Qatar announces a new Edinburgh service …. a good Avios redemption for Scots

I have written a few pieces recently about Qatar Airways joining BA in the oneworld alliance, eg here and here.  This gives you a very interesting new option for spending your Avios points, especially as Qatar Airways has an impressive reputation and a growing route network.

Qatar will be launching a new service from Edinburgh to Doha from May 28th.  They will fly five times per week, and this will – apparently – be the first service from Edinburgh to any Middle Eastern destination.

It is also worth noting that Qatar will using a brand new Boeing 787 on the route, which means that it will feature their impressive new business class seating as pictured above.

Even better, it is running as a day flight.  It will leave Edinburgh at 14.45, arriving in Doha at 23.40.

Avios redemption seats are already bookable at ba.com.  A one-way from Edinburgh to Doha in business class costs 40,000 Avios plus £240 – £112 less tax than taking a BA flight with a change in Heathrow.

If flying to Qatar, it is worth noting that ex-Heathrow redemptions are also a lot cheaper on Qatar.  The tax on a direct BA flight to Doha is £506 return, whilst a Qatar flight is £365 return.  Unless you are using a 2-4-1 voucher from your BA Amex, Qatar Airways seems a no-brainer if you can get a 787 departure. 

As the comments below show, even the older 777 planes are seen as a having a better business class service than BA.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.