What you missed on Head for Points last week
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Welcome to the Head for Points weekly newsletter, full of the latest Avios, travel loyalty and travel credit card news, hints and tips.
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ENDS MONDAY: Our exclusive HfP bonus offer on the new Barclaycard Avios Mastercards
You should have received an extra email from us last week highlighting our exclusive sign-up offer on the two new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard credit cards.
I don’t want to repeat it here. Full details are on the site if you haven’t applied yet and we’ll send you a final reminder on Monday.
There is a higher bonus on both the free Barclaycard Avios credit card (usually 5,000 Avios bonus, now 10,000 Avios) and the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card (usually 25,000 Avios bonus, now 30,000 Avios). You must use these links which are exclusive to HfP.
You must apply by midnight on Monday. It doesn’t matter if your application is referred and a final decision is not reached until later – you will still get the extra 5,000 Avios.
The latest travel and aviation news:
The South Terminal at London Gatwick has reopened. Rob was there when BA restarted short haul flights and here is his review of the British Airways Gatwick Business and First Class lounges. Image below.
Avios news:
How does the BA cabin upgrade voucher from the new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard work?
We got our hands on the 2023 peak and off-peak dates for BA Avios redemptions.
The Qatar Airways / Avios partnership has thrown up many benefits which we’re covering in turn. This week: “You can now convert Avios INTO Accor Live Limitless hotel points – but should you?“
We also looked at “Where does Qatar Airways fly from in the UK and what business class seat will you get?“
British Airways news:
Get a status match which will work on BA! Royal Air Maroc, a member of the oneworld alliance with BA, is matching status from 29 top international airlines. Royal Air Maroc status has the same benefits as BA status when flying BA – you will get into the lounges etc. Learn more here.
BA’s CEO: “Many of our customers are rightly fed up”. We saw an internal staff video where Sean Doyle laid out his strategy to staff.
These are the routes where British Airways will still make you wear a face mask (Poland and Ghana left the list since this was published).
ba.com now identifies which Gatwick flights will be operated by Iberia Express this Summer.
Credit card news:
American Express and Hilton launched a £50 cashback deal when you spend £200. It covers the UK and some European countries.
How does the Hertz and Amex Platinum ‘4 hour grace period’ work?
Hotel news:
Accor launched a good new promotion offering 6,000 points (worth $120 or 6,000 Avios) for 3 x 2-night stays. You need to rebook existing stays though.
Other interesting articles:
You can use your Emirates Skywards miles for FA Cup semi final tickets, including VIP hospitality.
Avis and Zipcar have moved out of the short term car park in Heathrow Terminal 5.
Rhys checks out Phulay Bay, a Ritz Carlton Reserve resort in Krabi, Thailand.
We also visited the less glamorous, but still decent, new Moxy Manchester City hotel.
Why you shouldn’t waste Avios on Club Europe redemptions from London City Airport.
Interesting threads from our forums this week:
- Your response to BA’s latest IT meltdown on Wednesday afternoon
- What happens when you lose your CEDR claim against British Airways for not rebooking your cancelled pandemic flights?
- Qatar Airways pulled its 2,500 Avios bonus for opening an account with no notice
The full forum index is here.
See you next Saturday.
