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Aer Lingus and SuperValu launch a NYC competition

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Aer Lingus AerClub has launched a new promotion with the SuperValu supermarket chain.

If you convert your SuperValu Money Back vouchers or Real Rewards points into Avios by 31st December 2018, you will be entered into a draw to win a family flight to New York.  Full details are on the SuperValu website here.

As a reminder, AerClub members can convert Real Rewards points to Avios at a rate of 1 Real Rewards point to 1 Avios (minimum conversion of 50 points) or convert Money Back vouchers to Avios at a rate of €2.50 voucher to 250 Avios.

Your ‘family’ flight is limited to four people, will be in Economy and is ‘subject to availability’.  Unfortunately the T&Cs state that it is likely to be difficult to obtain seats for your ‘family flight’ during school holidays …..

Readers in Ireland will know that SuperValu regularly runs transfer bonuses into Avios.  This competition is instead of a transfer bonus so you may prefer to sit on your points or vouchers until another transfer bonus comes along.

HFP-Barclaycard-Avios-Card

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (February 2023)

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

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

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

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

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 21st February 2023, the sign-up bonus on the British Airways Premium Plus American Express card is increased to 35,000 Avios from 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

35,000 Avios (ONLY to 21st February) 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 £12,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points.

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

30,000 points and unbeatable travel 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

Get a 10,000 points bonus plus an extra 500 points for our readers 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 a £200 Amex Travel credit every year 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.

Category

Aer Lingus and AerClub

Comments (97)

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

  • Peter K says:
    17 Dec17 December 07:21

    OT I have a Club Europe BA flight leaving at 11.10am from Gatwick South next month. Can I check my bags in the night before or would I have to do it that morning? Thanks.

    • Will says:
      17 Dec17 December 09:14

      The night before is fine. I do it often with my golf clubs and stay in a hotel nearby.
      Think the desks close about 9:30-10pm though.

    • bsuije says:
      17 Dec17 December 19:40

      Don’t know about Gatwick, but got turned away at Heathrow recently when I wanted to check in my bags the night before. Desk agent said that Heathrow don’t store bags (other than the actual bag storage people) and that the system wouldn’t even allow her to print a luggage tag… Wondering now whether that was all a lie… 🙈

  • Nick says:
    17 Dec17 December 08:28

    Want to make a couple claims to Amex where a place did not accepted Amex, even though they were clearly on the shop small website app.

    What’s the best price to claim? And what proof is needed?

    Can a supplementary card holder make their one claim too?

    • Robman says:
      17 Dec17 December 08:50

      I claimed a few places during the promotion time through live chat online. The Amex rep understood the issue and offered the £5 credit after asking for full name and address of the merchant that didn’t accept the card. They will also gave the credit on the supplementary card. I’m not sure if they will still do this now the promotion has ended but you can try.

      • Alex G says:
        18 Dec18 December 15:10

        Thanks for the heads up on this, just got two credits refunded on my nectar and platinum from dry cleaners who were on the map, (didn’t know you could do this), was an easy way to get £10 back!

    • Steve says:
      17 Dec17 December 08:51

      £5? Use the chat feature – no proof required. And yes they can claim too.

    • Nick says:
      17 Dec17 December 08:59

      Best method to claim? Now that the live chat feature is gone

    • Rob Walker says:
      17 Dec17 December 09:59

      I had an annoying end to Shop Small on Saturday night. Me and the Mrs had a rare night out without the kids. We went to a small local cocktail bar clearly listed on the SS map. No Amex stickers at the till, just the usual Visa/MC etc. I got the feeling it wasn’t going to be accepted, but went for it (contactless). Goes through no problem. On our fourth drink, my Wife goes to pay and as she taps her card, there’s a gasp from the woman behind the bar. “Oh, is that American Express!? Sorry, you won’t be able to use that for your next drink, they charge us far too much.” Our next drink was elsewhere.

      Later we were heading to another small bar that I know displays the SS sticker in the window. But it was getting late, it was raining and cold, so we admitted defeat and dived in to the local Wetherspoons for one last drink. Again, at the bar, reach forward with my Platinum… Barman turns to his mate.. “Do we accept Amex!?” “No” says his mate. “That’s odd” I say, “I’ve used it here a lot in the past”. He says “Oh well, I think we can take it, but we’re not supposed to. It costs too much” I couldn’t believe it! Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, it is Wetherspoons after all. I’ve bought countless breakfasts in there over the last couple of years, but thinking about it, for the last year it’s always been via their table service app.

      I annoys me that small businesses especially just seem so inept when it comes to this kind of stuff. YOU signed up with Amex, and must have been told the % you’d be paying. If you later decide that’s too much, call them and complain! If they won’t reduce the fee, cancel your merchant account! The Wetherspoons one is bizarre. I’ll see what their head office has to say. Assuming they bother to get back to me. If they’re not too busy out at some rally shouting ‘Brexit means Brexit’ or negotiating a bulk purchase of gammon…

      • Rob Walker says:
        17 Dec17 December 10:35

        To their credit the manager of the Wetherspoons just called me and apologised. He doesn’t know why any of the staff would refuse Amex and is going to have a word. Can’t say fairer than that! Also offered a couple of free drinks next time I’m in.

