British Airways Club can be a controversial program. While there are plenty of great uses of British Airways Avios, the program is also known for its high fees and ever increasing redemption rates on British Airways.
In this post, I’d like to talk a bit about what I’d consider to be one of the best aspects of being able to redeem Avios for travel on British Airways — the award seat guarantee. British Airways is one of only a couple of airlines to offer such a guarantee (with the other being Finnair Plus), and it’s worth being aware of.
In this post:
Details of British Airways’ award seat guarantee
For several years, British Airways Club has offered an award seat guarantee. These guaranteed seats are all loaded when British Airways’ schedule first opens, 355 days before departure.
Note that this applies when booking through British Airways Club using Avios, so these guaranteed seats won’t necessarily be loaded through partner programs, like Alaska Atmos Rewards and American AAdvantage (though they may sometimes have access to award space as well).
So, how many award seats does British Airways guarantee? It depends if you’re traveling short haul or long haul.
On short haul flights, British Airways makes at least 12 award seats available per flight, as soon as the schedule opens. This is comprised of:
- At least eight Euro Traveller (short haul economy) award seats per flight
- At least four Club Europe (short haul business) award seats per flight
On long haul flights, British Airways makes at least 14 award seats available per flight, as soon as the schedule opens. This is comprised of:
- At least eight World Traveller (long haul economy) award seats per flight
- At least two World Traveller Plus (long haul premium economy) award seats per flight
- At least four Club World (long haul business class) award seats per flight
- There are no guarantees on first class award seats
It’s worth mentioning that British Airways will in many cases make more award seats available (especially closer to departure), as the above just represents the absolute minimum number of award seats that you’ll see.
This guarantee is a meaningfully positive benefit
Miles & points can unlock all kinds of amazing travel, including first and business class flights. One thing that understandably frustrates people is that actually finding award availability can be tough, especially if you don’t have much flexibility.
If you’re working around school schedules, when you can take time off work, etc., it can sometimes be hard to lock in a great award in advance. I think that’s why British Airways’ award seat guarantee is so awesome. It doesn’t matter if you want to go to the Maldives over Christmas or Italy over summer, award seats will be made available.
Now, admittedly there will sometimes be competition for those seats, but if you’re quick and set an alarm, it’s pretty realistic to get even the most elusive awards. For example, who doesn’t like to see this amount of award space as far out as the schedule goes?
Now, the catch is that British Airways premium cabin awards aren’t exactly an incredible value — while the carrier imposed surcharges aren’t as high as in the past, they’re still substantial. On top of that, the Avios required for a ticket are significant as well.
For example, a New York to London Club World (business class) award might cost you 88,000 Avios plus $408.75 in taxes and fees.
British Airways Club is rarely my first option, as someone who likes to maximize value, since you can pay fewer points and cash through other programs. However, I can’t overstate how valuable it is to have a guarantee, since this is an area where other programs just aren’t very useful.
Bottom line
British Airways Club has an award seat guarantee. With this, you can expect that the airline will make 12-14 award seats available on each flight as soon as the schedule opens, 355 days before departure. This includes four business class award seats per flight.
For all the criticisms I have of British Airways Club, this is a positive aspect of the program, and I wish we’d see more airlines have policies like this.
What do you make of British Airways Club’s guaranteed award space?
I find a great deal of value -- yes, VALUE! -- in BA and especially in their guaranteed (minimum) availability. Neither my wife nor I have jobs where we can "suddenly" drop everything and go on vacation. Advance planning is required. We're celebrating my wife's birthday in Sicily and 2 one-way tickets in Business (FCO-LHR-SFO) cost me 110,000 Avios and $1,000. The last valuation I can find from OMAAT is that Avios are worth 1.3¢...
I find a great deal of value -- yes, VALUE! -- in BA and especially in their guaranteed (minimum) availability. Neither my wife nor I have jobs where we can "suddenly" drop everything and go on vacation. Advance planning is required. We're celebrating my wife's birthday in Sicily and 2 one-way tickets in Business (FCO-LHR-SFO) cost me 110,000 Avios and $1,000. The last valuation I can find from OMAAT is that Avios are worth 1.3¢ each. But the tickets returned a redemption value of 8.5¢ each just looking at cash out-of-pocket. If I include the value of the Avios themselves, the return is still great at 7.2¢/each.
