Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Bits: £50 off at eBookers, HfP feedback

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

News in brief:

Get a £50 ebookers discount

Ebookers is running a new promotion worth £50 off a ‘flight and hotel’ package costing more than £600.

The ebookers discount code to enter at check-out is the easy-to-remember AFFPKG0417.

You need to book by 7th May for travel before the end of the year.

Terms and conditions are here and you can book here.

PS.  If you have your own travel blog, ebookers is offering free holidays in Barcelona as long as you agree to write about it afterwards.  Details are here.

Hilton / OneRepublic gig

On Saturday night we were at the famous Abbey Road Studios in North London for the Hilton Honors / OneRepublic concert which was an excellent evening.

It was great to meet so many HfP readers.  As you can probably imagine, sometimes you feel like the words you write go into a black hole.  You never quite know happens afterwards.

Back in August 2015, I wrote that Small Luxury Hotels of the World was looking for hotel inspectors.  One couple I met on Saturday had read that article, applied, and got the job.  This year they will visit 11 luxury hotels entirely free of charge.  Apparently they can spend as much as they want during their stay and it is all reimbursed by SLH later.  The downside is that they have to make certain demands of the hotel during their trip. At no point does the hotel realise that the couple is undercover.

I also covered – with, I admit, some scepticism – the auction on eBay for tickets on the ‘preview flight’ to New Orleans by British Airways over Mardi Gras this year.  I spoke to another couple who had bought this package after reading about it on HfP.  It was, apparently, an amazing experience with BA delivering far more than promised, with excellent private seats for the Mardi Gras parade and a host of additional events running pretty much 24/7 over the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who came to say Hi, I appreciate it.  FYI, the person who stood up at the start and introduced himself as ‘Mark from Hilton’ was actually the global head of Hilton Honors who had flown over especially …..

How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

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

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Did you know that the Virgin Atlantic credit cards are a great way of earning Hilton Honors points? Two Virgin Points can be converted into three Hilton Honors points. The Virgin Atlantic cards are the only Visa or Mastercard products in the UK which can indirectly earn Hilton Honors points. You can apply here.

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton points is 1:2.

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

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Category

British Airways and Avios, Hilton Honors, Tesco Clubcard, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (123)

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

  • David says:
    26 Apr26 April 06:04

    Anyone else getting spurious avios transfer emails this morning…?

    • MkJj says:
      26 Apr26 April 06:08

      Yes, Absa cash rewards​ and Ucount Rewards.

      • Genghis says:
        26 Apr26 April 06:10

        Posted in yesterday’s comments that it was a system error at Avios. Nothing to worry about I don’t think.

        • David says:
          26 Apr26 April 06:17

          I wasn’t worried per se, just disappointed that they didn’t actually post any ‘bonus’ points! 😀

        • trickster says:
          26 Apr26 April 12:52

          Correct – they have responded on Twitter to that effect.

          My opinion is with the person on Twitter who suggested that they should compensate us with the points!

    • HV says:
      26 Apr26 April 06:20

      Yep
      One about Abas and one about Ucount
      Could be a Avios error

    • Nate1309 says:
      26 Apr26 April 09:02

      I was worried. Thanks for the updates.

  • the real harry1 says:
    26 Apr26 April 06:28

    O/T today is T-355 for booking return flights on Sunday 15th April 2018, ie the end of the Easter hols before most state schools go back for summer term next day. Just got our 4 RFS flights – again opted for ‘buying’ 20000 Avios for 0.8p, ie paying £160 instead of using points – pretty painless way to preserve points in the bank.

    • TripRep says:
      26 Apr26 April 07:11

      Good tips TRH, ta for the contribution.

      ps I wonder if Trump’s Mum realises that they’re are adventure travellers on here? I’d happily win a rucksack to take on my travels…

      And if Robs reading – I’m interested in some new large hard wheeled cases if he has any offers he can recommend.

      • JamesB says:
        26 Apr26 April 07:28

        An HFP post on travel bags and other accessories on a slow news day might be a good idea to see what the comments generate. After using a great samsonite cabin bag for over twenty years I’ve had rotten luck getting through three bags in the last seven years

  • Trumps Mum says:
    26 Apr26 April 06:36

    Trespass bag. Really? Sometimes the motivations of hfp are all to clear. Stop clogging my mailbox with useless junk.

    • Matt says:
      26 Apr26 April 06:39

      Yeah, I can’t stand it when websites which cost me nothing offer me a free chance to win a free product and require nothing in return. Absolutely intolerable.