        • Callum says:
          17 Dec17 December 11:07

          That made no sense anyway as the app accepta Amex!

          When I ask places if they take Amex they often have no idea. I would have thought that would be pretty basic information they would know… In fact, a couple asked me what American Express is!

        • Mark says:
          17 Dec17 December 17:26

          I doubt the site staff members know the details of the companies credit card processing agreement. Even if they did any extra payment fees would not be taken from their wages.

      • Mark says:
        17 Dec17 December 11:50

        Two of my recent examples:
        1) Travel agent.
        “No we don’t take Amex”
        I want to pay by Amex for the insurance benefits…
        “No we don’t take Amex”
        OK, I’ll book elsewhere…
        “No, hold on, I’ll ask my manager. OK, on this occasion, special privilege, etc….”

        2) Hotel / Wedding Venue.
        “We can’t ake Amex for the wedding deposite, but the hotel of course will” (Fair enough, I thiught).
        Later, booking rooms: “No we don’t take Amex”
        But your colleague told me…
        “Really? OK I’ll ask my manager. OK, on this occasion, special privilege, etc….”

        Both blatently lying. Won’t get my business again

        • jc says:
          17 Dec17 December 12:20

          Re travel agent: Amex insurance still applies in full if the vendor doesn’t take Amex (just get something in writing). Though of course there are other reasons one might want to pay by Amex too

        • Anna says:
          17 Dec17 December 17:11

          I often feel like it’s Groundhog Day. “Which cards do you accept?” “All of them.” (Gets out Amex) “Oh we don’t accept American Express.” I think where I live it’s such a rarity they don’t expect anyone to have one. I’ve even had staff telling me it’s the first time they’ve ever seen one!

        • Chris says:
          17 Dec17 December 17:48

          So on this note – am I correct that paying with *an* Amex is sufficient for the platinum insurance benefits?

          Would seem ridiculous to block use of BAPP for Pat customers booking on BA Holidays but there’s no enthusiasm here for getting this wrong. Everything I’ve read implies AN Amex is fine, doesn’t have to be Plat is that right anyone?

          • Rob says:
            17 Dec17 December 23:59

            Yes. Read the rules in the insurance document. Must be a personal UK card in your name, so BA is fine.

        • Alan says:
          17 Dec17 December 23:53

          @Chris – yes T&Cs are clear, you’re fine as it’s an Amex-issued Amex so can use your BAPP.

      • Nate1309 says:
        17 Dec17 December 12:02

        I have started just putting my amex card in the machine without asking (or tapping if contactless). Paid £100 dinner on 10 x £10 Sunday. Waitress didn’t care.

        • Rob Walker says:
          17 Dec17 December 13:30

          Yep, this is definitely the way to do it. Especially if you have a feeling that they do accept it but asking will get you the wrong answer. Both of my cases on Saturday, we got ‘caught’ trying to do just that. Admittedly I wasn’t really trying to hide it in Spoons as they definitely take it chain-wide. In the first bar I made three transactions on various cards, all contactless and all with the card the wrong way up so they couldn’t really see what kind of card it was.

          The daft thing is, SS actually made me try a new local small business and we spent about £46 in there before the SS rebate. So that’s £46 they wouldn’t have had otherwise, and then they refuse to take any more payments. Their loss. Average cocktails, uncomfortable seats. We won’t be back.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          17 Dec17 December 13:35

          I’m with this. I no longer ask. Try your card if it fails then try another.

        • aba says:
          17 Dec17 December 13:58

          My issue was with some shops thinking you are up to something. I had two that actually called amex merchant services, who helpfully tell the shop not to take more than one card (as the merchant services don’t talk to the marketing dept, and assume fraud of some sort). One of these calls advised the owner that the offer could be stopped on my account or my amex accounts closed if I continued to use more than one card per shop in other places – not that they had my details anyway).

          Some also complaining it will cost to much if they split it (I assume they are on a percentage charge and not a fixed charged + a percentage and therefore no difference in fees). But when you question them have no idea what that are paying. One thought they were paying £2 for a £10 transaction, which is very unlikely they are paying 20%!

          Nothing in the T&C’s says you can’t use more than one card per person, per shop.

          Obviously I could complain to Amex, but then you run the risk of them considering it to be gaming (and amex word is final) and closing your account anyway!

        • Anna says:
          17 Dec17 December 17:13

          But then it’s sooo embarrassing if the machine won’t take it as they automatically assume your card is blocked because you haven’t paid your bill!

        • Alan says:
          17 Dec17 December 23:54

          Even better if you just use Google or Apply pay they wont even see what card you’re using 🙂

    • the_real_a says:
      17 Dec17 December 13:25

      I use my phone now contactless. They have no idea what you are paying with!

