Avios Adds Calendar Search for Award Flights

The Avios loyalty program, operated by International Airlines Group (IAG), has introduced a new calendar-based reward flight search tool designed to simplify the process of finding award seats on British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus flights. This feature aims to alleviate the frustration previously experienced by Avios members who could only search for award availability on a day-by-day basis. The new tool, available on the Avios website, displays an entire month of award availability in a single, consolidated view. This enhancement allows users to more efficiently identify dates with available seats for flights operated by these three IAG-owned carriers. To utilize this new functionality, users require a free Avios loyalty account. The tool is accessible at no additional cost. The search process involves specifying departure and arrival airports, the desired month of travel, the number of travelers, and whether a one-way or round-trip itinerary is sought. For example, a user looking for two seats from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London in May of the following year on British Airways can input these details. The search results will then present a calendar interface where availability is indicated visually. A half-filled circle signifies limited availability, while a full circle denotes good availability. Users can hover over specific dates to view the number of seats available, the cabin classes offered, and the corresponding Avios cost. Clicking on a particular date will provide further details. The tool also allows users to filter results by cabin type, such as aiming for lie-flat business class. It is important to note that while certain U.K. American Express cardholders with a Companion Voucher from a cobranded British Airways card receive access to additional award seats, and Chase offers a similar Travel Together Ticket for U.S. Avios credit card holders, these specific benefits do not grant access to more seats than what is available to regular Avios members through the new search tool. The integration of this calendar view is expected to significantly improve the user experience for those looking to redeem Avios for flights across the British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus networks, making it easier to plan travel and maximize the value of their loyalty points.