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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OFFER: Get a free upgrade to top-tier World Duty Free / Red By Dufry status
Back in November 2023, the World Duty Free shops at Heathrow launched a new partnership with Avios.
You will now earn 1 Avios for every £1 you spend in World Duty Free and other shops at Heathrow run by the same parent company.
This is totally separate from the Heathrow Rewards loyalty scheme – which also earns Avios – and you can double up by earning in both programmes.
You can now get FREE top tier status in the World Duty Free / Red By Dufry loyalty programme as long as you have elite status with an airline or hotel programme. This DOUBLES your cash discount on every duty free purchase to 10% – and you still earn Avios on top. The form to complete is here.
Even better, you will receive 250 bonus Avios with your first transaction if you are a new member and link your Red By Dufry account to your Avios account. You can read more about this status match offer in our article here.
(This offer is also worth having if you don’t use Heathrow as your local airport. Red By Dufry discounts are available in virtually all UK airports with a duty free store.)
This week’s top travel news stories:
Introducing The NinetyThird by Qatar Airways at the O2 – a new VIP venue accessible with Avios. Image above.
Japanese airline ANA launches new European routes – opening up potential Virgin Points redemptions
The new Hotel Indigo Coventry finally opens
Cathay Pacific returns to Barcelona
The oneworld alliance opens its first airport lounge in Seoul
Turkish Airlines will finally fly to Australia – but not direct
Get up to 51,000 Virgin Points for opening a Stocks and Shares ISA
Rhys walks the runway at Southampton to see why a 164m extension is a big deal. Image below.
Travel deals this week:
This might become a regular section if the business class deals keep flowing:
Get a £1,300 business class deal to Bogota, Colombia
Good Air France / KLM business class deals to Dubai from £1,343 from Heathrow
British Airways and Avios news:
Is ‘Part Pay with Avios’ for British Airways flights worth it in the Nectar era?
Credit card news:
Who are the HSBC Premier credit card airline and hotel transfer partners?
Get 5,000 Avios as a sign-up bonus with the Aer Lingus credit card (Ireland only)
Hotel news:
IHG is opening a voco hotel on Dubai’s The World Islands, advertised as a ’24/7 party haven’. Image above.
Get a 80% – 100% bonus when buying Hilton Honors points – click here to buy
How does Hilton Honors work? We run a hugely detailed review of the programme.
You can now redeem Virgin Points for Eurostar gift vouchers
IHG launches two targeted promotions for February and March, so don’t expect a global offer
South Place Hotel in the City of London joins Preferred Hotels
Reviews this week:
Rhys pops into the Spitfire Lounge at Southampton Airport – it’s surprisingly impressive
And, from Amsterdam, a review of the Conservatorium hotel – part of Global Hotel Alliance / The Set Collection. Image above.
Other interesting news:
How do Qatar Airways ‘double Avios’ flexi awards work?
Why ‘Best Bed at The Bridge’ is the silliest and coolest Hilton Honors redemption available – image below. Rob and his son really are sitting in a hotel bed in the middle of Stamford Bridge during a Chelsea FC Women game ….
Eurostar will run a big redemption sale next month
That’s all, folks
Our latest round-up of miles and points offers closing soon is here. An updated version will run on headforpoints.com on Sunday.
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,
Rob, Rhys and Katie @ Head for Points
