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Welcome to Smart With Points. I'm Jack, and today I'm bringing you news that's about as welcome as finding out your flight has been downgraded to middle seat in economy. British Airways has just announced a ten percent Avios price increase, and it's coming faster than you can say devaluation. But don't worry, I've got all the details you need to know and, more importantly, what you can do about it before the prices go up on the fifteenth of December twenty twenty-five.
So let's dive straight in. British Airways has just dropped the bombshell that Reward Flight prices are increasing from the fifteenth of December twenty twenty-five. And this isn't just a tiny tweak to keep up with inflation. We're talking roughly ten percent across the board for both the Avios requirement and the cash portion of fares. This affects all British Airways flights and their airline partners.
If you've been sitting on a pile of Avios, waiting for that perfect moment to book your dream trip, well, that perfect moment might be right now. Let me break down exactly what's changing with some specific examples.
Let's start with a short-haul flight. Take London to Geneva, off-peak, one way. Currently, economy costs nine thousand two hundred and fifty Avios plus fifty pence. After the fifteenth of December, that jumps to ten thousand Avios plus one pound. Business class goes from fifteen thousand Avios plus twelve pounds fifty to sixteen thousand five hundred Avios plus fifteen pounds.
Now, if we look at long-haul, the increases are more substantial in absolute numbers. A return trip from London to New York in off-peak economy currently costs fifty thousand Avios plus one hundred pounds. Post-increase, you're looking at fifty-five thousand Avios plus one hundred and twenty pounds.
Premium economy jumps from eighty-five thousand Avios plus three hundred and five pounds to ninety-three thousand five hundred Avios plus three hundred and fifty pounds. Business class goes from one hundred and sixty thousand Avios plus three hundred and seventy-five pounds to one hundred and seventy-six thousand Avios plus three hundred and ninety-nine pounds. And first class increases from one hundred and thirty-six thousand Avios plus taxes to one hundred and fifty thousand Avios plus taxes.
Now, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. It's frustrating. As someone who has built up a decent Avios stash through credit card spending and strategic earning, seeing the goalposts move again is genuinely disheartening. This follows a pattern we've seen throughout twenty twenty-four and twenty twenty-five, with British Airways quietly increasing fees on Reward Flight Saver bookings and hiking prices for partner airline redemptions.
That said, let's keep some perspective here. A ten percent increase isn't catastrophic. Avios still offers genuine value, particularly on short-haul European flights where the Reward Flight Saver pricing keeps cash costs minimal. A return to Geneva in business class for thirty-three thousand Avios plus thirty pounds after the increase is still excellent value compared to paying cash.
The real sting is psychological. When you've been planning a redemption at current prices, suddenly needing ten percent more Avios feels like theft. But let's be honest, we've been playing this game long enough to know devaluations are inevitable. The key is to stay informed and act strategically.
So what should you actually do about this? Well, if you have any flights you've been planning to book with Avios, book them before the fifteenth of December twenty twenty-five. This is straightforward advice, but it's worth emphasizing. Even if you're not one hundred percent certain on dates, remember that British Airways Reward Flights can be changed, subject to availability. You'll just pay the difference if moving to a peak date.
You can use our How Many Avios Points for a Flight tool on the Smart With Points website to check current pricing and plan your redemptions. And if you're searching for award availability across multiple airlines, Award Travel Finder can help you spot seats quickly.
Now, here's something important that people often forget. Don't limit yourself to just British Airways flights. Avios can be used across multiple programs. Qatar Airways, Iberia, and other partners often offer better value on certain routes. For transatlantic flights, Iberia business class from Madrid can be significantly cheaper than flying British Airways direct, and you might actually prefer the experience. If you need to check distances for partner airline pricing, our Great Circle Mapper tool can help you calculate award costs on distance-based programs.
And let's talk about earning. A ten percent increase means you need ten percent more Avios. If you're not already maximizing your earning potential, now is the time to review your strategy. The British Airways American Express Premium Plus card remains excellent for personal spending. And Capital on Tap is still my go-to for business spending. They just added Virgin as a transfer partner, which is fantastic news. You can check out our full UK Avios credit card guide on the website for more options. And of course, if any of these cards interest you, you can find links in the show notes to apply.
Let's zoom out and look at the bigger picture for a moment. This devaluation comes at an interesting time. British Airways has been making significant changes to the program in twenty twenty-five. The rebrand to The British Airways Club, the new spend-based tier point system, and now this price increase. It feels like IAG is trying to reshape the value proposition of loyalty membership.
On one hand, the new tier point system rewards high spenders more generously. On the other hand, redemptions are becoming more expensive. The message seems clear. British Airways wants you to spend more, both in earning and redeeming.
For those of us who play the points game strategically, using credit card bonuses, shopping portals, and transfer bonuses, Avios still represents solid value. But the margin for error is shrinking. You need to be more intentional about when and how you redeem.
So let me wrap this up with my final thoughts. Is this the end of the world? No. Is it annoying? Absolutely. The ten percent increase stings, but Avios remains one of the most accessible and useful points currencies for UK travelers. The Reward Flight Saver pricing still offers genuine value, particularly on short-haul routes where you're paying pennies in cash.
My advice is this. Don't panic-redeem everything in your account, but do bring forward any bookings you were planning for next year. And keep earning. The next devaluation is always around the corner, but so is the next opportunity.
Have you got any Avios redemptions you're now racing to book before December? I'd love to hear what you're targeting. You can reach out to us through the website.
Thanks so much for listening to this episode of Smart With Points. If you found this useful, please subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms, or head over to our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk where you'll find all our tools, guides, and resources to help you make the most of your points and miles.
And now, a quick word about a tool I use regularly. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the show notes.
Until next time, keep earning, keep redeeming, and stay smart with your points.