British Airways Avios Peak date analysis - 2025 & 2026 edition

British Airways charge a different number of Avios frequent flyer points for reward flights to encourage members to use their points during Off Peak times.

Each year they tweak the mix of Peak and Off Peak dates slightly - so after Head for Points recently published the 2025 and 2026 calendars, it's time to dive in and have a look.

First off - the headline number of peak days - holding steady in 2025, but increasing by 3% in 2026.

2023  139 days

2024  139 days

2025  139 days

2026  143 days

Let's take a look at the month by month breakdown of Peak days

Between January and April there aren't any big changes for 2025 and 2026, but May sees some inflation in Peak days both in 2025 and in 2026.  July and August also see inflation with the former gaining 6 days over two years, and the latter becoming an Off Peak free zone in 2026.

Whilst September and October are largely in line with prior years, November gains some Peak days whilst December loses some Peak days.

Next let's take a look at a breakdown by weekday of the Peak days

Mondays are a good day to travel in 2026 - with the lowest ever number of Peak days.

BA are now reversing the trend of recent years and doubling the number of Peak Tuesdays between 2024 and 2026.

Wednesdays and Thursdays see a slight reduction in Peak days.

Fridays are a bad day to travel in 2026 - with the highest ever number of Peak days.

Saturdays and Sunday continue the 2024 trend with nearly two thirds of each treated as Peak.

Conclusion

Whilst 2025 generally follows the pattern from 2024 - there are some big changes in 2026.

2026 Losers - Tuesday & Friday travellers and July & August travellers

2026 Winners - Monday travellers and January & April travellers - so plan your weekend breaks to travel on a Monday!

Don't Forget

This analysis only applies to British Airways - Aer Lingus and Iberia each have different dates - check Head for Points for each of their Peak calendars.

And if you book an Aer Lingus or Iberia redemption on the British Airways website - don't expect BA.com Off Peak badges to be correct.

Iberia reward pricing in Y

I've always been confused by Iberia economy reward pricing - so with the new Madrid to Fortaleza service having wide open availability, it's a good route to discover how it works.  Good luck finding one of the 14 business class seats on the A321XLR to Fortaleza available for Avios redemption though!

First off let's see what British Airways charge for a London to Fortaleza redemption.

Assuming we value an Avios at 1p, the best option is 13,000 Avios and £560 - the equivalent of about £690 for the return flight.

If you have an Amex 2-4-1 voucher it's the 52,250 Avios and £265 x2 option that offers best value - the equivalent of about £527 per person.

Cash fares on Iberia seem to be over £900 and TAP are selling seats for around £820 - meaning Avios redemptions do represent reasonable value.  There's also the advantage with reward tickets of being able to cancel them for a very modest fee.

Now let's have a look at what British Airways charge for a Madrid to Fortaleza redemption.

Again the best option is the smallest number of Avios - 8,500 and £317 - the equivalent of about £402 for the return flight.  This represents a saving of about £288 over the London option.

If you have an Amex 2-4-1 voucher it's the 34,000 Avios and £117 x2 option that offers best value - the equivalent of about £287 per person.  This represents a saving of about £240 per person compared to the London option.

Now let's look at Iberia.  For Economy reward flights, sometimes Iberia offer a choice of Economy Class or Blue Class.  Often you will not see the Blue Class option - or it may only be available on some of the sectors of a trip.

It's taken me years to understand the difference - but essentially the Blue Class is slightly cheaper (as we'll see in a minute) but has modest fees for changes and cancellations.

Google AI currently says that Blue Class tickets do not come with free seat selection - but Iberia's website claims that they do.  I haven't tested it out, so cannot confirm which is true!

So back to the Madrid to Fortaleza reward booking on Iberia - selecting Blue Class for both sectors gives the following options:

I currently have 20,000 Avios sitting in my Iberia account - hence why some options come with the "Buy Avios" heading.  Once again it's the smallest number of Avios which offers best value - 8,500 and £317 for around £402 in total.  This matches exactly the BA website price.

Upgrading both sectors to the Economy Class option produces:

The 8,800 Avios and £347 option is the best choice - around £435 in total.  So upgrading from Blue Class to Economy Class costs around £33 in this instance - and for that you're avoiding the 25 euro change/cancellation fee.  Often there will only be Economy Class reward seats available.

Just for completeness I checked the London to Fortaleza options on the Iberia website.  After some difficulty selecting Blue Class for all four sectors (I found that selecting Blue Class on the long haul sector first before the short haul helped) - Iberia eventually offered the same Avios options as British Airways, but all the payments were £6 higher than on BA.

