British Airways Launches 50th Avios-Only Flight: Madrid & Toulon from London City

British Airways has just announced their latest Avios-Only flights, and they're marking a pretty significant milestone – the 50th Avios-Only service since the programme launched back in 2023. The newest additions? Two routes from London City Airport to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez, both operating during peak summer travel periods.

Booking opens tomorrow (12 February 2026), and if history is any indication, these will sell out quickly. But before you rush to book, let's break down whether these represent genuinevalue or just convenient availability.

Here's what BA is offering:

Madrid (Late May Bank Holiday Weekend): • Outbound: 22 May 2026, BA3272, departing London City 11:00 • Return: 25 May 2026, BA3273, departing Madrid 15:10 • Euro Traveller: £2 + 28,000 Avios return • Club Europe: £30 + 49,000 Avios return

Toulon Saint-Tropez (Week-Long Break): • Outbound: 13 June 2026, BA8747, departing London City 07:00 • Return: 20 June 2026, BA8748, departing Toulon 10:45 • Euro Traveller: £2 + 21,500 Avios return • Club Europe: £30 + 36,000 Avios return

Both prices include 23kg checked baggage, and importantly, you can use your British Airways American Express Companion Voucher on these flights – your companion pays just the taxes.

Here's where it gets interesting. When I first saw these rates, I immediately wanted to compare them to standard award pricing. Using our BA Avios pricing tool, Madrid from London typically costs 11,750-12,750 Avios one-way (off-peak/peak), which after December's devaluation now sits around 13,000 Avios one-way, or roughly 26,000-28,000 return.

So the Madrid Avios-Only flight at 28,000 Avios return is essentially at peak pricing – not a bargain, but not a rip-off either.

Toulon is slightly more interesting. As a new destination for BA (it only launched in December 2025 with cash fares from £127 each way), there's no historical award pricing to compare. Similar French Riviera destinations like Nice typically cost around 9,250-9,750 Avios one-way pre-devaluation (now likely 10,000-11,000), so you'd expect 20,000-22,000 return. The Avios-Only pricing of 21,500 return sits right in the middle of that range.

From a cash comparison perspective: • Cash fares for these routes start at £127 each way (£254 return) • Madrid Avios-Only: 28,000 Avios ÷ £254 = 0.9p per Avios • Toulon Avios-Only: 21,500 Avios ÷ £254 = 1.18p per Avios

Neither represents exceptional value. I typically aim for at least 1p per Avios on short-haul, and ideally closer to 1.5p+. Toulon just about hits that minimum threshold, whilst Madrid falls short.

But here's the thing – value isn't just about raw pennies per point. The genius of Avios-Only flights is that every single seat is available for redemption. No more refreshing the BA website at midnight hoping for award space. No competing with thousands of other Avios collectors for the guaranteed four reward seats London City flights typically offer.

If you want to go to Madrid over the late May bank holiday or spend a week in Toulon in mid-June, and you have the Avios to burn, you're guaranteed to be able to book – at least until they sell out entirely.

That convenience and certainty has real value, particularly during peak travel periods. I've personally experienced the frustration of trying to book half-term or bank holiday flights with points, only to find zero availability at standard rates.

One aspect I genuinely appreciate is the use of London City Airport. For those of us based in or near London, LCY is by far the most convenient airport – 22 minutes from central London, single terminal, and you can realistically arrive just 45 minutes before your flight.

Compare that to the Heathrow or Gatwick experience (especially during summer), and there's genuine value in the time saved and stress avoided. Plus, if you have BA Gold status, you'll get lounge access at LCY, though admittedly it's not BA's finest lounge offering.

These are also the first London City Airport Avios-Only flights, which I think is a smart move from BA. The airport's business-focused schedule means there's often less leisure availability, so offering entire flights for points makes genuine sense here.

I'm quite excited about Toulon as a destination. Whilst everyone flocks to Nice, Toulon sits just 30 miles from Saint-Tropez and offers a gateway to the French Riviera without the Nice Airport crowds. The Hyères Islands nearby are stunning, and the area has that authentic Provençal charm that's becoming harder to find along the coast.

The June dates work brilliantly – early enough to avoid peak summer prices and crowds, but still warm enough for proper beach weather. If you're looking to use Avios for a summer break and these dates work, Toulon might be the better value of the two options.

It's worth noting this milestone. Since launching in 2023, BA has now operated 48 Avios-Only flights to 16 destinations, covering Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East. The return flight from Madrid will mark their 50th such service.

This programme has evolved considerably. Early Avios-Only flights were often one-way only (just the outbound) or to destinations with decent standard award availability anyway. Now we're seeing full return flights during genuinely peak periods to desirable destinations.

I think BA has found a formula that works: offer flights during school holidays or bank holidays when availability is typically dire, choose leisure destinations people actually want to visit, and price them at roughly standard award rates (perhaps slightly higher for peak dates).

This really depends on your circumstances:

Book if: • These exact dates work perfectly for you • You've been struggling to find standard award availability for summer travel • You have a Companion Voucher burning a hole in your pocket (remember, your companion flies for just £2) • You value the convenience of London City Airport • You have Avios to burn and want certainty

Skip if: • The dates don't work (obviously) • You're counting every Avios and want maximum value • You're flexible with travel dates and can hunt for off-peak standard awards • You'd rather save your Avios for long-haul business class

Personally, I think the Toulon flight represents slightly better value, particularly if you're looking for somewhere a bit different on the French Riviera. Madrid over a bank holiday weekend is convenient, but you're not getting exceptional value at 28,000 Avios.

If you do decide to book, remember that these typically sell out quickly, especially premium cabins. People book fast and think later (you have 24 hours to cancel for free), so seats do sometimes reappear the following day.

Avios-Only flights have become a regular feature of the BA award landscape, and I think that's a positive development. Whilst they're not typically the best value redemptions, they solve a real problem: the complete lack of availability during peak periods.

These latest offerings are competently priced (if not cheap), operate from a convenient airport, and include one genuinely new and interesting destination in Toulon. The 50th flight milestone suggests the programme is here to stay.

Just remember: convenience and certainty come at a price. In this case, that price is roughly standard (or slightly above) award rates rather than the sweet-spot deals we all dream of finding.

If you're short on Avios and want to top up your balance before booking, check out our guides on the best Avios-earning credit cards or use our Avios Balance Booster calculator to work out whether it's better to buy Avios from BA, Qatar Airways, or Finnair.

Will you be booking either of these flights? Let me know in the comments below.

Safe travels, Jack