British Airways Avios Devaluation History
A chart that keeps getting more expensive
Unlike the airlines that killed their charts, British Airways kept its distance-based Avios chart but has raised the numbers over the years. The last big jump before recently was May 2019, and in September 2023 BA quietly increased Avios needed for certain Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines short-haul flights by 10 to 40 percent, following an earlier 2021 increase. The chart stays, but the prices climb. See British Airways Avios guide.
The December 2025 devaluation
In December 2025, now branded the British Airways Club, BA raised award prices across the board by roughly 8 to 14 percent, including short-haul intra-Europe flights and long-haul routes to the US and Asia, on BA and Oneworld partners alike. Cash fees on Reward Flight Saver rose too, hitting economy hardest, which shifted the math toward spending more Avios and less cash. See the surcharge trap.
Where Avios still work
Even after the hikes, the distance-based chart keeps short-haul flights cheap, especially on partners like American and Alaska, which remains the Avios sweet spot. The lesson is to use Avios for short-haul value, book before the next increase, and avoid long-haul BA awards with heavy surcharges. See best points for Avios and the devaluation overview.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
Search award flights on seats.aero →Frequently asked questions
Related reading
Find this useful? Add Cardocrat as a preferred source on Google to see more of our honest, independent card analysis in Search.
