Save up to 66% (permanently?) on Avios redemptions to Tel Aviv, Amman and Cairo
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You can now make big savings on Avios redemptions to certain mid haul destinations. I suspect this is a permanent change, reflecting the move to short haul aircraft.
It means that return Business Class flights start at 48,500 Avios + £181 per person off-peak. They would previously start at 140,000 Avios + £181 return.
Economy Class redemptions have roughly halved, whilst Business Class redemptions are 2/3rd cheaper in terms of Avios needed.
It’s not all good news. Redemptions to Sharm El Sheikh have become more expensive.
These are the destinations which have got cheaper:
- Amman
- Cairo
- Tel Aviv
The change does not impact:
- Abuja
- Kuwait
…. which are usually also lumped in with mid-haul. I will explain why in a minute.
It also doesn’t impact Sharm El Sheikh, which was already pricing at the levels below. In fact, redemptions to Sharm have got more expensive overall. Whilst the Avios levels are unchanged, it used to have a £1 Reward Flight Saver component. You now need to pay £80 in Economy and £180 in Business Class return.
What is the new mid haul Avios pricing?
As per our list of Avios pricing by route, the cost for Amman, Cairo and Tel Aviv used to be (off-peak and peak):
- Economy: 45,000 or 55,000 Avios + £80 return
- Business: 140,000 or 160,000 Avios + £180 return
They are now pricing as:
- Economy: 27,500 or 30,500 Avios + £80 return
- Business: 48,500 or 54,500 Avios + £180 return
You’ll note that, whilst the Avios element has moved to short haul levels, we are still seeing mid haul Reward Flight Saver fees applied because BA is on the hook for long distance APD.
Here’s a screenshot showing Business Class to Cairo:
Except for Abuja and Kuwait ….
Abuja and Kuwait are unchanged. They still show as 140,000 Avios + £180 in Business Class:
Routes with short haul aircraft seem to have repriced
This is what seems to have happened.
Amman, Cairo and now Tel Aviv are operated on short haul aircraft despite the 5+ hour flight time. This meant that Business Class is the same standard Club Europe seat that you’d get on the 40 minute hop to Amsterdam.
Pre-covid British Airways was using ex-BMI aircraft on Amman and Cairo which had better Business Class seating, but those aircraft have now been retired. Tel Aviv switched from long haul to short haul when services restarted this week.
BA seems to have woken up to the fact that charging up to 160,000 Avios + £181 for a return flight in a Club Europe seat isn’t a great deal.
Abuja and Kuwait continue to use long haul aircraft with flat bed Business Class seats and retain the old pricing.
PS. As per the comments below, there is a downside here for some. Because Amman, Cairo and Tel Aviv are now treated as short haul, UK domestic connections are no longer free on Avios tickets. They are still free on Abuja and Kuwait because those routes are still treated as long haul.
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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (May 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 Card
30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review
British Airways American Express Credit Card
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 Credit Card
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 Card
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.
The American Express Business Platinum Card
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
The American Express Business Gold Card
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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