BA Avios Points-Only Winter Routes: Hidden Award Sweet Spots to Warm Destinations
April 5, 2026 · 5 min read
You cannot buy a ticket on these flights. That is exactly why they matter.
British Airways has quietly rolled out a batch of points-only routes to winter sun destinations. No cash fares exist. The only currency accepted is Avios. This creates an unusual dynamic: routes where BA is filling aircraft purely through loyalty redemptions, bypassing revenue management entirely. For collectors sitting on Avios balances, this is one of the most interesting developments in months.
What Are Points-Only Routes?
BA periodically operates flights where the sole booking method is Avios plus taxes. No cash fare. No revenue tickets. These are typically leisure routes where BA wants to test demand without committing to a full commercial schedule. Think of it as charter flying for the loyalty program.
The winter sun batch targets destinations UK travelers crave between November and March: Canary Islands, Marrakech, and select Mediterranean spots that hold warmth into late autumn.
Because no cash fare exists, the usual “what would this cost in pounds” comparison breaks down. Instead, we have to think about acquisition cost per Avios and the equivalent value you are extracting.
The Routes and the Math
Here is what we know about typical pricing on these Avios-only routes, based on BA’s distance-based chart and historical points-only offerings:
| Route | Distance Zone | Off-Peak (One Way) | Peak (One Way) | Taxes/Fees Est. | Comparable Cash Fare (Other Airlines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London to Tenerife | Zone 3 | 13,000 Avios | 16,250 Avios | £30-45 | £180-320 |
| London to Lanzarote | Zone 3 | 13,000 Avios | 16,250 Avios | £30-45 | £160-290 |
| London to Marrakech | Zone 2 | 10,000 Avios | 13,000 Avios | £25-40 | £120-250 |
| London to Fuerteventura | Zone 3 | 13,000 Avios | 16,250 Avios | £30-45 | £170-300 |
| London to Enfidha (Tunisia) | Zone 2 | 10,000 Avios | 13,000 Avios | £25-35 | £140-220 |
The “comparable cash fare” column shows what you would pay on easyJet, Ryanair, or TUI for similar dates. This matters because it tells us the real-world value of what your Avios are buying.
Valuation Breakdown
Take London to Tenerife off-peak: 13,000 Avios plus roughly £35 in taxes. If easyJet charges £220 for the same route during February half-term, your Avios are delivering about 1.42p per Avios in value ((£220 minus £35) / 13,000). That is solid. Well above the 1.0p floor I consider the minimum acceptable redemption.
Marrakech off-peak at 10,000 Avios is even better. A comparable cash fare of £180 means you are extracting 1.55p per Avios. During peak school holiday weeks when cash fares spike to £250 or more, even the 13,000 peak pricing delivers 1.65p.
Now flip it. If you bought those Avios during BA’s last sale at 1.3p each, your Tenerife ticket cost you effectively £169 plus £35 in taxes. Total: £204. Versus £220 cash on easyJet. Marginal savings, but you are flying BA with 23kg checked baggage included. That is a different product entirely.
If you accumulated those Avios through the BA shopping portal’s 500 Avios boost or credit card spending at effective acquisition costs below 1.0p, the math tilts dramatically in your favor.
Peak vs. Off-Peak: Timing Is Everything
The BA Avios off-peak calendar for 2026 is your best friend here. Points-only routes follow the same peak/off-peak structure as regular redemptions. The difference between 13,000 and 16,250 Avios is 3,250 points, worth roughly £42-50 depending on acquisition cost. That is real money just for shifting dates by a week.
November and January are reliably off-peak. February half-term and Christmas are peak. If your schedule allows flexibility, always target off-peak windows.
Acquisition Strategy
The question is never just “is this a good redemption?” It is “how cheaply can I get the Avios?”
| Acquisition Method | Effective Cost per Avios | Cost for 13,000 Avios |
|---|---|---|
| BA Amex card spending (1.5 Avios/£) | ~0.67p | £87 in equivalent spend |
| Buying Avios (typical sale) | 1.3p | £169 |
| Amex MR transfer (1:1, no bonus) | ~0.8p | £104 effective |
| Chase UR transfer at 1:1 | ~0.7p | £91 effective |
| BA shopping portal with bonus | Variable, often sub-1.0p | Under £130 |
At 0.7p acquisition cost, a Tenerife redemption at 13,000 Avios costs you £91 plus £35 taxes. That is £126 total. Versus £220 cash. You are saving 43%. That is the kind of spread that makes award travel worthwhile.
Who Should Care?
Points-only routes are most valuable for three groups. First, families. Two adults and two kids to Tenerife at 52,000 Avios off-peak versus £880 in cash fares is a clear win. Second, flexible travelers who can target off-peak dates. Third, anyone sitting on a large Avios balance without a premium cabin redemption in sight. Using 13,000 Avios at 1.4p is better than hoarding indefinitely for a business class seat you never book.
Who should skip it? Anyone with limited Avios earmarked for long-haul premium cabin. BA business class to Asia can yield 2.0p or more per Avios. Do not burn your balance on a short-haul economy seat if you have bigger plans.
Bottom Line
BA’s points-only winter sun routes are genuine sweet spots, not because the per-Avios value is spectacular, but because they offer flights that literally do not exist in the cash market. At off-peak pricing of 10,000 to 13,000 Avios, you are extracting 1.4 to 1.6p per Avios on routes to destinations where winter demand is high and alternatives are expensive. If your Avios acquisition cost sits below 1.0p, this is a buy. Book off-peak dates first. The calendar matters more than the destination.