British Airways Adds Cape Town to Avios-Only Flight Line-Up for Christmas 2025
- Helena
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 14
Following the strong demand for Avios-only flights launched in late 2024, British Airways has unveiled its newest Avios-Only destination: Cape Town.
The South African city will be served by exclusive reward flights during the busy Christmas travel period, giving Club Members the chance to book using Avios across every seat on board and visit one of the most iconic cities in the world.
Over 500 Seats Available for Avios-Only Travellers
In a significant expansion of its popular initiative, British Airways will operate two dedicated Avios-Only services between London Heathrow and Cape Town. These flights, available to book now, will run on the following dates:
Date | Flight No. | Route | Aircraft |
20 Dec 2025 | BA43 | London Heathrow to Cape Town | Boeing 777 |
02 Jan 2026 | BA42 | Cape Town to London Heathrow | Boeing 777 |
Return journeys start from just 70,000 Avios plus £150 in fees, with seats available in all four cabins - from World Traveller to First.
Here are the Avios amounts for each cabin return.
Economy: 70,000 return
Premium Economy: 135,000 Return
Club World (Business): 200,000 Return
First: 200,000 Return (at the time of writing there were only 6 First Class seats left.)
A Major Milestone: 7,500 Avios-Only Seats Released
The Cape Town flights represent a landmark for British Airways, marking the 7,500th Avios-Only seat made available since the concept launched in 2023. So far, the airline has operated 34 of these flights to 15 destinations worldwide, spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and North America.
Previous Avios-Only flights to locations like Málaga and Marrakech were timed around key school holidays and proved particularly popular with families - with booking rates for family groups far exceeding those seen on standard reward routes.
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What Makes Avios-Only Flights Different?
Unlike regular flights that guarantee a limited number of Reward Seats (12 on short-haul, 14 on long-haul), Avios-Only services make every seat on the aircraft bookable with Avios. This significantly increases access and flexibility for Members, particularly during high-demand travel periods like Christmas.
As with all Reward Seats, travellers can apply their American Express Companion Vouchers, or their Barclays Cabin Upgrade Voucher. These vouchers significantly lower the cost of Avios you will need for a trip like this!
British Airways Adds Cape Town to Avios-Only Flight Line-Up for Christmas 2025: How to Book
Club Members can now book these exclusive flights directly at ba.com, as they would any other Reward Seat redemption. With only two flights and over 500 seats available, demand is expected to be high - especially in premium cabins - so early booking is advised.
Helena
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