Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Bits: interesting Iberia / Avis deal, 1950’s British Airways amenity kits

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

News in brief:

Intriguing Iberia / Avis promotion

Iberia and Avis have launched an interesting new promotion to win a share of 25,000,000 Avios.

This is how it works.  You book and complete an Avis rental, anywhere in the world, between 1st and 31st July.  You then go to this website and input the 11-digit booking reference.

You will instantly receive a prize of between 250 and 100,000 Avios into your Iberia Plus account.

In theory you must be based in Spain to play.  However, it may well work for others unless Iberia is blocking the posting of miles to non-Spanish accounts.

Here is the odd thing.  The rules make no mention of having to credit the original rental to Iberia.  In theory, you can take an Avis rental you credited to another airline, put the number into this website and claim some Iberia Plus Avios too.

Will it work …..?  If anyone has booked and completed an Avis rental this month, please give it a go and let us know.

Avis 350

Old 1950’s BA amenity kits

Reader Kate – who, bizarrely, recognised me in a remote Austrian ski hotel when we were away in February – was at the IWM Duxford (the Duxford Air Museum) recently and kindly sent me these pictures of old British Airways amenity kits from the 1950’s.

For the man (click to enlarge – you should be able to read the notes):

British Airways amenity kit a

and for the woman:

British Airways amenity kit b

Things have definitely gone downhill since then …. although I haven’t seen the new Liberty First Class bags yet.  I found out last week that Anika got one on the British Airways press flight at Easter but it never made it into the office.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

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

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

Avis and Avis Preferred, British Airways and Avios, Iberia and Iberia Plus

Comments (98)

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

  • PAL says:
    10 Jul10 July 11:34

    Washbag marginally better than old one. Contents exactly the same (I.e. Poor)

  • Clive says:
    10 Jul10 July 11:44

    OT question, if anyone has an idea: If you land at LGW in Virgin UC, which I think doesn’t have an arrivals lounge, and then have to transfer to LHR to fly economy on another airline – could you use your LGW boarding card to use the LHR arrivals lounge when you get there? 🙂

    • Leo says:
      10 Jul10 July 12:16

      If I remember rightly they check your name on a list of UC passengers arriving into lhr and so eligible to enter – at least that’s what they have done with me. So I’d guess not.

    • Lady London says:
      10 Jul10 July 22:00

      If your other airline goes from Terminal 2 then I’d recommend the Plaza Premium lounge. Its not an airline lounge so you’ll have to pay in some form but always well run.

  • B T says:
    10 Jul10 July 11:45

    Hi,

    Just looking for some advise here, I have booked a flight starting in AMS – CPT but have to change airports on the way back in London. Firstly, am I right in saying I will have to collect my luggage and head to the different London airport. And secondly if I “miss” my last leg do I still get the avios and TPs for the 3 legs I did take?

    Much Appriciated.

  • Markc62 says:
    10 Jul10 July 12:18

    Just input an Avis rental number for a booking in the U.K. next weekend. We booked direct with Avis as there were problems trying to book it via BAEC as we usually do. According to the Avis Rep, we get the same benefits as If we had booked via BAEC & it wa a few £’s cheaper too! The booking is in my partner’s name and he doesn’t have an Iberia Account. However, I used his e-mail address, my name and Iberia Plus account number, and I “won” 1,000 avios! Not an earth shattering amount but as the saying goes “every little helps”! Assuming they actually post to my Iberia account of course!

  • Geoff says:
    10 Jul10 July 13:49

    Just entered details for a rental in Orlando booked in Feb for late July so not yet taken and booked through avoid.com. Just received 1000 avios so a double bubble.

  • Clive says:
    10 Jul10 July 14:09

    http://nypost.com/2012/05/13/freequent-flier-has-wings-clipped-after-american-airlines-takes-away-his-unlimited-pass/

    “Steve Rothstein bought a golden ticket from American Airlines in 1987 — granting him a lifetime of unlimited travel.
    He clocked more than 10 million miles and 10,000 flights.”

  • Jay says:
    10 Jul10 July 16:14

    O/T just got an email from Club Carlson for a 75% bonus on points purchased. I’ve never dabbled in hotel points before. Is this a good offer?

  • Fenny says:
    10 Jul10 July 19:34

    OT: Can anyone please remind me of the Hilton public sector code. I had it on my old laptop that died and never managed to transfer the “sticky notes” to the new machine. Ta.

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.

NEW: Sign-up bonuses boosted to 3,000 and 18,000 points

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!