Good one-way business class fares to the US from London
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A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the excellent TAP Air Portugal one-way (and return) fares to the United States from Dublin. There were as low as £600 one-way in Business Class.
You can fly to New York, Boston or Miami. The only snag is that you need to fly after 31st March 2019.
TAP has now extended this offer to London departures, via Lisbon. For example, Heathrow to Boston on 15th May is £729 one-way in Business Class. You can also fly from Gatwick and London City.
For £860 you can buy a fully refundable one-way ticket which could be a back-up if you are waiting for Avios seats to open. Note that the deal does NOT work in the other direction, flying from the US to London.
Return fares are also available for around £1300.
It is definitely a good deal for anyone unsure when they will be coming back, although you MUST book a random cancellable Avios return ticket home to avoid any problems with US immigration.
This is also worth a look if you have the ‘£200 cashback for £600 spend at Amex Travel’ offer showing on one of your American Express cards at the moment.
A free stopover of up to five days is possible in Lisbon. If you book on the TAP website this is offered to you during booking.
TAP Air Portugal is a member of Star Alliance so your flights will earn miles in any Star Alliance frequent flyer scheme. You can find out more on the TAP website 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.
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How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (April 2025)
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.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
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.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard
3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review
