Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Bits: Hilton APAC Flash Sale, Amex Platinum Cashback promo, Clubcard to Avios competitions

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News in brief:

Hilton running a ‘40% off’ 4-day APAC flash sale

Hilton is due to launch a 96-hour flash sale at 8am today.  Discounts are expected to be up to 40% off Best Available Rate, although the sale rooms will be non refundable and require pre-payment.

This will focus exclusively on countries in the APAC region – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia.  The Millennium Hilton Bangkok is pictured below.

Note that China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are excluded.

Full details should be available from 8am via the Asia Pacific Hilton website here.  I will do a further article later in the week looking at pricing examples.

Millennium Hilton Bangkok

Special promotion on the American Express Platinum Cashback cards

We tend not to focus on the two American Express Platinum Cashback cards much on Head for Points because they do not offer miles or points.

They are decent products, however, offering cashback on all of your spending.  You can find details of the Platinum Cashback card here and the Platinum Cashback Everyday card here.

If you apply between today and 31st January, you will receive 3% additional cashback on all of your purchases at amazon.co.uk in your first three months of membership, up to a maximum of £15.

Note that the cashback is not added to your account immediately but is credited in your card anniversary month, which is the one month period each year following the date on which your account was opened.

If you were planning to do a lot of your Christmas shopping at Amazon this year – or are planning a major purchase such as a new laptop – it is worth taking a look at this deal.  You are eligible for this deal irrespective of what other Amex cards you hold, unless you have previously had either of the Platinum Cashback cards in the past six months.

Do not apply until the offer is showing on the Amex website – I am told it will appear during the course of today.

Two competitions for transferring your Clubcard points to Avios

It is looking like a total washout for anyone looking for a conversion bonus, to either Avios or Virgin Flying Club, with their October Tesco Clubcard points vouchers.

Both avios.com and British Airways Executive Club have launched competitions for converting via their respective portals.  If you are going to convert, you need to decide which competition to go for.


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

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:

Barclaycard Avios Plus 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 card

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 £15,000 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

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 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.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus 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.

Comments (75)

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

  • Rich says:

    Any further news yet on BA’s announcement last week that they will be giving 10% off for members of the armed forces and veterans?
    Could give big savings on TP runs if it is a blanket 10% off any fare.

    • Tom H says:

      You can access the discount through the defence discount service, you need to register, but no need to pay a joining fee, seems to be a genuine 10% of the fare element, however HBO and 1st class fares are excluded.

      • the real harry says:

        so a genuine discount for business class but just (essentially) free bags otherwise?

        • Tom H says:

          Yes, and worthwhile on long haul. Apparently BA had a similar arrangement in place a few years ago which may have been enhanced, they have now reintroduced it.

          • Genghis says:

            “Military personnel feedback was that they wanted to pay more for their fares…”

    • the real harry says:

      I didn’t see that

      odd sort of idea – not that I’m against it – obviously that means everybody else is subsidising them – not exactly a major issue as I imagine take-up will be incredibly low

      but isn’t that to be interpreted as BA trying to wrap itself in the patriotism flag? – and an attempt to gain positive PR (for once!)

    • Lee says:

      Dreadful idea.

      Why should military people get a discount when real heros like nurses, doctors and others who save or help people live get 0.

      • Rich says:

        There already are quite a few discount schemes for NHS and emergency services – I’ve used them and saved quite a bit of money over the years.

      • Simon says:

        “real” heroes. Shame on you. Are military personnel not helping or saving others?? (While dodging bullets and IEDs).

        • Lee says:

          No. They are not heros.

          They take jobs and expect good pay for doing very little.

          Why should they get benefits over others?

          The real heros had no choice but to fight for this country. They were not highly paid. They battled for our freedom.

          It is for them that I respect and remember them on Sunday. Not for any career soldier who took an easy job.

      • Bob says:

        There are also millions of people working on low salaries for charities, or working as unpaid carers at home etc. The broader point is why single out this one group for a discount.

