British Airways is raising the cash component of award tickets again, making some Avios redemptions even harder to justify.

British Airways Raises Cash Surcharges On Award Tickets

I received an email yesterday from British Airways yesterday, informing me that it is increasing the cash element on Reward Flights booked with Avios, with the new pricing taking effect on May 27, 2026.

The airline says the change will only affect the cash element of the ticket, not the Avios price. That is at least more limited than the December 2025 devaluation, when British Airways raised both the Avios and cash components of many awards.

Still, this is not good news.

British Airways already has some of the most obnoxious surcharges in the loyalty world. Using Avios for longhaul premium cabin flights on British Airways can feel less like a “free” ticket and more like buying a discounted cash fare.

British Airways now lists the following examples for off-peak Reward Flights:

London Heathrow – New York JFK roundtrip in Club World: 176,000 Avios + £499
London Heathrow – Cape Town roundtrip in World Traveller: 66,000 Avios + £190
London Heathrow – Rome one-way in Club Europe: 22,000 Avios + £20
London Heathrow – Amsterdam one-way in Euro Traveller: 10,000 Avios + £2.50

The shorthaul increases are irritating but mild, however longhaul premium cabin numbers are ugly. A roundtrip Club World award (off-peak) from London to New York now requires 176,000 Avios plus £499, which is a £100 increase from what it is today.

At some point, members have to ask a very simple question: is it really worth all the hassle?

Avios Still Have Value, But Often Not On British Airways Longhaul

I still like Avios as a currency. Shorthaul partner awards can be useful. Iberia and Qatar Airways can also be great deals.

But redeeming Avios for longhaul British Airways premium cabin flights has long been a mixed bag because of the cash surcharges. This latest change makes that problem worse.

The irony is that British Airways calls these Reward Flights, but the “reward” often comes with a bill large enough to make you pause. In some cases, especially in economy, a cash ticket may be a better deal once you compare the fare against the Avios plus fees.

All I can say at this point is that I understand British Airways is facing higher oil prices and wants to recoup some of its loss, but these sorts of changes feel like a dripping faucet and really further erode the value of the program. I am thankful for the advance notice, however short.

Book Now If You Have A BA Redemption In Mind

British Airways says Reward Flights booked before the change will remain at the current price. So if you are sitting on a specific BA redemption and have found award space, it is worth booking before May 27.

But going forward, the advice remains the same: do the math.

Do not assume that using Avios on British Airways is a good deal just because award space exists. Compare the Avios cost plus surcharges against the paid fare. Compare British Airways against Iberia, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and other partners. In many cases, your Avios may be better used elsewhere.

CONCLUSION

British Airways is raising the cash element on Reward Flights booked from May 27, 2026. The Avios price is not changing this time, but the cash component is going up, including on longhaul premium cabin awards where the surcharges were already high.

This is not the “end” of Avios. But it is another reminder that Avios are often most valuable when you are not redeeming them on British Airways longhaul flights. British Airways keeps making its own awards more expensive in cash terms, and at some point members should respond accordingly: earn Avios, burn Avios, but do not blindly hand BA hundreds of pounds in “reward” surcharges without checking whether a paid ticket makes more sense.

image: British Airways