Avios user? Book British Airways flights before 15 December as it'll cost you more from then

The changes DO NOT apply when using Avios to part-pay for non-reward flights.

Avios is a loyalty scheme, similar to Nectar and Tesco Clubcard, but with travel-focused rewards. You accrue Avios (points) on spending and you can then use these to pay for flights (excluding taxes and charges).

Reward flights are special fares you book on a separate BA (or partner airline) page, where you pay using a mix of Avios and cash. Non-reward flights are the standard fares anyone can buy at normal prices — though you can still use Avios to reduce the cost of these. Generally, reward flights give you better value for your money or Avios, especially as they include checked baggage, whereas the regular 'Economy Basic' fare on non-reward flights doesn't.

What's changing for Avios users 

The rate at which you can redeem reward flights is changing from Monday 15 December, so you'll need to pay more in Avios and cash from then. This applies:

• To every BA reward flight across all cabins and destinations.

• On reward flights with BA's airline partners too, including American Airlines and Iberia.

• When purchasing reward flights using Barclaycard upgrade vouchers and Amex 2-for-1 redemptions (though any 'companion' still pays zero Avios).

BA says you'll see the new prices once logged in to your British Airways Club account from 15 December when you search for a reward seat. Here's an example of what the change means in practice:

BA says it's making the change "as a result of increasing Air Passenger Duty and third-party charges, as well as changing market conditions and ongoing inflation".

Bookings made before 15 December are unaffected

If you have an existing reward flight booked for travel on or after 15 December 2025, and you don't make any changes to it, there'll be no impact to your booking.

• If you have an existing reward booking and you make any changes before 15 December, the EXISTING rates apply. This includes if you change the flight to depart on or after 15 December.

• If you have an existing reward booking and you make any changes on or after 15 December, the NEW rates will apply if you change the destination, cabin or seasonality (for example, moving from an off-peak to peak journey).  

How to maximise your Avios

The value of Avios has already seen creeping devaluation over the years. Where in 2021 an off-peak economy return to New York cost 26,000 Avios, in 2025 it's 50,000 (plus £100), and with the upcoming rise it's going up to 55,000 Avios (plus £120).

We have 28 tricks to boost your Avios in our guide, but here are two quick tips to consider ahead of the 15 December shake-up:

• Check if you can get better value for your reward flight depending on the Avios to cash ratio used. Avios has six different options with different weightings of Avios and cash (one being to use the most Avios and least cash, and six vice versa). What's best varies depending on whether it's a short- or long-haul flight.
  
  For example, on a peak economy flight to New York, until 15 December the 'cheapest' option is option one – 60,000 Avios, plus £100, which is an approximate value of £700. In contrast, the most expensive is option three – 40,000 Avios, plus £460 – an approximate value of £860.

• Compare flights with other airlines as they may work out cheaper. Don't splurge Avios and money for the sake of it – just because you're using Avios it doesn't always mean you're getting the cheapest deal.