Bypassing Madrid: 3 Alternative Avios Routes to the US

The golden era of the Madrid loophole is over

For years, the ultimate cheat code to crossing the Atlantic was flying Iberia Business Class from Madrid to New York for 34,000 Avios and around £115 in taxes. As of April 2026, you can officially stop hunting for those seats. Iberia has quietly but ruthlessly squeezed its saver-level Business Class space on prime US routes. Award availability for this classic sweet spot has plummeted by over 80% in the first half of 2026 compared to historic norms. It is no longer a reliable strategy for UK points collectors.

Honestly, I am not surprised. A loophole that good was never going to last forever, especially with the surge in post-pandemic points balances. But the disappearance of these seats leaves a massive gap for anyone trying to plan a US holiday for winter 2026 or spring 2027. If you have amassed a six-figure Avios balance, you are probably hitting a brick wall right now. You do not want to swallow the £800+ in legacy British Airways surcharges, and you certainly do not want to settle for Economy after saving for years.

The good news is that the Avios ecosystem is broader than ever. You just need to pivot. By looking slightly further north to Helsinki, or across the Irish Sea to Dublin, you can still secure lie-flat seats to America without draining your bank account. Here at Points Uncovered, we have been testing these new routes extensively. Let’s look at exactly how to bypass Madrid and get you to the US.

Alternative 1: Finnair business class via Helsinki

Following their full integration into the Avios ecosystem, Finnair has emerged as the cleanest, most reliable replacement for the Iberia sweet spot. Booking Finnair Business Class from Helsinki to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas (DFW), or Miami (MIA) currently costs a flat 55,000 Avios each way. This flat rate is incredibly easy to plan around, removing the headache of peak and off-peak calendars.

The part I keep coming back to is the cash component. Taxes and surcharges on Finnair’s Helsinki to JFK Avios redemptions remain remarkably low in 2026, averaging just £85 to £110 one-way. When you compare that to departing from London, the savings are undeniable. You are essentially paying low-cost carrier fees for a premium long-haul product.

Finnair’s non-reclining AirLounge Business Class seat caused a stir when it launched, but in my experience, it is exceptionally comfortable for sleeping. It feels more like a wide sofa than a traditional airline seat. The food and beverage programme is heavily Nordic-inspired, and the Helsinki lounge is a massive step up from the chaotic Iberia lounges in Madrid.

To book these flights, you can link your British Airways Executive Club and Finnair Plus accounts. This allows you to transfer Avios instantly at a 1:1 ratio. You can also book Finnair metal directly through BA.com, though I always recommend checking the Finnair site directly as phantom availability occasionally plagues the British Airways search engine.

Alternative 2: Aer Lingus business class via Dublin

If you prefer a shorter positioning flight, Aer Lingus remains a steadfast option for transatlantic travel. Flying Aer Lingus Business Class from Dublin to the US East Coast (including JFK, Boston, and Chicago) costs 50,000 Avios off-peak, rising to 60,000 Avios on peak dates. While slightly more expensive than the old Iberia rate, it is still a massive discount compared to standard British Airways pricing.

The real financial benefit here is avoiding the UK government. In April 2026, the UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) on long-haul premium cabins hiked again, sitting at a punishing £224 per person just for the privilege of departing from a British airport. By starting your long-haul sector in Dublin, you completely bypass this tax. Taxes on an Aer Lingus redemption from Dublin to the US hover around £135 one-way.

Then there is the logistical advantage. Dublin offers US Customs and Border Protection preclearance. You clear US immigration before you even board your flight in Ireland. When you land at JFK or Boston, you step off the plane as a domestic passenger, grab your bags, and walk straight out to a taxi. If you have ever stood in a two-hour immigration queue at JFK Terminal 7 or 8, you know exactly how valuable this is.

Aer Lingus operates a staggered Business Class cabin. If you are travelling solo, try to secure one of the throne seats which offer incredible privacy and extra storage. The soft product is undeniably less premium than Finnair or British Airways—do not expect restaurant-quality dining—but the bed is fully flat and the crew are consistently excellent.

Alternative 3: Strategic British Airways Amex redemptions

For those holding the American Express British Airways Premium Plus (BAPP) card, the maths changes completely. A direct British Airways Club Suite flight from London to New York using the modern Reward Flight Saver (RFS) model now requires 80,000 Avios plus £350 one-way per person. For a couple, that is 160,000 Avios and £700 just to fly outbound.

However, your BAPP 2-for-1 Companion Voucher can be applied to Aer Lingus and Iberia. Because Iberia availability is severely throttled, applying your voucher to Aer Lingus is the smartest play in 2026. If you use your voucher for two passengers flying Dublin to JFK off-peak, you will pay a total of just 50,000 Avios combined, plus roughly £270 in total taxes for both of you.

This is genuinely impressive but the small print is annoying. You cannot use the Amex Companion Voucher on Finnair. Finnair remains excluded from the voucher scheme entirely. So if you are sitting on a voucher that expires in the next 12 months, Aer Lingus is your primary escape hatch from high London taxes.

Factoring in the cost of positioning flights

When you bypass London for your long-haul departure, you have to factor in the cost and time of getting to your starting point. Booking a separate ticket to Helsinki or Dublin is known as a positioning flight.

Using British Airways short-haul Reward Flight Saver is the most economical way to handle this. A one-way flight from London to Dublin or Helsinki costs between 4,750 and 9,250 Avios plus a flat £17.50 fee, depending on the route and whether it is a peak date. This is a brilliant use of a small Avios balance because that £17.50 fee crucially includes a 23kg checked bag, which low-cost carriers like Ryanair would charge heavily for.

You must leave plenty of time between your positioning flight and your long-haul departure. Because these are booked on separate tickets, the airline has no obligation to rebook you if your first flight is delayed and you miss your connection. I strongly recommend flying out the night before, booking a cheap airport hotel, and starting your travel day completely stress-free.

Practical tips for booking transatlantic Avios flights today

If you are ready to book your 2026 or 2027 US trip, keep these specific strategies in mind.

• Link your accounts immediately. Do not wait until you find availability to link your British Airways Executive Club and Finnair Plus accounts. Set it up today so you can transfer Avios instantly when seats appear.
• Use SeatSpy for Aer Lingus. While SeatSpy struggles with Finnair, it remains highly accurate for tracking Aer Lingus availability out of Dublin. Set up alerts for your preferred dates and jump on them the moment they trigger.
• Check cash prices for positioning flights. Sometimes a cash ticket on Aer Lingus from regional UK airports (like Manchester or Edinburgh) to Dublin is so cheap that it is not worth spending your Avios on the positioning leg.
• Beware of the London return trap. If you fly back directly into London on British Airways, you will still pay high UK landing fees and BA surcharges. Consider booking a return via Dublin or Helsinki to keep your overall cash outlay low.

Honest verdict on the 2026 Avios landscape

The death of the Madrid 34,000 Avios sweet spot is frustrating, but it is not the end of low-tax transatlantic travel. The market has simply shifted. If you are a solo traveller or you do not have an Amex Companion Voucher, transferring your Avios to Finnair is the absolute best value in the game right now. 55,000 Avios and £100 for a phenomenal, modern Business Class product is a steal.

If you are travelling as a couple and holding a BAPP voucher, Aer Lingus is your clear winner. Bypassing the £224 UK APD and clearing US immigration in Dublin makes the slightly older seat product entirely forgivable.

The key to winning with points in 2026 is flexibility. Stop searching for the old Iberia trick, embrace the new routes, and explore more guides on Points Uncovered to keep your travel strategy sharp.