Student guide to British Airways flights (2024)

Many airlines offer special discounts and programmes for students, which can help their already tight budgets. In case you’re wondering whether British Airways is one of them, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve looked into whether British Airways offers a student discount and how you can use it. If you’re planning to continue your education outside of the UK or you’re already studying abroad, this could save you lots of money on your trips home and back.

We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to handle your finances during your trips - the Wise card. It’s designed for low-cost spending around the world, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate for only a small, transparent conversion fee*.

Does British Airways provide a student discount?¹

There isn't any official student discount British Airways has at the moment. However, you might be able to fly for less with the help of their partners.

For example, Student Universe has partnered with British Airways to provide students with good flight deals. They occasionally offer discounts for both one-way and return flights.

Student Beans also has student discounts at the time of writing, but they can only be used for British Airways Holidays package holidays. If you spend at least £500 for your flight and hotel, you can get £25 off with their discount code.²

Consider contacting British Airways before booking a flight to find out if they’ve introduced any student offers in the meantime.

Can I get extra baggage allowance as a student?³

Your student status won’t allow you to go over British Airways baggage allowance. Instead, the number of bags you’ll be able to bring depends on cabin class and what your Executive Club tier is.

If your ticket allows for checked baggage, you can pack up to 23 kg per bag. If you’re flying Economy Basic and you’re only allowed hand baggage, you’ll have to pay to put your bag into the hold. The cost depends on the destination and the number of bags you want to check.

If you’re a Silver or Gold member of the Executive Club, you could be entitled for more checked baggage than others.

How to get a discount on British Airways

Although there’s no British Airways student discount available at the moment, you can still find a way to get cheaper flights.

Here are some tips you might find useful if you study abroad to save on flights:

Book in advance

Starting your ticket search in time allows you to look at every option and find a good offer. A good part of being a student is that you know exactly when you have your breaks, so you can start looking much earlier.

Try to be flexible with dates

If you don’t need to fly on a certain day, you’ll be able to find better deals. Adjusting the date of your flight by only a week can sometimes make a big difference.

Book connecting flights

Even though flying directly is always easier, having a layover can cut the price of your ticket significantly. See if you can find a good connecting flight offer.

Check the British Airways website for updates

Just because British Airways doesn’t have student offers right now, doesn’t mean they never will. Keep an eye on their website so you don’t miss any updates.

Pay in instalments

You could also consider alternative payment options such as ‘book now, pay later’ (BNPL), also known as ‘fly now, pay later’. This payment method allows you to pay for flights or holidays in instalments.

Collect and use Avios

You can collect Avios through booking BA and partner flights, but also by taking Ubers and shopping with BA partners, both online and in stores.⁴ You can then spend them on reducing the price of your next flight or even on reward flights.⁵

Can students benefit from Avios points?

They absolutely can. All individuals who are 18 years of age or older can join the British Airways frequent flyer reward scheme called the British Airways Executive Club.⁶

The BA Executive Club has four tiers - Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold and each has different benefits. Members collect points called Avios and exchange them for rewards in return. For instance, as soon as you join, you get free Wi-Fi messaging on board, access to the priority waitlist and various other member-only offers.⁷

Study and travel the world with Wise

British Airways currently doesn’t have a specific student discount programme. However, with the help of some of their partners and their Executive Club, you could potentially find some good ticket deals.

To save even more money while travelling, bring your Wise card with you. It automatically converts your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a small, transparent currency conversion fee*.

If you already have the foreign currency in your Wise account, the conversion is fee-free*.

Your Wise card awaits 💳

*Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Sources used:

1. Student Universe - British Airways student offer
2. Student Beans - British Airways holidays discounts for students
3. British Airways - baggage details
4. Avios - collecting Avios
5. Avios - spending Avios
6. British Airways - Executive Club terms and conditions
7. British Airways - Tier comparisons

Sources last checked on date: 27-May-2024