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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TWO WEEKS LEFT: Get an astonishing 50,000 Avios with the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Barclaycard is currently running potentially the most impressive credit card deal we’ve seen in years.
Until 18th July, you will receive 50,000 Avios when you apply for the ‘£20 per month, cancel whenever’ Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard credit card.
The bonus of the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard has also been increased, to 10,000 Avios, but frankly you’d be crazy not to go for the paid card and bank the 50,000 Avios bonus.
(To put this in comparison, even if you have no interest in Avios, you can convert 50,000 Avios points into 80,000 Nectar points which are worth £400 to spend in Sainsburys, Argos or on eBay.co.uk. That is £400 just for getting a £20 per month credit card and hitting the £3,000 spend target.)
You can apply here. Our full article on the deal is here.
The representative APR is 77.6% APR variable, including the annual fee. The representative APR on purchases is 27.9% variable.
The latest travel and aviation news:
Virgin Atlantic has made redeeming points easier than ever by guaranteeing 12 reward seats in all cabins on all flights, including two in Upper Class and two in Premium. This is very big news for anyone holding Virgin Points.
Norse Atlantic, the new airline which took over Norwegian’s ex-long haul fleet, plans at least seven new transatlantic routes from London. New York flights start next month from Gatwick.
Air France and KLM will use the Aspire lounge at Heathrow T3 going forward, which means that the two carriers seem confident that they won’t be sent back to Terminal 4 at any time soon.
Qatar Airways has launched a new 20% discount code.
British Airways news:
British Airways is moving virtually all flights back into Terminal 5 as it scales back its operations due to Heathrow staffing problems. American Airlines and Iberia head to Terminal 3. BA has also cut 15% of Gatwick short haul flights and 7% of Heathrow flights as this analysis shows.
British Airways has pulled flights from Heathrow to Orlando this winter and replaced them with flights from London Gatwick. This should mean there is extra Avios availability.
British Airways has decided to make the Barcelona flights from London City a year-round service.
Save up to £200 on your next Caribbean holiday with BA Holidays and AMR Collection resorts.
Do you know that British Airways will refuse to refund your seat reservation fees if you voluntarily cancel your flight? Here’s why.
Credit card news:
Confused by how British Airways American Express companion vouchers work? Our article answers all your frequently asked questions.
We also took an in-depth look at how the Barclaycard Avios Upgrade voucher works.
Here’s how to use your American Express Business £50 or £75 bi-annual Dell credit! That said, as its now 2nd July, you were too late to cash in on the January to June credit. Don’t worry – your allowance resets for the new half-year.
Heading to Wimbledon next week? American Express has re-opened its cardmember lounge and has exclusive offers for cardmembers too.
Hotel news:
Got a Marriott Bonvoy American Express card? Here’s how Rob used his free 25,000 points free night voucher at the Le Meridien Etoile in Paris (and a review of the hotel too).
Rhys reviews the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown, an excellent base from which to explore the city.
Groupon has a good deal at the new Hotel Indigo in Newcastle (buy here).
IHG has launched a Summer sale for its hotels across the UK and Europe (book here).
Other interesting articles:
What’s it like taking a 5 minute helicopter to/from Manhattan and Newark or JFK airports? A reader reviews the Blade helicopter service which costs just $145 for new users.
Rhys rounds off his coverage of the Virgin Atlantic Austin inaugural flight with a review of the Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines Revivals arrivals lounge at Heathrow.
If you’re on the market for Virgin Points and wine, you can get 3,000 Virgin Points and 12 bottles of wine for just £65 with Virgin Wines’ latest offer. Kill two birds with one stone!
Whilst it’s admittedly niche, if you’re looking at road-tripping through France Enterprise Rent-a-Car is offering one-way car rentals from £2.
Deals you missed:
British Airways was offering 2p per Avios as a discount on long haul cash flights booked last weekend.
Hilton put up VIP hospitality tickets for the BMW PGA Golf championships up for Hilton Honors points, but they were snapped up quickly.
For more offers ending soon, click here.
See you next Saturday!
