Norse Atlantic receives its UK Air Operator Certificate
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Norse Atlantic Airways has been granted an Air Operator Certificate and Operating Licence, allowing the company to begin direct flights from the United Kingdom.
This might come as a bit of a surprise, given that we reviewed two Norse Atlantic flights in recent weeks:

Legally, these flights were operating Oslo – Gatwick – New York – Gatwick – Oslo, which meant that a UK licence was not required.
This was never going to be a practical long term solution as additional US routes were launched. Now that Norse Atlantic has full UK licencing, it will be able to open a UK base and fly between the UK and US without having to hop to Norway each time.
This does mean, however, that the fantastically cheap Premium deals between Gatwick and Oslo may not be around for much longer. Seats are on sale for the rest of the Winter season to the end of March but there is no guarantee that the service will return for the Summer season.
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How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (March 2025)
Some UK credit cards offer special bonuses when used for buying flights. If you spend a lot on airline tickets, using one of these cards could sharply increase the credit card points you earn.
Booking flights on any airline?
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold earns double points (2 Membership Rewards points per £1) when used to buy flights directly from an airline website.
The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points. These would convert to 20,000 Avios or various other airline or hotel programmes. The standard earning rate is 1 point per £1.
You can apply here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

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Buying flights on British Airways?
The British Airways Premium Plus American Express card earns double Avios (3 Avios per £1) when used at ba.com.
The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios. The standard earning rate is 1.5 Avios per £1.
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You can apply here.

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30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
Buying flights on Virgin Atlantic?
Both the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard and the annual fee Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard earn double Virgin Points when used at fly.virgin.com.
This means 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on the free card and 3 Virgin Points per £1 on the paid card.
There is a sign-up bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points on the free card and 18,000 Virgin Points on the paid card.
You can apply for either of the cards here.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard
3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend 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
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