British Airways Avios-only Majorca and Crete flights
British Airways has announced two Avios-only return trips from London Heathrow for the peak August 2027 holiday period. One goes to Palma, Majorca. The other goes to Heraklion, Crete. Both leave on Saturday, August 14 and return one week later on Saturday, August 21.
Seats go on sale to British Airways Club members on Thursday, October 22, 2026. They were announced on October 21 and were not yet on sale when this guide was checked. BA has not published an opening hour.
*Original AI-generated OpenSim editorial image. The traveler, booking screen, airport and unbranded aircraft are conceptual and do not show the British Airways website or either scheduled flight.*
The practical answer: decide between the fixed August 14 to 21 dates before sale opens, sign in to your British Airways Club account, and search the exact flights on ba.com. The advertised Economy return is 28,000 Avios plus £5 for Palma or 33,500 Avios plus £5 for Heraklion. BA has not announced a sale hour, so use the live booking result as the final check rather than relying on a countdown or a secondary article.
The two Avios-only trips at a glance
BA's October 21 announcement lists these flights and advertised return options:
| Destination | Outbound | Return | Euro Traveller return | Club Europe return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palma, Majorca | BA494, LHR-PMI, August 14, 12:50-16:20 | BA495, PMI-LHR, August 21, 17:15-18:45 | 28,000 Avios + £5 | 49,000 Avios + £40 |
| Heraklion, Crete | BA698, LHR-HER, August 14, 11:25-17:30 | BA697, HER-LHR, August 21, 16:45-18:50 | 33,500 Avios + £5 | 60,000 Avios + £40 |
The announcement describes every seat on these services as a Reward Seat available exclusively with Avios. That does not mean each seat is free, or that it can be bought as a normal cash fare. The member still pays the Avios and cash combination displayed during booking.
The times above are the timetable BA published on October 21. Check them again in the booking and before travel because a schedule this far ahead can change. BA has not named the aircraft or Heathrow terminal for either trip.
The Crete Economy figure is 33,500 Avios
Some same-day reports printed 35,500 Avios plus £5 for the Heraklion Economy return. BA's primary release says 33,500 Avios plus £5 in both its main text and its notes-to-editors price list.
This guide therefore uses 33,500. The result shown on ba.com when sale opens remains the transaction that matters. Take a screenshot of the chosen Avios and cash option before payment if the live result differs from the announcement.
For Palma, the primary release consistently lists 28,000 Avios plus £5 in Euro Traveller and 49,000 Avios plus £40 in Club Europe. For Heraklion, it lists 33,500 plus £5 and 60,000 plus £40 respectively.
What Avios-only changes and what it does not
On a normal BA flight, a limited number of seats are guaranteed for Avios redemption and more may appear. On these named Avios-only flights, every seat is released as a Reward Seat. BA says it has operated more than 50 dedicated Avios-only services since launching the format in 2023.
The larger reward-seat pool does not guarantee that a preferred cabin will still be available when you search. It also does not set the value of an Avios. Compare the full Avios and cash cost with an ordinary cash ticket that works for the same traveler, dates, airport and baggage needs.
The two advertised figures for each cabin are return combinations. Do not assume a one-way booking, a different return date or another cash contribution will price at exactly half. BA's live Reward Flight search controls which combinations can be booked and what they cost.
Checked baggage and cancellation terms
BA says checked baggage is included as standard on these trips. Its current Reward Flights guidance specifies one checked bag of up to 23kg for an Avios-only ticket.
That does not make every extra bag, seat or airport service free. Read the allowance attached to each traveler in Manage My Booking, especially for children, separate positioning flights or sports equipment.
BA's current guidance also says an Avios-only ticket can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a £35 service fee. Exceptions on the page still matter, and fees can depend on the booking and region. Confirm the cancellation result before accepting it rather than treating this article as the fare contract.
Using a Companion Voucher
BA says an eligible British Airways American Express Companion Voucher can be used on these Avios-only flights. For two travelers, the published benefit is a second seat in the same booking without extra Avios, while taxes, fees and charges remain payable for both. A solo traveler can use an eligible voucher for 50% of the Avios required for one seat and still pays that traveler's cash amount.
Voucher eligibility, cabin access, expiry and cardholder rules still apply. BA's current Companion Voucher terms say the voucher must be applied as part of the Reward Flight booking through the Club account, app or contact center. Check the voucher in the account before sale opens rather than assuming it will appear at checkout.
If the booking involves separate outbound and return transactions, a mixed cabin, or a companion who may not travel, ask BA how the voucher will be attached before paying. Public traveler discussions helped identify those questions, but BA's live booking flow and written terms are the policy sources.
