Bits: World Cup Avios seats available, 400 Avios with Spain’s Uber-clone, 25% off Priority Pass

News in brief:

World Cup 2018 Avios seats available

The 2018 World Cup kicks off in Russia on 14th June next year which means – as it is now less than 355 days away – Avios reward seats are available.

Although, if you’re planning to fly out to watch England in the final on 15th July, you still have to wait three weeks to book …..

British Airways flies to both Moscow and St Petersburg and availability for Avios looks OK.  Oddly, some flights with no cash seats – presumably due to block bookings – are available for points.

You should also remember that S7 Airlines (legally PJSC Siberia Airlines, headquartered in Ob, Novosibirsk Oblast) is a oneworld alliance member.  This should make it possible to use points to fly domestically inside Russia.

And, on the – admittedly unlikely – chance that England does not make the final, you’ll be able to cancel your Avios redemption and get your points back ….

Iberia Plus launches a partnership with Cabify

Cabify is an Uber-style ride hailing app which operates in Spain and could be handy for your holiday travel this summer.   It currently operates in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilabao, Vitoria, La Coruna, Malaga, Seville and Tenerife.  The app can be downloaded from the Apple and Google stores.

Cabify is now offering Avios points, in either Iberia Plus or British Airways Executive Club.

Full details can be found on the Cabify website here.  A Q&A, in English, is here.

You will earn 400 Avios for your first trip and 1 Avios per km after that.  The ‘first ride’ bonus will be applied if you take a ‘Lite’ or ‘Executive’ vehicle and do not use any other sign-up code during registration.

Get 25% off a Priority Pass

Finally, airport lounge access card Priority Pass is offering a 25% discount until 14th July.

Details can be found on their website here.

If you travel with other people, you may find that it is a better deal to get an American Express Platinum charge card – and you’d get 30,000 Amex points (converts to 30,000 Avios) for free as well.  This comes with two Priority Pass cards and each lets two people into a lounge for free – so a family of four is covered.  Oddly, Priority Pass itself does not sell a version of the card which allows a free guest.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (March 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:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

American Express Business Platinum

Up to 120,000 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.