Conclusion

Using this economy reward flight example, the saving for starting in Madrid is around £288 - with the requirement to buy a London to Madrid return, and losing the protection of a through ticket.

If you were using a 2-4-1 Amex voucher the saving would be about £240 per person.

So whilst the savings from Madrid on Business Class redemption flights are often so much bigger than it can justify booking separate tickets - for me on Y redemptions it's just not worth it.

Frisian Islands travel planning

A couple of years ago I visited Ameland island as a daytrip from the wonderful city of Leeuwarden.  

It was a pleasant bus ride to the port of Holwerd, and then an enjoyable 50 minute ferry ride across to the island.

Over on Ameland I hired a bicycle and had a great day exploring the island before taking the ferry and bus back to Leeuwarden.

This year I want to visit Terschelling, and originally assumed that I'd travel via a similar route - taking the ferry from Harlingen.

But another option might be able to visit three islands starting from Den Helder.

So whilst Google Maps makes it look simple - is it achievable in practice?

Firstly getting to Den Helder from Amsterdam or Schiphol - there's trains every half hour (until 11.53pm) - remembering to change at Sloterdijk instead of Centraal.  And of course tap in and tap out using Contactless on Dutch trains means there's no need to spend time buying a ticket before catching a train.

From the train station in Den Helder it's less than half an hour walk to the ferry - or there's the number 33 bus every half hour.  On the return journey you don't need to pay for the bus!

The ferry from Den Helder over to Texel harbour, operated by Teso, is extremely frequent and runs until 9.30pm, taking about 20 minutes.  A great service for the jaw dropping price of 3 euro per return journey for foot passengers!

Once over in Texel there's a bicycle hire company right next to the ferry building.  It's open from 8.50am to 5pm (anytime return) and offers a range of different machines!

From the northern end of Texel the ferry service over to Vlieland, which includes a high clearance truck across the sand / mud flats on the Vlieland side, only operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.  From mid July it operates more frequently during the peak holidays.

The morning 9.30am departure from Texel is only available on a daytrip basis and does not allow bicycles.

The afternoon 5.15pm departure from Texel to Vlieland does allow bicycles

Going the other direction, you can travel on a Sunday morning from Vlieland to Texel with your bicycle.

The ferry service between Vlieland and Terschelling islands only operates Monday to Friday - weekend services commence on 12th July.  With a capacity of just 12 passengers - reservation is essential for the 30 minute ride!

The Monday to Friday service departs Vlieland at 8.30am & 3.15pm and departs Terschelling at 9.15am & 4pm.

From Vlieland there are three daily ferry services over to the mainland - with the last departure to Harlingen being 4.50pm Monday to Saturday and an extra 7.10pm service on Sundays.

The limited inter island ferry service means that a circular routing via Harlingen is a more practical three island option than a there and back.

Going clockwise it would be something like:

Friday - travel to Den Helder / Texel

Saturday - on Texel and overnight (although availability may be a challenge)

Sunday - 9.15am ferry to Vlieland & afternoon / evening ferry to Harlingen

Monday - optional day trip to Terschelling

Going anti clockwise it would be something like:

Friday - travel to Harlingen & 7.10pm ferry to Vlieland (most accommodation requires 2 nights)

Saturday - day on Vlieland & overnight

Sunday - 9.30am ferry to Texel - day on Texel & afternoon / evening ferry to Den Helder

The lack of resilience in either direction is far from ideal.  It would be considerably safer (but not as interesting) to just stay in Harlingen and take day trips to Terschelling and Vlieland.

Terschelling is well serviced by ferries from Harlingen - with the last ferry over to the island departing Harlingen just before 8pm every day, making a night on the island possible.  The last ferry back from the island is at 5.35pm every day.

A Friday or Saturday daytrip to Vlieland would give about five and a half hours, whereas a Sunday daytrip would allow nearly eight hours.  A circular cycle of Vlieland takes a little over an hour.

Another option is to travel over to Vlieland on the 09:10 on Friday morning - have four hours on the little island - and then take the water taxi at 15:15 from Vlieland to Terschelling.  Stay Friday night on Terschelling (where there are slightly more accommodation options) and have Saturday on the island - or even stay both Friday and Saturday nights on Terschelling, and travel back to the mainland on Sunday morning.

Taking the 16:30 fast ferry from Terschelling to Harlingen should connect to the 5.40pm train, and with a connection in Leeuwarden it would mean getting to Schiphol at 8.30pm - in time for the final departures.  If that's too tight for your personal risk appetite, then you could stay somewhere close to Schiphol for a departure the next morning.

