British Airways Club: Reward Flight Price Increase

Why Is British Airways Club Increasing the Price of Its Reward Flights?

Reward Flight prices had remained stable for some time, but several factors are now forcing British Airways to adjust its fares:

• Increase in Air Passenger Duty and third-party fees
• Persistent inflation and changing market conditions
• Maintaining a level of quality and availability for reward tickets

What Are the Rules for Changes After December 15?

Here are the impacts on existing bookings:

• If you already have a Reward Flight booked for after December 15 and make no changes, there will be no impact.
• If you change the destination, cabin, or seasonality (low or high season) after December 15, the new rates apply.
• If you change the time or date within the same season and for the same destination, no additional Avios are required.

Examples:

1. Booking on December 1st, London → New York, 40,000 Avios for January 10th. Flight change on January 7th, same day, same destination: no additional cost.
2. Same booking, but cabin change from World Traveller → World Traveller Plus: you will pay the Avios difference applied after December 15.

Which Cabins and Options Are Affected?

The increase affects all cabins, whether Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First Class. For upgrades withAvios, the cost will now be based on the new scale. Avios-only flights and Avios & Money options are also affected by these changes, but the partial payment with Avios option remains unchanged.

How to Minimize the Impact of the Reward Flight Price Increase

To reduce the impact of the Reward Flight price increase, it’s important to stay flexible with your travel dates and routes. Compare the Avios cost with the cash price of a ticket to choose the best option. Taking advantage of points transfer bonuses can also help offset the increase. Finally, consider booking flights where Avios offer the best value, such as short-haul or last-minute trips.

The way status is calculated changed in April 2026 as well: the 4 changes to British Airways tier points.

Which Card Should You Use to Maximize Your Avios?

To earn Avios and book your reward tickets, it is advisable to use a credit card that transfers your points to British Airways Club, such as:

• The American Express Cobalt^® Card or the American Express Platinum^® Card, as well as any other Membership Rewards points card: you’ll earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Avios.
• Some RBC Avion cards, like the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, also allow you to convert your points to Avios.
• The RBC British Airways Visa Inf Cardinite

These cards allow you to earn points on your daily purchases, increase your Avios for flights and upgrades, and benefit from travel insurance and purchase protection.

It is also possible to purchase Avios during points purchase promotions, whether with British Airways Club or Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Your Avios can then be transferred from one program to another.

Bottom Line

The Reward Flight price increase starting December 15, 2025, affects all British Airways and partner flights across all cabins, raising both the Avios and cash portions. Travellers should plan their bookings in advance, compare the Avios cost to cash prices, and remain flexible with travel dates and routes to maximize the value of their points.

Why are award ticket prices increasing?

To cover the increase in air taxes, third-party fees, inflation, and market changes.

Will flights already booked after December 15 cost more?

No, unless you change the destination, cabin, or seasonality after December 15.

Do the changes affect all cabins?

Yes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class, including upgrades.

Are Avios-only and Avios & Money options affected?

Yes, all reward tickets will see their Avios and cash portion of the price increase, except for the partial payment option, which remains unchanged.