I have no complaints...as long as I'm *not* on an A380! (I hate flying backwards. Whoever thought that was a good idea?)
This is all "bogus". I am surprised you didn't do the total cost of award redemption (Avios pts * valuation/mile) + exorbitant "fees".
I have done this calculation several times and don't find the award redemptions any more cost effective than buying a paid fare outright (I only book business class on international flights).
You can see lot's of availability on other carriers like Qatar, but the redemption rates are about the same as buying a business class ticket
Hmmm...read my post. I saved $15,869.44 out-of-pocket (value of Avios + "exorbitant fees") on two J tickets, Rome to San Francisco. YMMV, and apparently does...
I really appreciate this approach as someone who is happy to plan a trip when the schedule opens. I find myself flying BA at least one leg (although I reaaaally hate having to pay for seat assignments). I found the taxes to be cheaper then VA and like others, have often used transfer bonuses. I start stalking flights a few weeks before booking windows open and then narrow down which seems to have the best...
I really appreciate this approach as someone who is happy to plan a trip when the schedule opens. I find myself flying BA at least one leg (although I reaaaally hate having to pay for seat assignments). I found the taxes to be cheaper then VA and like others, have often used transfer bonuses. I start stalking flights a few weeks before booking windows open and then narrow down which seems to have the best availability. Often that is BA (AF has gotten crazy expensive). Flying from the west coast, our flights are more limited to Europe, although I have had good luck to Japan.
If you are able to combine some transfer bonuses + have the BA Chase credit card which gives a rebate on award fees, BA becomes a very decent option for guaranteed availability. Are they the best product? No. Cheapest? Definitely not. But the reliability to be able to book business with them is nice.
Just need the fees to come down and we are good
I know I'm in the minority, but I very much appreciate BA's approach here. Having a reliably available option for when your travel plans aren't flexible is just so so nice.
Also, while it does nothing for the high cash fees, there are frequent enough transfer bonuses of 20-30% to BA from the major credit card currencies. Makes the higher point cost more manageable.
What time does ba release these seats? At midnight in London time or 9am etc?
00:01 GMT
As well as the ability to book early with guaranteed seats, in about half the cases where I book close to the departure date and all the award seats have been taken, BA will make an additional award seat available on my chosen flight (I’m a BA Gold member — there are lots of us and I assume this is routine and not that I’m special).
So yes, higher fees, but also a lot of...
As well as the ability to book early with guaranteed seats, in about half the cases where I book close to the departure date and all the award seats have been taken, BA will make an additional award seat available on my chosen flight (I’m a BA Gold member — there are lots of us and I assume this is routine and not that I’m special).
So yes, higher fees, but also a lot of added usefulness. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
Conversely, as a Flying Blue Platinum I usually really struggle to book any reward flights, no matter the dates.
Does BA open awards 355 days out at midnight GMT/BST or at another time?
355 I think the window. I've seen it at GMT as it seemed to be 1am BST over the summer
Sure, we’ll guarantee award availability, but it’ll cost ya… *excessive surcharges*
(Aero, since you’re our resident UK ‘expert,’ teehee, is this about right?)
1990, thank you for your question, sadly, I am not the right person to ask. The reason being ….
For over two decades now I have been able to use a travel office/agent, who books in very large volumes for one customer. As an employee of that customer, we obtained preferential travel discounts for personal travel. Upon my final retirement last June, I was granted the opportunity to continue booking through them.
I can...
1990, thank you for your question, sadly, I am not the right person to ask. The reason being ….
For over two decades now I have been able to use a travel office/agent, who books in very large volumes for one customer. As an employee of that customer, we obtained preferential travel discounts for personal travel. Upon my final retirement last June, I was granted the opportunity to continue booking through them.
I can give you a recent example however: our BA, LHR-JNB-LHR flights in F, just before Christmas, cost me a little over £10k. I have no idea what the cost would have been using other means.
