Virgin Atlantic to launch flights to Sao Paulo in 2020

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• Mr Dee says:

  21 Mar21 March 06:33

  Lets hope a good reduction in taxes for the Sao Paulo route, I think Virgin have a real opportunity to move over BA Avios users with the recent Amex changes…

  • Oh Matron! says:

    21 Mar21 March 08:20

    Well, Bond appears to have been years ahead of his time… 🙂

    This is huge: whilst Virgin have ZERO partners in S.America, Sky Team has AerolineasArgentina, so it’s not out of the realms of impossibility that there may be, at the very least, an interline with them.

    This really opens up places like patagonia, etc, etc so a none BA fanboy like my good self

    • JAXBA says:

      21 Mar21 March 11:42

      Delta also has a partnership with Brazilian airline GOL that probably could be extended to VS.

  • ChrisC says:

    21 Mar21 March 10:25

    You mean the airline fees as opposed to actual government imposed taxes and airport charges.

    But yes if VS reduces their surcharges (which are really part of the base fare) then yes they could attracts some BA flyers.

    I’d credit airlines a lot more if they just called their fees on redemptions a ‘redemption usage fee’ and were more open about it and stopped their call centre staff calling them ‘taxes’

    • Ronal says:

      21 Mar21 March 17:39

      Yes meant associated fees with redemptions

      • Ronal says:

        21 Mar21 March 17:39

        by the looks of it

• Paul says:

  21 Mar21 March 06:35

  This livery thing a fake newscabout being 100 years old is frankly rediculous.

  That said, what would be neat would be seeing all the livery flying in formation or on the ground at same time

• Daniel says:

  21 Mar21 March 06:57

  Erm… Malaysia don’t have first class anymore. It’s “Business Suites” or other such marketing nonsense…

• KBuffett says:

  21 Mar21 March 07:04

  OT – does anyone know if it’s worth contacts hotels directly to try and get a better reservation deal than those quoted on their Marriott website? I’m Marriott Titanium Elite so would prefer to book directly.

  Looking to stay at either Ritz Carlton or Le Royal Meridien in Dubai. Can anyone advise if I would get free breakfast and any lounge access at either of these resorts?

  • Steve says:

    21 Mar21 March 07:31

    Just extended stay by a night at Al Hamra Ritz Carlton in Ras Al Khaimah by speaking to front desk, was quoted the same as online members rate. Titanium elite status here too. Current member rate offer here includes breakfast, worth checking the rate details to see if the same applies in RC Dubai if not check Amex FHR rates, it was only £10 more for 2 at Al Hamra and would normally include $100 credit and other benefits.

  • BJ says:

    21 Mar21 March 16:32

    Had success with this st Hilton. When you call ask for the conference and events office, not reception or reservations.

• Sussex bantam says:

  21 Mar21 March 07:37

  Not many comments in bits today – is there something else going on ?!?

  • Russ says:

    21 Mar21 March 08:24

    Yes it is quite. *sips tea, reads paper*

  • Steve says:

    21 Mar21 March 08:33

    Probably because there are only so many articles you can read on meaningless paint jobs.

    • Oh Matron! says:

      21 Mar21 March 09:03

      Indeed: Lip stick on a pig……

    • Russ says:

      21 Mar21 March 09:08

      Have a cup of tea, you’ll feel better….

  • ADS says:

    21 Mar21 March 11:32

    there’s over 500 comments already on the main article – guess that’s sucking in most of the commenting activity today !

    • Catalan says:

      21 Mar21 March 14:51

      Those’ll be the moaners and groaners who spent a lifetime strategising how to churn cards for points with very little spend. It’s all blown up in their faces.
      Who’d have thought!

      • BJ says:

        21 Mar21 March 16:35

        Well, I admit I was one of those but no moaning and groaning, just makes the hobby more challenging and fun 🙂

• Paul says:

  21 Mar21 March 09:04

  o/t With regards to previously UPGRADED Amex Gold (chargecard) to Plat – Can anyone remind me please:
  1) when is the first annual fee charged for the Plat? I assume it (£450) is charged 12 months after original gold approval date – correct?
  2) are there any MR awarded on renewal and if so how many and when posted?

  Thanks.

  • Stuart_f says:

    21 Mar21 March 10:23

    1) when is the first annual fee charged for the Plat?

    £450 charged on the first statement after upgrading. If it was 12 months after the Gold approval, you could get a free year of Plat if it worked that way! It doesn’t.

    2) are there any MR awarded on renewal and if so how many and when posted?

    None, unless you phone them to cancel and arrange some sort of retention bonus but what you are offered depends on personal spend.

  • Mark2 says:

    21 Mar21 March 10:51

    1) it may vary but many people (including me) have not been charged until the anniversary of getting the Gold card.

    • Darren says:

      21 Mar21 March 13:28

      +1

• Victor says:

  21 Mar21 March 09:36

  So a 100 year anniversary celebraated with only insignias from the last 50 or so?

  Even the BA marketing people know it’s not a real centenary.

  J Sainsbury opened his first grocery shop in 1869 – THAT is a real anniversary.

• john says:

  21 Mar21 March 11:35

  Of course, one should use the Qatar lounge instead of the Malaysian (business) lounge(s) as it is far better.. When I was there in October 2017 and the morning Qatar flight had left, we were the only ones left in the lounge!

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