Carlisle Lake District Airport to reopen to scheduled passenger flights

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• Andy says:

  24 Jan24 January 13:21

  “Carlisle Lake District” does not feel right to me at all, since it’s not really that close to the Lakes, but if it means I get better connections then I’m all for it. Booking Carlisle to Dublin and then being able to use my Avios on Aer Lingus sounds great.

  • Tim_T says:

    24 Jan24 January 17:54

    Really? 20 Miles is pretty close in my book and by far the closest airport to the Lake District

  • DPS says:

    24 Jan24 January 18:46

    Great that CAX is re-opening to commercial traffic. It’s a long time since Air Ecosse operated SD360’s LHR-CAX-DND with Home Secretary/local MP Willie Whitelaw a regular passenger!

• Leo says:

  24 Jan24 January 13:32

  OT: very basic question – when applying for a new amex do I include a supp card when asked if I have another Amex. I’ve only just got a supp card for the first time!

  • Rob says:

    24 Jan24 January 13:32

    No

    • Leo says:

      24 Jan24 January 15:55

      Cheers – all done, perhaps the last new Gold for a couple of years!

• Cate says:

  24 Jan24 January 13:52

  Completely OT and more following from yesterday’s article, how likely is it that Amex will release their new Hilton card to UK consumers?

  • Rob says:

    24 Jan24 January 15:47

    Nil, until Barclays gives up or loses the licence.

    And even if it does, as it would be ‘interchange fee capped’ I doubt Amex could make the maths work. Apparently the final appeal on this is due within 3 weeks.

    • Cate says:

      24 Jan24 January 15:55

      I understand.

      Thanks Rob

• Nadeshka says:

  24 Jan24 January 14:07

  O/T on cards
  For the platinum upgrade from Gold, does anyone know if this involves a further credit check?
  Given the rumour mill I’m looking at bringing forward an upgrade for some planned referrals, but are in the middle of getting a mortgage so want to avoid any hits on the credit record.

  • Ade says:

    24 Jan24 January 14:50

    Don’t take this as gospel, but

    I recently (last couple of months) did the Gold to Platinum upgrade, and there is no note on my credit report of any additional search/check.

    • Andrew S says:

      24 Jan24 January 15:13

      Was a hard search for me, but my credit file shows it as one continuing card rather than closing and opening a new card.

• Dominic says:

  24 Jan24 January 14:45

  OT

  My curve card arrived yesterday and just getting going with it.

  You can withdraw £200 cash a month and not be charged but do any of the business customers who have had this a while know if that’s £200 a month per card or £200 total amongst your credit cards? FAQs not that clear. Thanks.

  • Rob says:

    24 Jan24 January 15:45

    Reports on here say it is £200 per linked card.

• MarkH says:

  24 Jan24 January 15:07

  OT as bits – I was thinking of using my Hilton voucher for the DoubleTree Madrid – Prado. Has anyone been there and would you recommend Madrid in general?

  I am also gold but i notice there is limited scope for upgrade – just wondering if the rooms are decent enough anyway that this is not an issue.

  • pauldb says:

    24 Jan24 January 15:27

    Nothing can add on the hotel. Don’t rely on my view alone but personally I found Madrid a bit sterile. It will probably appeal to you more if you like palaces and museums/galleries, but personally I’m more drawn to unique sights and a dramatic setting so I would rate it behind Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome, Stockholm for example. My favourite thing in Madrid was probably wandering the backstreets as a shortcut back to our hotel.

    • Rob says:

      24 Jan24 January 15:41

      Tempted to agree. Something about it doesn’t grip me.

      • MarkH says:

        24 Jan24 January 16:09

        That confirms the general impression I was getting from looking at tripadvisor… might need to rethink…

      • Jim says:

        25 Jan25 January 01:22

        but Rob – you’re a Dubai type of guy. Thats says it all.

    • David says:

      24 Jan24 January 18:13

      There’s nothing sterile about Chueca 🙂 I *love* Madrid – far more than Barcelona for example. We’re giving Seville a go in a few weeks – booked when CE fares were cheaper than Euro Traveller with a bag.

  • Rob says:

    24 Jan24 January 15:43

    If you go, remember that BOTH BA and Iberia run long-haul planes with flat beds on some Madrid flights. A great excuse to book yourself into Business Class.

    Remember too that Iberia Plus has better reward availability on Iberia than ba.com.

    • MarkH says:

      24 Jan24 January 16:13

      thanks Rob – that was one of the reasons I was considering Madrid in the first place as you’d mentioned it in an article a while back

      • JamesB says:

        24 Jan24 January 17:12

        Only been once but I found it very pleasant. I love Valencia and Barcelona too. It’s not difficult to do all three in one trip if you have the time, and I’d highly recommend it for the contrasts.

