Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is a peak award?
A peak award is an award priced at a programme's peak level rather than its off-peak level for the date being booked, in programmes that publish both levels. Under the British Airways Club rules cited here, a Reward Flight is paid with Avios plus a cash amount, and the chosen date of travel dictates whether the member pays a peak or an off-peak Avios amount. [4] Moving a booking from an off-peak date to a peak date may require additional Avios, while moving from peak to off-peak refunds any difference in the Avios price. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- In the British Airways Club rules cited here, a Reward Flight is priced at either a peak or an off-peak Avios amount, and the date of travel decides which of the two applies. [4]
- One booking can combine both: British Airways says a member can choose all peak dates, all off-peak dates or a mixture of the two. [4]
- Changing dates across the two levels changes the Avios price — an off-peak to peak change may need additional Avios, and a peak to off-peak change refunds any difference in Avios. [4]
How peak pricing works
British Airways describes a Reward Flight as an Avios amount plus a cash amount covering taxes, fees and carrier charges. On British Airways' own flights that cash amount is fixed; on Iberia, American Airlines and oneworld partner flights it is variable rather than fixed. [4] The Avios and cash price a member pays is dependent on date, destination and class of travel. [4]
The date element is the peak and off-peak split. British Airways says the chosen date of travel will dictate whether a member pays a peak or an off-peak Avios amount, and the page presents those two as the possibilities for a Reward Flight rather than a single published figure for a route and cabin. [4] A peak award is therefore the version of the award that a member books when the travel date falls on the programme's peak side of that split; the lower side is described in off-peak award.
The page checked does not list the peak dates themselves or the peak Avios amounts. It directs members to British Airways' Reward availability tool to see where Avios can be used, and to the Reward Flight booking journey to search availability and book. [4] Avios-only flights — British Airways and Euro Flyer flights sold only as Reward Flights — cost the standard Reward Flight price, which the page says depends on whether the flight is operating at peak or off-peak times, and on the flight distance. [4] For how dated price levels are laid out more generally, see award calendar.
Mixing peak and off-peak dates
Peak pricing attaches to individual dates rather than to a whole booking. British Airways says that when booking Reward Flights, a member can choose all peak dates, all off-peak dates or a mixture of the two. [4] For Avios-only flights the page adds that peak and off-peak dates can be mixed, that a return or a one-way journey can be booked, and that cabins can be mixed within a booking. [4]
Seat supply is described separately from the price level. On British Airways flights to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick the airline guarantees at least eight reward seats in economy, two in premium economy and four in business; on flights to and from London City it guarantees two in business and two in economy. [4] The guarantee is set out on the page without reference to whether the dates are peak or off-peak. [4] For the wider question of finding seats at either level, see award availability and the award search workflow.
Changing between the two levels
Because the level follows the date, moving a booking can move it between peak and off-peak. British Airways says some changes may require additional Avios, for example where the date of travel changes from off-peak to peak. [4] In the other direction, when a booking changes from a peak to an off-peak date, the difference in the Avios price is refunded; for Avios part payment bookings the difference in the money portion of the price cannot be refunded, and British Airways suggests cancelling the original flights for a full refund and making a new booking instead. [4]
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the first flight in the itinerary to be eligible for a refund. [4] Many changes to simple Reward Flights can be made online in Manage My Booking, but British Airways lists circumstances that require its contact centre, including changing a British Airways Reward Flight from an off-peak date to a peak date, and changing from a peak date to an off-peak date where an immediate refund of Avios is required. [4] The same list covers bookings made with a voucher such as a Companion Voucher or Travel Together Ticket, bookings containing a connecting flight, and bookings upgraded using Avios. [4]
Exceptions and programmes without published levels
- Avios-only flight cancellations. British Airways says these tickets can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund minus a £35 service fee. Where a booking is cancelled within 24 hours of outbound departure and the member has paid the taxes, fees and charges, those are refunded to the original form of payment; for bookings made using Avios & Money, the page says the cash portion of the price and the Avios will not be refunded. [4]
- Partner flights. The number of Avios required for partner flights may vary from British Airways depending on route and distance travelled, and partner Reward Flight prices are dependent on date, destination and class. [4] For flights with two or more oneworld partners, or British Airways plus two or more oneworld partners, the page points members to a separate Avios cost page. [4]
- American Airlines. The AAdvantage page checked explains booking award travel on American and partner airlines, changing and cancelling award tickets, cash and miles bookings and reactivating expired miles, but it sets out no peak or off-peak award levels. [1]
- KrisFlyer. Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer terms reserve the airline's right to modify the award structure, award levels and availability of awards at its discretion, but the terms checked publish no peak or off-peak levels. [3]
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club. The Qatar Airways page checked covers linking Privilege Club and British Airways Club accounts and moving Avios between them at 1:1 without a fee; it states that Avios are issued, redeemed and expire in accordance with the terms of the programme holding them, and it publishes no award levels of its own. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Only the British Airways Reward Flight page among those checked describes peak and off-peak award levels; the American Airlines, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and KrisFlyer pages are cited for what they do and do not publish. Other programmes, including United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, Flying Blue, Aeroplan and Emirates Skywards, are not covered here; see the glossary for related entries.
- American Airlines, Using miles for travel – AAdvantage program, checked 18 October 2026
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Avios terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- Singapore Airlines, KrisFlyer terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- British Airways, Reward Flights, checked 18 October 2026