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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Latest travel news:
Iberia has started flying its new business class seat a year ahead of schedule. The first aircraft with the seat entered commercial service last weekend with absolutely zero fanfare. Photo above.
Heathrow and Birmingham Airports won’t cancel flights due to Border Force strikes. Airports and the government appear to think that disruption will be kept to a minimum.
Lufthansa is launching new routes to London Gatwick and Belfast City.
The Avios changes:
Our coverage of how British Airways has repriced long haul Avios redemptions continues:
- Low-tax redemption loopholes have been closed
- Anyone with non UK, US and EU Executive Club accounts now faces increased Avios AND fees
- Anyone with old BA Amex companion vouchers will need a lot more Avios
- Bizarrely, mixed First / Club redemptions are now more expensive than ‘pure’ First / First redemptions!
Other British Airways & Avios news:
Save 30% on a SeatSpy membership. Our exclusive offer makes it even cheaper to find reward seat availability and set alerts.
British Airways is allowing free flight changes over the Christmas period. The change mitigates disruption from weather and Border Force strikes.
Aer Lingus has swapped an A321LR for an A330 on its Manchester-New York flights. The change increases the capacity by 72% and may mean more seats are available for Avios redemptions.
Hotel news:
The famous lobby aquarium at the Radisson Collection Berlin hotel has exploded. We’ve used the image above numerous times over the years …. but it may now be consigned to the history books!
World of Hyatt launches its FIND experiences platform. It is taking a different tack from other hotel ‘experiences’ redemptions and is encouraging hotels to develop unique, one-of-a-kind offerings.
Travelzoo has an impressive offer for The Lowry in Manchester. A one-night stay and three course dinner for two is just £185.
The former Park Hyatt Hamburg is joining Hilton. The hotel will reopen as a Conrad in 2024 following a full refurbishment.
Hilton has launched its new double points promotion for Spring 2023. Register now to benefit on future stays. Click here to register.
Get a 100% bonus when buying Hilton points. If you need to top up your account for an upcoming trip, now’s the time to do it. Click here to buy.
A new Radisson RED hotel has opened in Liverpool. It is a high-profile opening and occupies one of the original UK Victorian railway hotels by Lime Street.
Accor Live Limitless launches a double points offer.
Conrad Rabat has opened in Morocco.
Other interesting articles:
Virgin Points redemptions are back at Necker Island. Richard Branson’s private island in the British Virgin Islands is once again open to anyone with a 1.7 million points balance, and it’s actually good value.
Plus, how to redeem Virgin Points at Greggs. As redemptions go, this is one of the easiest redemptions to get from the Virgin Red tie-up!
As the last Boeing 747 rolls off the assembly line, we look back at the Queen of the Skies. The original jumbo jet wasn’t just iconic for her looks, but the way she changed flying.
Heathrow Rewards brings back 10,000 bonus points for jewellery, watches and technology purchases. The traditional Christmas bonus is back and good news for many of Heathrow Reward’s transfer partners, including Avios.
Rhys reviews American Airlines Flagship business class to New York. Is AA’s reputation justified?
Review: the AA Admirals Club lounge at Heathrow T3. Is it worth a visit?
What you missed this week:
Our latest roundup of miles and points offers closing soon is here.
Don’t forget to visit our forum if you have any questions relating to frequent flyer or hotel loyalty programmes or loyalty credit cards.
See you next Saturday.