Alternatively you could travel to Terschelling on Saturday or Sunday, staying on the island, and then take the 09:15 water taxi on Monday morning to Vlieland - allowing closer to seven hours on Vlieland before getting the 16:50 ferry back to the mainland.  Arriving into Harlingen at 18:25 would be too late for the last flights out of Schiphol, or to connect with the ferry to Harwich. 

After evaluating the various combinations and permutations - it seems like the best option is probably to travel on a Friday to Leeuwarden or Harlingen.  Do day trips to Terschelling and Vlieland on the Saturday and Sunday.  A Saturday daytrip to Vlieland would get back to Harlingen 1.5 hours before the last ferry to Terschelling - meaning a night on the island would be very feasible.

As an alternative to flying home, to get the overnight ferry from Hoek to Harwich would require getting to Hoek by 9pm, so leaving Harlingen by 4.40pm - which in turn would mean leaving an island around lunchtime.  So not particularly appealing.

To get the daytime ferry from Hoek to Harwich would require getting to Hoek by 1.30pm - which would mean leaving Harlingen around 8.45am.  Or if staying closer to Schiphol, a leisurely trip to the port.

Zagreb restaurant reccomendations

On the way back to Zagreb after a recent trip to Plitvice Lakes - the guide ended with some suggestions for where to try different types of food in Zagreb

Firstly he suggested Stari Fijaker for typical food from northern Croatia - with an Austrian influence.  The menu does indeed look somewhat central european!

For a family friendly fusion option he recommended Vinodol.  The menu at Vinodol looks extensive.

For a taste of the coast, our guide suggested the restaurant Korčula.  The fish heavy menu is great, and I can confirm that the food is great too - having eaten here a few months ago!

For the eastern influenced barbecue experience, the suggestion is to try one of the Batak chain.  The Batak menu looks impressive. 

And finally, for a taste of strukli, our guide suggested La Struk.  The menu here is short, and exclusively strukli!

Of course another option is to return to Tripadvisor's Number 1 ranked restaurant in Zagreb - where we had a great meal a few months ago!

Vienna to London in January 2025

I'm spending the night of Saturday 4th January 2025 in Vienna ...

and need to get back to London at some stage on Sunday 5th or Monday 6th ...

by whatever means possible / best value!

one option is to fly from Linz on Monday 6th for a bargain 15 euro + 29 euro for 20 kg hold bag (37 gbp

the 20:55 train from Vienna to Linz on the Sunday evening costs just 10 euro, but most trains costs around 30 or 40 euro for the one and a half hour journey

hotels in Linz are available from about 45 euro for the Sunday night

another option is to fly from Brno on Monday evening for 2,108 CZK (69 GBP) including 20kg hold bag

the 21:10 train from Vienna to Brno on the Sunday evening costs just 8 euro, or the earlier 18:10 departure (with a tight connection in Breclav) costs 14 euro

reasonable accommodation is available in Brno from around 30 euro for the Sunday night

or I could stay in Vienna on Sunday evening with trains on Monday afternoon costing around 20 euro

British Airways have reward flights from Munich to London 5,250 avios + £17.50 - with three options available on Monday afternoon / evening

trains from Vienna to Munich Hbf cost around 56 euro for the four hour journey

reasonable accommodation is available in Vienna on the Sunday night from around 55 euro

Wizz have a flight from Prague to Luton on Monday morning for 71 gbp including 20 kg hold bag

trains from Vienna to Prague cost around 21 euro on the Sunday afternoon for the four hour journey

reasonable accommodation is available in Prague on the Sunday from 40 euro

and BA business class reward flights are available on the Sunday or Monday for 8,750 avios plus 95 gbp

or the 5pm Wizz Air flight to Gatwick on Sunday for 150 euro including a 20 kg hold bag (total 124 gbp)

On Monday afternoon there's a Jet2 flight from Vienna to Stansted flight for 105 euro including a 20 kg hold bag (87 gbp)

On Monday evening there's a Ryanair flight from Bratislava to Stansted for 95 euro including a 20 kg hold bag (79 gbp)

London to Zagreb for Christmas 2024

After looking at the various options from Dublin to Zagreb - it's time to also consider London to Zagreb ...

