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News: exclusive BA Accelerating Business credit card offer, issues with Qured covid testing

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News in brief:

Targetted offer for the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card

American Express is sending out targeted offers for the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. If you get one, don’t delete it.

This is a bit of a ‘marmite’ card in general. However, this targeted offer (50,000 Avios for signing up on top of the bonus On Business points) makes it a no-brainer if you can hit the spend target. You qualify for the bonus irrespective of other Amex cards you hold.

Our full review of the BA Accelerating Business credit card is here, based on the standard bonus.

Our review of the BA On Business small business loyalty scheme is here, including our ‘refer a friend’ code if you’re not already a member.

The Amex website page for the card is here BUT if you are targeted for the 50,000 Avios then you must use the special link Amex sent you.

Targetted offer for the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card

Issues with Qured covid testing

As we have covered on HfP, British Airways has teamed up with a company called Qured to provide video-based DIY covid tests for people who are about to fly back to the UK.

On paper, it’s a great solution. The tests are cheap (£33 with a BA discount code) and the process is clever. You book a video call with a Qured nurse who watches whilst you perform your test. You show them the test result and Qured emails you the necessary paperwork to show to the airline to allow you to board your flight.

Great idea. Unfortunately, an email from a HfP reader suggest that Qured is a victim of its own success. Video slots are getting booked up well in advance. This is a problem because there is only a small window during which you can take your test for the result to be accepted by your airline. If you can’t get a video slot during that window, you’re stuffed.

If you have bought, or are planning to buy, a Qured self-testing kit, book your video consultation as soon as it arrives. You can book up to a month in advance. You’ll thank us later.

Category

British Airways American Express, British Airways and Avios

Comments (38)

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

  • Mouse says:
    21 May21 May 06:28

    Would buying Hyatt points trigger the Amex offer?

  • HBommie says:
    21 May21 May 06:42

    Is the Qured BA discount only when flying BA, seems obvious but thought I’d check.

  • meta says:
    21 May21 May 07:48

    In regards to Qured, you can only book a slot a month in advance.

    • Simon says:
      21 May21 May 08:49

      I bought three Qured tests yesterday for returning from Portugal on Sunday at the end of half term – which has to be about as close to peak time as we are going to see any time soon.
      Firstly, I was invited to book an appointment immediately on paying for the test, I didnt have to wait for them to arrive?
      Secondly, availability in the two days prior to departure seemed pretty much unlimited. I could pick from times all throughout the Friday.
      So not seeing any crunch on availability?

      • Stephen says:
        21 May21 May 13:51

        Wednesday evening there was no availability in the run up to end of half term. They loaded a lot more video appointments after 9am yesterday morning

  • Stuart says:
    21 May21 May 08:47

    I thought Accor had already made all stays double points for the rest of the year?
    Does this mean in June it will be double double?

    • MrHandBaggageOnly says:
      21 May21 May 13:33

      Accor are giving double Status Points and Status Nights this year, but not double Rewards points (unless through a promo like this one). It always bothers me that existing bookings don’t count with Accor, but I’ve tied in some pretty decent flexible rates so mustn’t grumble too much.

  • DK says:
    21 May21 May 08:49

    Why not just use the free NHS tests that you can find in Pharmacies?

    • Pete M says:
      21 May21 May 08:54

      Because they are not supervised and explicitly forbidden by the Government for travel.

      • HAJ says:
        21 May21 May 19:43

        What if I’m a pharmacist? I know it’s “forbidden” by the government but so painful to know you’re just wasting money on an identical test being “verified”, when i’m perfectly capable of validating a lateral flow test……..

    • WaynedP says:
      21 May21 May 09:01

      No independent verification of your negative test result that will satisfy any sensible airline that you’re fit to fly.

    • HBommie says:
      21 May21 May 11:26

      are you going to wave a stick at check in?

  • Pete M says:
    21 May21 May 08:53

    This is definitely a useful reminder, Rob – I was surprised even last Sunday there weren’t many slots on Qured!

  • Kevin B says:
    21 May21 May 08:54

    My OH received a targeted offer for the Accelerated business card; 30000 avios + 2200 On Business points + free first year.
    Card has arrived and we are half way through the spend requirement. I took screenshots of the offer and landing page though as we’ll no doubt have to provide proof later on!

  • Pete M says:
    21 May21 May 09:12

    I think I could vaguely get myself to pay Qured £33 because of the video consultation. But you are literally paying ProjectScreen £26 for a £1 test, £1 shipping and £2 worth of someone’s time to look at a photo and produce a certificate. I am in the wrong industry!

    • Mark says:
      21 May21 May 10:17

      That ignores startup costs, government certification to operate the scheme (I assume they don’t just accept a certificate from anywhere…) and other overheads. Presumably significant scope for competition to drive the costs down, but unless there are cheaper alternatives I’m not really sure what you’re suggesting (other than don’t go, or at least don’t come back….).

      • Pete M says:
        21 May21 May 10:23

        Start up costs: a website. Government certification: basically submitting a form where you self-certify. Overheads: myself or a bunch of people on minimum wage looking at photos and issuing certificates. Order a bunch of lateral flow tests from China, find a warehouse that will store them and ship them. I travel regularly and am grateful costs have come down and things have become easier, but this is basically just a licence to print money and am unsure about the actual benefit!

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