Where has all British Airways First Class Avios flight availability gone?

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

For the last few days, ba.com has been showing virtually no Avios availability in First Class for 2019. I sat on the story because I thought it may be an IT glitch, but it does now seem that ‘something’ is up.

The ‘something’ is potentially linked to the Avios and British Airways Executive Club changes discussed here by Alex Cruz, although the problem with that conspiracy theory is that Cruz said that the IT required would not be in place until the year end.

What is odd is that not all First Class availability has been removed.

As of last night, there was still 2019 availability on the following routes (E&OE):

Abu Dhabi
Bahrain
Barbados
Bermuda
Doha
Dubai
Kuwait
Riyadh
St Lucia
Tel Aviv

It doesn’t take a genius to spot the pattern:

Middle East and Caribbean routes retain F Avios availability in 2019

North, South and Latin America, Africa and Asia routes have no F Avios availability in 2019

If you assume that this is not an IT issue and is not linked to reduced availability ahead of a big cash sale (but I normally get notification of those) then you can only assume that British Airways is trying to introduce some immediate changes to Avios redemptions. This would be in advance of the planned bigger moves, presumably ones that can be done now with the current IT infrastructure.

Options could be:

A major reduction in routes with First Class from 1st January (but if it was being cut, the Caribbean routes would be on the list and New York would not, and in any event seats are being sold for cash)

First Class to be relaunched from 1st January as an uber-premium service which will be so exclusive that BA does not want it tarnished by anyone unwilling to pay for it (but, if so, it would be put on the Middle East routes as a priority since BA is losing premium business to Emirates and Etihad, and those are still open for redemption – and anyway, does anyone believe that BA is capable of offering a super-premium First Class service like Lufthansa or Air France?)

First Class redemptions restricted to certain groups only (eg British Airways Silver and Gold members, potentially no oneworld partners or Blue / Bronze) – the issue here is that this strategy doesn’t have any benefit to BA, since BA First Class is not exactly a premium product on the world stage. This also makes no financial sense, because IAG makes a lot of money if a Blue member transfers 150,000 Amex points to book a BA First Class redemption, and zero money if a status member redeems 150,000 miles earned from flying.

‘Dynamic pricing’ to be introduced for First Class ahead of its introduction in other classes (but that would require IT capability which Cruz implied was not yet available)

…. or something else?

Whatever it is, British Airways will need to come clean very quickly as it is now clear that ‘something’ is up.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for our latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios this month from offers and promotions.)

Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Jimbob says:

2 Apr2 April 10:27

Just have to go to Barbados instead on New York next year.
Every cloud and silver lining, and all that!
Ben says:

2 Apr2 April 10:42

I’ve been screwed by this. Been holding off using my 2-4-1 for weeks as F availability was great (outbound to TYO and returning from HKG/SIN/KUL). Suddenly it all disappeared. I’ve now booked the outbound a week before Christmas but not sure when/where we’ll get back from. I’m not interested in flying in CW – I’d rather just do an ex-EU with a decent airline.

I know it is my fault for stalling. Stupid really.
- roberto says:
  
  2 Apr2 April 10:51
  
  @Ben , however, I have been monitoring First Awards between LHR and SIN/KUL for availability since the 1st of Jan and there has been hardly any so dont be so hard on yourself. I have not seen any SIN in either direction and only the odd smattering to/from KUL.
  
  Luckily I did manage to bag F out to KUL for the 14th of Feb and will have to slum in in CW back from SIN. I guess it means the CCR will be quiet if nothing else.
  - Dan says:
    
    2 Apr2 April 11:18
    
    A few weeks back I used two 2-4-1 vouchers to bag 4 First seats (plus infant on lap) out to Jo’burg on Feb 14, so may we’ll see you in the CCR!
  - Dan says:
    
    2 Apr2 April 11:18
    
    A few weeks back I used two 2-4-1 vouchers to bag 4 First seats (plus infant on lap) out to Jo’burg on Feb 14, so may well see you in the CCR!
  - Polly says:
    
    2 Apr2 April 13:29
    
    Me too, managed to bag out to HKG and back from KUL in F using our 241. That would finish us too, as we enjoy is the F trip in winter. There’s something weird going on. After all there’s only 8 in the cabin, so not as if the lounges are swamped with F pax.
    - Ben says:
      
      2 Apr2 April 15:58
      
      We actually were willing to return from TYO, PEK or PVG – which had wide open availability. Taxes for us look to be ~£1400 for a return – if you consider that I can get an ex-EU on sale for less than a grand more (plus earn Avios and TPs) why would I bother!?
      