A sensible booking plan for October 22
- Confirm that August 14 to 21 works for every traveler, including positioning travel to Heathrow.
- Check each traveler's name, passport plan and British Airways Club account access.
- Note the exact flight numbers and preferred cabin.
- Confirm the Avios balance and the payment method for the cash portion.
- If using a Companion Voucher, check its expiry, eligible cabin and account holder.
- Search on ba.com while signed in. BA has not announced an opening hour.
- Read the complete price, baggage and cancellation details before payment.
- Save the booking confirmation and review the schedule closer to departure.
There is no useful reason to invent urgency before BA opens the inventory. The airline's own reward availability page identifies ba.com as the current source for available reward seats. If these exact flights do not appear, check the flight numbers and date, then wait for BA's published sale date rather than using an unofficial booking link.
Data for a week in Majorca or Crete
An OpenSim Spain eSIM can provide mobile data in Majorca, while an OpenSim Greece eSIM can cover a Crete trip. Use the live destination page to compare current allowances, validity, networks, hotspot terms and top-up support before buying.
Install the eSIM on reliable Wi-Fi and keep the usual SIM available if it is needed for bank or account verification messages. An eSIM provides data on supported ground networks. It does not unlock a Reward Seat, replace airport Wi-Fi, or provide an internet connection in flight.
Ten questions about BA's Avios-only island flights
When do the Majorca and Crete Avios-only flights go on sale?
BA says seats go on sale on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The airline did not state an opening hour in its announcement. Search while signed in to the British Airways Club and treat the live ba.com result as the availability check.
Can I buy these flights with cash instead of Avios?
BA describes every seat on the named services as exclusively available with Avios. A cash amount is still part of the advertised redemption, but that is not the same as a normal cash fare. Search other BA services if a cash-only ticket is needed.
How much is the Palma Avios-only return?
BA advertises 28,000 Avios plus £5 in Euro Traveller or 49,000 Avios plus £40 in Club Europe for the August 14 to 21 return. Confirm the final combination and total in the booking flow.
Is the Heraklion Economy price 33,500 or 35,500 Avios?
The primary BA release says 33,500 Avios plus £5 return. Several secondary reports printed 35,500, but BA's article body and price list both support 33,500. The live checkout is the final transaction record.
What are the BA494, BA495, BA698 and BA697 times?
BA lists BA494 from Heathrow at 12:50 on August 14, arriving Palma at 16:20, and BA495 back at 17:15 on August 21, arriving Heathrow at 18:45. BA698 is listed at 11:25 to 17:30 on August 14, with BA697 at 16:45 to 18:50 on August 21. Recheck before travel.
Can I use a British Airways Companion Voucher?
BA says an eligible voucher can be used. A companion can travel for no extra Avios, with taxes, fees and charges due for both travelers, or a solo traveler can receive 50% off the Avios for one seat. The voucher's own cabin, expiry and account rules still apply.
What baggage does BA include on these Avios-only flights?
Yes. BA says checked baggage is included as standard, and its current Avios-only guidance specifies one checked bag up to 23kg. Confirm the allowance shown for each traveler and pay separately for anything outside it.
Can I cancel an Avios-only booking?
BA's current Reward Flights page says Avios-only tickets can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a £35 service fee. Review the exact booking and any listed exception before cancelling.
Can I use only one leg or return on another date?
The announcement advertises paired August 14 and 21 returns. It does not promise that a one-way seat or a different return will cost half the listed amount. Search the desired combination on ba.com and compare the complete result before booking.
Does an OpenSim eSIM provide Wi-Fi on the BA flight?
No. It supplies mobile data on supported terrestrial networks in Spain or Greece. It can help with maps, messages and bookings before departure and after landing, but it is not the aircraft's onboard internet service.
What to recheck after booking
- Keep the flight numbers and the full Avios and cash receipt.
- Review any schedule or airport change in Manage My Booking.
- Confirm baggage for each traveler rather than relying on a group summary.
- Recheck the Companion Voucher record if one was used.
- Save the cancellation deadline and terms that applied at purchase.
- Arrange Heathrow travel with enough margin for the confirmed terminal.
- Download the confirmation and essential arrival details for offline use.
The British Airways announcement, Reward Flight guidance, Companion Voucher terms and live OpenSim catalog were reviewed on October 21, 2026. Public discussions were used to identify booking questions, not to establish BA policy. We will update this guide if the sale status, dates, timetable, advertised price, baggage inclusion, voucher treatment or cancellation terms change.
