Bits: bizarre new Marriott ‘no desk’ policy, more British Airways Shanghai flights

News in brief:

Is Marriott really getting rid of desks because young people don’t find them cool?

In my articles on the takeover of Starwood by Marriott, I made a couple of observations about the perceived lack of cultural fit.  The team that created ‘W’ hotels is unlikely to sit happily in a Mormon dominated institution that still insists on bibles in every bedroom and a big photo of Bill Marriott in the lobby.

Exhibit B on ‘how Marriott just doesn’t get it’ is in this article from Slate.  As Marriott-branded hotels are refurbished, Marriott is ripping out the desks.  They’ve seen all those kids in Starbucks with laptops on their knees and they have decided that desks are just so not cool.  The business traveller of today prefers to sit in bed with a chai latte (although it is unclear where you would get a chai latte at your average Marriott) with their Macbook on their lap.

If you are under 30, I blame you.  You were asked at some focus group why you refused to stay at Marriott hotels and you said ‘because they have desks in the rooms’.   You’ve screwed it up for the rest of us now.

British Airways increases Shanghai frequencies – should be good Avios availability

British Airways has announced that it is adding three additional flights per week to Shanghai from 20th February.  These will be coded BA160/161.

As always with new BA routes, Avios availability will be excellent as the flights will have been loaded with two Club World seats and four World Traveller seats on every service.

From 1st August, the main daily Shanghai flight will be switched to a new Boeing 787-9.  The additional three weekly flights will remain on a Boeing 777-200.

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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.