Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

News: Big Avios / Kaligo promo tomorrow, the bizarre Priority Pass vending machine at City

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News in brief:

Exclusive Head for Points / Kaligo.com Avios offer

If you are looking to make some hotel bookings at the moment, I strongly recommend waiting until tomorrow.  We will be launching an EXCLUSIVE Avios promotion in association with hotel booking site Kaligo.com.

You will be able to earn up to 10,000 bonus Avios on your forthcoming stays.

Visit HfP tomorrow to find out the full details.

London City has a Priority Pass vending machine …. but no lounge

Reader Tony sent me the photo below of a Priority Pass vending machine!

Yes, it is odd.  Is there really a market for a machine vending £69 – £233 Priority Pass airport lounge membership cards?

What is really bizarre is where he found this machine.

London City Airport.

The airport with no lounge unless you pay to use the lounge in the Private Jet Centre next door which we reviewed here.  It isn’t in Priority Pass anyway.  There could be a few confused / annoyed Priority Pass customers out there.

Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (June 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

American Express Platinum card Amex

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here. 

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges. The card has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 points.  Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

Nectar American Express

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here. 

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20.  You get two more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network.  Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (60)

  • KevMc says:
    1 Mar1 March 13:50

    O/T – Mandarin Oriental have finally launched their own loyalty program, and called it ‘Fans of MO’

    You can sign up using the link, below:

    https://www.mandarinoriental.com/fans-of-mo/benefits-enrolment

    The benefits seem to be quite decent, and presumably they are trying to get more people to book direct rather than through FHS, Amex etc.

    You get complimentary wifi, a welcome amenity, as well as:

    FANS WHO BOOK ONLINE MAY SELECT TWO ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES SUCH AS:
    Early Check-in
    Start your stay a little earlier, from 12pm.

    Late Check-out
    Stay a little longer. We would be more than delighted to extend your stay with us until 4pm.

    Daily Breakfast
    We want to give you the best start to each day, therefore breakfast is on us.

    Dining or Spa Credit
    Indulge yourself with a credit towards a relaxing spa treatment or an innovative dining experience.

    Room Upgrade
    When you visit, we’ll do our very best to give you the best.

    Streaming WiFi
    Download, play games and stream as much as you wish.

    Celebratory Treat
    Let us help you make your celebration memorable.

    Pressing Services
    We’ll make sure you look sharp, with complimentary pressing or laundering of your favourite item.

  • David says:
    1 Mar1 March 14:30

    OT – BA LGW Lounge. I may well have missed this somewhere along the line, but when did the champagne become serve yourself? I’m here now and the member of staff looked at me in horror when I asked for some, not realising it was there for the taking!

    • Stu N says:
      1 Mar1 March 22:56

      Months ago, bottles sitting in the coolers with the white wine. It’s an anomoly in the lounge network as everywhere else you have to ask for it.

      • Alex Sm says:
        2 Mar2 March 10:34

        As recently as last March you still had to ask for it. This was in the new lounge already

  • BlueHorizonUK says:
    1 Mar1 March 14:33

    OT – Amex Platinum benefits.

    Trying to sign up my partner to the platinum benefits (SPG etc) but for the life of me I cant see where I can do this. When I log into the site and choose enrolment it only gives the option for me and not the additional cardholder. If I log in as the additional cardholder it defaults back to me again.

    Using Safari on Mac if this makes any difference.

    • Rob says:
      1 Mar1 March 14:35

      They’ve changed the system to make it more stupid. Your partner now needs to create their own Amex account for their supp card. Once this is done they can log in at americanexpress.co.uk/platinum and order their supp cards.

  • Mark1980 says:
    1 Mar1 March 15:28

    OT but my father-in-law is still stuck on the tarmac at Manchester Airport when he should have taken off for a flight to Spain this morning. Will he be eligible for EU261 or does this count as an extraordinary event? Thanks.

  • Steve says:
    1 Mar1 March 20:41

    Does anyone know how (or if I can) book a reward/Avios flight to arrive and depart from two distinct US cities/locations?

    It’s possible that I am being thick but I can’t see that this is doable via ba.com or Avios……

    Thanks

    • Rob says:
      1 Mar1 March 21:09

      You need to call. You could book it as 2 x one ways but the taxes (when flying to NA) cost more than a return.

  • @mkcol says:
    2 Mar2 March 11:30

    OT: The Mothership was due to fly with DY today EDI-OSL. Despite the airport being open the flight was cancelled. The aircraft was due in from New York Stewart, but that rotation yesterday & overnight last night was cancelled.
    Can DY deny EU261 compo?
    Does anyone know where on their site to claim it, as it’s not overly clear when I’ve had a poke around.

    • Rob says:
      2 Mar2 March 11:51

      I doubt it would be tough to blame it on the weather. Even if the airport was open flow would have been reduced I assume.

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