Every single BA Reward Flight now has a different cash bill attached to it. The Avios cost hasn't moved - but the taxes and fees element, which is what most people quietly dread, has just been repriced across the entire network.

When BA updated its Avios Reward Flight pricing in December last year, what changed?

The answer is waiting near the bottom... keep scrolling 👇

This is the one that's been on the radar since BA gave a preview of changes last week, covering just four specific routes. Today, the full picture is out - and it covers every BA destination from London, across every cabin.

Here's the important distinction to get clear first: the number of Avios you need for a Reward Flight didn't change today. That was updated back in December 2025. What changed today is the cash component - the taxes, fees, and carrier charges that sit alongside your Avios redemption.

For many routes, that cash element is a significant part of the total cost of a redemption. On short-haul European flights, it's often £50-£100 per person. On long-haul, particularly anything routed through Heathrow, carrier charges have historically pushed the cash bill into the £300-£600+ range for a return in Business or First.

Use our BA Avios Flight Calculator to check exactly what your specific route will cost in Avios and cash after today's update - it's the quickest way to compare before and after.

The key thing to stress is that Reward Flight Saver bookings (which cap carrier charges) are still worth prioritising where available, since the capped fee model means you're somewhat insulated from the full hit on high-demand routes. But on non-Reward Flight Saver fares, today's changes will be felt directly in your wallet.

Bottom line: if you have a specific route in mind, check it now. Some routes will have seen fees go up, others may have shifted down slightly. The only way to know is to look up your route directly - and that route lookup tool is exactly what you need right now.

Want to see where Avios can take you across the BA network? The BA Avios Map gives you a visual overview of every destination - useful if you're still deciding on a route before committing.

American Express has launched a new cashback deal with Hilton, covering selected hotels across the UK, Europe, and - for the first time according to the offer details - a handful of more far-flung properties globally. The other major hotel chains launched their equivalent Amex offers weeks ago, so Hilton is late to the party here - but better late than never.

The coverage across UK and European properties is described as wide, which is the pattern with these Amex-hotel cashback offers. If you're already planning a Hilton stay in the UK or Europe this summer, it's worth checking whether your specific property is included before booking.

Heads up: these Amex-Hilton offers typically require you to add the offer to your card via the Amex app or online portal before booking. The cashback doesn't apply automatically - you need to opt in first.

If you're not yet holding an Amex card, this is a good reminder that the sign-up bonuses on UK personal Amex cards can stack well with offers like this. Check eligibility and current offers via our Amex Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool.

A useful clarification that's been doing the rounds: if you've been added as a supplementary cardholder on someone else's Amex account - a partner, family member, or business colleague - that does not count as having 'held' the card for the purposes of Amex's 24-month sign-up bonus rule.

The rule only applies to primary cardholders. A supplementary card sits on someone else's account entirely. So if you've been enjoying Avios via a supplementary card on a partner's BA Amex, you can still apply for your own card in your own name and be eligible for the full sign-up bonus - assuming you haven't held a primary card of the same type in the last 24 months.

This is particularly relevant for households where one person has been doing the points collecting and the other hasn't started yet. The second person in the household can open their own primary Amex and unlock a fresh sign-up bonus, entirely independently. That's a meaningful second bite at the cherry for household Avios collecting.

This one is time-sensitive: Air France-KLM's Flying Blue programme is currently offering an 80% bonus when you buy Flying Blue Miles, at a rate of 1.69¢ per mile before the bonus. The offer expires tomorrow, Sunday 31 May.

Flying Blue is worth holding if you fly Air France, KLM, or their partners - and crucially, Miles can be used for award redemptions across the SkyTeam alliance. If you've had your eye on a redemption and just need a top-up, this is one of the better buy-miles bonuses we've seen this year.

Heads up: buying miles only makes sense if you have a specific redemption in mind. Don't stockpile miles you have no near-term use for.

Aegean Airlines is running a 27th anniversary sale with discounts of up to 50% off across its entire network (including Olympic Air), valid for travel between 1 July 2026 and 27 March 2027. The booking window closes today, Saturday 30 May - so if you've been thinking about a Greek island routing or an Athens stopover, this is your last window.

The discount tiers vary by fare type and travel period: 20-25% off in summer 2026 travel dates, stepping up to 30-50% in the shoulder and winter schedule. One-way flights are included in the sale, which makes positioning flight combinations more flexible.

Heads up: book directly on Aegean's website to access the sale pricing before midnight tonight.

The answer is 🔵 The number of Avios required. When BA updated Reward Flight pricing in December 2025, it was the Avios count that changed. What changed today (30 May 2026) is the separate cash element - the taxes, fees, and carrier charges. Two distinct changes, two different dates. It's a subtle distinction but an important one for anyone working out whether their saved Avios balance still covers their target trip.

The cash element on BA Reward Flights is something a lot of collectors feel a bit stung by - especially on long-haul. Do you factor in the taxes and fees from the start when planning a redemption, or do the charges ever catch you off guard? Hit reply and let me know - I read every response.

That's it for today - but don't sleep on the Flying Blue 80% bonus: it expires tomorrow and is one of the strongest buy-miles offers this year. If you've got a SkyTeam redemption in the pipeline, check whether a top-up makes the maths work before Sunday is gone.

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These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Platinum Card: 75,000 points after spending £10,000 in 6 months (£6.5/yr)

2. HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard: Receive 60,000 reward points when you spend £3,000 on your card in the first 90 ... (£2.9/yr)

3. Gold Card: 40,000 points after spending £5,000 in 6 months (£1.95/yr (waived first year))

Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches:

• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

• Flying Blue (Iberia) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

Buy Points & Miles Deals:

Browse every award deal we track at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

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