News in brief:
Generous Amex Travel cashback credit launched
American Express Travel has launched a new cashback credit promotion.
There are a couple of versions. The most generous, which I got, is a whopping £200 back on a £600 spend via Amex Travel. The other version, which my wife has, offers £50 back on £200 of spend.
Only 7,000 people can register for the £600 version so I recommend looking at the ‘Offers’ tab on your Amex online statement pages and signing up, if it is there. It is more likely to show on a Gold or Platinum card than on a BA or SPG American Express card. You have until 15th November to do the necessary spend.
Historically these offers have been based on cumulative spend although it is not specified here.
This offer is only valid for pre-paid products. It is best used for a flight. Whilst there is clearly value in booking hotels this way too, Amex Travel is counted as a third party booking site and you won’t receive hotel points or status benefits. You can’t use it for Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings as these are not pre-paid.
2,000 Heathrow Rewards points on fashion purchases
Heathrow Rewards has launched a new bonus for purchases at certain fashion retailers in the airport.
You usually earn 1 Heathrow Rewards point per £1 spent, which transfer at 1:1 into Avios, Virgin Flying Club or other airline miles, or can be used for Heathrow shopping vouchers.
Until 30th September, you will get the following bonuses:
- 250 extra points when you spend £50 – £149.99 (Accessorize and Cath Kidston only)
- 500 extra points when you spend £150 – £199.99
- 1,000 extra points when you spend £200 – £349.99
- 1,500 extra points when you spend £350 – £499.99
- 2,000 extra points when you spend £500 or more
Participating retailers are Accessorize, Anya Hindmarch, Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Burberry, Cath Kidston, Chanel, Collection, Dior, Gucci, Harrods, Hermes, HUGO, Hugo Boss, Jack Wills, John Lewis, Kate Spade, Kurt Geiger, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Paul Smith, Prada, Reiss, Saint Laurent, Smythson, Superdry, Sunglass Hut, Sunglasses Boutique, Ted Baker, Thomas Pink and Valentino. It excludes Harrods Signature stores and Harrods Fine Watch Room. Registration is not necessary.
Remember that you can get a further 3,000 bonus Heathrow Rewards points (worth 3,000 Avios) if you sign-up via this link and spend £150 in one day before the end of the year.
Free Fast Track security at East Midlands Airport
Following on from similar articles this week, reader Joe let me know that East Midlands Airport is offering free Fast Track Security passes when you pre-order £20 of ‘click and collect’ Duty Free.
Full details are on the airport website here.
Identical offers are available at Manchester Airport (click here) and London Stansted (click here).
(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for the latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios from current offers and promotions.)
About Head for Points
I can confirm that 3 separate flight bookings (for BA) have triggered the £200 back on Amex. Total transactions came to just under £700. Wonder why there is always a £0.78 charge with each booking separate on my card.
So one of my flights that I booked was £168 but got an email from Amex travel saying when they went to process it on BA the fare had gone up to £200 so I’ll see that on my card. Amex travel will then credit my card back with £32. Good of them to do that. Sure they could have cancelled the ticket within the 24hr window.
when did you book your travel for? I had an Amex rep on chat saying travel had to between 31st October-30th November, which I strongly doubt.
Yep £600.50 for 3 separate BA flights triggered £200 cash back. Thanks amex that’s almost half the platinum fee back in month 1
Car hire through Amex travel can be good value.
OT. A churn question I didn’t find an answer to in the HFP library.
Just reffed the other half for a new BAPP from my Plat.
We just passed the 6 months since we downgraded the previous BAPP to the free card to get the pro rate refund.
However the free card ran on for another couple of months before it got cancelled- so could use the 241- I know I know we could have just used my Plat to pay.
Here’s the question- Does tha continued ownership of the free BA cardt invalidate the referral fees on either my Plat or her sign up 25k?
Concerned of Sussex
It will invalidate her referral (rules are here https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/02/12/who-qualifies-for-an-american-express-sign-up-bonus/ ) but I think you will get your points.
I thought the referral t&c now imply you only get the points if the person is eligible for the sign up bonus.
@Eugene you never know due to IT gremlins but generally it’s 6 month gap from holding a car that earns that rewards currently not just that actual car. Also your certificate is fine if you cancel the BAPP so no need to downgrade regardless of what the call centre tell you
Thanks
Thanks.
Sigh what a dufus I am.Elementary error. In future it’s hit the 10k spend, receive voucher and relevant points then cancel immediately.
Good job there’s a safari holiday to be paid for which will take it out in one go. Can you churn Gold in same six month interval once you receive the 10k renewal bonus? Assuming there’s no Plat or similar held?
Yep exactly the same as long as you have no MR earning card for 6 months you get a joining bonus
“Remember that you can get a further 3,000 bonus Heathrow Rewards points (worth 3,000 Avios) if you sign-up via this link and spend £150 in one day before the end of the year.”
I have 3 weeks parking coming up which would be more that £150, would that trigger the £150 spend bonus if booked in advance or does it need to be in the airport?
As long as it’s proper Heathrow parking then in advance works.
Thanks
Would the spend count for car hire?
If pre-paid, yes.
Would anyone please be able to take a screenshot of the Amex Offer?
Have called Amex to see if they will put it onto my card, but they want a screenshot from my “friend’s” account to see which offer I’m referring to. Thanks!
Having just spent 30 minutes waiting and then speaking with an Amex Customer Service manager, there is no chance of being added to this offer. The normal ” it is a targeted offer, if you don’t have it, you may receive it at a later date, subject to take-up and availability, otherwise maybe you’ll get it next time”. That was with them already understanding exactly what offer I was talking about. Apparently checked with the marketing team and was told the above.
when did you book your travel for? I had an Amex rep on chat saying travel had to between 31st October-30th November, which I strongly doubt.
I booked for next year June and it’s gone through
Thanks for confirming Chris!
OT Amex have repeatedly said it must be a single transaction. I see above it seems to work for multiple flight bookings. I need to book two hotels, and car rental separately to get above £600 spend. Anyone have experience that this will definitely work?
Thanks
Frustrating – Looking to hire a decent car for a week in the states (Mustang, Charger etc for the wife) so was going to book with Avis via Amex Travel.
Turns out that you cant access the entire Avis stock via AT, so I can book the car from the Avis website, but not from AT. :-/ – Considering booking a similarly priced car and then once processed by AT call Avis directly to amend the booking…
OT – A little. On my BA Amex card I also got the offer ‘Avios – Spend £415+ and get 12,500 Avios’ So effectively purchase 25,000 for £415 and get 12,500 as a bonus. Is this a good deal?
1.1p per Avios is a high and it is a messy offer (registration needed, pay on a certain card, only get best deal for buying 25k). Not hugely exciting.