Bits: MyFlights app forced to close, £5 UberPOOL trips, Avios hotel deals
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News in brief:
MyFlights app forced to close
The popular MyFlights app, which I have written about on HfP numerous times, has been forced to close. Amadeus, the main global flight booking database, has blocked external access to its data – coincidentally on the same day that it launched a new version of its own Check My Trip app.
The problem with the Check My Trip app is that it is rubbish and has only a fraction of the functionality of MyFlights. You would get a notification from MyFlights within a few hours of any change to your flight (seat number, aircraft type, cancellation, time change) and you would be at the front of the queue to get yourself rebooked.
If Amadeus had any sense it would have bought MyFlights or at least copied its functionality. What you have now is a toy town app for a market which consists solely of switched on, smart, business travellers. I feel bad for Chris who had genuinely created something useful here.
Ride with UberPOOL for just £5
Uber is keen to push its UberPOOL service in Central London. UberPOOL is where you agree to let another passenger heading in the same direction share your ride in return for a discount on the fee. You may or may not consider this a great idea ….
On weeknights until 10th June, all UberPOOL rides between 5pm and midnight in Zone 1-2 are just £5. This means that you could travel from Turnham Green to Finsbury Park for £5, a ride which will take well over an hour.
The good news is that if no-one else is heading in your direction, you still pay the UberPOOL price even though you rode alone. To activate this deal on your Uber account, go to promotions in your Uber app menu and enter the code POOLFIVER.
If you are not already an Uber member, this Head for Points sign-up link gets you a free ride worth £15. Alternatively, just download the app and enter ‘headforpoints’ on the promotional code page. Best not to waste your free ride on a £5 UberPOOL trip though ….
New Avios hotel deals
avios.com has launched a number of new hotel deals. These are attractive offers and only need a handful of Avios points to book. Here are a sample:
Carlton Hotel Budapest (4 star), from 2,150 Avios + £235 (Expedia £444)
Based on 3 nights with breakfast for 2 people in a standard double room
Pullman St Pancras London (4 star), from 7,700 Avios + £395 (Expedia £567)
Based on 3 nights with breakfast for 2 people in a classic king double room
InterContinental Vienna (5 star), from 2,750 Avios + £295 (Expedia £613)
Based on 3 nights with buffet breakfast for 2 people in a classic double room
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Dubai (5 star) from 2,350 Avios + £255 (Expedia £406)
Based on 4 nights with breakfast for 2 people in a standard twin room
If you get these prices to work on a date that suits you, these don’t seem at all bad. Book via the hotel redemption page at avios.com.
How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (March 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:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
British Airways American Express
5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £12,000 Read our full review
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.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review
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.
Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa
Get a 10,000 points bonus plus an extra 500 points for our readers Read our full review
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.
British Airways Accelerating Business American Express
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
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.
SPECIAL OFFER: You receive a huge 120,000 Membership Rewards points if you apply for American Express Business Platinum by 9th April 2024. You receive 80,000 points for spending £12,000 within 90 days and a further 40,000 points if you retain the card for 14 months. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: You receive 60,000 Membership Rewards points if you apply for American Express Business Gold by 9th April 2024. Remember that the card is FREE for the first year. You receive 40,000 points for spending £6,000 within 90 days and a further 20,000 points if you retain the card for 14 months. Click here to apply.
American Express Business Platinum
Crazy 120,000 points bonus (to 9th April) and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
American Express Business Gold
Huge 60,000 points sign-up bonus (until 9th April) and free for a year Read our full review
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.
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