      • Rob Walker says:
        17 Dec17 December 13:32

        That occurred to me as well. I’m going to try and do this in future. Especially in a bar, you need a prop to indicate that you want to make a card payment, and your phone works as well as a plastic card.

      • Jordie says:
        17 Dec17 December 17:14

        Me too using Google pay. Just wish I could use my VS and IHG with Google pay

    • Andy says:
      17 Dec17 December 18:19

      Call them Nick – successful each time I have contested. Not sure you will have much success with a supp card but worth a try

  • Rash says:
    17 Dec17 December 08:36

    OT might be useful for some:

    https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/deals/partner-offers/principal-offer?promoCode=65351&offerId=UK034&cm_mmc=EMAIL-_-LC_HRG-_-EMAIL_PRINCIPAL_EU_ONE_IHGRC_20181217-_-EUEN-_-A1-_-PRIMARY_CTA

    • Andrew says:
      17 Dec17 December 09:43

      It’s an eye-catching offer. Particularly in that it can be two single nights in the new hotels.

      If there’s a spring “Accelerate” offer, it’s bound to stack well with that too.

      • Dale says:
        17 Dec17 December 11:17

        It is a good offer, but a very restricted set of premium priced hotels, and ‘qualifying rates only’, so you may well be in reality paying handsomely for your ‘free’ night.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          17 Dec17 December 11:50

          By qualifying it will just mean as long as it qualifys for points. Two stays at c£100-150 a night could get you a £200-300 night in London. That’s a good return

        • Mark says:
          17 Dec17 December 12:04

          It’s a lot better than the 3-4-2 I first assumed. The free night is for most IHG hotels worldwide.

        • Brian W says:
          17 Dec17 December 22:58

          Not expensive at all, I’ve just booked the Met in leads for £53 this Friday night for stay one! I don’t class that as paying handsomely.

    • @alastairtravel says:
      17 Dec17 December 12:53

      This could stack very well especially with a likely IHG January sale and/or linking in with your Accelerate offer.
      By itself it is decent to be honest.

  • New Card says:
    17 Dec17 December 10:05

    Has anyone received their 1,000 bonus for Tesco > Avios conversions? I had this diarised for December 15th but no sign yet.

  • Liz says:
    17 Dec17 December 10:12

    OT Has anyone who transferred their erewards points to Hilton recently had them post yet? I did a transfer on 23/11 and no sign of them yet in HH account.

    • Peter K says:
      17 Dec17 December 12:52

      No, not yet. Similar date of transfer for me. I sent a message to E-rewards and had an automated reply basically said to wait for 6 weeks and if it has not arrived by then to contact them again (despite the t&c’s of the original transfer saying 3 weeks).

  • Ricardo says:
    17 Dec17 December 10:36

    OT seeing as it’s Bits: does anyone know whether LATAM have historically offered a Christmas or New Year sale? Trying to book a business class flight from SCL but their website is booking in to J rather than I (plenty of seats left as it’s a 787-9). No Avios availability either

  • N says:
    17 Dec17 December 11:20

    OT cancelling BAPP before points have swept across means I lose out on the points. Is this correct?

    • Liz says:
      17 Dec17 December 11:39

      It breaks the link – best to wait till they move across.

    • Sussex Bantam says:
      17 Dec17 December 15:02

      You will lose them- need to trade off the cost of keeping the card for a few more days/weeks versus the value of the avios already earned.

  • Nigel the Pensioner says:
    17 Dec17 December 11:32

    Talking of lounges, we went to the AmEx pop up yesterday at about 3.30 after a hard day’s till busting at the Qatari store! It was full but interestingly they were turning away Platinums but letting Centurions in. We left when the champagne turned to de Telmont!
    Nice touch though, but I wish there was something more useful than an embroidered sleep mask up for grabs as a freebie! None of us ever (need) to use them.

    • Brian says:
      17 Dec17 December 12:12

      Was one of your party a Centurion then?

    • C says:
      17 Dec17 December 12:14

      I went on Friday lunchtime and took a couple of colleagues as it’s only 5 mins from work. There was no queue at this time. Had a couple of the little food bowls and smoothies/hot choc so was a free lunch! They were doing the cracker making workshop at this time. One of the cracker gifts (which didn’t really fit in the cracker) was a useful little measuring spoon set which I’ve already used at home! Also got my secret santa present wrapped up for giving on Friday afternoon and the recipient was so impressed at how beautiful it looked! Didn’t tell her it wasn’t my doing 🙂

    • Ben says:
      17 Dec17 December 16:42

      I was also there from around 1 popped out so they put my name on the wait list got the text about 20 mins later so went back to pick up the mask and have another drink (im only a lowly plat)
      (what I did find shocking was that there was only 46 eye masks available so they went in about 10 mins – Lucky I was downstairs when it opened at 2pm so managed to grab one for a gift)

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