        • Rich says:

          Just like any other targeted promotion; to gain customers who may instead have chosen a competitor. It’s hardly giving away free flights is it?

          • Bob says:

            Yes, I’m not against it. I don’t think it’s quite the same as other targeted promotions, though – the reason why military/veterans receive discounts (as opposed to Amex Platinum holders, for example) is not just because they might have chosen a competitor (which could be said of anyone). It’s usually something about rewarding/thanking them for their service, and the same could be said for lots of other groups.
            One practical reason could be to enhance security among the passenger population, which I think was at least part of the reason why police officers always got free travel on public transport in London.

      • John says:

        I’m an army veteran, and have a permanent disability as a result of wartime gunfire. I have no problem taking a 10% discount (before taxes) from BA, whatever their reason for offering it. Good to know that some companies are recognising us, and are following the lead of USA companies and society. I think the difference between the very valuable work of other people in society, and the military, is the the real high risk of death or injury we do/did for our country. For those who may be anti-military discount, ask yourself what you were doing when you were 18? I was driving through a minefield in Iraq.

        • Simon says:

          100% John. And I thank you for your sacrifice to make me and my family safer.

          • James67 says:

            +1, and I hope John that you also got a decent set of wheels via motability. Frankly, I think the deal (or lack thereif) that veterabs get from the State in the UK is shameful.

  • Sussex bantam says:

    OT. Having just completed my Marriott mega bonus target of 2 stays to earn 5000 bonus points I just received an email offering a further 5000 points for one more stay. Final stay required by 31 jan. easily done for me so a nice bit of news !

  • Sasha says:

    Conrad Bangkok is not available for some reason. Literally the only hotel available in Bangkok is the Millennium Hilton. Any chance they can open others up later?

    • AndyR says:

      I can see Conrad Bangkok in the sale for some dates in November that I was looking at e.g. 18th to 20th.

  • David says:

    There is a 10% conversion bonus of Tesco Clubcard points to Virgin Atlantic miles, although not as good as last year’s 30% bonus that you covered.

    Convert by 13 November.

    Details here:
    http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/flying-club-partners/shopping/tesco.html

  • Genghis says:

    I’ve just checked some prices of my up and coming stays and the prices don’t seem that great. Perhaps the prices went up 66% last week to come down 40% this week…

    • James67 says:

      It is yet another farce of a sale. Last week you could have bought the points you needed for DT KL for $50 but today in the sale it is over $100. I have not paid cash for this hotel in ages but it was never as high as in this sale. It would be foolish to pay cash for any Hilton in Thailand, none of them ever offer quality and value for money, except perhaps DT Surin Beach, when compared to what else is available on the market.

  • Stu_N says:

    OT – BA/ Amex spend £500, get £100 back. I emailed to ask them to add it to my card, which they have done. Anyone used this on a BA holiday booking? It says spend on BA.com excluding travel insurance so should work, but before I use it to fund a better hotel room, would be good to know for sure.

    • Wayne says:

      Who do we email re the £100 off £500, do you have to mention a reference? Cheers

      • Stu_N says:

        I just used the message centre in online servicing, said I knew the offer was out there but can’t see it on my card and asked if it was possible to be included? The very nice man replied next day and said he had enrolled me. As long as it works on Holidays I am laughing.

    • rams1981 says:

      It worked for my wife

    • Chelseafi says:

      I had a balance of £530 due on my Venice holiday for next April, I paid it off & received the £100 credit within 24 hours

  • Joel says:

    OT: Shop Small is back 3 Dec
    Save to Card to get a £5 statement credit when you spend £10+ in-store at participating small businesses between 3 December and 18 December 2016. Valid once per Card per business. Terms and payment restrictions apply

  • Simmo says:

    OT/
    Anybody know when Virgin availability opens up? i.e is it 355 days or whatever like BA?

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

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