A new ‘Avios only’ flight launches TODAY

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• Binks says:

  11 Apr11 April 05:31

  Exciting news re avios only flight! ✈️

  • BJ says:

    11 Apr11 April 06:47

    Interesting sentiment, I’m not even sure all previous avios-only flights sold out so I don’t think they have captured the public imagination. They are far too hit and miss in their appeal due to destination and dates before even considering whether RFS is good value. I think they’d be better ditching them in favour of regular promotional reward discounts to a range of destinations over a limited period like some other carriers do.

    • Qrfan says:

      11 Apr11 April 07:31

      I ended up on an avios only flight without even knowing it until we boarded, and overheard at least one other group on board who weren’t even aware of the concept. On the outbound they gave out an A5 paper “certificate” and one piece of no brand celebrations-style chocolate. On the return it wasn’t even mentioned. I don’t care because I just wanted to go skiing, but from a BA perspective it’s a completely missed opportunity in my view. They even forgot to load champagne for euro traveller…

      • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

        11 Apr11 April 08:10

        They always forget to load the champers for ET.

        It’s almost like they don’t offer it at all 😃😃😃 🍾🍾🥂

        • Sharon says:

          11 Apr11 April 10:06

          I was on a short flight to Newcastle in ET and the woman next to me complained about a dirty fork and the flight attendant gave her a whole unopened bottle of champagne as an apology. I might have to try that myself in the future!

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

      11 Apr11 April 08:09

      Do they need to capture the public’s imagination though?

      There are only a couple of hundred seats available per flight (depending which plane they use) and if the destination is “right” HfP readers could fight it out with flyer talk about which site filled it up (not that I can see a thread on flyer talk BA board about this)

      And BA don’t seem to be making a marketing thing about these flights so they clearly aren’t after any sort of publicity like they are when launching a new route or plane.

      This is more a way of soaking up some avios and 2-4-1 / Barclays vouchers.

      • Rob says:

        11 Apr11 April 08:21

        Not true. Why do you think we’re not being told? It’s so BA can do an email blast quicker than we can do a detailed article. We sold out Dubai before anyone else could book.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          11 Apr11 April 08:34

          You’ve made my point for me.

          If HFP can fill out the flight then BA don’t need to make a huge song and dance about it do they?

          And given the vagaries of BAs email system you or a poster here will have listed the flight details before many BAEC members will have had the email. For the last avios flight I got the email several hours after the destination was posted on here.

          You don’t need a detailed article just an update of this one with the flight details.

        • BJ says:

          11 Apr11 April 09:05

          No he hasn’t, NBA are not running avios-only flights for the benefit of HfP readers, that HfP flags them up arnd most seats are taken by readers is another matter altogether, pne that steals BA thunder at cost to them.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          11 Apr11 April 09:14

          BJ I didn’t say that BA put these flights on just for HfP readers but that HfP readers could fill them up based on a single article or forum post. Not the same thing at all.

          Also see these posts below

          Jonathon – These flights are basically HfP/Flyertalk flights. The general public have in reality little chance of booking them.

          Rob – Correct. But so are most things we cover. The Chelsea thing today may sell out before Hilton can email anyone.

• Tariq says:

  11 Apr11 April 06:23

  Anybody got any recent experience of applying for the BAPP, having already made a good chunk of the spend towards the voucher on the free card? Does it still behave like it always used to – ie spend to date carried over to the new BAPP?

  • Mikel says:

    11 Apr11 April 07:04

    Yes, had £9500 on the blue card and it transferred across to the BAPP card. Companion voucher received within a month of getting new card.

  • BJ says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:38

    I know that, I was getting at the point you said BA do not need to csoture the imagination of the public. Why? If they don’t do do that, what’s in it for BA? They can likely see HfP and us readers far enough, we are surely a love/hate thing for them in equal measure.

    • BJ says:

      11 Apr11 April 11:04

      Sorry, that reply was supposed to be @BA Flyer.

• BJ says:

  11 Apr11 April 06:25

  Since they are being so tight-lipped about it my guess is that the avios-only flight is to SYD.

  • Qrfan says:

    11 Apr11 April 07:45

    Fingers crossed it’s a QR operated flight to Thailand just for you BJ. I know how excited you’d be. 😉

    • BJ says:

      11 Apr11 April 08:05

      Our next two flights to/from BKK are on QR. Actually cancelled AY to book them as transit time was less worrying.. if we can get our Xmas flight in late Nov early Dec for 75k it will be QR also. I got used to the early hours connections and the two shorter flights, and I’ve always liked DOH for transit (good security scanners and much less annoying tensile barrier mazes lije other airports). BA is not getting a look in, even with a voucher. BA only working for me if I want HKG-EDI.

      • Gordon says:

        11 Apr11 April 09:00

        @BJ- having visited Thailand a few times myself, I favour Asia as a destination, I know it’s one of your go to destinations,

        so can I ask your opinion on getting to BKK on avios or revenue, QR or other carriers, I am around 2 hours from all London airports, so any London airport Is ok for me to fly from. Also maybe an ex eu option.

