When building up our Avios, we all dream of where they may take us - the holiday we’ll book or the friends or relatives we’ll be able to visit. But getting enough points is only half the battle. Securing those British Airways reward flights can be a frustrating process.
The challenge is made even trickier this year as so many of us emerge from pandemic restrictions with a pent-up desire to travel and a stash of unused Avios to cash in.
A minimum of four business class, two premium economy and eight economy seats are released for Avios buyers as soon as flights enter BA’s booking system, but, on popular routes, these will be snapped up immediately.
Other reward seats are usually released over the next 355 days, but the more popular the route, the fewer there will be and the greater the competition.
Reward Flight Finder (RFF) can help because we can Alert you as soon as new reward seats are released. However, it’s also good to manage your expectations, so if you’re after a particularly in-demand route you can do your best to put yourself ahead of the game.
Here are some of the crunch points and the easiest and trickiest routes on which we are finding availability.
Crunch points
Peak times for departing the UK
The busiest times for travel are the school holidays and public holidays like Christmas and Easter. Naturally, this also puts the squeeze on reward flights.
Peak season in your destination
If the weather’s at its best where you’re headed, demand will naturally be higher. In general, short-haul to medium-haul destinations like the Mediterranean and the Eastern US are most popular over the summer and many long-haul routes over winter.
Few flights
If BA runs a limited service to a destination, naturally there will be fewer reward seats up for grabs.
Routes for both business and leisure
Double the interest means double trouble when searching for those British Airways reward flights. Several US and Asia cities fall into this category and, when BA has bums on seats already, it’s less likely to release more for Avios.
Aspirational routes
If you have an eye on an upgrade, remember honeymoon hotspots and other routes associated with luxury will have more people chasing them.
These kinds of flights are also booked furthest in advance to coincide with passengers’ special occasions.
The easiest routes for bagging British Airways reward flights…
New York
BA’s most popular destination for an Avios flight redemption is New York.
But it’s also a well-served route with multiple flights a day to two airports, meaning plenty of seats to fill, so a healthy number are still released for Avios.
British Airways
India
While several Asian cities popular for business feel the squeeze on reward seats, particularly in the premium cabins, you’ll have a better chance if you’re looking at Mumbai, Delhi and other Indian cities.
Mexico City
Cancun and neighbouring Riviera Maya have boomed in recent years with a plethora of new five-star hotels built on the Caribbean coast. Mexico City, a fascinating cultural destination in its own right, is an alternative access point with much better reward seat availability.
British Airways
Middle East (beyond Dubai)
Dubai is popular with Brits but other regional cities have much easier availability for British Airways reward flights. You could fly instead to less fashionable Doha (capital of World Cup host Qatar), Kuwait or Bahrain for better availability, then get a connecting flight to Dubai. Doha and Bahrain are also good for onward connections worldwide.
The hardest reward flight routes…
Australia
Those after that bucket list tick, or with friends and relatives to visit Down Under, will be desperate to get that pricey 12-hour flight to Sydney for free or to upgrade to premium economy or business class.
For British Airways American Express customers, the length of the flight also makes it the best value one on which to cash in a BA Companion Voucher, to bag two seats for the price of one.
British Airways
The Caribbean
Though BA flies direct to multiple Caribbean destinations, luxury favourites Barbados and St Lucia are particularly popular for British Airways reward flights in business class.
Indian Ocean
Aspirational destinations like the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles become much more attainable if you can get there for free on a reward flight. These honeymoon hotspots are also favourites for upgrades, so, if you have a big Avios points stash or a BA Companion Voucher to use, you’ll be facing stiff competition.
Asia
Singapore and Tokyo are popular for both business and leisure, with Japan particularly trending since hosting recent world sporting events. The long-haul combined with the high number of business travellers makes premium seats like gold dust.
US
San Francisco and LA are other cities popular with business and leisure travellers. They don’t have the schedule frequency of New York, so British Airways reward flights are scarce to these Californian airports.
Tips for improving your chances
- Passenger1
Consider an upgrade (or a downgrade)
Business Class upgrades are less popular on short-haul routes when the difference in seat and service is more minimal. So, if you don’t mind burning some Avios on some luxury touches, you’ll likely find more availability on short-haul routes.
Conversely, those long-haul routes popular for business or special occasions may be a better bet if you’re searching for reward seats in economy.
Fly at an unfashionable time
If you’re happy to put up with a little discomfort to get the reward flights you want then, where there’s a choice, tweaking your times and departing early or late may help. Flying out of season or off-peak will also increase your chances.
Choose less popular airports within range
Sydney is hugely popular for reward seats, so picking another Australian gateway may raise your chances. The Middle East and the Caribbean are other areas to consider switching, taking a BA reward flight to a nearby, less competitive, airport, then a short connecting flight to reach your preferred destination.
Think partner airlines
When British Airways reward flights are tight, look to the airline’s partners in the Oneworld alliance - you may be able to cash in your Avios on a similar route. Just remember that a BA Companion Voucher can only be redeemed on a BA-operated flight.
Set an alert
Remember to set an alert with RFF so we can notify you when your preferred seats are released. Depending on your membership level, you can receive notifications daily, right up to instantly, to help you snap up a bargain.
