A new Avios option to Tokyo as Iberia restarts flights in 2024
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For anyone looking for a route to Tokyo on Avios, and frustrated with the lack of availability via British Airways, a new option has emerged.
Iberia will relaunch flights to Tokyo in October 2024.
Other Avios routings are available of course, via Finnair and Qatar Airways for a start, but the Iberia flights will allow you to use a British Airways American Express Premium Plus 2-4-1 companion voucher.
As an extra quirk, you will genuinely get to ‘fly around the world’ during your trip due to the route being flown.
Don’t expect great deals for cash. Iberia has a joint business agreement with Japan Airlines, British Airways and Finnair, known as Siberian Joint Business, to operate routes between Europe and Japan. Revenues are pooled between all carriers.
When does Iberia restart flights to Tokyo?
Flights will start on 27th October 2024.
Flights will operate three times per week. Outbound flights from Madrid will operate on Thursday, Saturday and Monday, with the return flight operating the next day.
It will be the only direct flight between Spain and Japan. Due to the closure of Russian airspace, and presumably to benefit from prevailing winds, the entire trip will be done in the same direction. The outbound flight will be relatively direct whilst the return will head across the Pacific Ocean and the Artic.
Iberia will use one of its new A350 aircraft. These have 31 business class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats and 293 economy seats.
Avios seats will be available
Avios seats will be available. At present, only a handful of flights are available to book because the service doesn’t start until late October next year. Iberia does guarantee two Business Class seats per flight.
I couldn’t see any Business Class or Premium Economy availability when I checked but it could have been snapped up quickly, or alternatively will drop in later. It was a bit suspicious that I couldn’t find a single non-Economy seat, even on the latest available flight. Economy seats are available now on Avios.
The Avios cost will be:
- Economy (off-peak) – 38,750 Avios one way
- Economy (peak) – 49,000 Avios one way
- Premium Economy (off-peak) – 44,250 Avios one way
- Premium Economy (peak) – 61,250 Avios one way
- Business (off-peak) – 59,500 Avios one way
- Business (peak) – 87,500 Avios one way
Economy tickets (Madrid to Tokyo) have £146 in taxes and charges, return. You can always rely on Iberia for low taxes and charges. I can’t give any further examples as I couldn’t find any Premium Economy or Business Class seats yesterday.
Remember that, as long as you book via ba.com and not Iberia Plus, you can use a British Airways American Express 2-4-1 companion voucher on Iberia services. A solo traveller can use the voucher for a 50% discount on the Avios required.
A tip / word of warning: Avios seats becoming bookable on the Iberia website five days before they appear on ba.com (ie 360 days before departure vs 355 days). If you are NOT using a BA Amex 2-4-1 voucher then your best chance of getting seats is to move your Avios to Iberia Plus (instructions here) and redeem from there at 360 days out.
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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 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 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
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
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
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 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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