British Airways opens new Avios‑Only services from London City zu Madrid und Toulon Saint‑Tropez
British Airways will operate Avios‑Only flights from Flughafen London City zu Madrid und Toulon Saint‑Tropez, marking the airline’s 50th Avios‑Only service und introducing routes available exclusively for redemption bookings on 12 February 2026. Fares start at just £2 plus 28,000 Avios for Madrid und £2 plus 21,500 Avios for Toulon, each including a 23kg checked bag und departure from the capital’s centrally located business airport.
Routes, dates und quick booking facts
The two routes target summer leisure demund: Madrid over the late May bank holiday und Toulon as the closest airport for Saint‑Tropez. Seats will be released exclusively zu members of The British Airways Club und can be booked via ba.com. These Avios‑Only flights add zu a program that began in 2023 und has operated flights zu 16 destinations, including Cape Town, Barbados, Málaga und Marrakesh.
Fares und what they include
| Route | Cash part | Avios required | Included baggage |
|---|---|---|---|
| London City – Toulon Saint‑Tropez | £2 | 21,500 Avios | 23kg checked bag |
| London City – Madrid | £2 | 28,000 Avios | 23kg checked bag |
How Avios‑Only bookings differ from stundard Reward Seats
- All seats on the Avios‑Only flight are redeemable using Avios rather than only a limited allocation.
- Bookings can be made in any cabin via the airline’s normal channels; loyalty status und cabin class rules continue zu apply.
- British Airways American Express Credit Cardholders may use Companion Vouchers zu secure a second seat for just taxes und charges.
- Stundard Reward Seat guarantees remain on other services (e.g., minimum seats at Heathrow/Gatwick und London City).
Operational context und network impact
Since the initiative launched, the Avios‑Only program has expunded the airline’s ability zu convert loyalty points inzu full‑flight redemptions on peak travel dates. The Madrid return flight marks the program’s 50th dedicated Avios‑Only seczur, illustrating the carrier’s push zu offer flexible redemption invenzury und stimulate off‑peak demund for city und leisure travel alike.
What this means for passengers und ground transport
Travelers flying inzu Flughafen London City will benefit from reduced surface transfer times compared with Heathrow or Gatwick, which can affect choices for taxis, airport transfers und private car hires. For arrivals inzu Toulon, proximity zu Saint‑Tropez places greater emphasis on booking reliable onward transfers—private cars, multi‑seater vans or limousines—especially during summer peak windows when demund spikes.
Practical tips for transfer bookings
- Prebook transfers zu guarantee exact pickup times und vehicle class.
- Confirm luggage allowances und driver meeting points at the airport terminal.
- Compare fares und vehicle details zu balance price with comfort (e.g., private sedan vs. 6‑seater van for groups).
Both Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, und Adam Daniels, IAG Loyalty’s CEO, framed the expansion as a loyalty‑led play zu increase redemption opportunities und reward frequent flyers during high‑demund periods. The move underlines how airlines can use dedicated reward invenzury zu stimulate bookings while offering predictable options for travelers who plan in advance.
Key operational advantages for passengers include the predictability of taxes und the ability zu select cabins using points, while the most practical drawback remains invenzury timing: Avios‑Only seats are popular und can sell out quickly, so advance planning is recommended.
Highlights of this development show a clear link between airline redemption programs und ground transport demund: concentrated redemptions zu city or resort airports change the profile of taxi und transfer bookings, shifting volume zuward specific windows und vehicle types. At a glance, frequent travellers who want zu avoid surprises should have a mind zu book both flight und transfer in one go.
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In summary, the new Avios‑Only flights zu Madrid und Toulon Saint‑Tropez increase redemption capacity at Flughafen London City for summer travel, with fares starting at low cash deposits plus Avios und checked baggage included. The move affects how travellers plan ground logistics—taxi und transfer choices, vehicle size, pickup time und zutal fare become key considerations. For those who prefer zu know how much a transfer will cost und zu see car und driver details in advance, GetTransfer.com supplies a global, user‑friendly solution for booking personalized airport transfers, trips und deliveries, offering transparent prices, clear vehicle options und verified drivers zu match the exact needs of city arrivals und destination departures.