        • BJ says:

          11 Apr11 April 09:29

          Revenue: one way LHT-BKK in TG J can be found for as little as £1400. Search skyscanner. BKK-UK, AY is generally around £1150 J. These fares offer better termsvthan cheap returns. AF (and now presumably KLM) typically offered premium econy from UK to Bangkok for £950 return. It has been higher in past year but still worth a look. Always check everything using skyscanner for best options but stick to fares available via aurlines own web pages, not obscure OTA.

          Reward flight: my first choice would be QR J for 75k each way in J. For me this has akways included free seat selection when booking via QAPC. Second choice AY J for I think now it should be about 85k each way. There may be a wirkarond for free seat sekection if you use RJ MMB based on comments to me last week. 3rd chouce would be BA from LGW if I had a voucher.

          If you were orepared to start exEU, then look at firect cash fares with Thai or EVA using reverse open jaw to return to LHR. TG often offers great fares from OSL, ARN or CPH. EVA from AMS or CDG sometimes too.

        • Rob says:

          11 Apr11 April 09:50

          Helsinki to Bangkok on Avios is only 125k RETURN + £59 of taxes and charges though (Business) and you can have that any day you want with the new guaranted availability on Finnair.

        • Gordon says:

          11 Apr11 April 09:46

          Thanks for the info BJ, much appreciated, I do use Skyscanner occasionally, and as you say regarding an OTA, I never use them, I only book direct.

        • Gordon says:

          11 Apr11 April 10:01

          @Rob- Even with BA returning to BKK direct in Q4 this year, these ex eu fares are hard to pass up!

        • BJ says:

          11 Apr11 April 11:13

          @ Gordon, that price Rob refers to will be available from any Zone 1 city once we can transfer avios to Finnair Plus. You could buy avios from Finnair now in their sale if you wanted to book now via Finnair Plus. CPH-HEL-BKK return in J via Finnair Plus is set to become our default go to redemption ( even buying the avios) because having friends in Coprnhagen itvworks perfectly for us.

        • Rob says:

          11 Apr11 April 11:16

          You can book via BA.com at that price. There is parity with Finnair Plus.

        • Gordon says:

          11 Apr11 April 11:16

          Thanks, BJ.

        • BJ says:

          11 Apr11 April 11:41

          @Gordon, to clarify I meant Finnair Plus zone 1 not BAEC zone 1.

          @Rob, yrs but that parity presumably only applies from HEL-BKK(XXX) due to BA per sector pricing. If booked via Finnair Plus now with Finnair avios, or later with combined avios when possible, that pricing will be available from Finnsir Plus zone 1. Invlusive of connection flights. This is important because generally it is a lot cheaper to get from UK to say OSL, ARN or CPH than to HEL. It also provides more opportunities for short breaks associated with positioning flights.

        • Rob says:

          11 Apr11 April 12:05

          Fair point. Will bear in mind when transfers launch.

        • BJ says:

          11 Apr11 April 13:11

          @Gordon, if you want to book that HEL-BKK Rob suggested now via BAEC you could tag on LHR- HEL for 12k avios in Y or 24k in J. Two separate flights on outward leg would save you APD. Hilton at airport is 40k points per night. Return BKK-GEL-LHR would be 84.5k in J and about £40 IIRC. However I thimk the connection to LHR in evening is an A320 not an A350.

        • Gordon says:

          11 Apr11 April 14:50

          @BJ Thank you.

• No longer Entitled says:

  11 Apr11 April 07:11

  Do these flights sct like standard Avios redemptions? I.e can you still use a 2-4-1?

  • Qrfan says:

    11 Apr11 April 07:33

    You can’t even tell it’s avios only when booking the redemption. You’d only know if you tried also booking it for cash. Can’t imagine they block any vouchers.

  • BJ says:

    11 Apr11 April 07:38

    Vouchers are fine, that’s a genuine attraction, mo problems with groups of 3+ in the travel party if you have multiple vouchers.

• Richie says:

  11 Apr11 April 07:49

  Orlando is my guess for the avios flight.

  • Chris W says:

    11 Apr11 April 08:35

    I came here to say this too

    • Andrew. says:

      11 Apr11 April 09:28

      Orlando from EDI at the start of the Scottish school holidays?

      It would be welcomed by the WILLIE crew who amass bucket loads of points.

      • Richie says:

        11 Apr11 April 09:37

        If it’s on a Sunday the BACF EDI-LGW flight might connect.

• Jonathon says:

  11 Apr11 April 08:25

  These flights are basically HfP/Flyertalk flights. The general public have in reality little chance of booking them.

  • Rob says:

    11 Apr11 April 08:48

    Correct. But so are most things we cover. The Chelsea thing today may sell out before Hilton can email anyone.

  • executiveclubber says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:27

    Especially when BA do a press release at 10am and only email their members at 10:25am… they’d do well to not do press releases and keep it to email and social media only

• Adam says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:43

  We just came back tom Tenerife on the Easter avios only flights.. they were great – easy to book and good times too! Thanks HfP for the heads up on that one!

  • P4D says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:59

    likewise, very good, great flight times

• Scanditraveller says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:52

  LHR-GVA now wide open for Feb half term next year (15-22 Feb)

  • Ironside says:

    11 Apr11 April 20:46

    Means travelling through GVA during ski season, something I have now sworn off.

    It’s a perfectly fine airport when everything works as it should, but it doesn’t seem to take much to end up with multi-hour queues and borderline-dangerous crushes.

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