Dublin to Cancun on Avios? Yes, please. Aer Lingus just added a tasty new option to the redemption buffet, and if you have a British Airways Amex 2-4-1 voucher, it’s time to dust it off. Launching 6 January 2026, this route opens up a low-tax, high-value way for UK travellers to fly to Mexico using fewer points, better seats, and a smarter strategy.
In This Post
The Route at a Glance
- EI143: DUB 13:30 → CUN 18:20 (Tue, Thu, Sat)
- EI142: CUN 21:05 → DUB 11:20+1 (Tue, Thu, Sat)
It’s Aer Lingus first scheduled Mexico route in over a decade and a redemption gem if you play your Avios right.
Why This Matters if You Live in the UK
This isn’t just an Irish win. For UK-based travellers, it’s a backdoor route to Cancun for far less.
| BA (LGW–CUN) | Aer Lingus (DUB–CUN) | |
|---|---|---|
| Avios (Economy Return) | ~50,000 | ~40,000 |
| Taxes & Fees | ~£300+ | ~€120 (≈£100) |
| 2-4-1 Voucher Usable? | Yes | Yes (via BA call centre) |
It’s better value and better availability with lower cash outlay and fewer tears shed.
The Jet Setup: Aer Lingus Beats BA’s Gatwick 777
Aer Lingus will fly this with its A330-200, offering lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, all with aisle access.
British Airways? They use old Gatwick-based 777s with the outdated yin-yang Club World layout, which is cramped and awkward and does not allow direct aisle access.
Yes, you read that right: Aer Lingus is offering a better hard product than BA, from Dublin, to Mexico.
What About Business Class?
If you’re eyeing lie-flat luxury, this route is an absolute steal with a 2-4-1:
| Class | Avios | Taxes | With 2-4-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus Biz | ~100–120k | ~£200 | For 2 people |
| BA Biz (LGW) | ~125k | £550+ | For 1 person |
Yes, two people in business class to Cancun for less than one seat with BA from Gatwick.
Real-Life Example: What You’d Pay
- Dates: 20 January – 3 February 2026
- Class: Economy
- Avios: 40,000 total with 2-4-1
- Taxes: £210 for two
- Positioning flights (LON–DUB): ~£50 return
- Total: £260 + 40k Avios for 2 people to Cancun
Cancun for two on a Ryanair budget? That’s WingTips gold.
Don’t Forget the Extras
- US Preclearance in Dublin means smooth arrivals in Mexico. Read about it here.
- Reward availability is often easier out of Dublin than London.
- Positioning flights are cheap and frequent, plus you get a night out in Dublin as a bonus.
Booking Cheat Sheet
- Find reward space on Avios.com or call BA.
- Call BA to use your 2-4-1 voucher on Aer Lingus.
- Book a separate flight to Dublin.
- Fly via DUB, save hundreds, and arrive smug.
Final Boarding Call
If you’re still sitting on a 2-4-1 voucher, this is your chance to use it wisely. Low taxes, great seats, winter sun, and the smug satisfaction of flying smarter than everyone else. Don’t sleep on Dublin. It just became the best Avios escape hatch to Mexico.
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