Avios Peak and Off-Peak Dates
British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus each publish separate peak and off-peak calendars that directly affect how many Avios you need for a reward flight. Flying off-peak can save 10,000+ Avios per person per flight on long-haul — and the calendars differ between airlines, creating opportunities to save by booking via the cheapest carrier’s calendar. This article explains how the system works, what changed in December 2025, and the key dates for 2026.
Peak and off-peak pricing applies to flights operated by BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. It does NOT apply to most oneworld partner airlines (American, Cathay, Qantas etc.) when booked via BA — those are charged at peak rates year-round. The exceptions are Qatar Airways and Finnair, which set their own pricing (same whether booked via BA, Qatar, Iberia, or Finnair). An Iberia-operated flight uses the Iberia calendar even if booked on ba.com.
How Much You Save
The difference between peak and off-peak is consistent across routes — approximately 10% more Avios on peak dates. On long-haul Business Class, that translates to real numbers:
| Route (return Business) | Off-peak | Peak | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| LHR–New York (BA) | 160,000 | 176,000 | 16,000 Avios |
| LHR–Singapore (BA) | 220,000 | 240,000 | 20,000 Avios |
| LHR–Singapore (2-for-1 voucher) | 220,000 for 2 people | 240,000 for 2 people | 20,000 Avios |
Over several redemptions per year, targeting off-peak dates can accumulate enough saved Avios for an additional flight. For a couple using a companion voucher, the savings compound faster — you pay for one but save on the peak/off-peak difference for both seats.
The 2026 BA Calendar
In 2026, approximately 34% of dates are peak — marginally fewer than 2025 (39%). The main patterns:
August: Every single day is peak. No exceptions. The worst month for Avios redemptions if price matters.
December: Most days peak around Christmas. Christmas Day itself (25 December) is off-peak — one of the few bargain dates in the holiday period. Off-peak resumes from approximately 5 January.
Easter 2026: Peak dates confirmed: 27-30 March and 2-6, 9-12 April. The school holiday window is fully peak.
Summer: July and August are heavily peak. June and September have more off-peak opportunities, particularly mid-week.
Best months: January (from 5th), February, November, and early December offer the most off-peak dates. January is the single best month for off-peak availability.
Best days: Tuesdays and some Wednesdays tend to be off-peak even during otherwise peak periods. Mondays improved in 2026. Fridays are the worst day — the highest ever number of peak Fridays in 2026.
Three Calendars, Three Opportunities
BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus each publish separate peak calendars. They do NOT match. This creates opportunities:
School holidays example: A date that is peak on BA may be off-peak on Iberia or Aer Lingus. If your destination is served by multiple carriers (e.g., New York is served by BA direct, Iberia via Madrid, and Aer Lingus via Dublin), check all three calendars. Booking via the airline with the off-peak date saves 10%+ Avios.
Iberia via Madrid: Iberia’s calendar is often more generous during UK school holidays because Spanish holidays differ. Madrid–New York at off-peak pricing: 40,500 Avios one-way Business (vs BA’s 80,000+ from London). The Iberia route is cheaper in both Avios and calendar terms.
Aer Lingus via Dublin: Aer Lingus flies Manchester–New York, Manchester–Orlando, and Manchester–Barbados direct. Irish school holidays differ from English ones, so the Aer Lingus calendar can offer off-peak dates when BA is fully peak.
The BA 2-for-1 companion voucher now works on Iberia and Aer Lingus flights. This means you can combine the companion voucher with Iberia’s or Aer Lingus’s off-peak calendar — potentially saving both the cost of a second ticket AND 10%+ Avios on off-peak pricing. Two people, Business Class, Madrid–New York return, off-peak: 81,000 Avios + ~£217 total via iberia.com.
The December 2025 Pricing Changes
On 15 December 2025, BA raised Avios prices by approximately 10% across all routes and cabins. Surcharges also increased, with Economy hit hardest. Two important changes to the “fewer Avios, more cash” options:
Before December 2025: On short-haul flights, the “fewer Avios, more cash” option was almost always the better deal — you could save up to 59% by paying more cash and fewer Avios.
After December 2025: The gap has narrowed dramatically. All pricing options now fall within approximately 22% of each other in total value. The “most Avios, least cash” option (the headline rate) is now closer in value to the alternatives. For long-haul, the “most Avios, least cash” option is typically the best value — especially when using a companion voucher (which only works with the headline rate).
The 1p rule still works: Convert each Avios to 1p, add the cash element, and compare the total cost of each option. The cheapest total is your best deal. But the difference between options is now much smaller than it was pre-December 2025.
Partner Airlines: No Calendar
When booking oneworld partner airlines (American, Cathay, Japan Airlines, Qantas etc.) via BA, peak/off-peak pricing does NOT apply. You pay the same Avios regardless of date. However, there is an important nuance: partner awards booked via Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus may be cheaper than via BA — different programmes price partners differently. Always compare across booking platforms.
Qatar Airways sets its own dynamic peak/off-peak, which tends to follow similar patterns to BA but with route-specific variation. Finnair also sets its own pricing. Both use Avios and transfer freely with BA at 1:1.
Peak vs off-peak saves approximately 10% of Avios per flight — 16,000 on a return Business to New York, 20,000 to Singapore. In 2026, 34% of dates are peak (down from 39% in 2025). August is fully peak. Christmas Day is off-peak. Tuesdays are the best day to fly. Three separate calendars (BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus) create arbitrage opportunities — a peak BA date may be off-peak on Iberia. The December 2025 pricing changes narrowed the gap between Avios/cash options, but the headline “most Avios, least cash” rate is now typically the best value on long-haul. The companion voucher works on Iberia and Aer Lingus — combining it with their off-peak calendars is one of the highest-value plays in the entire Avios system.