      If it’s THAT useless you could always unsubscribe. I won’t be…

      • Simon Barlow says:
        26 Apr26 April 06:43

        Haha! Beat me to it! Agree 100%

        • JamesB says:
          26 Apr26 April 07:32

          I rarely ever enter completions but always look forward to see what comes next on HFP, I’ve entered most but been unlucky to date

      • mark2 says:
        26 Apr26 April 07:29

        I believe that you get a full refund of all monies paid too.

        • Rob says:
          26 Apr26 April 08:36

          Trespass are not paying us to run the competition, neither are they bribing us with free rucksacks (as if I would have any use for a hiking rucksack 🙂 ). SP is a far lower profile site than HFP so we were happy to accept.

      • Observation says:
        26 Apr26 April 17:22

        Nothing in return? Are you sure? You won’t win that delightful prize if you believe that.

    • Simon Barlow says:
      26 Apr26 April 06:40

      Oh dear, someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning? A few innocuous lines, which you can read and forget, actually offering a free draw, amongst all the great info spurred by the site?!

      Must have taken more time to write the response than read the 2/3 lines required to realise it wasn’t of interest.

      Some people are never happy!!

    • Johnny Tabasco says:
      26 Apr26 April 06:44

      Newsflash : no one is forcing you to subscribe to these emails.

      • Genghis says:
        26 Apr26 April 07:26

        Previously in the ‘About’ section of HfP, Rob wrote that the target audience was something along the lines of an AB male working in the City earning six figures. We read reviews of aspirational F and J flights and 5* hotels. I had a Tresspass rucksack as a school bag when I was a kid and it kept getting holes in. We didn’t have much money so I sewed it up again and again after it kept falling apart. To me, this luxury side of HfP and a Tresspass backpack give away are not really brand congruent. Nevertheless, I love a freebie and still entered as it could make a good (read free) present for my Dad’s birthday…

        • the real harry1 says:
          26 Apr26 April 07:48

          er – it’s on Shopper Points… 🙂

          • Observation says:
            26 Apr26 April 17:28

            It may well be, but guess what, I’ve never read SP myself, yet somehow I find myself reading about it on here.

        • Andrew says:
          26 Apr26 April 08:33

          First or Upper Class travel and economy accessories aren’t mutually exclusive.

          I’m on Upper to Orlando in 3 weeks. In my suitcase will be the £2 t-shirts, £3 trainer liners, £4 swim shorts and £6 linen shirts from Primark – which will all be utterly ruined by factor 50 sunscreen as well as pool chlorine and are unlikely to be making the return trip.

          Doesn’t billionaire Brian Souter famously use a Tesco carrier bag for hand luggage when he travels?

          • Rob says:
            26 Apr26 April 08:37

            He does. I met Souter a few times during my city career and everything said about him, appearance wise, is true.

          • Genghis says:
            26 Apr26 April 08:42

            Completely agree as I write sitting by the pool in my Primark T shirt. A person mixes quality and brands depending on use but you don’t see premium brands generally peddling cr*p (unless it’s BA… sorry had to add that in there)

          • JamesB says:
            26 Apr26 April 10:51

            Remember him and Ann anc all the fun and mayhem on their first four double deckers at the outset. Travelled witb them every week and in those days the coaches seemed awesome. Also know a millionaire who buys his suits from asda and another who claims he does not even own a suit.

          • Gavin says:
            26 Apr26 April 13:29

            The wealthiest person in my peer group shops in Iceland, Poundworld and Primark and when doing a lot of global business travel took his employer’s £500 cash “bribe” to fly in Long Haul Economy rather than Business Class every time!

          • Si says:
            26 Apr26 April 16:50

            Aspirational living…. on Primark budget

        • Anna says:
          26 Apr26 April 14:09

          Surely HFP is at least partly about getting more bang for your buck? This applies regardless of your income – the way you manage your money and loyalty rewards can be as significant as how much have in the first place. I know plenty of people who have comparable incomes but don’t have anything like my standard of living because they don’t manage their money well.

          • Si says:
            26 Apr26 April 15:28

            I’m a relative porper and often rock the Primark. Did this to get effect, on our F Row 1 seats on a brand new Dreamliner to/from India. All thanks to Amex card churning and all the other tricks and indeed treats I’ve learnt about on HfPs!

            P.s. all managed with a BAPP Companion ticket, which while often being heavily slammed on here worked a treat for me.

          • Anna says:
            26 Apr26 April 15:41

            Primark, get you! They probably thought you were an eccentric billionaire lol. Get along to the Clearance rack in T K Maxx, my best bargain ever was a pair of CK jeans (in the right size!) for £1. OH can never say I spend too much on clothes!

          • Alan says:
            26 Apr26 April 23:26

            Quote so. I’ve got a 6 day trip to Boston in June – Virgin Upper Class out and back, total cash cost for return travel from Edinburgh will be well under £600 in taxes/fees/charges thanks to hotels, flights and car hire all on points!

