News: Iberia Summer 2024 flights missing, new Melia / Amex cashback offer, The Sunday Times

News in brief:

The Iberia Summer 2024 schedule has not been loaded

If you’ve tried to book an Iberia Avios redemption for the Summer 2024 flying season (from 31st March 2024 onwards), you will have noticed that nothing is available.

This is not just an Avios issue. Cash flights are also not bookable beyond 30th March 2024. This seems to apply to both long haul and short haul, except for Iberia Express services which do show.

Unlike British Airways, Iberia is known for loading its first batch of new season flights a little late, but this is far longer than usual. All you can do is keep checking …..

Melia Hotels launches a good American Express cashback deal

Melia Hotels has launched a new cashback deal for selected American Express cardholders.

If targetted, you will find it under the ‘Offers’ tab on the online statement page or in the app for one or more of the Amex cards you hold.

You will get £75 cashback when you spend £300 at participating hotels. The offer runs to 30th June.

The snag is that only selected Melia properties are taking part. The only UK hotel is ME London, pictured above, which is also by far the most expensive.

One surprising inclusion is the INNSiDE New York which we reviewed here and is usually good value.

Other participating hotels can be found in Amsterdam, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Milan, Paris, Rome and – as you’d expect from Melia – many parts of Spain.

If you have American Express Platinum, you will receive Gold status in MeliaRewards. If you have this, you may find some 20% discount vouchers or upgrade vouchers in your Melia account which would stack with this offer.

The Sunday Times highlights our article on UK hotel service charges

Finally, I’m pleased to say that The Sunday Times chose to highlight the issue of creeping UK hotel service charges last weekend.

We raised the topic in this article and The Sunday Times referenced our piece as the reason it had decided to investigate.

This is a key line, I think:

“The question is, where does this money go? …. The Four Seasons [Hampshire] didn’t want to comment.”

I haven’t linked back as The Sunday Times sits behind a paywall – although a free digital subscription to The Times and The Sunday Times is a benefit of American Express Business Platinum.