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British Airways launches a new route to Belfast City Airport

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British Airways has announced its first new route for some time, if you exclude those routes forcibly moved from Gatwick to Heathrow in recent weeks!

From 1st September, BA CityFlyer will fly from London City Airport to Belfast City Airport.  It will run daily, except Saturdays.

British Airways launches London City Airport to Belfast City Airport

British Airways and its sister airline Aer Lingus already fly to Belfast City from Heathrow.  London City to Belfast City was previously operated by Flybe.

If you are thinking of trying out the route, our review of the British Airways lounge at Belfast City is here and our review of the Aspire Lounge at Belfast City is here.  Aspire has recently taken over the management of the British Airways lounge and it is possible that the two spaces will be merged at some point.


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

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

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

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios 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 £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

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

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable 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

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 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 an annual £200 Amex Travel credit 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.

Comments (35)

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

  • Sam Wardill says:

    I have not received the rebate from Virgin Credit Card and I assume I will not unless I renew (which I will not). My renewal would be in Sept

    • Alan says:

      Ditto

    • Matt says:

      December renewal date, no £40 refund for me. Also not planning to renew for a third year unless they pay in the next few days.

      • luckyjim says:

        Why would £40 in your hand now make it more worthwhile to renew in December?

        • jc says:

          It wouldn’t be £40 in hand now, it would be an email now promising £40 after paying the next fee.

          • Lady London says:

            And unlike Amex, Virgin does not give pro rata refunds for unused months when you downgrade or cancel.

            So once you’ve paid your £160 annual fee you arent ever getting anymore of it back. Except for this one-time £40 offer.

            Wondering if those that havent had it are those who dont have transactions going through ATM

          • Leigh says:

            November renewal date, received the email but no £40 credit yet. I have many transactions going through ATM.

    • The Streets says:

      Have you checked your latest transactions? Mine was posted there

  • KBuffett says:

    Is the Hilton revolution still going?

    • Lady London says:

      According to reliable commentators yesterday, yes

  • Peter Lauris says:

    My renewal was in April 2020, but have already received the £40 credit to my account.

  • Mike says:

    business bundle not showing on my (supplemetary) amex business gold card offers.
    The Dell and dropbox offers are there

  • Andrew says:

    Offers across Platinum and BAPP seem to be drying up. I hope they will continue to offer reasons not to cancel, they were doing quite well.

  • memesweeper says:

    I think the BA CF route LCY BHD is the first ex-Flybe route they’ve taken on.

  • Ali M says:

    OT : whats Hilton Revolution?

  • S says:

    On the virgin plus card do you get the voucher as soon as you hit £10k or do you have to renew. £160 for a second year does not seem worth it these days.
    I have not received the rebate either

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      Think you get the voucher regardless of renewing as you hit the required spend.

    • PaulC says:

      On the back of this question where do you find your voucher and how do you use it?
      Newbie to VA, have always collected Avios.

      • jc says:

        It’s listed as a line in your Flying Club online account, in the activity list, as something like “Virgin Atlantic Reward Qualification”, and you use it (and/or double check it) by calling Flying Club.

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

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