Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, is the latest carrier to join the trend of offering flights exclusively bookable with frequent flyer miles. Following in the footsteps of its fellow International Airlines Group (IAG) members, British Airways and Iberia, Aer Lingus is rewarding its most loyal customers by launching routes that can only be accessed using Avios points.
The airline has chosen the Easter holiday season for these special flights, departing from its primary hub at Dublin Airport (DUB). These direct flights will take AerClub members and British Airways Executive Club members to the sunny Canary Islands, a popular winter sun destination. The selected route is to Tenerife South/Reina Sofía Airport (TFS), the second busiest airport in the Canary Islands.
Flights will be operated by an Airbus A320, with a schedule yet to be released. To celebrate the launch, Aer Lingus is offering a 50% discount on the Avios points required for booking these flights for those who reserve their seats by Tuesday, September 3. This promotion makes a round-trip ticket available for just 10,000 Avios, plus applicable taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
This marks the first time Aer Lingus has scheduled an Avios-exclusive “points plane,” but the concept is gaining traction within the IAG network. British Airways pioneered this approach last year, launching flights exclusively for Executive Club Members using Reward Seats. The inaugural flight took off from London Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh in November 2023.
Following British Airways’ lead, Iberia introduced its own Iberia Plus Flight, allowing members to book flights to destinations like Santorini and Catania for as few as 2,050 Avios. The popularity of these flights is expected to grow, with IAG Loyalty’s Head of Pricing and Air Partnerships, Glenn Commerford, noting that frequent flyers have already redeemed 50 million Avios points on Avios-only flights this year.
In addition to the new Avios-only offering, Aer Lingus has announced changes to its regular flight schedules. The airline plans to reduce the number of flights between Dublin and London Heathrow, citing decreased business travel demand and the ongoing passenger cap at Dublin Airport. With these initiatives, Aer Lingus continues to adapt to the evolving travel landscape while offering added value to its loyal customers.
