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BA Launches Avios-Only Flights to Iceland and Tenerife
British Airways has announced two more return Avios-only flights. These will depart during the October half-term, which is often a lucrative time to redeem Avios, especially in Club Europe due to inflated prices during the school holidays. Avios-only flights mean every seat is available to book with Avios, rather than being subject to the usual restrictions.
For both routes, return Club Europe redemptions are priced at £40 + 60,000 Avios, whereas Economy is £5 + 33,500 Avios.
Reykjavik
The outbound flight (BA800) will leave Heathrow on Sunday, 25th October at 7:20, arriving in Reykjavik at 10:40. The inbound flight (BA801) leaves Reykjavik at 11:50, landing in Heathrow at 15:00.
Paul Welch, British Airways Holidays Destination Manager, Reykjavik, said:
“Reykjavik encompasses dramatic nature and Nordic culture with October being one of the best times to see the Northern Lights due to clear skies. Iceland’s capital offers stunning volcanic landscapes, as well as its famous geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon. Make sure to visit Hallgrímskirkja Church, one of Reykjavik’s most iconic landmarks which offers expansive city views from the top tower.”
Tenerife
BA410 will leave Heathrow on 24th October at 7:20, landing in Tenerife at 11:45. The return flight (BA415) leaves Tenerife on 31st October, arriving at Heathrow at 19:45.
Kate Bigger, British Airways Holidays Destination Manager, Tenerife, commented:
“Tenerife is full of natural beauty from Teide National Park (home to Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak), the Teno Mountains, Los Gigantes cliffs and Anaga Rural Park – perfect for those who enjoy walking or hiking on holiday. For those seeking a more relaxed escape, Tenerife is home to some beautiful beaches such as Playa del Duque and Playa de Las Teresitas. And for foodie lovers, the gastronomy in Tenerife is amazing – be sure to eat at a traditional guachinche for an authentic experience. “
If previous releases are anything to go by, these flights are likely to sell quickly. Seats are already on sale.
Further British Airways Middle East Cancellations
British Airways has announced further cancellations to its Middle East schedule, due to ongoing uncertainty and airspace restrictions.
The Dubai and Tel Aviv routes are now cancelled until 25th October. Both routes had previously been due to resume on 1st August. Their return has now been pushed back to coincide with the start of the winter season, matching the planned restart dates for the Bahrain and Amman routes.
Doha flights will restart on 1st August, while Riyadh is due to resume on 8th August, both with one daily flight, down from two previously.
If you’re affected by this and have a booking up to and including 25th October, you can request a refund even if your flight has not been cancelled. If you’re due to travel until 25th October, you can change your booking with no fee on the same route or a different BA route, but you may be charged a fare difference.
If you’re affected by this, this re-booking guide goes through the airlines BA is happy to re-book you on and how the process works.
30% Bonus on Capital on Tap Transfers to Avios
The Qatar Privilege Club is offering a 30% bonus when you convert Capital on Tap Points into Avios until 30th June.
Once the Avios are in your account, you can transfer them to your BA, Iberia or Aer Lingus once your accounts are linked. You can also move to Finnair via BA. Qatar Avios can be very lucrative when used for flights and cabin upgrades, especially QSuite redemptions. There is also a range of partner airlines you can spend Avios with.
With £10,000 eligible spend, you would earn:
| Card | Points/Avios Earned | Avios with 30% Bonus | Effective Avios per £1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital on Tap Free Visa | 8,000 | 10,400 | 1.04 |
| Capital on Tap Pro Visa | 10,000 | 13,000 | 1.30 |
| Capital on Tap Pro Visa (with pre-funding) | 12,500 | 16,250 | 1.625 |
The promotion also applies to transfers from ALL Accor, IHG One Rewards, Shangri-La Circle and World of Hyatt, but points from these programmes are generally better used for hotel stays. However, this could be a good opportunity to turn otherwise unused points into Avios.
If you don’t yet have a Capital on Tap card, it’s worth looking into if you have a small business. Given that many small business payments can’t be made with an AMEX card, this is a useful card to have.
