Bits: Heathrow Christmas ad, 50% off Virgin East Coast, 5000 Miles & More miles with Budget

News in brief:

Mr and Mrs Bear return

Heathrow Airport has released its 2017 Christmas video / advert and, whilst other websites seem to be able to fill full articles with this news, I simply don’t get it.

1. Why is the video about a bear family when they all turn into humans in the end?
2. Why is the song so sad?
3. How do they get in the taxi when obviously someone else snatches it from them.

I do, however, appreciate that Mrs Bear kept her coat from last years ad and the suitcase also seems to be the same.

If you want to see the ad, the link is here.

You can also take a quiz on the site to check whether you were born in the wrong decade – which according to the test I was, as I am apparently a child of the ’70s ….

Get 50% off Virgin East Coast tickets TODAY

Virgin East Coast is running a very short flash sale this week which ends today (Wednesday).

300,000 seats (Standard Advance and First Class Advance) are reduced by 50%.  You need to travel between 6th January and 2nd March, excluding 10th-18th February and 24th-25th February.

You need to book by midnight tonight and use this special link here.

5,000 Miles & More miles with a Budget car rental

Lufthansa Miles & More miles are not so easy to earn if you live in the UK so this offer of 5,000 Miles & More miles for a 3+ day Budget car rental is worth a look.

You need to book by 30th November but the rental can be for any date before the end of June.  The promotion is only valid for rentals in Europe and you must book via the special link on the Miles & More website.

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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.

There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card. 

The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.

There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review