͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­
 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏

British Airways Business Class, Up To 9 Seats

We just sent a bunch of British Airways first class award space, but I wanted to flag business class availability as well. Often forgotten, BA releases 4 business class award seats when the schedule opens. However, you can often find more seats.


While the carrier-imposed surcharges are steep, you can avoid most of these fees by booking through the right airline program and it can be an easy way to lock in flights if you don’t have a lot of flexibility.


Now, let’s get into it!

Straight To The Points

Routes:


To London Heathrow (LHR):

  • Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), Cincinnati (CVG), Denver (DEN), Dallas (DFW), Newark (EWR), Washington (IAD), Houston (IAH), New York (JFK), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New Orleans (MSY), Chicago (ORD), Portland (PDX), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburg (PIT), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ)


To London Gatwick (LGW):

  • New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA)


Operating airline: British Airways

Class of service: Business class

Dates: March 2025 - February 2026

Seats available: 2 (up to 9)

Cabin layout:

  • A350, 787-10, 777-300: 1-2-1 (Club Suites)

  • 787-9: 2-3-2

  • 787-8: 2-3-2 on all but one aircraft

  • 777-200: 1-2-1 (Club Suites) out of LHR; 2-4-2 out of LGW

  • A380: 2-4-2 (lower deck), 2-3-2 (upper deck)

Book with (per person, one-way):

  • Alaska Mileage Plan:

    • BOS, BWI, EWR, JFK, YUL: 45,000 miles

    • ATL, AUS, CVG, DFW, IAD, IAD, IAH, MIA, MSY, ORD, PDX, PIT, YYZ: 55,000 miles

    • LAS, LAX, PHX, SAN, SFO, YVR: 70,000 miles

  • British Airways Executive Club:

    • BOS, BWI, CVG, EWR, JFK, IAD, ORD, PHL, PIT:

      • Off-peak: 80,000 Avios

      • Peak: 90,000 Avios

    • ATL, AUS, DFW, IAH, LAS, LAX, MIA, MSY, PDX, PHX, SFO:

      • Off-peak: 90,000 Avios

      • Peak: 100,000 Avios

  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles:

    • BOS, BWI, CVG, EWR, JFK, IAD, ORD, PHL, PIT: 63,000 miles

    • ATL, AUS, DFW, IAH, LAS, LAX, MIA, MSY, PDX, PHX, SFO: 89,000 miles

  • Qantas Frequent Flyer:

    • BOS, JFK: 57,000 points

    • EWR, YUL, YYZ: 61,200 points

    • ATL, BWI, CVG, DFW, MIA, MSY, YVR: 75,000 points

    • AUS, IAH, LAS, LAX, PDX, PHX, SAN, SFO : 90,000 points


Taxes/fees (per person, one-way):

  • British Airways:

    • From US: ~$375 or $475

    • From LHR: ~$375 or $475

    • From Canada: ~$375 or $475

    • To Canada: ~$375 or $475


  • Alaska:

    • From US: ~$996

    • From LHR: ~$806

    • From Canada: ~$694

    • To Canada: ~$716


  • Cathay Pacific

    • From US: ~$235

    • From LHR: ~$584

    • From Canada: ~$285

    • To Canada: ~$545


  • Qantas

    • From US: ~$1053

    • From LHR: ~$774

    • From Canada: ~$709

    • To Canada: ~$735


Itineraries originating in the UK will be on the hook for the Air Passenger Duty Fee (APD) which is ~$260. Note: On April 1, the APD fee will increase to ~$289.


Bank transfer partners:

  • Alaska: Bilt, Marriott

  • American: Marriott

  • British Airways: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Marriott

    • 20% Chase transfer bonus

  • Cathay Pacific: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Citi, Marriott

  • Finnair: Capital One

  • Qantas: Amex, Capital One, Citi, Marriott

  • Qatar: Amex, Citi, Marriott

    • 20% Amex transfer bonus

    • 20% Citi transfer bonus


Current Airline Transfer Bonuses

Best Card Offers


Let me know if you book!

Available Dates


Brace yourself. There are thousands of options!

Book Your Stay With VIP Perks

Flight Experience


To get the best experience, you’ll want to avoid flights with a 2-4-2 or 2-3-2 business class cabin layout. While each seat is lie-flat, many seats don’t have direct aisle access. Those that do, require you to climb over others to get out of your seat.


Ideally, you’ll choose a flight with the newer Club Suites product. This cabin  is arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout. Each seat is lie-flat and has a privacy door.


Regardless of cabin layout, be aware that service and catering quality can vary.


Please note that seat selection is not free until check-in unless you have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status.

Best Ways To Book


Okay, this one isn’t as clear cut as usual.


The simple version is that Cathay is great on for the outbound for many routes, but Avios could be a better option from the west coast and on the return. Alaska miles also have a niche use case on the return.


Cathay: Reduced Surcharges, Easy To Earn


In many cases, Cathay will be your best bet from the east coast and midwest on the outbound as you won’t get tagged with all of the carrier-imposed surcharges. At 63,000 miles + ~$235 taxes/fees one-way, that’s tough to beat.


On the return, connecting from the EU can also reduce the taxes/fees, but Avios or Alaska miles may be a better option.


Avios: Multiple Rate Options, But Might Be Useful + Transfer Bonuses


Here’s the fun/frustrating thing with booking BA flights with Avios… British Airways displays multiple pricing options for its own flights.


For example, you can use 65,000 Avios for a one-way award to/from airports as far west as Chicago, but you’d need to pay $675 in taxes/fees. If you use 80,000 Avios, you’d only need to pay $375 in taxes/fees.


In fact, this could be a better option than Cathay miles on the return.


Chase’s 20% transfer bonus to British Airways plus Amex and Citi’s 20% transfer bonuses to Qatar Airways make this even better. You can book with BA, but you can combine Avios between BA and Qatar.


With a 20% transfer bonus, here’s how many points you’d need to transfer:

  • BOS, BWI, CVG, EWR, JFK, IAD, ORD, PHL, PIT:

    • Off-peak: 67,000 points

    • Peak: 75,000 points

  • ATL, AUS, DFW, IAH, LAS, LAX, MIA, MSY, PDX, PHX, SFO:

    • Off-peak: 75,000 Avios

    • Peak: 84,000 Avios


You can link your British Airways and Qatar accounts and then move Avios between them by selecting Combine Avios.

Alaska: Solid Option With Short Economy Connection From EU


If you have Amex (via Hawaiian Airlines) or Bilt points, Alaska Mileage Plan could be an interesting option if you need a short connection from the EU to London. By flying to London in economy, you can drop a few hundred dollars from the carrier-imposed surcharges.


As an example, you could book an award from Paris to New York via London for 45,000 Alaska miles + $452 taxes/fees if you’re wiling to spend an hour in economy. See the image below for an example of this.

How To Search


Search with Alaska:

  1. If you want to book a one-way, check "One-way"

  2. Check "Use miles"

  3. Enter your origin & destination

  4. Select your dates

  5. Select number of passengers

  6. Run the search

  7. Complete the booking


Before you transfer points, search with the airline program you’ll use to book.


British Airways contact center: 1-800-452-1201


Happy booking!