Bits: Qatar Airways confirms Dublin launch, Plaza Premium confirms Heathrow T5 lounge

News in brief:

Qatar Airways confirms Dublin route launch

Qatar Airways has finally committed to a date for the launch of its Dublin route.

Services will start on 12th June.  It will use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner which means that you will get the newest version of Qatar’s impressive business class seat as pictured below.

You can read my review of Qatar’s 787 business class seat here.

The service will run daily as follows:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 
Dublin to Doha  QR18  departs: 15:25 arrives 00:40+1
Doha to Dublin  QR17  departs: 07:20 arrives: 13:20

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Dublin to Doha  QR20  departs: 08:50 arrives: 18:05
Doha to Dublin  QR19  departs: 01:25 arrives: 07:25

With no Air Passenger Duty to pay out of Dublin, there are likely to be some excellent opportunities here for good deals for UK residents.

Plaza Premium re-confirms Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge

Back in February I ran an exclusive HfP story about the planned Plaza Premium lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5.  This was an exciting project because:

a) the two existing Plaza Premium departure lounges in Terminal 2 and Terminal 4 are excellent

b) they participate in Priority Pass and Lounge Club

c) the only existing independent lounge in Terminal 5, Aspire, is woefully small

The story then went quiet.  This was not surprising since projects at Heathrow have a habit of slipping massively behind schedule as the Cathay Pacific lounge relaunch showed.

In a recent interview with Business Traveller, the Plaza Premium CEO shone some light on the project.  The Terminal 5 is now due to open in the second half of 2017 with 156 seats, lower than originally planned.  I still have no idea where it is meant to be!

Before that we can expect a Terminal 3 arrivals lounge (January) and a Terminal 4 arrivals lounge (Q1 2017) although I would take these timings with a pinch of salt.

Details of all of the Heathrow Plaza Premium lounges are here.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

American Express Business Platinum

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

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

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

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.