Bits: Cathay boosts Gatwick and Manchester, BA schedule changes, MOXY Aberdeen opens

News in brief:

Cathay Pacific boosts Gatwick and Manchester

Cathay Pacific has announced a further boost to its UK operation following the successful launch of its Gatwick service this year.

The Gatwick flight will increase to a seven day service from 1st June.  It currently operates four times per week.  In the same week, the Manchester route will move from four to five flights per week and will gain a brand new Airbus A350.

British Airways announces Summer schedule tweaks

British Airways has announced some minor tweaks to its Summer 2017 schedules.

The main reason for mentioning this is that – irrespective of how tough it is to find Avios redemption seats on existing flights – all of these new services will have been loaded into ba.com with at least two Club Europe and four Euro Traveller seats available.

This is what is new:

Mykonos – additional Heathrow Thursday flight in June, July and August

Malaga – additional Heathrow Saturday flight in June, July and August

These are offset by cancellations to Athens, Bucharest and Rome.

Additional ‘shoulder season’ flights (26th March to 14th May, 10th September to 22nd October) added to Pisa (Saturday), Copenhagen (Tuesday), Basle (Sunday), Venice (Monday and Thursday), Porto (Wednesday), Edinburgh (Saturday), Hamburg (Tuesday), Munich (Tuesday) 

The new services are already bookable at ba.com.

Moxy Aberdeen Airport opens

Finally, the first UK outpost of Marriott’s new ‘funky’ chain, Moxy, has opened at Aberdeen Airport. 

Moxy, which is a joint venture with IKEA of all people, is decribed as “a budget hotel with the soul of a boutique hotel.”  The photos of the public areas do look impressive, see above.

Aberdeen is proving to be a hotel graveyard at the moment.  When oil prices were at their peak and hotel rates were through the roof, every major hotel chain decided that it needed a project in Aberdeen.  These are now starting to hit the market but – with the oil industry in a downturn – it is virtually impossible to see all these beds being filled.

The Moxy Aberdeen Airport website is here if you want to find out more.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

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

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and 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

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.