British Airways is expanding its Avios-Only concept with a headline-grabbing offer that allows members to fly from London City to Madrid or Toulon Saint-Tropez from just £2 in taxes and charges, plus Avios. The latest announcement marks a new milestone for the airline’s reward-seat strategy and comes amid wider changes to Avios pricing that make it more important than ever to understand how these redemptions work and whether they represent genuine value.
What the New Avios-Only Flights Actually Offer
The latest Avios-Only release focuses on two routes out of London City Airport, both timed for peak leisure demand. British Airways will operate an Avios-Only round-trip service to Madrid over the late May bank holiday and another to Toulon Saint-Tropez in June 2026. Every seat on these services is a Reward Seat, meaning they can only be booked using Avios rather than cash fares.
For Madrid, return prices start from £2 plus 28,000 Avios in Euro Traveller, with Club Europe business-class redemptions starting from £30 plus 49,000 Avios. The outbound flight from London City to Madrid is scheduled for 22 May 2026, with the return on 25 May 2026, giving travellers a long weekend in the Spanish capital.
The Toulon Saint-Tropez service, a new seasonal destination for British Airways, starts at £2 plus 21,500 Avios in Euro Traveller, and from £30 plus 36,000 Avios in Club Europe. The dedicated Avios-Only flight departs London City on 13 June 2026 and returns from Toulon on 20 June 2026, offering a full week on the Côte d’Azur at the gateway to Saint-Tropez.
Both routes include a 23 kg checked baggage allowance on these reward tickets, a key detail for holidaymakers who might otherwise pay extra for luggage on low-cost carriers. For members with Avios balances ready to redeem, the combination of minimal cash outlay and full-service inclusions is central to the appeal of these flights.
How to Book and Who Can Access the Offer
The new flights are available exclusively to members of The British Airways Club, the airline’s Avios-based loyalty programme. Bookings open on 12 February 2026, and as with previous Avios-Only launches, demand is expected to be strong, particularly for Club Europe seats and peak travel dates.
To secure one of these seats, members must log into their account and make a standard Reward Flight booking on the specified dates. The flights show up like any other British Airways service, but all seats on these particular departures are designated as reward inventory rather than revenue tickets.
Members holding a British Airways American Express Credit Card can also combine the Avios-Only offer with a Companion Voucher, effectively unlocking a second reward seat for no additional Avios, with only the taxes, fees and charges to pay. This can make Club Europe redemptions especially attractive, as the voucher allows two travellers to fly for the Avios cost of one.
Because these are Avios-Only flights, you will not be able to buy a conventional cash fare on these specific dates and flight numbers. Flexibility is therefore limited to members who can travel on the exact outbound and inbound dates, reinforcing the importance of planning ahead and moving quickly once seats are released.
Pricing Details and the Reality of the £2 Tickets
The eye-catching headline is the £2 starting price, yet it is important to remember that this figure represents the cash element of the redemption in its most Avios-heavy configuration. As with other British Airways reward flights, customers are often given a range of Avios and cash combinations for the same journey, allowing them to use more cash and fewer Avios or vice versa.
On these Avios-Only routes, the published lead-in prices highlight the minimum cash option combined with a relatively high Avios contribution. For Madrid, that is 28,000 Avios plus £2 in Euro Traveller. For Toulon Saint-Tropez, the lowest cash option is 21,500 Avios plus £2. Club Europe redemptions start at 49,000 Avios plus £30 for Madrid and 36,000 Avios plus £30 for Toulon, again representing the highest Avios, lowest cash settings.
Behind the scenes, members may see alternative pricing bands, with lower Avios requirements and higher cash copays. For travellers who are short on Avios but still want to experience the new routes, it may be more practical to opt for one of these mixed options, accepting a higher out-of-pocket spend in exchange for preserving more of their points balance.
Given that Reward Flight pricing across the British Airways network increased in December 2025, the Avios costs on these flights should be considered in that context. While the £2 figure is compelling for marketing, savvy members should still calculate the pence-per-Avios value they receive, comparing the redemption to alternative routes, dates, or even cash fares on competing airlines.
Why These Routes and Dates Matter for Travellers
The choice of Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez reflects British Airways’ strategy of aligning Avios-Only flights with peak leisure demand and aspirational short-haul destinations. Madrid offers a classic European city break, combining culture, food, shopping and nightlife, all packed into a long weekend over the late May bank holiday, when UK travellers are eager for a quick escape.
Toulon, by contrast, acts as a gateway to one of Europe’s most glamorous coastal regions. As the closest airport to Saint-Tropez, it places travellers within easy reach of the French Riviera’s beaches, marinas and hilltop villages. By designating this as an Avios-Only route, British Airways is positioning its loyalty programme as a route to aspirational holidays that might otherwise command high cash fares in early summer.
Operating from London City Airport also shapes the appeal of these flights. The airport is especially convenient for travellers based in central London and the financial districts, reducing surface travel time compared with Heathrow or Gatwick. Short security queues and quick boarding processes are an additional draw, making the overall journey experience more efficient for a weekend or one-week escape.
The fixed outbound and return dates can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they bundle the trip into ready-made holiday windows, making planning straightforward. On the other, travellers needing greater flexibility on length of stay or specific days of travel may find standard Reward Seats from Heathrow or Gatwick a better fit, even if those itineraries do not carry the Avios-Only branding.
