British Airways is (re-)launching. As you would expect, they are all in popular summer holiday destinations and include:

  • Catania
  • Dalaman
  • Faro, Portugal
  • Heraklion
  • Kos
  • Lanzarote
  • Paphos
  • Tenerife
  • Thessaloniki

We will have to wait and see if any more are added to the list.

These routes will all be operated by BA Euroflyer, the new British Airways low cost subsidiary. However, the ‘low cost’ element only applies to what the crew and pilots are paid. In-flight service and benefits, including lounge access, are identical to what mainline BA flights offer, albeit Gatwick flights use a different caterer to Heathrow.

What is Avios reward availability like?

Here is a SeatSpy screenshot from this morning’s article for Paphos, for days with two Club Europe business class seats. Obviously Economy will be wide open too.

In total, BA has released four business class and eight economy seats per flight.

Paphos Avios availability

Other destinations will be similarly open, although not ever route is daily.

What can I book?

You can currently book as far out as 20th August 2023 due to BA opening up seats at 355 prior to departure.

You can book on the BA website here.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

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

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Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large 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, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

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There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

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

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

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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 (44)

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

  • jasev says:
    31 Aug31 August 22:20

    I’m waiting for Sevilla, Easter date. I’m starting to worey.

  • Alan says:
    31 Aug31 August 23:21

    Still useless with almost no domestic connections…

  • Bosco1979 says:
    1 Sep1 September 01:37

    Skg all gone for half term.

  • Ant says:
    1 Sep1 September 06:38

    Thinking of booking Paphos for a week in July but never been to Cyprus. What’s there to do? Are there good beaches? Do people recommend it?
    Any thoughts appreciated

    • Peter says:
      1 Sep1 September 06:43

      Paphos is lovely. Going there in a couple of weeks for a friends wedding.
      Good choice of hotels and restaurants to fit budgets. Some decent history to explore as well.

      • Grimz says:
        1 Sep1 September 07:18

        And you drive on same side of road as UK. Can go from one side of island to other in around 4hrs!

        • Gordon says:
          1 Sep1 September 08:03

          Yes the island is not big at all. I prefer flying into Larnaka on the other side of the island, And visiting paralimni (Fig tree bay) Protaras, Easter is starting to get warm and it’s still pleasant in oct after the summer heat, It can reach in the 40,s. In spring it can be 25c-30c on the beach and -0 with snow when you travel up the Troodos mountains.I am a keen Trap clay pigeon shooter and the shooting grounds are great.The food is also very nice if you avoid the tourist spots and find restaurants out of the way.
          Don’t bother with Ayia Nappa unless your young and it only comes alive during the evening time. You can travel to the north (Turkish occupied side) For fake goods, But you have to pass a small border check and show your passport, Hire car companies don’t like you taking their cars over there as they are not insured because your theoretically leaving Cyprus….

          • Erico1875 says:
            1 Sep1 September 08:45

            Gordon. Ayia Napa is fine out with high season. We have been both OCT and APRIL and it was fine.

    • AspirationalFlyer says:
      1 Sep1 September 07:44

      I was there a few days ago.
      Cyprus is great.

    • Erico1875 says:
      1 Sep1 September 07:47

      For the best beaches,I’d fly into Larnaca. Ayia Napa and Protaras, the beaches are lovely.
      Also , Turkish, Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia area the beaches are great

    • Alison says:
      1 Sep1 September 12:06

      It’s hot in July but depends what you want to do. Lots of historical sites, there’s a water park for children, plenty of nice restaurants and bars. There are often events on at the castle on the harbour. Driving is easy (although drive slowly as the locals aren’t particularly good drivers) so you can visit Latchi (a fishing town) or the villages in the Troodos. The local beach is ok but small and you pay for sun beds and parasols. I’d suggest Trip Advisor for some recommendations but it is lovely out here (currently in Paphos!)

  • Bosco1979 says:
    1 Sep1 September 06:45

    Just found 4 business class tickets back from skg end of half term. 109000 avio plus 2 sheets. Or 79000 avio and 70 sheets. No brainer for the latter.

  • Mark says:
    1 Sep1 September 07:57

    Anyone any best guesses when the next BA sale will arrive?

  • PeterK says:
    1 Sep1 September 08:35

    I hear BA has an abundance of existing crew at LGW who won’t move across to Euroflyer so plenty to operate long haul from LGW but not ‘new’ shorthaul. Recent recruits to BA LGW long haul are now being offered LHR contracts if they want a 2022 start date.

    It will be interesting to see how BA resources its 2023 Euroflyer operation.

  • Rich says:
    1 Sep1 September 09:14

    Feels like BA are trying to cover up their disaster this year in how they handled and treated their customers by going 1 year ahead to announce routes. Let’s see how many more people’s holidays they can ruin. Time to move on from BA in the UK. Far more better carriers around to use but BA think people will just forget their failures and live on their past history. People need to vote with their feet and look elsewhere….

    • Rhys says:
      1 Sep1 September 09:21

      It’s pretty normal to finalise the summer schedule for the year ahead. After all, you can book tickets 355 days in advance. If BA don’t know where they’re going then how are they supposed to sell tickets!

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

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