New: use Clubcard points at Uber and Hotels.com at 3 x face value – better than Avios?

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• the_real_a says:

  5 Jul5 July 18:10

  Does anyone know what constitutes a booking? Can i book multiple hotels in different places in a single booking?

  • Rob says:

    5 Jul5 July 18:19

    No, I think you can only pay for one at once

    • the_real_a says:

      5 Jul5 July 19:48

      Thanks Rob – this is going to be a pain to redeem then! Shame we cannot convert to Hotels.com credit.

      • Pug 106 says:

        6 Jul6 July 08:11

        So, please, if I want to convert to Hotels.com for a £955 stay in Thailand next Easter, I’d convert 3 x £100 worth of vouchers, get 3 different codes and make 3 separate bookings, paying £55 cash?

        Also, pls, as it’d be a non-refundable loss of vouchers booking, do you think it’d be worth taking out a Tesco Holiday insurance policy (which I don’t need as have Amex cover) as, if we did have to cancel due to an insurable event, the vouchers would be covered and hence worth the cost of a Tesco policy?

        • Genghis says:

          6 Jul6 July 08:17

          Does Tesco travel insurance even cover such eventualities?

        • Genghis says:

          6 Jul6 July 08:20

          In term of the calcs you’d need to split into blocks of nights, so assuming that’s a 3 or 6 night stay then yes

        • Pug 106 says:

          6 Jul6 July 09:25

          Thanks, Ghengis. Tesco policies used to cover vouchers in case of cancellation due to an insurable event (not because you changed your mind) but I’m going back to when we used to use them to cruise with our children so T&Cs may have changed.

          I’m also looking at changing tokens to Avios points and booking hotel with Avios.com or BAEC.

        • Pug 106 says:

          6 Jul6 July 09:26

          Apologies for name typo!

        • Genghis says:

          6 Jul6 July 09:45

          With Amex Plat travel insurance, there is a term in there noting covering:

          “Any travel rewards programmes provided the taxes and/or surcharges have been Purchased using the Card.”

          Now in theory this could be covered. You’ve used Tesco clubcard which amonst other things could be described as a travel reward programme and presumably if you put a few quid charge onto the “Card” (defined as any Amex issued Amex within the T&Cs) this could be described potentially as a surcharge (i.e. over and above the reward points cost). But in reality, you’d have to contact Amex to confirm.

          ttps://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/pdf/card-products/platinum-charge-card/UK_Platinum_Charge_Insurance_Documentation_v1_0.pdf

        • Pug 106 says:

          6 Jul6 July 10:40

          Hmm… interesting. Thanks.

• the real harry1 says:

  5 Jul5 July 19:33

  let’s look at this bit as I would question the logic for some/ many of us:

  ‘Should you switch from Avios?
  If you are a regular user of Uber or Hotels.com, you may want to rethink whether Avios or Virgin Flying Club miles are still the best deal for you.
  As Uber is genuinely 3 x face value, you are trading (with a £1 Clubcard voucher) 240 Avios vs £3 of Uber credit. You are ‘paying’ 1.25p per Avios which is too high, in my view.’

  Uber credit is only ever going to be worth face value, ie £3 Uber credit = £3 saved

  whereas 240 Avios can often work out to be worth substantially more than (240×1.25p) = £3

  I’m a peak time (school hols) RFS redemption user. When I book T-355, I nearly always get at least 1.25p/ Avios vs cash fares – if it’s worse value, I would typically just pay cash though I haven’t had to do that for a couple of years. And that’s with me being happy to take HBO fares, since apart from Xmas we can travel light, everything we need being out at our place in the sun.

  I bet the Salzburg redeemers would not have preferred Uber! 🙂

  • Klaus-Peter Dudas says:

    6 Jul6 July 15:31

    My wife and I got two tickets to Salzburg over Christmas for 13,000 Avios £42.50 each (outbound in club due to availability) that would have cost over a grand total, even looking at other airlines. 😀

• Matthew says:

  5 Jul5 July 20:01

  Will we still have to wait til the end of each quarter to get the points are will they be available to use soon after earning them with the new scheme I wonder?

• Mr Dee says:

  5 Jul5 July 20:06

  I am wondering if I would be able to use the Uber credit in the UK only or abroad as well?

  I only ask as their referral vouchers are country/currency specific when I have had them.

  • Mr Dee says:

    5 Jul5 July 20:12

    Noticed it does say ‘In the UK and other areas where uber operates’ I will try this out next week

    • Genghis says:

      5 Jul5 July 20:21

      I’d be interested in how the receipt looks. Ie. Could I use my clubcard points for work Uber trips and get 3p per point.

      • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

        6 Jul6 July 08:51

        If it’s anything like regular Uber credit, shows as a deduction against the subtotal and the charge to the main payment method zeroed out.

        • Genghis says:

          6 Jul6 July 09:11

          Cheers Andrew.

    • Rob says:

      5 Jul5 July 20:34

      Standard Uber credit – and this is presumably added to standard Uber credit – only works in the UK.

      • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

        6 Jul6 July 08:54

        Or, strictly, standard Uber credit is currency-denominated and only works on transactions in that currency.

• Lee says:

  5 Jul5 July 20:23

  why not just post the url?

  • Genghis says:

    6 Jul6 July 11:29

    It’s also rejecting any post I make involving some kind of calculation…

• Alan says:

  5 Jul5 July 20:39

  Definitely interesting – 1.25ppa way too pricey for me (only value at 0.75p) so getting Uber credit instead does sound like a reasonable plan…

  • the real harry1 says:

    5 Jul5 July 20:49

    I’m not sure 0.75p stacks up

    reason being: I’m interested primarily in what I paid for them (typically averaging 0.3 – 0.4p) vs the value I get for them (over 1.5p)

    so yes, I’ve often been in the 0.7p or 1p valuation camp – but I increasingly think that’s irrelevant

    we (who have cash) have a choice – ie cash or points

    so we should therefore always be looking to get a decent return – which I do

    happy to take an easy 0.8p when I ‘buy’ – at times – must have a decent Avios bank balance otherwise you deny yourself opps

    but I’d never ‘sell/ use’ for 0.8p as that would be crazy given the hassle in acquiring them

    so my valuation has to be not a liquidation valuation but one that is based on future cash saved

    • the real harry1 says:

      5 Jul5 July 21:16

      I guess the situation is muddled by business travellers who consider they have got their points for free, ie company has paid for the tickets

      it would not be unreasonable to set a minimum – eg 0.75p – below which they would not consider redeeming

    • Alan says:

      5 Jul5 July 21:27

      Agree a buy/sell price split isn’t an unreasonable thought. I’d never go below a 0.5p floor given hotel redemption option. In general I’ve managed to get more than 1.25p value out of them when used (and I try to be realistic, considering loss of earned Avios and what I would realistically pay for the flight), but as you say it’s having to find a way of valuing them when comparing to cash. Equally I’ve got a big pot of Avios to use (HHA >1m) so need to make sure I get through them before next devaluation comes along!

  • The Original Nick says:

    5 Jul5 July 21:09

    Hi Alan, You answered my question last night about linking the Avios MC to Curve. I’m going to France on Saturday so will be using it to withdraw from ATM. Which Home currency should I set it to?

    • Alan says:

      5 Jul5 July 21:24

      Nick – you need to change your Lloyds MC card in Curve to EUR, as that’s what you’ll be withdrawing cash in from the ATM. Hope all goes well and have a nice holiday 🙂

      • The Original Nick says:

        5 Jul5 July 21:56

        Thanks Alan. I’ll be also flying to Faro on the Wednesday and stopping at the Conrad Algarve.

        • Yuff says:

          6 Jul6 July 06:04

          Let us know what you think of the Conrad, as we are there a week on Sunday 🙂

• Anna says:

  5 Jul5 July 20:44

  OT – after my rant at Lloyds on Monday over my missing avios and voucher, they have posted nearly 10,000 avios on my account, which I don’t think can be right as we mainly use the card for non-Amex spend. I’m not complaining, though, as long as the voucher appears with the next statement as promised!

  • Alex W says:

    5 Jul5 July 21:44

    You should expect some cash compo on top – I got about £220 this time without asking. Got £300 last year too.

• robstaaaar says:

  5 Jul5 July 21:48

  O/T, I’m relatively newish here and regularly follow posts etc. Not up to speed with all the abbreviations and HfP ‘speak’. I have accrued Amex Plat, Gold and Nectar bonus sign up and spending points; silly question – just wondered the best way to use for hotel, flights? Best to join the numerous schemes (BAEC/VAFC et al) then transfer? Again, apologies if quite obvious. I’m having a blond moment! (Apologies for any offence to those blond amongst you).

  • the real harry1 says:

    5 Jul5 July 21:59

    you won’t offend amazingly good looking blonds like me

    might possibly offend a few blondes though 🙂

    the best way is down to you & your requirements

    best value is probably transatlantic or over to Australasia/ SE Asia in Club or First with a 241

    • The Original Nick says:

      5 Jul5 July 22:06

      Brilliant Harry.
      Robstaaaar, read this, https://headforpoints.com/the-beginners-guide-to-collecting-avios-points/

      Then as Harry said, decide where you want to go.

  • Genghis says:

    6 Jul6 July 04:12

    Hi robstaaar. In general, airmiles (avios / virgin etc) are best use for flights and hotel reward scheme points used for hotels. Work out what your travel goals might be and then work out how to achieve them. E.g. You’ve earned 30k Amex MR points and fancy a weekend to Berlin. Research flights (BA RFS – reward flight saver) might offer good value and you might choose to transfer some Amex points to BA Exec club. You fancy staying in the Waldorf. Sign yourself and your partner up for the Hilton credit card to get 2 free nights. Etc. Stick around and you’ll pick up more ways to build up your knowledge on how everything fits together. If you have a question, just ask.

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