Bits: Cathay boosts Gatwick and Manchester, BA schedule changes, Moxy Aberdeen opens
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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 (July 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.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.
You can apply here.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
60,000 points (to 15th July) 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 The Platinum Card from American Express in detail here and you can apply here.
The Platinum Card from American Express
50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- The American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)
and for small business owners:
- The American Express Business Gold Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- The American Express Business Platinum Card (50,000 bonus Amex points)
The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.
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