Bits: new Avios-earning Qatar business deals from £836 (£1660 Oz), Business Traveller deal

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• JamesB says:

  27 Sep27 September 03:22

  “Brussels to Johannesburg €214”

  Everybody and their granny will be wanting this one 🙂

  • Rob says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:16

    Doh …..

• JamesB says:

  27 Sep27 September 03:38

  OT amex offers: In addition to the superdrug offer Harry reported yesterday, I’m now seeing £10 off £40 @ topshop and topman, and £5 off £50 at Esso which is first 9000 cards only.

  • kevino says:

    27 Sep27 September 04:21

    What is OT Amex?

    • Matt says:

      27 Sep27 September 05:11

      A semi-colon might help: OT [off topic, a pre-emptive apology for dragging conversation away from the topic at hand]; amex offers [here are some useful American Express cardholder offers which popped up today].

      I have too much time on my hands.

      • the real harry1 says:

        27 Sep27 September 06:42

        that Esso offer seems a bit rare but got 1 on Gold main

        • Ro says:

          27 Sep27 September 07:13

          Any ideas on how to add offer on other cards you hold in the same AMEX online account?

        • Ro says:

          27 Sep27 September 07:18

          It’s also every time use so if you have bills to pay using paypoint and Esso has paypoint at the location, you could be in luck.

        • the real harry1 says:

          27 Sep27 September 07:38

          yep I tried it on Blue using the offer ID and it was rejected

        • JP says:

          27 Sep27 September 09:50

          Yes pretty rare, only got on BA Blue on my account and not Gold or nectar, my wife does not have it at all.

  • Zoe says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:04

    So I think I recall buying some gift cards in an Esso with Tesco attached. My car is only a Fiat 500 so won’t fit £50 of fuel. For some reason I’m less inspired by £5 off than I would be by an extra 500 Avios.

• kevino says:

  27 Sep27 September 04:16

  Does anyone know if the 4 BA flights that are required for tier membership have to be paid flights, or do avios flights count too?

  • Mud Island Mlungu says:

    27 Sep27 September 05:15

    Paid for

• kevino says:

  27 Sep27 September 04:21

  What is OT Amex?

  • Simon says:

    27 Sep27 September 04:57

    Off topic

  • Louise says:

    27 Sep27 September 04:57

    Off Topic

• TheRealJamesB! says:

  27 Sep27 September 04:35

  OT: When upgrading from Amex Gold to Platinum, are Amex still charging the £450 on the anniversary of the the Good card or are they now billing straight away? Thanks in advance.

  • Matt says:

    27 Sep27 September 06:05

    I upgraded in June and haven’t been charged. I think some have reported being charged straightaway though so might be pot luck.

    • G says:

      27 Sep27 September 08:35

      Upgraded start of August and not been charged yet. Fingers crossed I don’t!

  • Polly says:

    27 Sep27 September 06:47

    James ..now l am really confused. Which of you was James67…the helpful expert on Thailand ! Are you there atm. How is the Bali sit…l know it’s OT…but relevant to this qr sale…

    • JamesB says:

      27 Sep27 September 07:06

      Hi Polly Janes67>JamesB who recommended you Hat Yai and Pathalung. Not using any other name nor have I done so, you can draw your own conclusions! In Satun at moment, only thing I have seen on Bali is on the BBC. Anybodies guess I suppose but it would seem they have real concerns given people have been evacuated.

      • Polly says:

        27 Sep27 September 08:32

        Good to know, guessed from your comments. Yes, we do plan to do that Thailand trip etc you advised, at some point.

        • JamesB says:

          27 Sep27 September 08:51

          Hat Yai has gone downhill a little Polly but beach at Songkhla is still awesome. If you really want to get away from it all Koh Lipe in Andaman Sea is gorgeous.

      • Polly says:

        28 Sep28 September 09:36

        Thanks James, all noted for future trip…

  • Rob Brown says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:37

    Was the anniversary of Gold for me – but as others have said may be hit and miss. And I don’t know if they would charge you if you tried to cancel before.

  • Graeme says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:40

    I upgraded around March time and was charged in August, sadly.

    • JP says:

      27 Sep27 September 09:52

      What would be interesting is if you cancelled would the pro rata refund per from March or August….

    • Michael Jennings says:

      27 Sep27 September 10:15

      I am not sure that five months free would make me sad.

      • Andrew M says:

        27 Sep27 September 10:30

        But are we sure it is free? Per my question below, will Amex come after it retrospectively upon cancellation? (At least if cancelling within that 5 month period!)

