Bits: free business upgrade on AA from Birmingham, get 1000 bonus Avios with Avis
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News in brief:
Get 1,000 bonus Avios with Avis rentals
Car rental group Avis is offering a special deal.
You will earn 1,000 bonus Avios on any 3 day rental completed by 30th November. The car must be a Group C or above.
This is on top of your standard earning rate of 3 Avios per £1, with a minimum of 700 for a 3-day rental. This means that you are guaranteed at least 1,700 Avios under this offer. Full terms and conditions are here.
Free business class upgrade on American Airlines
American Airlines is currently offering a free upgrade to business class on its service from Birmingham to New York. This flight will earn you Avios and tier points in British Airways Executive Club.
The snag is that you must book a flexible economy ticket (ticket bucket B or Y). This means that only business travellers are likely to benefit.
British Airways On Business members will receive an extra bonus of a 5% discount on this flight, although it is not necessary to be an OB member to trigger the upgrade.
The other rules are straightforward – booked by 30th November, travel by 31st January.
South African Airways double discount available
I mentioned a few days ago that South African Airways is running a decent cashback deal with American Express.
If you have been selected for this offer (look under the ‘Offers’ tab on the Amex website under each of your online card statements) you will receive £100 back for spending £500. This offer runs until 7th January 2016 although your flight can be for a later date.
Waitrose, of all people, has now launched its own SAA deal. If you book a flight at flysaa.com you will receive 10% off the base fare – excluding taxes – using code WAIT1. This code will double up with the American Express £100 cashback.
The Waitrose code is valid until 14th October. You cannot travel between 12th – 24th December.
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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (January 2025)
None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.
There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card.
The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.
There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.
The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.
You can apply here.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review
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