British Airways is doing something a little different this spring. The airline just released a new set of “Avios-Only” flights. These are special departures where every single seat on the plane is available for reward bookings. No cash fares. Just points. For two popular European routes, the only way to grab a seat is with your Avios balance.
This is the 50th time British Airways has run this type of promotion since they started the concept back in 2023. And for frequent flyers, it is a pretty big deal.
Where can you fly with Avios only?
The new routes kick off over the late May bank holiday and run into June. All flights depart from London City Airport (LCY). That is the small but mighty airport in East London. It is known for quick check-ins and a location close to the Canary Wharf financial district.
Here are the two destinations:
- Madrid, Spain: The Spanish capital. Great for a long weekend of tapas, art, and late nights. Flights start at £2 plus 28,000 Avios.
- Toulon/Hyeres (Saint Tropez), France: This is the gateway to the French Riviera. Think coastal views, yacht-spotting, and lavender fields. Flights start at just £2 plus 21,500 Avios.
Those prices are one-way. But when you look at what cash fares usually cost during a bank holiday weekend, the value is obvious. You are locking in availability during a peak travel window when prices typically skyrocket.
How Avios-Only flights work
Normally, when you search for reward flights on the British Airways website, you see a mix. A few seats are set aside for Avios bookings. The rest are sold for cash. It is like a small section of the plane is reserved for points users.
Avios-Only flights flip that model upside down.
On these specific departures, the entire aircraft becomes a reward seat inventory. If the plane has 100 seats, all 100 are bookable with Avios. It is a redemption-only zone. This massively increases your chances of finding a seat, especially if you are booking last-minute or trying to travel with a group.
Think of it like a members-only sale. The airline takes a popular route, blocks out the cash sales, and hands the keys to its loyalty club members.
Why British Airways keeps doing this
Loyalty programmes need to feel rewarding. If you collect points but can never use them, you stop caring. Avios-Only flights are designed to fix that frustration. They create “redemption moments” that actually work for the traveller.
For British Airways, it is also smart business. It fills planes during specific windows (like a bank holiday weekend) with their most loyal customers. It builds goodwill. And it gives members a reason to keep collecting Avios through shopping, hotel stays, and everyday spending.
The fact that this is the 50th Avios-Only service tells you one thing: they work. Customers like them. So the airline keeps bringing them back.
How to book these reward seats
Booking is straightforward. You need two things:
- A British Airways Executive Club account (now called The British Airways Club). It is free to join.
- Enough Avios in your balance to cover the flight.
You search for flights on the British Airways website exactly as you normally would. Just log in first. When you look at the dates for late May and early June on the London City to Madrid or Toulon routes, the Avios-Only seats should appear as available options.
Remember: you pay the taxes and carrier charges in cash. For these flights, that starts at just £2. That is unusually low. Usually, you pay closer to £35 or £50 on a European reward flight. The £2 charge suggests these are very low-tax airports, or British Airways is subsidising the fees as part of the promotion.
Using a Companion Voucher
This is where the deal gets even better.
If you hold a British Airways American Express Credit Card, you earn Companion Vouchers when you spend enough. Normally, these vouchers let you take a second person with you for just the taxes and fees. The Avios cost is waived for the guest.
On Avios-Only flights, those vouchers work exactly the same way. You book one seat using your Avios. You bring a friend or partner along using the voucher. You only pay the cash charges for the second ticket. If your flight has low fees (like the £2 price point), you are essentially flying two people to the south of France for less than the cost of a taxi to the airport.
That is the kind of redemption that makes the hobby of collecting points worthwhile.
Are Avios-Only flights a good value?
Let’s look at the numbers.
A standard Reward Seat from London to mainland Europe usually falls into a band. It might cost you 9,000 Avios one-way for an off-peak flight. Or 12,000 Avios for a peak flight. But those cheap seats sell out fast. Often, months in advance.
When you search close to the travel date, the only Reward Seats left might be at the more expensive “Euro Traveller” rate. That can be 20,000 Avios or more.
The Avios-Only flights are priced at 21,500 Avios to Toulon and 28,000 Avios to Madrid. At first glance, that seems higher than the cheapest possible reward seat. But you are paying for availability. You are paying for certainty.
If you tried to book a cash ticket to the South of France for the late May bank holiday, you might easily pay £300 or £400. If you use 21,500 Avios for Toulon, you are getting a high value per point. You are also using points you might have earned for free through a credit card sign-up bonus or everyday spending.
The calculation is simple: Would you rather spend £400 cash, or 21,500 Avios + £2? For most people, using the Avios is the smarter play.
How to collect Avios for these flights
If your balance is looking light, do not worry. Avios are one of the easiest travel currencies to collect. You do not have to fly constantly to build up a balance.
Here are the most common ways members collect points:
- Flying: Obviously, flying British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or any Oneworld partner airline earns Avios.
- British Airways Credit Cards: The Amex cards give you Avios on every pound you spend. You also get a big bonus when you sign up and spend a certain amount in the first few months.
- The Avios eStore: This is a hidden gem. You click through the Avios website to shop at hundreds of online retailers (like John Lewis, Apple, or Nike). You earn Avios on top of your normal credit card points. It is double-dipping.
- Hotels: Booking hotels through the British Airways portal earns hundreds or even thousands of Avios per stay.
- Everyday Partners: You can link Avios to Uber, Starbucks, or Marriott. Spend with those brands, and you earn Avios automatically.
Once you start looking, you realise Avios are everywhere. A few months of clicking through the eStore for your regular shopping can easily net you 5,000 or 10,000 Avios. That puts a bank holiday trip within reach.
What is The British Airways Club?
The British Airways Club is just the new name for the old Executive Club. It is the free loyalty programme. You join online, get a membership number, and start collecting Avios on every eligible purchase.
As you fly more, you earn Tier Points. These are different from Avios. Tier Points determine your status level (Bronze, Silver, or Gold). Status gets you perks like priority boarding, lounge access, and extra baggage. But even at the entry level, you keep your Avios forever. They do not expire as long as you have some qualifying activity every few years.
The Club is the engine behind these Avios-Only flights. Without a membership, you cannot book them. It is that simple.
Tips for booking Avios-Only flights
If you are planning to grab one of these seats, keep a few things in mind.
Book early. Even though the whole plane is set aside for Avios, there are still only so many seats. Once they are gone, they are gone. These flights will sell out faster than standard Reward Seats because they are exclusive.
Check the dates. The flights are scheduled around the late May bank holiday and into June. That is a specific window. Make sure your travel plans actually line up with those departure dates before you get too excited.
Compare the taxes. The starting price is £2. But different dates or routes might have slightly higher fees. Always check the final breakdown before you confirm the booking. You want to know exactly what you are paying in cash.
Use the Companion Voucher if you have it. This is the ultimate power move. A Companion Voucher on a £2 tax flight is basically a free ticket for a friend. Do not let it go to waste.
The future of reward travel
British Airways is signalling something with these Avios-Only flights. They want to make loyalty more tangible. Instead of just promising that you can use points “someday,” they are creating specific days where points are the only currency that works.
It is a trend worth watching. If these flights continue to be popular, we will likely see more of them. Maybe to different cities. Maybe during other peak seasons like Christmas or the summer holidays.
For now, the focus is on London City to Madrid and Toulon. Two very different cities. Both perfect for a short break.
If you have the Avios, the timing works, and you want a getaway that feels like a win, these flights are worth jumping on.
Check your balance. Pick your date. Book your seat.
