Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Qatar Airways launches Gatwick flights alongside a week long ‘book early’ sale

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Qatar Airways has landed in Gatwick. On Tuesday the inaugural flight from Doha to London Gatwick was welcomed with a celebratory water arch. The new twice daily service will be operated by a Boeing 787 and increases to 16 flights per week service over the Summer season.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said about the new route:

“Qatar Airways is delighted to be expanding its reach in both London and throughout the U.K. Earlier this month, we launched direct flights to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, clearly demonstrating our continued commitment to this market. We are very proud of our strong and extensive trade ties with the U.K. and look forward to offering our loyal passengers the chance to explore the newest and most exciting destinations within our global network.”

Early Bird promotion

Qatar Airways has also launched an Early Bird promotion for travel later this year.

Book by 29th May for travel between 15th August 2018 and 31st March 2019 to get fares from £391 (Delhi) in Economy.

The travel period for flights departing London is slightly more restricted, running from 1st September 2018 until 31st March 2019.

There’s a blackout period between 13th December 2018 and 13st January 2019 inclusive.

The booking page and T&Cs are here.

Your best option to maximise your miles when paying is American Express Preferred Rewards Gold.  This offers double points – 2 per £1 – when you when you book flight tickets directly with an airline.  Our review of Amex Gold is here.


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 (112)

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

  • rob says:

    Thanks for this post.

    Been looking to take the kids somewhere warm in February half time and just found reward flights on the additional Gran Canaria flights.

    4 tickets for £100. Perfect!

  • dean stannard says:

    what is MMB re booking bassinet seats?

  • Phil says:

    OT,

    I live in the UK, my in-laws live in Singapore. I would like to join their household account so that they can have my Avios. Is that possible through a simple address change on my account then they add me to their household account?

    • Gavin says:

      My in-laws from Seoul live in my UK address for that exact purpose

      • Phil says:

        Does it work the other way? Can I change my BA address to theirs in Singapore and thereby give my Avios?

        • Rob says:

          If you do, you cannot have a BA Amex or convert Tesco points.

        • Roberto says:

          You could make up new BAEC accounts for them at your address in the UK with new email addresses and add then to your UK account. Book flights for them that way.

  • Peter Rogers says:

    Re QR to LGW. I can’t find any flights loaded beyond 28/10, so travel period through to 31/3/19 is rather pointless!

  • Alistair says:

    OT: Best Western (for all Rewards members) –
    Free breakfast for stays until September 30th if you book the “Breakfast on us” rate
    £20 discount voucher for a stay before September 3rd

    (They also offered to lift me back up to Diamond if I stay once this year)

  • jane says:

    October half term to Grand Canaria is now sorted, well flights at least. anyone got any accommodation recommendations then feel free to share. 2 adults + 2 kids under 6. Many thanks for the heads up.

  • Dougie Forde says:

    OT I have just booked the outbound leg on a 2 for 1. Would I be correct in thinking that to add the return leg I now have to ring at 06:00 or can I get round it by ringing an overseas office?

    • Rob says:

      You ring the US or Japan at 1am.

      • Dougie Forde says:

        Great news – where would I find the correct number?

      • Grimz says:

        They don’t always accept your booking.

        • Scallder says:

          I called Australia last week to do it and all went through fine.

      • Darren says:

        I spoke to the call centre last weekend and they are open for US calls until 1am. They must put on their best American accent

  • Andrew says:

    OT as bits: I just booked a London to Madrid return using Iberia, economy outbound on the A340 and business inbound on the Iberia Express to LGW. Two questions: 1) as BAEC silver do I need to do anything to use the lounge on the outbound given it was booked using my Iberia FF number? 2) given the return is to LGW I don’t believe it qualifies for the 50% Avios discount promo, but I just had a sickening thought that this may mean the outbound also no longer qualifies – anyone any idea? Thanks in advance!

    • Alex W says:

      1) when you turn up at the lounge you may have to show your silver BAEC card. They may put your BAEC FF on the ticket. If you need it changed back to IB again they might be able to do it at the gate.

      • Andrew says:

        Thanks a lot. Guessing the app will do it?
        Bizarrely, the outbound is operated by Iberia and shows an IB flight number on my booking receipt, but is apparently a BA codeshare. So confused…

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

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