RwandAir to increase Heathrow flights to daily

We wouldn’t normally cover route changes of this sort, but it is worth a mention given that RwandAir is planning to join the oneworld alliance alongside British Airways.

Should it go ahead – and we explained more in this article last year – it would open up new options in Central Africa for British Airways Executive Club tier point earning.

RwandAir currently serves 28 destinations across East, Central, West, and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

RwandAir used to fly from Heathrow to Kigali via a stop in Brussels. Last November it moved to a non-stop service, and increased frequencies from three flights per week via Brussels to four flights per week direct.

From 29th October, the Heathrow to Kigali flight will go daily. Flights use next-generation A330neo aircraft with a two cabin arrangement – 30 business class seats and 244 in economy.

Flights are on sale now, leaving Heathrow at 8.30pm and arriving at 7am. The return leaves Kigali at 11.35pm, arriving at 6.20am.

You can already earn and redeem Avios on RwandAir – you don’t need to wait for possible oneworld membership. This is due to the existing partnership with Qatar Airways, which now uses Avios as its reward currency. You can learn more about using Avios on RwandAir in this article.

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How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (April 2025)

Some UK credit cards offer special bonuses when used for buying flights. If you spend a lot on airline tickets, using one of these cards could sharply increase the credit card points you earn.

Booking flights on any airline?

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold earns double points (2 Membership Rewards points per £1) when used to buy flights directly from an airline website.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points. These would convert to 20,000 Avios or various other airline or hotel programmes. The standard earning rate is 1 point per £1.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

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

Buying flights on British Airways?

The British Airways Premium Plus American Express card earns double Avios (3 Avios per £1) when used at ba.com.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios. The standard earning rate is 1.5 Avios per £1.

You do not earn bonus Avios if you pay for BA flights on the free British Airways American Express card or either of the Barclaycard Avios Mastercards.

You can apply here.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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

Buying flights on Virgin Atlantic?

Both the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard and the annual fee Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard earn double Virgin Points when used at fly.virgin.com.

This means 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on the free card and 3 Virgin Points per £1 on the paid card.

There is a sign-up bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points on the free card and 18,000 Virgin Points on the paid card.

You can apply for either of the cards here.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review