British Airways is putting two more of its Avios-Only flights on sale, and this time they land in the heart of the summer holidays. Every seat on both flights, in every cabin, can only be bought with Avios. The airline says seats go on sale on October 22 to members of The British Airways Club through ba.com.
Both trips leave London Heathrow on Saturday, August 14, 2027, and come back a week later on Saturday, August 21. One goes to Palma on Majorca. The other goes to Heraklion on Crete.
Flights, times and prices
British Airways' announcement lists the schedule and the return prices below. Each price is per person for the round trip.
| Route | Flights | Euro Traveller | Club Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow–Palma | BA494 out, BA495 back | 28,000 Avios + £5 | 49,000 Avios + £40 |
| Heathrow–Heraklion | BA698 out, BA697 back | 33,500 Avios + £5 | 60,000 Avios + £40 |
The Palma flight leaves Heathrow at 12:50 and lands at 16:20 local time. The return leaves Palma at 17:15 and gets back to London at 18:45. The Heraklion flight leaves at 11:25 and arrives at 17:30. Coming home, it departs Crete at 16:45 and lands at 18:50.
British Airways says checked baggage is included as standard on the Palma flight. The release does not spell out the bag allowance for Heraklion, so check the fare details before you book.
The cash part is what stands out. A £5 co-pay for a peak-August return in economy is very low for a reward ticket from Heathrow. Usually the taxes and carrier charges make up a big share of what a "free" flight costs.
The Companion Voucher angle
Holders of a British Airways American Express card can use their Companion Voucher on these flights. British Airways says the voucher gives a second seat for no extra Avios, so you pay only the taxes and charges. A solo traveler can instead use it to take 50% off the Avios price.
That makes the Club Europe fares more interesting. Two people to Crete in Club Europe would need 60,000 Avios plus taxes and charges for both. For a family that has been saving one voucher for a big summer trip, this is a simple way to spend it on dates that are usually hard to get.
Why Avios-Only flights matter
British Airways started these flights in 2023. Since then it says it has run more than 50 of them to Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. The idea is simple. Peak school-holiday dates are the hardest time to find a reward seat, so the airline sets aside a whole plane for points.
With a whole plane to sell, there are more seats than usual, but demand in August is high, so it pays to book early. British Airways also notes that it guarantees a minimum number of reward seats on every flight it runs. If these dates do not work, that is your fallback.
Colm Lacy, the airline's chief commercial officer, called the two islands "two of the Mediterranean's most popular summer destinations." With school out across the UK in mid-August, it is a fair description.
Where to wait at each airport
Club Europe tickets include lounge access at Heathrow. Most British Airways short-haul flights leave from Terminal 5, where the main options are Galleries Club South, Galleries Club North and the smaller Galleries Club B Gates. British Airways has not said which terminal these two flights will use, so confirm when you book. Euro Traveller passengers get in only with British Airways Club Silver or Gold status, or oneworld Sapphire or Emerald.
On the way home, the choice is thinner. Flights to the UK leave from non-Schengen areas at both airports.
- Palma: Sala VIP Llevant is in Module A, the non-Schengen pier. It takes Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass and oneworld lounge access. See the full Palma airport guide.
- Heraklion: the Filoxenia Lounge (Extra Schengen) is the one lounge on that side of the airport, and it takes Priority Pass. Heraklion is busy and cramped in August, so arrive with time to spare. More in our Heraklion airport guide.
Before you book
You need to be a member of The British Airways Club, which is free to join. You also need enough Avios in your account, or in a Household Account that pools points. Seats open on October 22.
For more on the airline's lounges and loyalty program, see our British Airways page and the British Airways Club program page.
