The weekly Head for Points travel trade newsletter

Welcome to your weekly trade round-up of UK business travel and travel loyalty news as well as our latest reviews and features.

This newsletter is the successor to Malcolm Ginsberg’s Business Travel News which Head for Points acquired. If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up here to receive this free newsletter in your inbox every Monday. Please forward it to any colleagues who you think may be interested.

Malcolm’s new monthly forward-looking Travel News Update is available at travelnewsupdate.co.uk.

The latest UK business travel news:

JetBlue launches new US routes from Edinburgh and Dublin

Virgin Atlantic drops Austin flights but boosts Miami, Barbados and Dubai

Etihad and SAS launch a comprehensive codeshare and frequent flyer partnership

The Qatar Airways CEO has resigned after 27 years

Aurigny launches five new routes to Guernsey from UK airports

Aer Lingus ends United Airlines codeshare – and presumably ends Avios earning from United

British Airways launches a new ‘double Avios’ offer for your next 10 flights

Save 25% on Accor hotel bookings in their winter sale – bookings are fully cancellable too

Hilton’s ‘Secret Socials’ private gigs are back in London next month

IHG is offering big discounts at two of its Maldives resorts

Hilton Olympia in London is to more than double in size to 900+ rooms

What are the best airport lounges in Heathrow Terminal 2?

Business travel stories we recommend from other sites:

United will fly to 38 transatlantic cities in summer 2024 (Business Traveller)

More record profits at IAG in Q3 (Robert Boyle / Gridpoint Consulting)

Introduction of EU Etias scheme delayed until mid-2025 (Travel Weekly)

Air France-KLM foresees ‘biggest benefits’ from SAS joining transatlantic JV (FlightGlobal)

Gatwick outlines raft of new F&B openings (Business Traveller)

Our latest reviews:

Rhys heads to Piccadilly Circus to check into the luxurious Hotel Cafe Royal. Image above.

Rob was in New York, where he headed back to Park Hyatt New York. What does $1,500 per night get you?

The latest UK travel loyalty news:

BA Euroflyer flights from Gatwick are confirmed as not qualifying for ‘double Avios’ Gold Priority Rewards

Hertz secretly changes its points expiry rules – and may have wiped out your balance

We asked for your help updating our crowdsourced list of American Express Membership Rewards points transfer times to airline and hotel schemes

100,000 POINTS BONUS: Are the four free Amex Platinum hotel status cards worth having?

We’ve spent all week updating our core articles on hotel points expiry rules:

• When do your Accor Live Limitless points expire?
• When do your Hilton Honors points expire?
• When do your IHG One Rewards points expire?
• When do your Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
• When do your Radisson Rewards points expire?
• When do your World of Hyatt points expire?

Thank you for reading

Please drop me a note at rob@headforpoints.com with any feedback. See you next Monday.

Rob, Rhys and Sinead @ Head for Points

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