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EXCLUSIVE: ‘50% off’ Avios redemption sale starts Monday

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An extra 4th article today to let you know that I have it on good authority from a source in Sussex that British Airways will be launching a ‘50% off’ Avios redemption sale on Monday.

This will only apply to World Traveller flights (long-haul economy).

Most – but not all – routes will be included.  New York, Dubai etc are all in there.

Avios wing 14

It will only apply to tickets which start in the UK.

Full taxes and charges will still be payable.

The booking period will run from Monday until 13th July.

You must travel between 1st October and 28th February, excluding the Christmas period of 18th December to 10th January.

Full details on Monday when I have them.  However, do not make any World Traveller bookings over the weekend!


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Comments (45)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Brian says:

    Economy long-haul redemptions do have the advantage of offering one-way tickets, as well as the flexibility of changing or cancelling (for a fee). If you haven’t got quite enough miles for a Club World return (or, more likely, there isn’t Club World availability!), you could get an economy redemption ex-UK and Club World for the return leg. That would still work with the sale, I guess. Away from the sale, you could do the same, getting the economy leg on the way back to reduce taxes and fees.

  • DaveS says:

    I wouldn’t use Avios on a long haul economy flight out of London, even if they were100% off. The horrific surcharges make this one of the worst award redemptions in the business.

  • Caroline says:

    Any idea if Mexico City & Kingston are included? Thanks

  • squills says:

    Yep – Raffles this is not that brilliant 😉

  • Brian says:

    Would BA allow me to cancel an existing Amex voucher booking then immediately rebook the same trip at the 50% off rates?

  • Alex says:

    Anyone got an update re this? Is the sale going ahead? Thks

  • pauldb says:

    It seems to be live: I’ve just priced up NYC in October for 20k Avios (and £361).

  • bja200 says:

    Just had a very quick look at this and got value of 1p per Avios to LAX or 1.44p per Avios to MEX. I don’t think that’s as bad as everyone seems to think……. And those were my first two searches so I’m sure people will be able to find better value as they hunt around.

    • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

      Should be some good value options to JNB too. Will be £400+25k Avios vs ~£750 cash price.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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