Welcome back

For several months after its reopening, visitors to Japan had to be escorted in groups or by private guides. This rule was dropped late last year, and BA resumed Tokyo flights in November 2022.  

Until recently, China and its Special Administrative Region Hong Kong required visitors to quarantine in hotels on arrival. Hong Kong relaxed the rule last September (the rest of China in early 2023), and BA resumed Hong Kong flights in December. 

There are still some restrictions in both destinations, so it’s best to check the latest situation via the UK government's Foreign Travel Advice website. But their reopenings have prompted a rush of pent-up demand, so you’ll need to get ahead of the pack for flights. 

Current Avios availability for Tokyo and Hong Kong 

Tokyo and Hong Kong are good value routes to cash in your loyalty points. But, as they’re particularly popular for Avios reward flights, we recommend setting up an alert with Reward Flight Finder (RFF) so you can snap up seats for your preferred dates as soon as they’re released. 

Looking to make your Avios flight redemption in a premium cabin? The first good selection of business class reward seats to Hong Kong will start popping up in November 2023 (there’s no first class available). If you’re happy to book premium economy then try to upgrade to business class closer to your flight time using RFF Alerts, there’s a good selection of premium economy seats from October 2023.

The first good selection of business class reward seats for Tokyo will appear from November 2023 (again, there’s no first-class option). Want to book premium economy and try for a business class upgrade closer to your flight time using RFF Alerts? Check out the good selection of premium economy seats from November 2023.

Don’t forget, British Airways can release more reward seats anytime. If you’re looking for BA reward seats to Tokyo and Hong Kong, join RFF, set an alert and we’ll do all the searching, notifying you when tickets become available to book with Avios. 

So, what makes Hong Kong and Tokyo so great?

Hong Kong

Comprising Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 200 offshore islands, Hong Kong’s a surprisingly diverse destination. Many attractions are clustered around Victoria Harbour with its iconic skyline of sparkling skyscrapers.

If you’re a first-time visitor, hit the classics. Take the vertiginous Peak Tram for spectacular views, tour cheaply on a vintage tram and hop on the historic Star Ferry. 

In the evening, pick a harbour-side spot to enjoy the Symphony of Lights laser show (8 pm nightly) before heading to a skyscraper cocktail bar. In horse racing season you could catch the floodlit action at Happy Valley. 

Do drop into an atmospheric Buddhist, Confucian, or Taoist temple. The Big Buddha statue on Lantau Island can also be reached via the longest cable car ride in Asia. 

Chief among Hong Kong’s foodie experiences are eating Dim Sum. The filled steamed buns are served in many teahouses. Local seafood, including soft-shelled crab, is another must-try. 

For arty attractions, explore the sprawling Tai Kwun centre galleries in a former police station and for shopping with atmosphere don't miss a Kowloon market. Ladies Market, Temple Street Market, and Yuen Po Street Bird Garden are among the most popular.

With more time to explore, you could hike the mountains and visit Unesco-listed Global Geopark or Disneyland. And don’t forget, Hong Kong has beaches. 

If money’s no object, stay at the famous Peninsula or Mandarin Oriental hotels. The Fleming is among rare boutique options and Hong Kong Gold Coast hotel is beside the beach. 

You could coincide your visit with the colourful Chinese New Year, Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Dragon Boat Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, though flight and hotel capacity will be more squeezed.

Hong Kong makes a good starting point for touring Asia or a stopover on your way Down Under and you easily side trip to Macau, which has Chinese/Portuguese heritage and a Vegas-style casino strip.

Tokyo

Japan’s buzzing capital is located on a bay on its main island Honshu.  

It’s a place where cultural trends start and thousands of cherry trees bloom, where you can be served your meal by a robot or soak in a hot spring. 

Royal sites and formal gardens with carp ponds are among the must-see attractions. The Imperial Palace, home to the world’s oldest monarchy, can be viewed from the surrounding gardens while Meji imperial shrine is adjacent to lively Yoyogi Park, which attracts groups of dancers.  

Gardens with ornamental bridges are also part of the popular Shinjuku Gyoen city park, which has numerous cherry trees. 

Beautiful Sensoji Temple, built in the early 7th century, is Tokyo’s oldest. Among more modern attractions you can take in panoramic views from the city’s highest observatory, 634-metres up Tokyo Skytree communications tower. 

Shoppers are spoilt for choice, with Shibuya district the centre for youth fashion and culture. A more unusual retail must-see is the huge Toyosu Fish Market, which holds morning tuna auctions. Naturally, it’s also a top place to eat sushi. 

A key Japanese cultural tradition is soaking in geothermal spas called onsens, which may also offer hot sand baths and fish pedicures. For a livelier cultural insight, catch sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium. 

Shinjuku, Ginza, Tokyo Station, and Shibuya are among the handy districts to stay in. Besides familiar international chains, Tokyo has quirky accommodations like Toggle Hotel Suidobashi where rooms come in bold block colours. 

Japan’s world-famous train network makes it easy to travel from Tokyo to other popular destinations like Kyoto. Remember though, the photogenic cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons are peak travel times.

If Tokyo or Hong Kong have been on your reward seat travel radar for a while now, sign up for RFF and you’ll be able to see all available BA reward seats on flights for your preferred dates, in all cabin classes. You’ll also be able to use your membership to set up Alerts, with our Gold membership permitting you to set up 20 active Alerts at any time. 

To take a look at our different memberships visit our Pricing page, or to see how RFF can help you spend your Avios points for flights visit our homepage.

