The Reward Flight Saver (RFS) was introduced in November 2011 and has since transformed the short haul redemption game. Previously, short haul redemptions were subject to the usual high taxes, fees and surcharges and the RFS replaces the variable (and invariably expensive) cash supplement with a much more affordable fixed price supplement.
Available across BA's short haul network and as of 2020 selected long haul routes, these redemptions are subject to availability of the usual redemption classes. For short haul, the scope also extends beyond the confines of Europe to include South Africa, by virtue of BA franchise carrier, Comair's network.
It is also worth mentioning that if BA substitutes a wet lease aircraft then Reward Flight Savers may not be offered on it, particularly early on.
For your redemption to qualify as a short haul RFS, all flights in your itinerary must be on BA and also typically less than 2,000 miles in distance. If your itinerary includes a short haul Finnair flight as well as BA flight, this does not qualify as a RFS and so the higher, variable set of taxes/fees/surcharges will be assessed against this redemption ticket. Similarly, if your ticket includes a non-qualifying long haul flight, the entire ticket reverts to a standard redemption and is priced accordingly.
Several fifth freedom flights operated by BA also qualify as RFS. The qualifying factor being the sector distance is less than 2,000 miles. The fifth freedom allows an airline to sell tickets for travel between foreign countries, as a part of a route connecting to the airline's own country such as BA services that operate between Caribbean countries beyond London.
Important
It is also worth bearing in mind one additional point of qualification. You need to have earned at least 1 Avios point in the 12 months prior to booking to be eligible for the RFS option.
Additional price points
The RFS product has evolved in recent years and now includes variety of additional price points, allowing you to progressively reduce or increase the amount of cash paid by offsetting the amount of Avios redeemed. These are included in the following tariff - the base rate is emboldened. Cash amounts are shown in Sterling but fixed amounts can also be priced in USD, EURO, and South African Rand. Note, RFS fares on Comair flights do have higher cash components where the base rate for economy class is £40 (500R) and £70 (900R) for business class.
The maps below provide a small sample of cities within reach of LHR and JNB and their relative distance bands from each origin. Note, while London to Amman and Cairo were converted to short haul in late 2020, as these routes still fall into Band 4, they cannot be booked as Reward Flight Savers.
Zonal map - Origin London
Zonal map - Origin Johannesburg
Reward Flight Savers on long haul
Reward Flight Savers are also available to UK Executive Club Members as redemptions in economy class only on select BA operated long haul band 5, 6 ,7 and 8 routes. Here, as with short haul RFS fares, additional price points are offered. These are included in the following tariff - the base rate is emboldened
Introduction | Standard reward flights | Multi-Partner reward flights | Reward Flight Saver | Avios & Money | Upgrading using Avios | Avios part payment | Using your companion vouchers | Additional Gold benefits | Hotel and car rental redemptions