Gulf Air has launched a couple of interesting business class deals

Gulf Air has launched a couple of interesting business class deals from Heathrow to the Middle East and Asia.

Prices are, in theory, £1149 return to Bangkok, £1149 return to Dubai, £1279 return to Muscat and ‘from’ £1149 return to various Indian destinations.

These fares do not seem to be bookable on the Gulf Air website, so you need to use Expedia, Opodo or similar.  Expedia is pricing about £60 higher than what I quote above.  Trailfinders, if you have a branch near you, is advertising them at the exact prices I mentioned.

London to Bahrain will be on a brand new Boeing 787 with fully flat beds in Falcon Gold business class.  You should check the seating on your connecting flight.

Gulf Air is NOT in a major alliance but you can credit your miles to a Cathay Pacific account.

Travel dates are 6th September to 31st December.

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.

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How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (September 2024)

Some UK credit cards offer special bonuses when used for buying flights. If you spend a lot on airline tickets, using one of these cards could sharply increase the credit card points you earn.

Booking flights on any airline?

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold earns double points (2 Membership Rewards points per £1) when used to buy flights directly from an airline website.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points. These would convert to 20,000 Avios or various other airline or hotel programmes. The standard earning rate is 1 point per £1.

You can apply here.

Buying flights on British Airways?

The British Airways Premium Plus American Express card earns double Avios (3 Avios per £1) when used at ba.com.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios. The standard earning rate is 1.5 Avios per £1.

You do not earn bonus Avios if you pay for BA flights on the free British Airways American Express card or either of the Barclaycard Avios Mastercards.

You can apply here.

Buying flights on Virgin Atlantic?

Both the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard and the annual fee Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard earn double Virgin Points when used at fly.virgin.com.

This means 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on the free card and 3 Virgin Points per £1 on the paid card.

There is a sign-up bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points on the free card and 18,000 Virgin Points on the paid card.

You can apply for either of the cards here.