I will not be billed for my forthcoming Singapore trip until I return. That will be one way out with AF, regional flights and back with SQ. Whatever the cost, I know that I cannot obtain my flights cheaper elsewhere.
I was not expecting to be allowed to continue to book through the travel office, hence my interest in points for miles in late 2024.
Sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
The "real" AeroB13a at last. Another reader has been impersonating you. My suspicion is the adolescent who goes by many names. 1990/Penile/Moby Dick/etc., who has made his way to other blogs and graced us with his diarrhea of the keyboard.
Jack, I’m not impersonating others. Penile does. There may be others. I’ve been impersonated, too. Yes, the ‘tell’ for Aero is whether it’s ‘Diamond’ or ‘Guest.’ For me, you can usually tell based on my biases. No, I’m not interested in creating a profile. Of course, I object passionately to any calls for censorship. Thanks for your concerns.
Aero, thanks for that context. You scored on BA F to Joburg at $10K, especially if that’s total, like the two of you, RT. Wow.
1990, FYI ….
I’ve just checked out the LHR-JNB-LHR flights on the UK, BA, website. I just picked two random dates, A380 in F, cheapest cash fares, 2xPax, no points redemption, etc.
15-27 Jan, 2026 @ £9905:58
We booked fixed dates and fully flexible fares back in March, 2025.
Even at £10K (about $13,500), that’s a decent deal for true First long-haul. Enjoy the safari/summer down there! Personally prefer Cape Town, but BA doesn’t fly F there, just J, usually.
Quite 1990, the Cape region is where one of our bolt holes is located. An unmissable pre Christmas annual ritual of ours is to enjoy the spring flora and fauna on the nature reserve. Kiteboarding, whale watching and beach walking are some of my favourite activities. However, one also appreciates an evening braai, cold Savanna and the Table Mountain View’s.
JNB is closest to the residence of a family member who we visit. Prior...
Quite 1990, the Cape region is where one of our bolt holes is located. An unmissable pre Christmas annual ritual of ours is to enjoy the spring flora and fauna on the nature reserve. Kiteboarding, whale watching and beach walking are some of my favourite activities. However, one also appreciates an evening braai, cold Savanna and the Table Mountain View’s.
JNB is closest to the residence of a family member who we visit. Prior to the Chinese virus outbreak, we would often take the train to the Cape rather than fly, or, occasionally drive down the Garden Route.
@ben, if you’re like me (or more so if I’m like you) who’s booking 355 days in advance?!? It’s more about what are the options to get from Paris to joburg on Tuesday :)
Mick, please be advised that there are many of us out here who practice the old adage of the seven ‘P’s’ …. that being:
Prior, Preparation, & Planning, Prevents, P***, Poor, Performance.
When one is booking a spacious suite in an exclusive World Class hotel, a safari tour or train journey, for a week or more, booking well ahead is absolutely essential. Leaving one’s flight booking to chance can become a guaranteed disaster.
One...
Mick, please be advised that there are many of us out here who practice the old adage of the seven ‘P’s’ …. that being:
Prior, Preparation, & Planning, Prevents, P***, Poor, Performance.
When one is booking a spacious suite in an exclusive World Class hotel, a safari tour or train journey, for a week or more, booking well ahead is absolutely essential. Leaving one’s flight booking to chance can become a guaranteed disaster.
One is aware that this scenario does not suit everyone, however, it is the best way to avoid unnecessary complications, yes?
That’s a whole lotta ‘p’…
Oh! Do express yourself better than that 1990. One expects so much more from you darlink …. Xxxx
@Mick - your best option to JHB is LH :)
Mick, Ronnie is, in my opinion, correct in suggesting the LHR-JNB route. I travel that route annually and my last trip was just before Christmas. The BA, A380 ride in F, although not the best A380, F cabin was more than acceptable.
@Aero - no I suggested he should go with Lufthansa. Leave the good stuff to the rest of us.
:-) …. I know you did Ronnie, I was extracting the urine and you obliged, Ok ….
You haven't planned your vacations 2-3 years out? Why on earth not? I already have an hour-by-hour itinerary for New Zealand in December 2027.
IAD, in my book, that is very sensible.
LOL