Deal updates: my TAP Star Alliance Gold status match and the Santander Cycles Amex bonus

I wanted to update you today on two of the deals we have covered in recent weeks which I have now seen through to completion:

Star Alliance Gold status match with TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal, a member of Star Alliance, is currently offering to status match British Airways Executive Club members, as well as various other airlines.

It is actually better than a match. As well as offering Star Alliance Gold to British Airways Executive Club Gold members, it is also offering Gold status to British Airways Executive Club Silver members.

(Arguably this is fair, because you need to be Star Gold to get airport lounge access across the entire alliance.)

This HfP article explains how the TAP Air Portugal status match works and how to apply.

The last time I wrote about this, TAP had confirmed that it had accepted my match. I was given 10 days to either buy 4,000+ Miles&Go miles or join Club Miles&Go at a range of prices which started at €99. This was cheaper than buying 4,000 miles so I went with that.

I paid my €99 and, 24 hours later, received an email confirming that my Gold match would be processed within 14 days. It has now gone through.

I currently have 3,200 Miles&Go miles. This comprises 200 for opening the account, 2000 as a bonus from Club Miles&Go and 1000 as my first months miles from my Club Miles&Go membership.

By the end of my Club Miles&Go subscription, I will have a total of 14,200 miles which should be good for something.

My Gold card is valid until 30th September 2021. My plan is to use my status to update our reviews of all of the Star Alliance lounges in Heathrow Terminal 2!

There is one extra titbit to note. One benefit of TAP Gold status is the ability to gift Gold status to a friend. According to the status match rules, this benefit is not available to matched Gold members. Looking at my account – and reading reports from others – this does not seem to be the case in practice …..

My 1,000 Membership Rewards points from Santander Cycles arrived

A few days ago we covered a new American Express Membership Rewards offer. Assuming you were targetted and opted in, you would receive 1,000 Membership Rewards points for making three transactions with Santander Cycles, the London bike here scheme.

I suspected this would work for anyone in the UK if they used the Santander Cycles app, and I was right. Whilst on holiday last week, I booked 3 x £2 day passes. These need to be bought 24 hours apart because each one is good for 24 hours.

It wasn’t fully clear that app transactions worked, and I was a little unsure when they posted to my American Express card as ‘Back Office’.

However, my 1,000 bonus points arrived just after the 3rd £2 transaction posted.

1,006 Membership Rewards points for £6 is a good deal in my book.

The middle transaction on the statement above is a £5 Shop Small credit 🙂

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – June 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 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 Mastercard

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

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th August 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Hilton Honors Plus debit card is TRIPLED to 30,000 Hilton Honors points. You will also receive Gold Elite status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee 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

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

The American Express Business Gold Card

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 0.8 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review