Bits: BA eBay’ing New Orleans flight tickets, good LAN deal to Buenos Aires

News in brief:

Bid for BA tickets to New Orleans on a preview flight

British Airways is launching a new service to New Orleans on 27th March as I covered here.

On 24th February, however, there is going to be a one-off trial flight during Mardi Gras.  This may be a test trip to help with pilot and crew familiarisation or a local marketing exercise.

British Airways is selling tickets for this flight via eBay.  Each package offers:

• 2 x return, economy tickets to New Orleans
• Three nights accommodation based on one of three hotel options
• Gig in the sky with a celebrity on board performance
• Exclusive on board New Orleans cocktails and menu
• Access to a Mardi Gras parade stand, so you can get into the thick of all the festivities
• 10% of all auction bookings will be donated to the British Airways charity, Flying Start

The flight departs from Heathrow at 10.00 on Friday 24th February 2017 with return departing at 23.25 on Monday 27th February, arriving 14:10 on Tuesday 28th February.

No tier points or Avios will be given.

There are currently four auctions running.  You can find links to all of them at the BA eBay shop here.

Good LATAM deal from Spain to Buenos Aires – TODAY ONLY

If you have Buenos Aires on your bucket list, LATAM (the old LAN) has some excellent Business Class fares from Spain at the moment.

Remember that, as LAN is a oneworld member, you will earn Avios and British Airways tier points on these flights.

From Barcelona, the fare is £1,197 return with a plane change in Sao Paulo.  This is on a Boeing 767 where the seating is reportedly not great.   You are probably better paying an extra £4 and flying out of Madrid where you will get a new Airbus A350.

You must book TODAY and start your trip between 1st December and 31st March (28th February to 7th March excluded).  The LATAM site is here.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (June 2025)

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

Get 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 Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express Credit Card

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 Credit Card

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

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn points worth 0.8 Avios per £1 on the FREE standard card and 1 Avios per £1 on the Pro card. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 0.8 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card

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.

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

The American Express Business Gold Card

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.