British Airways adds new Maldives services – Avios seats available

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If you’ve wanted to fly to the Maldives on Avios, today is your lucky day.

British Airways seems to have relaunched the Maldives as a year-round service, albeit in a limited way.

A new service has appeared in the timetable today.

It departs on Fridays, leaving Heathrow at 19.15, arriving into Male at 09.40 on Saturday.

It departs Male at 11.40 on Saturday, arriving back into Heathrow at 19.05

Avios seats are available

British Airways has only made the minimum number of Avios seats available – 4 in World Traveller and 2 in Club World.

However, they are available, at least at 5.45pm on Thursday. Here is a typical screenshot from October (the last week of the Summer timetable) although flights are available from May onwards:

If you can find a pair that work for you, either for 8 or 15 nights, I would jump on it ASAP.

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.

Journeying John says:

25 Feb25 February 18:04

I wonder if they’re still using the clapped out old 777 with non functional IFE, damaged seating, leaking a/c that took me there a couple of years ago…
When combined with inadequate catering load, never again…. with BA
- babyg says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 18:44
  
  they have brand new 777-300er with club suite on this route (but equipment swapping is common at the moment)
  - Martin Pelant says:
    
    25 Feb25 February 19:56
    
    the seat map for a random booking this summer shows the old club world cabin (not club suite)
Super Secret Stuff says:

25 Feb25 February 18:23

Prices??
Dominic Barrington says:

25 Feb25 February 18:28

It’s a four-class 777…
BSI1978 says:

25 Feb25 February 18:29

Not seeing year-round availability (i.e. post Oct 21) or perhaps I have misunderstood this statement….?
- BSI1978 says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 18:36
  
  Ignore me; just being thick!
Mart says:

25 Feb25 February 18:32

Waiting patiently for ours to be cancelled 7th march -21march £999 747 special fares and will amend for later in the year, departure time altered 5hrs yesterday so could get refund but would prefer rebook not interested in vouchers
Vikki Schofield says:

25 Feb25 February 19:08

No availability showing for sept, October or November…
- Rob says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 19:44
  
  Nov is Winter timetable so that went weeks ago.
Ikaz says:

25 Feb25 February 19:21

I just booked RFS tickets in economy (Business was already sold out on my dates), it was actually cheaper to book with the lowest amount of avios 11,400 + £540. RFS on this route is actually amazing value.
I had already booked up the Waldorf Astoria, the Intercontinental and the W on points, I was waiting for some nice flexible flights to go with it in case we can’t travel, and these are the exact dates that I wanted.
Amazing timing, thanks for flagging meta/rob!
- Will says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 19:45
  
  I’m confused, what’s RFS for this route?
  My understanding is that RFS is capped cash element for European flights.
  - Ikaz says:
    
    25 Feb25 February 19:54
    
    They expanded it to (some?) long haul routes possibly last year, HFP article here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/09/08/avios-long-haul-reward-flight-saver/
    It seems like it might only apply for economy on the MLE route
Si says:

25 Feb25 February 20:22

If anyone wants them – there’s 2 economy seats out 22nd Jan, back 30th for 60k Avios and £150 each.

Sadly I can’t do it, and also it’s all well-and-good to fly there for next to nothing but it’s then a £1k or something a day to stay there!!
- Si says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 20:23
  
  Sorry £1k a day!
  - marcw says:
    
    25 Feb25 February 21:18
    
    There are cheaper resorts…
    - meta says:
      
      25 Feb25 February 22:36
      
      Indeed. Look at the Radisson. It’s not Intercontinental, WA or St Regis in terms of service, but standard room is overwater pool villa and it’s relatively new. You can add on cheap meal package to points booking. Only 23.33k Amex MR points or you can get them cheaply in points sale).
      
      Sadly from autumn there is no more seaplane transfer deal.