Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Miami wide open for Avios flights from November due to new British Airways service

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Last year, American Airlines announced that it was swapping one its two daily Heathrow to Miami services with British Airways from late 2018.

We are seeing more of this behaviour going on recently.  Virgin Atlantic and Delta, its major shareholder, have also been swapping US routes.  It makes sense when the traffic flow is mainly one way (more UK residents visit Florida than Florida residents visit the UK) to use the ‘local’ brand on the flight.  Because the airlines pool revenue on these services, neither is worse off and both benefit if the combined group gains market share.

British Airways has just opened up booking for this new 3rd-daily Miami service.

Miami unsplash

Two Club World seats and four World Traveller seats are available on every service.  Only a handful have been nabbed so far.

Here are the details:

Service starts 28th October 2018

Aircraft type is a Boeing 747, so there is the option of the Upper Deck if you are in Club World

Outbound will be BA211, leaving at 16.05 and arriving at 20.55

The return will be BA210, leaving at 23.20 and arriving in London at 12.40 next day (23.40 – 13.00 on some days)

If you fancy a trip to Miami for Christmas or New Year, for the Spring, for February half term or for Easter 2019, get booking now at ba.com.


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Comments (39)

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

  • Grant says:

    Is there any external link to the announcement? I have a booking on the AA flight (AA38) that is being cancelled in December but it is still shown as open for booking in on their website (tho not on BA’s). I obviously will need to change the flight, but if it is still shown as open for booking I don’t think they will let me – even if we know it has been cancelled.

    • Lady London says:

      You could just call BA and ask. They might be helpful as they will be able to see if it’s cancelled.

  • xcalx says:

    St Augustine is my top pick for Florida followed by St Pete Beach, Naples, Lauderdale by the Sea and Tarpon Springs and what was Clearwater beach 25 years ago, returned last year and the place is ruined by high end jewellers and clothes shops at the start of the pier ( who buys this stuff on a beach day)

    • Boi says:

      Where would people recommend in Florida for a family?
      (Already done Disney)

      • Doug M says:

        Why not Orlando and pass on Disney. Easy access to both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Good range of inexpensive hotels, great weather. Miami not really family, Keys expensive and again not family orientated.

      • Rob says:

        Cape Canaveral

        Drive through the Everglades to see the crocodiles!

      • david says:

        Drive down either coast. There are many state run waterparks that are excellent and a pittance to enter. Knaus Berry Farm in south. Small independent zoos with hands on interactions. Check out the lake swimming near Orlando/Tampa. Timed right you can swim with manatee’s. The theme parks are excellent because they suck in the people like a Mecca whilst I enjoy these surroundings areas without the abundance of people.

  • Lady London says:

    Aren’t BA flying directly to FLL now? A nicer airport to land in than some US ones.

  • Doug M says:

    Kennedy Space centre easy day trip from Orlando, as is Busch Gardens if you want a theme park. If you like beaches Gulf coast fabulous, St. Petes Beach north to Clearwater great beaches. I love the Bilmar on Treasure Island, bit motel like, but clean and located perfectly. Was there last November and loads of the rooms were gutted for a complete refurb, so must have many newish rooms. In Orlando consider the resort places, often kid friendly, play groups and organised activities, on site pools, and you can at these type of place get an apartment, so have full kitchen. Even as a typically solo traveller I love the space and facilities of an apartment, especially when it’s cleaned by someone else.

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

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