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Bits: BA lounge guesting rules, AirPortr partners with AA, 40% off PartnerPlusBenefit redemptions

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News in brief:

British Airways lounge guesting rules relaxed over Christmas

Whilst there has been no official announcement, British Airways seems to have relaxed its Gatwick and Heathrow lounge access policy for Gold members.

Until 13th January it appears that:

a Gold card holder can take up to FIVE guests into Galleries Club (not Galleries First) as long as all passengers are on the same ticket

a Gold Guest List member can take up to FIVE guests into Galleries First as long as all passengers are on the same ticket

You can find out more in this Flyertalk thread with post 24 being the key.

AirPortr bag check-in now available for AA flights

AirPortr, the luggage collection and delivery service, has expanded its unique ‘door to destination’ baggage check-in service.

Until now you were only able to use the full ‘door to destination’ service – which includes checking in your bags for you – when flying with British Airways.  You can now also use the service when flying American Airlines from Heathrow.

You can travel without seeing your luggage all the way to your final destination.   Your luggage will be picked up, tagged and checked in for you.  When you arrive at the airport you can head straight to security.  This service can be used for pick ups from your front door, hotel lobby or office. I tried AirPortr early this year and my review of AirPortr’s pick up service is here.

AirPortr check-in can be booked on this page of the AirPortr website. Prices start from £30 for the first bag and £10 for each additional bag within Central London.

To promote the new new American Airlines partnership, AirPortr is currently offering £10 off by using the code AAUPANDAWAY.

PartnerPlusBenefit

Save 40% on PartnerPlusBenefit redemptions

PartnerPlusBenefit is the small business scheme for the UK and Ireland run by 11 of the Star Alliance airlines.  This includes Lufthansa and Swiss.

We wrote about PPB in detail in this article.  It is a LOT more flexible than the British Airways On Business scheme which we reviewed here – although you’d be daft not to join On Business too if you have a VAT registered UK business.  Click here to sign up – you’ll receive 1,500 BenefitPoints just for joining.

Until 31st December, PPB is offering 40% off all flight redemptions and upgrades.  A return flight from the UK to Germany is just 2,100 points, reduced from 3,500 points, for example.  The discount applies to flights on all PartnerPlusBenefit partner airlines.  Full details of this offer are in your PPB account online.

Comments (79)

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

  • Geoff says:

    thanks both.

  • Richard G says:

    Guess I’ll be avoiding the (kid filled) BA lounges this Christmas!

  • Michael May says:

    OT – none of today’s articles are appearing on the front page for me, even after clearing caches

    • Peter K says:

      You need to have set up the direct debit for the subscription fee for 2018 to be taken in time for the new year.

    • Genghis says:

      +1. Working on phone but not on work pc. How will I get through the day till the HfP drinks this evening…

      • Waribai says:

        Was just thinking the same as I had a similar issue earlier but working fine now. Close one though, nearly had to leave work early and get a headstart over at the Melia White!

    • Rob says:

      Weird. Working fine for me. We are playing with Cloudflare this morning to set up HTTPS which may cause it.

      • Michael May says:

        Working fine now!

      • Ben says:

        +1 Mine also – I had to search head for points and they come up on google.

        @Genghis – thanks for reminding me 🙁 I didnt get a ticket

    • Scott says:

      Also, the links to the next article at the bottom of the current article have gone. Can we have them back please Rob?

      • Rob says:

        Been doing some IT work to enable HTTPS this morning. Apologies for the inconvenience but, with Anika and I at an event, it was the best time to mess with the database.

  • Ben says:

    Morning,
    Wanted to pick peoples brains. I have just cancelled my VA Black Amex so currently just sitting with the Lloyds Avios card (still in the double earning phase). Also cant get the Amex Gold as my 6 months is not up yet.
    I have started flying a lot more with BA through work so now want to focus on the Avios. I am alone in my passion but my family & Wife are happy to indulge me and help out my refering etc.
    Am i right in saying;
    Mum gets free BA Card
    Refers me to BAPP
    I refer Dad BA Free Card
    I refer Wife to BA free card
    + any other family member etc

    Am i missing out on anything here to maxamize the earning of my family signing up.

    Appricaite the help.

    • Genghis says:

      Refer for BAPP and you offer to pay the fees? Run the numbers on short term churns. Put everyone in your HHA so you use all the avios?

      • Ben says:

        OK so just pay 2 months fees (while im hitting the £3000 spend)?
        I couldnt find it in the BAPP T&Cs, how much is the referal bonus? I think I remember it being 9k to refer someone to the BAPP.

        • Genghis says:

          Essentially if all rests on how fast you spend money
          The BA Amex is 6k sign up for £1k spend and 9k for you if referred from BAPP, total 15k vs BAPP for 26k+9k=35k. With a 20k delta, assume it takes 2 months to spend £3k, costs are then £32.50 or 0.16ppa. I’d be v happy with that. Also take into account extra avios from spending which I cba to calc here as not that material in the grand scheme of things.

  • reds says:

    Fine yesterday but HfP’s articles not coming through for me this morning on my desktop!

    • Rob says:

      Cache issue, should clear itself.

      • Radiata says:

        Still not working here on mobile and laptop. Home page shows yesterday’s articles even after repeated forced refreshes.

        Pointing at http rather than https does not help either – redirects to https and to 11.12.17.

        Articles for today found via links on HfP twitter feed..

  • Scallder says:

    Just had an email from Fairmont saying that as of July 2nd 2018, their President’s Club will be no more and their hotels will fall under the Le Club AccorHotels membership

  • Cate says:

    Just getting my head round this, you apply for a status match with Marriott from another hotel provider, they then give you a challenge to get to Platinum which when completed you become platinum with SPG and Ritz till 2020?

    I didn’t know Marriott did status challenges but if there was a way to get SPG Plat status I’d be interested (currently gold).

  • ankomonkey says:

    I have a cash stay at a Hilton soon and then a separate points booking for the final day of the stay. Do I remember correctly people saying Hilton don’t award points on any part of the stay when this happens? Or did I dream this? I do dream about points opportunities. Had one already this week…

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

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