News: BA CityFlyer trialling Aberdeen flights from London City, HSBC Jade closed

News in brief:

BA CityFlyer to trial flights to Aberdeen

Whilst BA CityFlyer has suspended flights from London City Airport to Menorca and Milan, it appears to be improving domestic connectivity.

BA CityFlyer is adding new daily direct flights between London City Airport and Aberdeen.

Flight timings vary but are optimised for Scottish travellers heading to London, with morning flights down to London and an evening return back to Aberdeen.

The flight numbers are BA2210 and BA2211 and the route is scheduled to start on 1st November.

You can book tickets on the British Airways website here. The last day you can travel is currently 21st January, which implies that this is very much a trial.

If you are trying the route, our review of the British Airways lounge at Aberdeen Airport is here. Our review of the independent, and superior, Northern Lights lounge at Aberdeen Airport is here.

HSBC Jade closed to new applicants

One way of avoiding the £195 annual fee on the HSBC Premier World Elite credit card – which is a very good card in all other respects apart from the fee (review here) – is by having HSBC Jade status.

‘Jade’ is a marketing status given to anyone who holds £1 million in assets with HSBC. Whilst it is unlikely that HSBC’s savings rates or investment fees would make you want to leave £1 million with them, it is fairly common to use HSBC to hold large foreign currency balances. If you are sitting on a lot of Euro or US$ there are surprisingly few UK banks willing to hold them and it is unlikely you would entrust a subtantial sum to a fintech / neo-bank.

HSBC Jade was suspended to new applicants on 16th September – see here. What is odd is that existing Jade account holders have not been notified about this, and HSBC’s website confirms that the service (such as it is) continues for those who already hold it.

This could actually be a positive move, if HSBC takes the opportunity to overhaul the benefits package. This HfP article looks at the benefits of the HSBC Premier World Elite credit card.

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