        • Louise says:

          27 Sep27 September 11:41

          Not in my experience. No charges after cancellation

        • Jay says:

          27 Sep27 September 11:48

          Likewise here. Upgraded from Gold to Plat earlier this year and was not charged at all. Had the Plat card for about 3-4 months.

  • Andrew M says:

    27 Sep27 September 10:28

    Has anyone here upgraded Gold->Plat, not been charged annual fee straightaway, then cancelled (or downgraded) after the first month but still before any annual fee was charged? If so, did Amex try to charge at that point (i.e. time of cancellation) the annual fee for period of platinum held? Thanks!

    • Matt says:

      27 Sep27 September 10:59

      No – just done that with no fee charged.

      • Temp says:

        28 Sep28 September 07:44

        Oh dear. Sounds like I have really messed up here. I am not a ‘churner’ but do plan to upgrade my GC to Plat just before the anniversary. I assumed you were charged the £450 the moment you upgraded… Is this not correct? Sounds like I will be charged straight away anyway!

        • Alan says:

          28 Sep28 September 12:08

          It’s meant to be charged straight away – doesn’t always seem to happen but I wouldn’t bet on it!

• Martin CC says:

  27 Sep27 September 04:39

  Anyone seen any Qatar business seats to Aukland in sale? I tried searching but I could only do it by selecting each European city individually and after a few obvious ones gave up. Anyone know how to get to see all Europe to Aukland flights in one search?

  • Mud Island Mlungu says:

    27 Sep27 September 05:15

    ITA Matrix

    • Rob says:

      27 Sep27 September 08:20

      Search for the big article I did on using ITA Matrix. Replace references to BA++ with QR++ and all is fixed.

      • pauldb says:

        27 Sep27 September 08:29

        + not ++ 🙂

  • Polly says:

    27 Sep27 September 06:42

    Or use avios from syd to akl

  • BillB says:

    27 Sep27 September 07:14

    I find flightconnections.com a great interactive visual aid for identifyiing direct flights. Can even filter by alliance.

    • MrZee says:

      27 Sep27 September 08:14

      Helpful website. Thanks

    • Wally1976 says:

      27 Sep27 September 09:14

      Thanks for this 🙂

• totaltool says:

  27 Sep27 September 08:09

  Slightly O/T but QATAR related. I have some business class flights booked next year Edinburgh to Sydney return. Never flown with them before. How do I collect Avios (as seems to be possible based on this article). I thought I got Qmiles which could not be converted easily to Avios. Also would anyone have any idea how many Tier Points and Avios two returns would achieve. Chase the latter but never bothered with the former. Might be worth doing.

  • Genghis says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:14

    Put BAEC no into the booking. Use The calculator https://www.britishairways.com/travel/flight-calculator/public/en_gb. Enter single flights only so EDI-DOH etc

  • Polly says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:15

    Hi Totaltool, you will need to open a British airways executive club BAEC, account. Then before you fly you put in your BAEC no so the miles and TPs get credited to your BAEC, thus avios and TPs. Whatever you do don’t get into q miles, useless customer support. Like dealing with 12 year olds. And no you cannot convert whiles to avios

    • totaltool says:

      27 Sep27 September 08:29

      thanks for help. booking was through expedia so will have a look.

• N says:

  27 Sep27 September 08:52

  OT: Booking internal flights for my trip to SA in January. Flying in and out of JNB (on a 2-4-1) in F (first First!). We’ve got two days in Kruger booked, so need to get to HDS, then basing ourselves in CPT for the rest of the trip. Looking at the following;

  JNB-HDS – SA Express
  HDS-CPT – CemAir
  CPT-JNB – Safair, Kulula or ComAir.

  The final CPT-JNB flight will be on the day of our return to the UK. Flying back on BA0054 (take off at 2150). Do we gain anything by booking with ComAir in terms of connection protection, checking through luggage, etc? Or should we just book ourselves on a morning flight and either bosh out a day in Johannesburg or chill in a lounge of some sort for the day?

  • Rob says:

    27 Sep27 September 08:59

    Legally, no. Morally, you would have more chance of being helped if Comair caused your delay.

    • N says:

      27 Sep27 September 09:45

      It’s pretty much double the cost to fly ComAir vs Kulula, or the same price, but plus 3,200 OB points. I don’t think I trust BA enough to put that sort of money/points down on a *maybe*

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