REMINDER: the ‘Reward Flight Finder’ feature in the BA app is still broken
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We originally ran this article three months ago – and the situation had already been going on for a few months at that point.
However, most people seem to have forgotten because our forum (and my email inbox) are still seeing an influx of people posting questions along the lines of ‘Why has British Airways removed all Avios flights TO London?’.
The reason for these odd comments quickly becomes apparent.
Each reader had been trying to use the ‘Reward Flight Finder’ feature in the British Airways app. That’s unfortunate.
What is ‘Reward Flight Finder’?
Before I go on, I should say that the British Airways app feature called ‘Reward Flight Finder’ has nothing to do with the paid-for reward flight searching service of the same name.
When you search for an Avios reward flight in the BA app, you are presented with two options:
As well as the ‘standard’ Avios search, where you plug in the route and dates you want, there is ‘Reward Flight Finder’.
This is – on paper – a useful way of helping people who have a lot of flexibility to find somewhere to go.
The problem is that it hasn’t worked for some time – I don’t mean ‘some days’, I mean ‘ for pretty much all of 2023 to date’. Welcome to the world of BA IT …..
For many long haul searches, you get this response:
If you believe the BA app, there are no return Avios flights from Dubai in Business Class in August 2023. This is, of course, nonsense – although, as Dubai is currently chillier than most of Southern Europe at just 39 degrees, there could admittedly have been a bit of a rush …..
This problem does not apply to all routes. Most (all?) short haul routes work OK, and some long haul seem to be fine. There is no real logic to it.
There is a DIY fix. Reverse the search, so you are searching from Dubai to London in this case.
Because the ‘outbound’ results render OK, you will now see that there are many days with Business Class flights available from Dubai in August, should you be rethinking those plans to head to Spain or Greece:
Frankly, I wouldn’t bother with this at all. Pay a few quid per month for SeatSpy and you can get detailed cabin searches AND email notifications when seats open up for the dates you want.
However, neither the BA app or SeatSpy can identify the ‘extra’ seats that are opened up in Club World for holders of British Airways Premium Plus American Express 2-4-1 companion vouchers. You are on your own here.
How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 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 Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 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
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 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
Huge 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, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.
Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) and NO FX fees Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
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
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.
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