British Airways' Middle East Expansion: A First Class Avios Opportunity

British Airways has just announced it's more than doubling its Bahrain service from 27 October 2025, going from sporadic weekly flights to a daily operation. Adding over 9,000 seats to the route is significant – but here's what really caught my attention: this could be one of the best developments for First Class Avios redemptions we've seen in a while.

Why Bahrain is an Avios Sweet Spot

Let's cut straight to it. Bahrain to London in BA First Class costs 68,000 Avios off-peak or 80,000 peak one-way. To put that in perspective:

• Atlanta: 85,000/100,000 Avios

• Cape Town: 85,000/100,000 Avios

• Bridgetown: 85,000/100,000 Avios

You're getting the full BA First Class experience – proper suite, à la carte dining, the works – for 17,000-20,000 fewer Avios than many other long-haul routes. And crucially, Bahrain operates with BA's four-cabin configuration, meaning First is definitely available on these flights.

Use our Avios calculator to check exact pricing for your dates, but the fundamentals are solid: this is genuinely good value in the BA award chart.

The Companion Voucher Play

Here's where it gets even better if you've got a British Airways American Express Premium Plus card. The Companion Voucher works on First Class redemptions, meaning:

Off-peak return for two people in First: 136,000 Avios total + taxes for both passengers

That's 68,000 Avios per person for a return journey in First. I've not personally flown BA First yet (it's on the list), but from everything I've researched and heard from others, getting two people to the Gulf in BA's flagship cabin for 136,000 Avios combined is exceptional value.

Why More Flights = More Award Space

Here's the practical bit: BA is adding significant capacity to Bahrain. Going daily means over 9,000 additional seats annually, and basic mathematics suggests we should see more award inventory released.

I've searched for First Class award space to the Gulf region many times, and whilst it's never been impossible to find, it's certainly been hit-or-miss. With daily frequencies, there's simply more opportunity for BA to release award seats without impacting revenue too severely.

Of course, BA's award inventory management remains opaque at best, but supply and demand fundamentals should work in our favour here. More flights, more seats, hopefully more awards.

The Route Details

From: London Heathrow
To: Bahrain International Airport
Frequency: Daily from 27 October 2025
Distance: Approximately 3,227 miles (check exact routing with our Great Circle Mapper)
Aircraft: BA operates this route with its four-cabin configuration (First, Club World, World Traveller Plus, Economy)

BA also mentioned Arabic-speaking cabin crew on select flights, which is a thoughtful touch for the route.

Beyond Bahrain: The Other Expansions

BA is also increasing frequencies to:

• Riyadh: 12 weekly this winter, 14 from summer 2026

• Jeddah: Moving from 4 to 5 weekly by summer 2026

• Abu Dhabi: Daily service from winter 2025 is back!

How to Book

Tickets are on sale now at ba.com for travel from 27 October 2025 onwards. If you're planning a First Class redemption:

1. Check award availability using Award Travel Finder – it searches BA and multiple other airlines simultaneously

2. Be flexible with dates – off-peak pricing saves you 12,000 Avios per person one-way

3. Book early – First Class award space gets snapped up quickly, even on well-served routes

4. Consider the Companion Voucher – if you've got one expiring, Bahrain First is an excellent use

For those working on status, run the numbers through our BA tier point calculator to see what a paid First Class fare would earn. Spoiler: it's substantial.

My Take

As someone holding British Airways Gold status with a stash of Avios, I'm genuinely pleased about this Bahrain expansion. The Gulf region has been on my travel radar for a while, and having daily service with better First Class availability makes it much more accessible.

I'm working on a Companion Voucher from my Amex x BA Premium Plus card, and Bahrain First is now firmly in the running for how I'll use it. At 68,000 Avios each off-peak, the value proposition is hard to ignore, especially when you factor in the full First Class experience.

The other Middle East expansions are welcome too, but Bahrain's frequency increase is the real winner here for points collectors. More flights should equal more award space, and the pricing structure makes it one of the most attractive First Class redemptions in BA's network.

What to Watch For

I'll be monitoring award availability on the Bahrain route over the coming months. If BA actually releases proportional award inventory to match the capacity increase, this could become one of the go-to routes for First Class Avios redemptions.

The proof will be whether we can actually find those First Class award seats when we want them. BA's award release patterns can be... inconsistent. But with daily service, the odds are better than they've ever been.

If you're sitting on a pile of Avios and have been waiting for the right First Class opportunity, keep Bahrain firmly in mind. At 68,000 off-peak one-way – or 136,000 return for two with a Companion Voucher – it's one of the smartest First Class plays in the Avios programme.

Planning a Bahrain First Class redemption? I'd love to hear about your experience. Find me on Instagram to share your thoughts.