Bits: BA launching Seychelles flights today?, new Avios in-store shopping partners
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News in brief:
British Airways (re)launching the Seychelles today?
According to the rumour mill, which includes tweets from BA pilots, a new route is being announced today. There is a good chance that it will be the return of the Seychelles to the British Airways network.
If you have some Avios and potentially a British Airways American Express 241 to spend, get thinking.
As soon as the announcement is made, two Club World seats for Avios will be released for every flight. No restrictions. It obviously depends when the route is due to start of course – if it is launching in March then only March 2018 to early September 2018 will be available, which is not peak season.
It might not Seychelles of course. I’ll let you know tomorrow. We do know, for certain, that it will be a Boeing 787 route.
New Avios eStore and Virgin Shops Away in-store partners
Avios and Virgin Shops Away have added eight new in-store partners to their respective eStores.
If you haven’t linked a payment card to your eStore account yet and you like eating at places like Byron, Prezzo and Flaming Grill, you should do so before your next meal. Do NOT link the same card to both stores as you won’t be able to control which site receives the miles.
The new places and earning rates are:
Byron 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Chef & Brewer 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Old English Inns 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Hungry Horse 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Flaming Grill 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Fayre & Square 5 Avios/£1 or 4 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Eating Inn 5 Avios/£1 or 8 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1 (not a typo)
Prezzo 3 Avios/£1 or 2 Virgin Flying Club miles/£1
Virgin also has a long-established deal with Jamie’s Italian at 2 miles per £1.
How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 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 Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 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
30,000 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.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. 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
The Platinum Card from American Express
Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large 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.
Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) and NO FX fees Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
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
50,000 points when you sign-up 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.
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