Welcome back

For several months after its reopening, visitors to Japan had to be escorted in groups or by private guides. This rule was dropped late last year, and BA resumed Tokyo flights in November 2022.  

Until recently, China and its Special Administrative Region Hong Kong required visitors to quarantine in hotels on arrival. Hong Kong relaxed the rule last September (the rest of China in early 2023), and BA resumed Hong Kong flights in December. 

There are still some restrictions in both destinations, so it’s best to check the latest situation via the UK government's Foreign Travel Advice website. But their reopenings have prompted a rush of pent-up demand, so you’ll need to get ahead of the pack for flights. 

Current Avios availability for Tokyo and Hong Kong 

Tokyo and Hong Kong are good value routes to cash in your loyalty points. But, as they’re particularly popular for Avios reward flights, we recommend setting up an alert with Reward Flight Finder (RFF) so you can snap up seats for your preferred dates as soon as they’re released. 

Looking to make your Avios flight redemption in a premium cabin? The first good selection of business class reward seats to Hong Kong will start popping up in November 2023 (there’s no first class available). If you’re happy to book premium economy then try to upgrade to business class closer to your flight time using RFF Alerts, there’s a good selection of premium economy seats from October 2023.

The first good selection of business class reward seats for Tokyo will appear from November 2023 (again, there’s no first-class option). Want to book premium economy and try for a business class upgrade closer to your flight time using RFF Alerts? Check out the good selection of premium economy seats from November 2023.

Don’t forget, British Airways can release more reward seats anytime. If you’re looking for BA reward seats to Tokyo and Hong Kong, join RFF, set an alert and we’ll do all the searching, notifying you when tickets become available to book with Avios. 

So, what makes Hong Kong and Tokyo so great?

Hong Kong

Comprising Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 200 offshore islands, Hong Kong’s a surprisingly diverse destination. Many attractions are clustered around Victoria Harbour with its iconic skyline of sparkling skyscrapers.

If you’re a first-time visitor, hit the classics. Take the vertiginous Peak Tram for spectacular views, tour cheaply on a vintage tram and hop on the historic Star Ferry. 

In the evening, pick a harbour-side spot to enjoy the Symphony of Lights laser show (8 pm nightly) before heading to a skyscraper cocktail bar. In horse racing season you could catch the floodlit action at Happy Valley. 

Do drop into an atmospheric Buddhist, Confucian, or Taoist temple. The Big Buddha statue on Lantau Island can also be reached via the longest cable car ride in Asia. 

Chief among Hong Kong’s foodie experiences are eating Dim Sum. The filled steamed buns are served in many teahouses. Local seafood, including soft-shelled crab, is another must-try. 

For arty attractions, explore the sprawling Tai Kwun centre galleries in a former police station and for shopping with atmosphere don't miss a Kowloon market. Ladies Market, Temple Street Market, and Yuen Po Street Bird Garden are among the most popular.

With more time to explore, you could hike the mountains and visit Unesco-listed Global Geopark or Disneyland. And don’t forget, Hong Kong has beaches. 

If money’s no object, stay at the famous Peninsula or Mandarin Oriental hotels. The Fleming is among rare boutique options and Hong Kong Gold Coast hotel is beside the beach. 

You could coincide your visit with the colourful Chinese New Year, Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Dragon Boat Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, though flight and hotel capacity will be more squeezed.

Hong Kong makes a good starting point for touring Asia or a stopover on your way Down Under and you easily side trip to Macau, which has Chinese/Portuguese heritage and a Vegas-style casino strip.

Tokyo

Japan’s buzzing capital is located on a bay on its main island Honshu.  

It’s a place where cultural trends start and thousands of cherry trees bloom, where you can be served your meal by a robot or soak in a hot spring. 

Royal sites and formal gardens with carp ponds are among the must-see attractions. The Imperial Palace, home to the world’s oldest monarchy, can be viewed from the surrounding gardens while Meji imperial shrine is adjacent to lively Yoyogi Park, which attracts groups of dancers.  

Gardens with ornamental bridges are also part of the popular Shinjuku Gyoen city park, which has numerous cherry trees. 

Beautiful Sensoji Temple, built in the early 7th century, is Tokyo’s oldest. Among more modern attractions you can take in panoramic views from the city’s highest observatory, 634-metres up Tokyo Skytree communications tower. 

Shoppers are spoilt for choice, with Shibuya district the centre for youth fashion and culture. A more unusual retail must-see is the huge Toyosu Fish Market, which holds morning tuna auctions. Naturally, it’s also a top place to eat sushi. 

A key Japanese cultural tradition is soaking in geothermal spas called onsens, which may also offer hot sand baths and fish pedicures. For a livelier cultural insight, catch sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium. 

Shinjuku, Ginza, Tokyo Station, and Shibuya are among the handy districts to stay in. Besides familiar international chains, Tokyo has quirky accommodations like Toggle Hotel Suidobashi where rooms come in bold block colours. 

Japan’s world-famous train network makes it easy to travel from Tokyo to other popular destinations like Kyoto. Remember though, the photogenic cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons are peak travel times.

If Tokyo or Hong Kong have been on your reward seat travel radar for a while now, sign up for RFF and you’ll be able to see all available BA reward seats on flights for your preferred dates, in all cabin classes. You’ll also be able to use your membership to set up Alerts, with our Gold membership permitting you to set up 20 active Alerts at any time. 

To take a look at our different memberships visit our Pricing page, or to see how RFF can help you spend your Avios points for flights visit our homepage.