Trying to find available seats using the frequent flyer miles you have patiently accumulated over time can sometimes be a frustrating experience. This is particularly the case during peak travel times when airlines may only make capacity on their most demanded flights available to passengers paying the full fee. However, British Airways is now doing the opposite on a select number of flights.
The entire capacity on the inaugural London Gatwick (LGW) to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), operated by BA Euroflyer (a fully owned subsidiary of the British flag carrier), will be allocated to members of its Executive Club loyalty program as reward seats to be booked with Avios. Avios is the “unit of currency” used by IAG Group airlines for their loyalty programs.
The flight will take place on November 3, 2023.
Four more flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Geneva (GVA) during the winter season will also have seats allocated in the same way. The flights will take place on February 10, 17 and 24, 2024 and March 2, 2024. The British airline also confirmed that it will make ‘Avios-only’ flights to other destinations available during the course of 2023.
Passengers will need to use at least a certain amount of Avios reward currency to book those flights, although it will still be possible to combine them with cash (as it is the standard procedure on BA’s website). For example, reward flights will start at £1 + 27,500 Avios per person for the Gatwick to Sharm El Sheik flights (£1 + 48,500 Avios if in business class), but Avios expenditure can be brought down to 8,500 if the cash component is raised up to £121.
This is the first time British Airways has designated specific flights to only be used by members of its frequent flyer program.