What Has Changed in the Avios Landscape Recently
The latest Avios-Only announcement arrives at a time when the wider Avios ecosystem is shifting. In December 2025, British Airways increased the Avios and cash prices for many reward flights, particularly long-haul itineraries and certain distance bands. For most British Airways flights, the increase was in the region of 10 percent in Avios, with some partner redemptions rising by even more.
For travellers, this means that the same route may now require more Avios or a higher cash supplement than it did a year ago. Short-haul redemptions within Europe, including routes comparable in length to London to Madrid, saw their own upward adjustments, which affects the relative value of using Avios versus paying cash.
In response, some members have adjusted their strategy, reserving Avios for premium-cabin long-haul flights or specific sweet spots instead of everyday short-haul travel. At the same time, British Airways has introduced periodic promotions, such as temporary discounts on award tickets or offers to boost Avios balances through paid top-ups, further complicating the decision-making process for consumers trying to maximise value.
Against this backdrop, the Avios-Only flights to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez serve as a flagship example of how British Airways is using exclusivity and limited releases to maintain excitement around the programme. The promise that every seat is a reward seat is intended to reassure members that they can actually use their Avios at desirable times and destinations, countering concerns about reduced availability or creeping devaluation.
Comparing Avios-Only Flights With Other Redemption Options
For Avios collectors considering these new routes, a key question is whether Avios-Only flights genuinely offer better value than other redemption options or even straightforward cash tickets. On the Madrid route especially, British Airways faces competition from other carriers and from its sister airline Iberia, which operates numerous flights between London and Madrid via Heathrow.
Some independent analysts have pointed out that Iberia redemptions on off-peak dates can sometimes offer better Avios value than British Airways reward flights on similar sectors, depending on award availability and the mix of Avios and cash selected. Travellers comfortable departing from Heathrow rather than London City may find that Iberia or standard British Airways reward seats offer a similar experience at a lower Avios cost, particularly in economy.
Additionally, cash fares on busy European city-pair routes can sometimes be surprisingly competitive, especially when booked during sales or far in advance. In those cases, using Avios for a short-haul redemption may provide less value than saving them for a premium cabin long-haul flight where cash prices remain high. Travellers should therefore compare the cost of an Avios-Only redemption with current cash fares for their dates before committing their points.
The Toulon Saint-Tropez route is somewhat different, as it represents a new seasonal destination for British Airways and may have fewer direct competitors from London City. In that scenario, an Avios-Only flight can be particularly appealing to members looking for a direct, full-service option into a premium leisure market, especially when combined with low taxes and a manageable Avios outlay.
Tips to Maximise Value From the New Offer
To get the most from the Avios-Only flights, timing is critical. Because seats can only be booked by Avios collectors and capacity is finite, the best cabins and dates are likely to disappear quickly once bookings open on 12 February 2026. Members who have already decided that Madrid or Toulon Saint-Tropez fit their travel plans should be prepared to book as soon as inventory is released.
Travellers with a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher or similar benefits should consider deploying those on the Avios-Only flights, particularly in Club Europe, where the effective value per Avios can be significantly enhanced by securing a second seat at no additional Avios cost. This is especially attractive for couples or friends planning a trip together during peak holiday periods.
It is also wise to review alternative Avios and cash combinations presented at booking rather than defaulting to the lowest cash figure. In some cases, shifting to a slightly higher cash payment and lower Avios requirement can yield a better overall return on your points, especially if you have other aspirational redemptions planned for the future.
Finally, members should assess their broader Avios strategy in light of recent pricing changes and promotions. If you have been boosting your Avios balance through paid offers or partner earn opportunities, this could be an ideal occasion to put those points to work. However, if your balance is modest and you have long-haul plans on the horizon, it may be more advantageous to reserve your Avios for routes where the cash fares are considerably higher than the equivalent redemption costs.
What This Means for the Future of Avios-Only Flights
With the Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez services representing British Airways’ 50th Avios-Only flights, the initiative has clearly moved beyond a one-off experiment into a recurring feature of the airline’s loyalty strategy. Previous Avios-Only services have included popular holiday routes and even long-haul flights to destinations such as Barbados and Dubai, which sold out quickly, demonstrating strong demand for fully reward-based services.
If the trend continues, travellers can expect more seasonal announcements targeting school holidays, bank holiday weekends and peak summer travel windows, potentially to an expanding list of European and long-haul destinations. Each new release serves dual purposes: it rewards loyal members with access to highly sought-after flights, and it generates publicity that reinforces the perceived value of collecting Avios.
For frequent travellers, the key takeaway is that Avios-Only flights are becoming a regular, though limited, part of the redemption landscape. Staying informed about new releases, understanding the evolving Avios pricing structure and being ready to book at short notice will be essential habits for anyone hoping to secure these coveted seats.
In practical terms, the latest offer to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez from London City underlines both the strengths and the complexities of the British Airways Avios programme in 2026. Reward seats are more accessible on specific, curated services than ever before, yet calculating true value requires careful comparison with alternative routes, partner airlines and cash fares. For members willing to do that homework, the prospect of sipping coffee in Madrid or strolling the marinas of Saint-Tropez after paying just a few pounds in cash remains an enticing proposition.