British Airways will increase the price of Avios reward flights by roughly 9–10% from 15 December, alongside slightly higher cash co-pays driven partly by rising taxes and airport fees. On its own, a modest inflationary rise is hardly surprising – BA hasn’t adjusted Avios pricing for several years, and the UK’s Air Passenger Duty has been climbing steadily. Nobody expects redemption charts to stay frozen while everything else gets more expensive. But as far as topics go, Avios reward price increase isn’t one many BA flyers were in the mood for this month.
Even so, the timing is awkward. It lands only months after BA completely rewired the BA Club, switching Avios earning to a revenue-based model and introducing a brand-new Tier Point structure. Many flyers are still digesting those changes. Dropping a redemption price rise into the same period creates the sense of a loyalty programme in continuous motion, and not everyone appreciates the turbulence.
What Exactly Is Changing?
From 15 December, the Avios cost for redemptions rises by around 9-10% across all zones and cabins. A few examples:
- A one-way London to Geneva in economy rises from 9,250 to 10,000 Avios
- A return off-peak Club World redemption to New York climbs from 50,000 to around 55,000 Avios
- Upgrades using Avios see similar increases
Cash surcharges rise too, partly due to higher Air Passenger Duty and other pass-through charges.
Taken at face value, this Avios reward price increase is a fairly routine one. Most airlines update their charts more often than BA.
The Timing Feels Unfortunate
If this had landed a year earlier or a year later, it might have drifted by with a shrug. The problem is context.
We’ve only just had:
- A switch to revenue-based Avios earning
- A completely new BA Club Tier Point system
- Availability for First redemptions all but disappear on most routes
Layering a redemption price bump on top feels like too many changes in too short a window. Even if the Avios reward price increase is justified by inflation, the optics aren’t great. Loyalty programmes rely on stability. This year hasn’t felt stable – perhaps BA are trying to bury it all in 2025, so 2026 can be brighter?
Will This Be The Only Devaluation?
A 9-10% increase is manageable. Irritating, but manageable. The bigger question is whether this is the only change, or the first in a series.
Some in the community appear oddly relieved – even pleased – that the increase wasn’t larger. This is the risky part. If the reaction is overly accepting, does that give BA’s loyalty team permission to consider further rises?
We’ve already had the narrative that customers “asked for” the new BA Club earning model, despite plenty of scepticism at the time. If the feedback loop now suggests that members are content with higher Avios costs too, it’s not a stretch to imagine the next increase arriving sooner than expected.
This Hits Ordinary BA Club Members The Hardest
A small increase barely registers if you hold 1.5 million Avios and frequently pay the cash element for premium cabins without blinking. BA will never lose those members.
The real impact hits:
- The people who take two or three years to save enough Avios for a family holiday
- Households where the cash element of a redemption represents a meaningful outlay
- Casual BA flyers who rely on the stability of the Avios chart to plan future trips
These are the members who won’t be celebrating the news with a cheerful “it could have been worse”.
Are Avios Becoming Less Valuable?
Not drastically – but the value slides a little further. Long-haul premium cabin redemptions, partner awards and off-peak routes still offer pockets of strong value. Short-haul economy redemptions lose more shine.
The message is simple: Avios still work. They just don’t stretch quite as far for the people who need them most.
What Should You Do Now?
Book before 15 December
If you have 2026 plans forming, lock something in before the prices rise.
Check the value every time
Compare Avios vs cash before booking. Blind loyalty rarely serves anyone well.
Be strategic with how you earn Avios
With earning now tied to spend, not miles, lean more into partner flights, companion vouchers and credit-card bonuses if you’re staying within the BA Club ecosystem.
BG1 Verdict
A 10% rise is not unreasonable on paper. BA hasn’t updated redemption prices for several years, costs have grown, and inflation is doing what inflation does. The numbers themselves aren’t the issue.
What matters is timing, communication and the broader direction of the BA Club. Members are already adapting to the biggest shake-up the scheme has seen in a decade. Dropping a redemption increase in the same year risks creating fatigue and mistrust.
The Avios reward price increase itself is manageable. The worry is whether this is a one-off correction – or the opening act of a longer saga.
Read our other article Is The British Airways Club Tier Points System Too Clever For Its Own Good?
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