BA's Summer 2026 Schedule: More Flights, More Award Opportunities

British Airways has just dropped their summer 2026 schedule, and whilst booking holidays 10 months in advance might seem excessive to some, for us points enthusiasts, this is precisely the sweet spot for snagging those elusive award seats.

Having spent the last few years navigating BA's award availability (sometimes successfully, sometimes... less so), I've learned that these schedule announcements are gold dust for planning future redemptions. So let's dive into what's new and, more importantly, how to make these changes work for your next points-funded adventure.

Bangkok Goes Year-Round (Finally!)

This is the headline news for me. Bangkok transitions from a winter-only route to year-round service from Gatwick, running three times weekly in summer and bumping up to six times weekly in winter. That's nearly 60,000 additional seats annually.

Why does this matter for points collectors? Bangkok is already one of the better value long-haul redemptions at 35,000 Avios in economy or 100,000 in business. With more frequencies, we should see improved award availability, particularly in those shoulder seasons when the weather's still decent but the crowds have thinned.

Plus, with BA's expanded codeshare with Bangkok Airways, you can now seamlessly connect to Phuket, Phnom Penh, or even further afield. Pro tip: these onwards connections often price separately, so you might find better value booking Bangkok-Phuket as a cash ticket or using a different programme entirely.

Caribbean & Americas Boost

Jamaica gets an extra weekly service from Gatwick (now four times weekly), whilst Miami returns to double-daily from Heathrow.

Miami going double-daily is brilliant news. It's already one of the easier US destinations to find award space to, and doubling the frequency should help even more. At 30,000 Avios off-peak in economy or 90,000 in business (plus taxes), it remains one of the better value US redemptions, especially if you can snag a Club Suite seat on the newer aircraft.

Kingston, Jamaica also prices at 30,000 Avios off-peak in economy or 90,000 in business – consistent with other Caribbean destinations. With the additional flights, the airline is adding over 300 seats weekly for customers travelling between Jamaica and London.

Middle East Expansion

The Middle East sees massive growth with Bahrain going daily (more than doubling current service), Riyadh hitting 14 weekly flights, and Doha matching that frequency.

Here's where it gets interesting for points strategy: these Middle East routes are often overlooked for award redemptions, meaning availability can be decent. Bahrain, at 25,000 Avios in economy off-peak (plus taxes), is actually priced the same as Dubai and Doha – making it decent value for the region. Plus, with Oman Air being a oneworld partner, you've got excellent onwards connections throughout the Middle East.

The Doha expansion to 14 weekly is particularly noteworthy given Qatar Airways' oneworld membership. Whilst I'd generally recommend flying Qatar's own metal to Doha (their Qsuites are phenomenal), having BA as a backup option for award bookings is valuable, especially during peak periods. Both Doha and Dubai price at 25,000 Avios off-peak in economy or 80,000 in business.

What This Means for Your Award Strategy

Looking at these expansions through my BA Gold status lens, here's what excites me most:

1. Better Positioning Opportunities: More flights generally mean more award space, but they also create better positioning opportunities. That daily Bahrain service? Perfect for connecting to the Maldives or Sri Lanka on other oneworld carriers.

2. Off-Peak Sweet Spots: With increased frequencies, hunting for off-peak award space becomes easier. Use Award Travel Finder to track availability across multiple dates – I've found it invaluable for spotting patterns in BA's release schedule. You can also use our How Many Avios tool to quickly check redemption rates for any route.

The Competition Factor

What BA hasn't mentioned (but what's worth noting) is how these expansions position them against competitors. Virgin Atlantic already flies to Austin and Miami, whilst Emirates and Qatar dominate Middle East routes. More BA flights mean more competition, which historically has led to better award availability as airlines work to fill seats.

Short-Haul Surprises

Don't overlook the winter 2025 additions of Rabat and Graz. Rabat, in particular, could be a hidden gem – Morocco in winter is delightful, and at just 13,750 Avios in economy off-peak (plus 50p in taxes), it's excellent value. Graz, as an Austrian destination, would likely price at 9,250 Avios off-peak in economy, opening up easy access to Austrian skiing without the Innsbruck crowds.

Booking Strategy

So when should you book? BA typically releases award seats 355 days in advance, meaning summer 2026 availability should start appearing from early September 2025. Set those calendar reminders now.

For cash tickets, if you're looking to earn Avios and tier points, use our BA Avios calculator to work out your potential earnings. And don't forget to check the BA Shopping Portal – booking directly through BA.com after clicking through can net you extra Avios.

For those comparing redemption values across different destinations, our Avios Balance Boost calculator can help you determine whether it's better to buy or transfer Avios from BA, Qatar, or Finnair for your specific redemption.

Final Thoughts

These schedule expansions feel substantial and strategic. BA seems to be doubling down on leisure destinations whilst maintaining strong business routes. For points collectors, more flights almost always mean more opportunities.

My plan? I'm eyeing that year-round Bangkok service for a winter 2026 escape. At 35,000 Avios in economy or 100,000 in business (off-peak), it's reasonable value for Southeast Asia. With my Amex Platinum Business and Capital on Tap cards working overtime to build my Avios balance, and these new routes opening up, 2026 is shaping up to be a very good year for redemptions.

The key takeaway? Start planning now. With award space for summer 2026 opening soon, having a strategy ready means you'll be first in the queue when those seats drop. And trust me, for routes like Bangkok and Miami, you'll want to be quick.

Happy booking, and may the award space odds be ever in your favour!

What do you think of BA's expansion plans? Which routes are you most excited about? Follow us on Instagram for more updates and award availability alerts.