  • Leo says:

    24 Jan24 January 16:09

    This just shows what a subjective subject travel is. I REALLY like Madrid and probably prefer it to Barcelona. There are great palaces and museums etc. but it’s also really vibrant in my opinion. Great restaurants, excellent night-life – also really easy to get around. I think Madrilenos are much friendlier than their compatriots (for now) in Barcelona. I always think Barcelona is just overwhelmed with tourists – you don’t get that sense in Madrid. But it’s entirely subjective – I don’t think Madrid though is a great city for points redemptions although there is an Indigo and an IC. I think the Indigo is better located. I last stayed at the Urso Hotel which is SLH and got free breakfast due to the status I got in their loyalty program after finding out about it on here. One of the many times I’ve had cause to thank HfP.

    • RussellH says:

      24 Jan24 January 16:46

      We are going to Madrid in March. Again, having read HFP we have booked a BA Hols package rather than using points. My partner paid the deposit on her BA Amex and got 1500 extra Avios, there are another 700 due as a bonus for me, and I shall get nearly 1100 SPG for paying the balance with that card. And we shall get enough tier points to push me into Bronze just before my year ends.

      We have been once before – our best memory is sitting in the park feeding the ridiculously friendly squirrels.

    • Cate says:

      24 Jan24 January 18:41

      I see we are of the same mind Genghis :-).

    • Tilly says:

      24 Jan24 January 20:23

      We loved Madrid. Enjoyed exploring the city, chilling in the park, the food amd drinks. The Segway tour was great fun too!

      Personally I prefer it to Barcelona.

      We’re going to Valencia in early March. Really looking forward to it!

    • MarkH says:

      24 Jan24 January 20:23

      have to admit that does sound pretty good!

    • CV3V says:

      24 Jan24 January 20:45

      i tend to judge my holidays (and locations) not by the attractions but by how good the atmosphere and food was. In Madrid Mercado De San Miguel, or the top floor food court at El Corte Ingles (!), in Bangkok the madness of the food court in Siam Paragon. I dont get much of a sun tan on holiday.

  • Pangolin says:

    24 Jan24 January 17:36

    Even though I can see why others might not put Madrid top of their list, why not just go and decide for yourself?

    There are plenty of times in the year when it is an awful lot nicer to be strolling around in Madrid than it is to be stuck in the UK, and early spring or late autumn is definitely one of those times.

  • CV3V says:

    24 Jan24 January 20:38

    Been to Madrid 4 times, Barcelona 3 times. Barcelona has some stunning architecture but is overrun by tourists and not always the best of food.

    In Madrid every trip has been really enjoyable, hotels are better value and the food options are great. There are a few must visit tapas venues to try, on last trip i found Platea for first time, another great venue added to list. Also at Madrid airport the lounges are pretty good, quite quiet, the paid for lounge is surprisingly good.

    • CV3V says:

      24 Jan24 January 20:47

      by best of food i mean there are a load of tourist traps. BCN is famed for its modern cuisine.

• Andrew S says:

  24 Jan24 January 15:16

  The one with the annual fee of £25/year (not the Everyday version) is tiered currently until the end of Jan:

  £30 for first
  £35 each for second and third
  £40 each for 4th – 6th referral
  £220 max total
  Prior to this promotion it was £25 each (max £125)

  • Andrew S says:

    24 Jan24 January 15:22

    Just double checked and prior to the promotion Amex raised the referral bonus from £25 to £30 each (max £150)

    • JamesB says:

      24 Jan24 January 15:42

      Thanks Andrew. Just been looking at referrals from platinum too and discovered that we cannot refer the new AECC.

• VJ says:

  24 Jan24 January 16:45

  A couple of question on AMEX Cards

  1. Can you refer yourself
  2. Do you still get the referral bonus even the 6 months haven’t elapsed since last cancellation.

  Thanks

  • Pangolin says:

    24 Jan24 January 17:38

    1. No
    2. No

  • mark2 says:

    24 Jan24 January 17:49

    1. Some say that they have and have received the bonus, but if you do not you will still get the card so cannot apply again.
    2. No

    • s879 says:

      24 Jan24 January 18:56

      So just to be clear, if I refer my other half for Amex Platinum, he won’t get any points as he cancelled his 4 months ago and I understand that part but I won’t get any points for referring him either via my SPG Amex?

      • Relaxo says:

        24 Jan24 January 19:08

        You will get the points for referring him. He will not get the signup bonus.

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