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Bits: 10% Diamond Club discount on British Airways flights, Heathrow minicab misbehaviour

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News in brief:

10% Diamond Club discount for British Airways flights ends

If you have one of the old bmi Diamond Club credit cards, you probably remember receiving a letter in March 2015 telling you about changes to the earning rates.

There was also a mention in that letter saying that the 10% Diamond Club discount on British Airways flights was going end in 15 months.  You probably skimmed over that at the time, but those 15 months have now passed.  As of 31st May, the link to the 10% discount link on diamondclub.org is dead.

Heathrow planning to curb ‘anti social’ minicab behaviour

There has, apparently, been a substantial rise in ‘anti-social’ behaviour by minicab drivers at Heathrow in recent months.  There has been a customer switch from black cabs to Uber and its equivalents, not just on cost grounds but also for comfort.  This has led to more and more minicab drivers waiting near the airport for a job.

This would all be fine except that the lack of toilet facilities, parking facilities and waste bins has led to issues for local residents.  They were, apparently, finding the occasional present from a minicab driver in their garden.

During June, Heathrow is opening a special facility for minicab drivers called the Authorised Vehicle Area.  It will have portable toilets, rubbish bins and drinks vending machines.

(There is already a Taxi Feeder Park at Heathrow which has its own wi-fi equipped canteen and washing facilities.  Minicab drivers won’t get anything this good.)

This facility will not be free.  Heathrow is, however, pushing Uber and its competitors to not allow any driver who is not in the Authorised Vehicle Area to accept a pick-up.  This is likely to lead to a surcharge being added to Uber bills at Heathrow to cover the cost of entering the waiting area.

More details can be found on the Heathrow website.

Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (74)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • JamesLHR says:
    14 Jun14 June 12:44

    Just seen the Authorised Vehicle Area, it’s above the West Ramp coming from the tunnel, opposite the Business parking for T2 & T3.

  • harry says:
    14 Jun14 June 13:13

    O/T those who invested in the Virgin ISA for the big free points are possibly in for a nice surprise. If you went lowest risk choice, ie the Bond & Gilt fund, you are currently sitting on a nice profit. Nice in the sense that it was never going to be huge on the upside or the downside – but it is currently very healthily on the upside. I think it’s simply because of the EU referendum uncertainty and bonds & gilts being in demand.

    As to whether it stays like this for 6 months, time will tell.

    • Simmo says:
      14 Jun14 June 13:57

      How are you checking these Harry?

      • harry says:
        14 Jun14 June 14:13

        I was on the phone to Virgin finance about something else, same fund & asked them a btw question about the fund performance over a shorter timeframe

        • Brian says:
          14 Jun14 June 16:40

          I assume, Harry, you have seen the demise of Morrison’s Fuel Saver?? :))

          • harry says:
            14 Jun14 June 17:01

            No 🙁

            Still, I hadn’t used it recently lol

          • Brian says:
            14 Jun14 June 19:05

            I shall definitely be stocking up on John Lewis/Waitrose and Amazon gift vouchers, since these are ones that aren’t available elsewhere with any sort of discount or offer. We have until July 11…

          • Alan says:
            14 Jun14 June 21:10

            Too busy using your DragonPass vouchers instead 😉 I made good use of the Morrison’s deal since you posted it here, will be sorry to see it go.

            Now just need an easy way to cash out lots of Amazon credit!!

      • Clive says:
        14 Jun14 June 16:59

        Simmo, I check online. When you signed up you should have been given a code. Register online and they send you a PIN so you can then acces the account.

  • Matthew says:
    15 Jun15 June 20:39

    Having worked around the area, it’s also extremely frustrating when Uber drivers refuse to pick you up because you’re not at a terminal. I’ve so frequently had calls asking “which terminal” and when I say “I’m at the pin, at this office” they hang up and cancel.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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