British Airways has become the latest airline to join the "points plane" craze. The airline today revealed that it would begin selling select flights where tickets can only be purchased by frequent flyer members using Avios, the British Airways' mileage point.
While many would only think of buying flight tickets using cash, many airlines with a frequent flyer scheme will give you points for each flight you take, which can later be redeemed for money off a future flight. The concept is similar to a coffee shop punch card, though points are generated on a different scale to account for the variability of flight routes.
British Airways' Avios-only flights
British Airways now offers a selection of flights that can only be booked with a partial payment of air miles by members of its Executive Club frequent flyer program. The first such flight will be the airline's inaugural Euroflyer London Gatwick-Sharm El Sheikh service on November 3rd. The second wave of reward-only flights is planned for early 2024, with flights from London Heathrow to Geneva on February 10th, 17th, 24th, and March 2nd. A return Avios Only flight will operate a week after each Geneva flight.
As with all British Airways award flights, different price points are available depending on the class of travel and destination. All passengers must pay at least £1 ($1.25) for their booking as follows (return amounts shown):
|
London Gatwick - Sharm El Sheikh |
London Heathrow - Geneva |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Economy |
Business |
Economy |
Business |
|
£1 ($1.25) + 27,500 Avios |
£1 ($1.25) + 48,500 Avios |
£1 ($1.25) + 18,500 Avios |
£1 ($1.25) + 30,000 Avios |
|
£9 ($11.27) + 26,000 Avios |
£9 ($11.27) + 47,000 Avios |
£9 ($11.27) + 17,000 Avios |
£9 ($11.27) + 28,500 Avios |
|
£25 ($31.32) + 23,500 Avios |
£35 ($43.85) + 38,500 Avios |
£18 ($22.55) +14,500 Avios |
£25 ($31.32) + 23,500 Avios |
|
£35 ($43.85) + 18,500 Avios |
£50 ($62.65) + 35,500 Avios |
£35 ($43.85) + 9,500 Avios |
£50 ($62.65) +17,000 Avios |
|
£91 ($114.01) + 12,500 Avios |
£95 ($119.05) + 26,500 Avios |
£65 ($81.42) + 7,400 Avios |
£85 ($106.51) + 13,000 Avios |
|
£121 (151.59) + 8,500 Avios |
£141 ($176.70) + 19,500 Avios |
£85 ($106.51) + 5,900 Avios |
£125 ($156.62) + 10,500 Avios |
Frequent traveler site Head For Points values a single Avios for roughly £0.01. As such, it calculates that the most cash, least Avios options are the best value for money to Sharm El Sheikh, and options in the middle of the table work out the best value for money to Geneva (these are shown in bold).
Commenting on the program, Tom Stoddart, BA Euroflyer's CEO, said
“We are proud to be operating British Airways’ first Avios-Only flight. BA Euroflyer is the only short-haul carrier based at Gatwick to offer a loyalty programme, and now we’re offering more value and choice than ever for our Members.”
Not the first airline to do this
British Airways and BA Euroflyer aren't alone in operating flights that can only be bought with frequent flyer points. oneworld partner Qantas operates the "points plane" scheme where specific flights can only be booked with frequent flyer points.
Qantas plans to operate two points planes, heading between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) on May 10th, 2023. Previous flights have included Caledonia and a series of points plane flights to say farewell to the Boeing 747.
What do you make of British Airways' Avios Only flights? Let us know what you think and why in the comments!
Sources: British Airways, Head for Points, Head for Points