        • Nick says:
          26 Apr26 April 21:54

          Wow, I would have thought as perhaps the most prominent commenter on this site- u would be a bit more wary of critiquing the motivations of the site. Bit of chutzpah/audacity I’d say

          • Genghis says:
            27 Apr27 April 00:30

            Perhaps. But I really like the site and to me HfP is premium in the way that MSE and Trespass aren’t. Interestingly Rob removed the target audience info from the ‘About’ section, perhaps a sign that he wants to make HfP as mainstream as possible? And anyway, a bit of challenge is always good

    • Mike says:
      26 Apr26 April 07:06

      I would almost be tempted to stop paying my subscription fees !

    • Joan says:
      26 Apr26 April 08:13

      Grumpy Trumps!

      • Peter K says:
        26 Apr26 April 09:32

        At last someone who has looked at the posting name of the comment. If I see a strange comment I try to look at the posting name in case it is a joke….such as the one that has started this whole thread from “Trumps Mum”.

  • PalCsaky says:
    26 Apr26 April 06:43

    Use code AFFVC417 for 15% off standalone hotel bookings at ebookers. Code valid until 30/4.
    Stay dates: 24/04/17 – 01/12/17

  • the real harry1 says:
    26 Apr26 April 06:50

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/26/united-airlines-fresh-pr-nightmare-rabbit-set-worlds-biggest/

    🙂 poor little bunny!

  • TripRep says:
    26 Apr26 April 07:06

    Hi Rob,

    I’ve recently bid and won a very exclusive Honors Experience, I may feature an article of it on my blog afterwards. Your pal Mark (HH boss) might be interested to know that I’ve already been liaising with Lauren S. @ Hilton about me reviewing it.

    Will ping you an email about it in due course…. 😀

    • Rob says:
      26 Apr26 April 08:38

      I know Lauren, Anika and I had a couple of drinks with her on Friday and she was there on Saturday too. What did you get? Iron Maiden tickets? 🙂

  • JamesB says:
    26 Apr26 April 07:15

    OT Hilton: registration for next quarter promotion now open. Double or triple (diamonds) base points. Will beat the current promotion for stays over $100 or $70 If diamond so a useful add on to the amex offer expiring 8/5.

    • John says:
      26 Apr26 April 08:09

      Link??

      Better Hilton OT- free points transfer (“points pooling”) now live and working – just tried it myself

      Only in increments of 1000. Max transfer out 500K/year, max transfer in 2M/year.

  • TripRep says:
    26 Apr26 April 07:18

    My sleepy eyes must have skip read first time, just seen the Barca offer. Now if only I had a travel blog… 😀

    • James says:
      26 Apr26 April 09:34

      If you have your own blog, why make so much noise on here?

      • jamie says:
        26 Apr26 April 10:31

        +1

      • Brian says:
        26 Apr26 April 11:49

        It’s called advertising, I guess…

        • James says:
          26 Apr26 April 14:31

          If he is paying I guess it would be.
          If he isn’t it seems more like parasitism to me.

          • jamie says:
            26 Apr26 April 16:08

            +1

          • TripRep says:
            26 Apr26 April 16:27

            Its actually more of a symbiotic relationship.

            I’m sure Rob would advise if he felt my contributions was overly negative.

            However the general theme is noted, I shall attempt to “curb my enthusiasm”.

            Looking forward to seeing all your future positive contributions to this site.

          • Genghis says:
            27 Apr27 April 00:41

            How can it be parasitism? Yes, Triprep / Anon provides a link to his site where he reviews Rangali; hardly taking traffic away from Rob. Triprep has also provided content for articles a number of times and provides valuable comments in the same way that Rob comments on (and takes ideas from) Flyertalk (before providing his own analysis and writing the ideas in a digestible format). Working together in the points game (to some extent) is valuable.

      • TripRep says:
        26 Apr26 April 16:31

        Given the overly negative feedback Rob sometimes receives from a v small & ungrateful minority, that was my way offering Rob my appreciation for posting the offer.

      • Stephen Thomson says:
        27 Apr27 April 01:04

        I missed it the first (few) times in the article but just above the Abbey Road gif…

        “If you have your own travel blog, ebookers is offering free holidays in Barcelona as long as you agree to write about it afterwards.”

        Hence the comment about having a travel blog (and one which links to HfP if you look at it). Really no need for the talk of parasites etc that followed.

        Maybe you should take Trumps Mum out for a whinge over a cuppa (presumably a premium cuppa only…)

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? SPECIAL OFFER TO 12TH MAY EARN POINTS WORTH 30,000 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!