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News: Luxair adds Manchester flights, Marriott opens a Four Points hotel in Edinburgh

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News in brief:

Luxair launching a new route to Manchester

Following the recent launch of its London City to Antwerp route, reviewed here, Luxair is turning to Manchester.

From 1st April 2024, it will offer three flights per week between Manchester and Luxembourg. Services will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The route will use a Dash 8 aircraft as pictured above.

Luxair uses Lufthansa’s Miles & More programme as its frequent flyer scheme.

You can check fares and flight times on the Luxair website here.

Luxair launches Manchester to Luxembourg flights

Marriott opens a Four Points hotel in Edinburgh

For some reason Marriott didn’t publicise this three weeks ago when it actually happened, but the company has opened a mid-market Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Edinburgh.

This is a conversion of the former Apex Haymarket hotel.

This is only the second Four Points hotel in the UK. It is virtually a boutique with just 69 rooms. The restaurant, Almafino, is Italian themed with ‘a centrepiece pizza oven’ and replaces the previous ‘Metro West End’ restaurant from the Apex days.

The location seems promising, by Haymarket railway station. Midweek rates in the coming weeks are £175 – £200 per night.

You can find out more on the hotel website here.


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (October 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Comments (40)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Peggerz says:

    I passed the Four Points on Saturday and noticed it had reopened under its new guise. It had always been an Apex. The bar and restaurant were full to bursting as it is close to Murrayfield. Haymarket train station is indeed less than 5 minutes away, but so is the tram stop from EDI. And Princes Street/City Centre is a decent 10 minute walk away with a good bus service outside the front door too. A decent choice in the city.

    • BJ says:

      Yes, transport-wise it is arguably the best-located hotel in the city, and unless you minute walk at very most the West end of Princes Street is certainly 10. Given that most probably have at least a day pass for the bus it’s just as easy to jump on one of those. A while since I used it but I’m sure the 900 bus to/from Glasgow stops by there too.

      • apbj says:

        Agree, extremely well connected for the airport, the city centre, and the wider rail network so I expect the rates here will be high or very high for what is otherwise an average/underwhelming hotel in a so-so area. I imagine it’s also fully booked during Murrayfield fixtures/concerts – a good use of points on those dates if they’re even available.

        • tw33ty says:

          Location is the only thing going for this hotel, it was tired and showing it’s age under apex. And iirc no working air con.

          • Billy123 says:

            I’m afraid your right, we stayed just after it opened, the rooms are very small and tired and have no aircon so were very hot… as it’s on a mail road if you open the windows it’s very noisy until the small hours due to the main road.. it was during the festival but the prices were extremely high.. Staff were lovely but I still wouldn’t recommend… lot of roadworks outside at the moment too…

          • Magic Mike says:

            Here now – they’ve done the rooms up (superficially) nicely but the room size is tiny, road noise loud, and lack of a/c unacceptable in the 21st century. And I’ve just been woken up by the laundry truck loading up.

  • zapato1060 says:

    It’s only UK where lounges are an issue (grain store was fine). Used PP in some ok but some brilliant lounges abroad in multi stop trips in April and July. No issues.

    One quirk I’ve found if taking in more than the 4x guest with Plat. Is to go in with four then have other family/friends 10 mins or so after. PP would calculate in my favour and let 2 more in for free.

  • Colin_Thames says:

    I have the DragonPass through Barclays travel pack (6 free passes) and 2 extra passes ( I think) from the Barclaycard Avios Plus because I’m with Premier. Extra passes are only £18.50 a head. DP allows for prebooking of lounges. So far that’s been free but I imagine they’ll start charging.
    Why would I want to pay an extra £5.50 for PP?

  • Kevin C says:

    Email in from HSBC. They are switching from LoungeKey to Priority Pass from October 1st. Guest fees will be £24.

    • Axel says:

      HSBC stopped issuing World Elite Mastercards with the LoungeKey logo on the back some time ago, so it’s been a hassle getting into lounges with it, not sure if this change will help.

  • chris says:

    My reference was to BA and Gatwick!

  • John says:

    Rob, what is the second PP card on Amex Plat? Are you referring to a supplementary card holder?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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