Ryanair have some very competitive flights - especially on the evening of Sunday 22nd December

A cabin wheelie on this flight costs £15.50 and a hold bag costs £27

British Airways fares are considerably more expensive - with a hold bad costing £21 extra

Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) there are no BA reward flights available in the week before Christmas

KLM have plenty of options from either Heathrow of London City airport - at reasonable prices

Flights to Vienna are available for around £144 on Sunday 22nd December with Wizz including a 20kg hold bag (which is only £4 more than a cabin wheelie)

And British Airways has reward seats available in Business Class on Monday 23rd for the equivalent of around £180 - which includes a hold bag

This flights would arrive in time to take the six hour train to Zagreb

Another option is to fly to Venice - get the bus into the train station, and the train to Trieste airport.  There are no direct flights from London to Trieste on 21st or 22nd December 2024.

Dublin to Zagreb for Christmas 2024

Travelling from Dublin to Zagreb isn't the easiest with neither Aer Lingus or Croatian Airlines flying the route.  And it's made more challenging as Ryanair reduce their service to just three days a week in November and December.

Ryanair have evening flights on 20th and 23rd December and a morning flight on 22nd - with a cabin wheely costing an extra 18 euro or a 20kg hold bag an extra 30.49 euro

Of course there are connecting options - with KLM having a decent choice as they code share with Aer Lingus on the DUB-AMS sector and with Croatia Airlines on the AMS-ZAG sector.

Some of the connections only allow 1 hour in Amsterdam Schiphol - so you'd need to consider a possible delay to your luggage arriving (at the very least).

A wheely is included in the KLM pricing, and a 23kg hold bag costs 40 euro or 38/41 euro if you choose the "Standard" bundled pricing!

Zagreb's location means that it's within driving distance of a number of different airports.

Trieste airport is about 2:45 drive from Zagreb - which would cost about 60 euro each way in a SUV

There's a civilised morning flight from Dublin on 21st December, and an uncivilised early departure on 23rd December

Budapest is about 4 hours drive from Zagreb with Ryanair offering morning flights on 20th, 21st & 24th December and afternoon/evening flights on 21st, 22nd & 23rd December.

Aer Lingus also fly DUB-BUD departing at 16:50 five days a week

Aer Lingus allow a 10kg wheelie to be checked in for free or charge 10 euro to carry it on board.  At this time of year a 20kg hold bag costs 40 euro on this route.  Upgrading to "Plus" pricing for 49 euro includes both a carryon and a 20kg hold bag - a whole 1 euro saving (plus free seat selection).

Zagreb's location means that it's within train distance of further airports!

Aer Lingus offer morning flights to Vienna

and Ryanair offer evening flights on 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd December and morning flights on 23rd and 24th December

and from Wien Hauptbahnhof (a short 15 minute train connection from the airport) there are various connections to get to Zagreb.  The quickest is the daily 15:58 departure (with a change in Graz) which arrives into Zagreb at 22:20

Prices start at an incredible 29 euro if booked far enough in advance.  And first class (on the Austrian train) costs just 10 euro extra.

Another Fly-Rail option is via Zurich Hauptbahnhof - an easy 10 minute connection from the airport.

Aer Lingus have morning flights on 20th, 21st, 23rd & 24th December and afternoon flights on 20th, 22nd & 23rd December (too late for the train connection).

Swiss have morning or lunchtime flights on 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th - as well as evening flights each day that are too late for the rail connection.

Swiss include an 8kg wheelie, and charge 30 euro for a checked bag (presumably 20kg).

The overnight sleeper departs Zurich at 20:40 each evening - arriving into Zagreb at 10:39 with sunrise at about 07:44 in this region around Christmas.

However there are expected to be engineering works on this route between Schwarzach-St.Veit and Villach from 18th November 2024 until 13th July 2025 - so maybe not the best time to take the sleeper (or not so sleeper) train!

On the Swiss Railway website a 3 person cabin purchased for single occupancy booked far in advance costs around 250 chf (267 euro) or 125 chf for twin occupancy or 100 chf for triple occupancy.  The SBB website appears a bit flaky with pricing on this route.

On the Austrian Railway website a 3 person cabin purchased for single occupancy costs 250 euro or 210 euro total for twin or triple occupancy.  The Deutsche Bahn website shows the full range of options with more sensible prices

And the NightJet website also shows the full range of Seating / Couchette / Sleeper options for EN40465

There is another daily sleeper train from Stuttgart via Munich Ost to Zagreb - but it also runs over the same track that is subject to engineering works, so isn't a reliable option until Summer 2025.

This EN40237 sleeper service doesn't seem to have couchettes - just seats or cabins

Conclusion

Whilst the sleeper train sounds lovely - Christmas 2024 is not the time to try it out - and you'd get to see more in Summer anyway!

But there are plenty of other options available - with Trieste on Saturday 21st December looking like the best value option.