      The only reason I’ve been sitting on my Avios is for using my 2-4-1 in F. Without that option, I’ll blow my balance on something else (maybe a decent J product!). I’d move away from BAEC totally but my weekly commute is much more comfortable with access to the First Wing/Lounge.
    - Leo says:
      
      2 Apr2 April 19:14
      
      Agree Ben. I may just blow the last 241 on a CE flight somewhere and then cash out the rest of the avios on Cathay or QR. I’ve been moving more over to VS anyway in the hope that the Flying Blue changes and new Virgin CC might be of interest.
Davide says:

2 Apr2 April 10:46

If First goes, like many else on here I am done with BAEC. This is due to the following reasons:

1) Service is a joke and too inconsistent on the majority of their planes
2) Alex Cruz is driving the premium side of the business into the ground
3) J class is so far behind the rest of the game it is now lauaghable

To be honest, the only reason I am/was still so invested was due to the 241, however as BA J is such a joke, I would rather spend the money on Qatar and go to Oslo/Stockholm etc. My only problem will be that I have around 350k avios and a 241 still…….
Andrew S says:

2 Apr2 April 10:51

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… Cruz is a disaster, he won’t be happy until he has completely destroyed this once great airline. Willie Walsh must be SO proud of his legacy.
🙁
- Clive says:
  
  2 Apr2 April 11:31
  
  Re legacy: Given that WW is Cruz’ boss, it’s implausible that he isn’t happy with and aware of everything AC is doing.
Dave says:

2 Apr2 April 10:51

I’m waiting to book F with a 241 voucher in April/May of next year. I will be most irritated if BA do any nonsense making that not do-able.

Goodbye BAPP card.
Simonbr says:

2 Apr2 April 10:53

What a pity. Maybe if a lot of us call BA to complain they’ll revise the policy. There’s always a chance of a complimentary upgrade to F from CW I s’pose.
Tilly says:

2 Apr2 April 10:54

If what everyone fears becomes reality then I am so glad i have at least managed to get one F 241 redemption in ……..as long as we’re not downgraded when we fly next month. F outbound from T5 but return in CW. Really looking forward to checking out the Concorde room.

As someone who can only afford to fly J (long haul …….. well actually I’m too tight to pay the extra so settle on WTP) or F with avios using a 241 I’m not sure what my plan would be. Maybe continue but just for long haul J redemptions. Neither of us fly for work so all our points come from Gate365, amex spend and cash bookings in WTP or ET/CE BA holidays. We can manage to get 2 x 241 vouchers a year on the BAPP plus all the bonuses from both of us getting the PRG then upgrade to plat. Will have to see what happens I guess then decide what our points earning strategy will be for some nicer more comfortable holidays. All I want when flying long haul is a flat bed …….then at the other end to be able to redeem for some hotel stays in Hilton brands.
JamesR says:

2 Apr2 April 11:07

I flew F last year and it was nice but not sure if I would smash out 180,000 avios + £500 to do it again to Asia. The only reason I even continue to collect Avios is because of the one world partners and the ease of collecting them in the UK. If your using them for Cathay/Qantas etc the value is fantastic in my opinion.

BA always say its because they have to compete with the low cost carriers that they have to cut the service so much but theres plenty of low cost airlines in other parts of the world that are home to fantastic airlines that sit side by side with great J products.
- Ruth4325 says:
  
  2 Apr2 April 11:33
  
  Good point.
- The Original Nick says:
  
  2 Apr2 April 12:38
  
  JamesR, I totally agree. I’ve blown 100’s of thousands of Avios on CX just to get out to SE Asia. I wouldn’t ever even consider blowing them on BA long haul. CX J is far more superior and J on AI. I’m flying out to Toronto from DUB in May on AI and on the return I have to fly BA as I needed to use a Lloyds upgrade voucher that was expiring. If I hadn’t of had the voucher I would of flown back with AI via DUB without a doubt.