Avios peak/off‑peak dates

British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus have now published the Avios calendars that decide which 2026 reward flights price as peak and which price as off-peak. (headforpoints.com) Those dates matter because Avios pricing changes with the travel date, not just the route or cabin. British Airways says reward flight cost depends on “date, destination and class of travel,” and Aer Lingus says off-peak periods cover about two-thirds of the year. (britishairways.com) (aerlingus.com) The calendar follows the operating airline, not the website used to book. Head for Points said an Iberia-operated flight uses Iberia’s calendar even if the ticket is booked through British Airways, while British Airways partner awards such as American Airlines and Cathay Pacific price at peak rates year-round when booked with British Airways Avios. (headforpoints.com) British Airways members have another reason to check the dates closely this year. The airline says reward flight pricing increased from December 15, 2025, on both British Airways flights and partner airlines. (britishairways.com) British Airways’ own examples show the gap peak dates can create. A London-New York return in business class now prices at 176,000 Avios off-peak or 198,000 Avios peak, while economy is 55,000 off-peak or 66,000 peak. (britishairways.com) Aer Lingus publishes the same kind of split by zone, and the difference is large on long-haul routes. Its current chart lists Dublin to Boston or New York at 13,000 Avios one way in off-peak economy versus 20,000 peak, and Dublin to San Francisco at 16,250 off-peak versus 25,000 peak. (aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus’ 2026 calendar says off-peak travel makes up roughly two-thirds of the year, with peak dates clustered around school holidays and other high-demand periods. That gives travelers a wider window to target lower-priced redemptions if they can book outside holiday weeks. (aerlingus.com) British Airways also guarantees a minimum number of reward seats on its own flights from London Heathrow and London Gatwick: at least eight in economy, two in premium economy and four in business. The calendar does not create availability, but it does decide how many Avios those seats cost when they appear. (britishairways.com) For travelers planning 2026 and 2027 trips, the practical move is simple: match the airline operating the flight to that airline’s calendar before transferring points or locking in dates. A one-day shift can move the same seat from peak to off-peak pricing. (headforpoints.com)