Get a free First Class upgrade on Heathrow Express if you are Star Alliance Gold
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With the current SAS status match running, we currently have a lot of HfP readers who have Gold status in Star Alliance – albeit this will end on 1st September when SAS joins the SkyTeam airline alliance.
One of the lesser known perks of having a Star Alliance Gold card is a free First Class upgrade on Heathrow Express.
You can also do this if you are British Airways Gold Guest List, with identical rules, although that is a more select group.
I took advantage of this offer on Wednesday – see the photos.
You really can’t complain about the value. I had a £10 one-way ticket (part of the current August offer) and upgraded myself to an empty Business First carriage. It was certainly more pleasant than taking the Piccadilly line at 7am.
You get 2×1 seating instead of 2×2 elsewhere, and you will rarely have company. There are no service benefits, such as free refreshments, although it is only a 15-20 minute journey.
The T&C for the ‘free First Class upgrade’ deal are here.
It couldn’t be more simple. You buy a Standard Class Heathrow Express ticket and sit in Business First. When the conductor comes round, you show them your Standard Class ticket and your Star Alliance Gold card.
You are allowed to bring one guest with you.
I should point out that the T&C say that you must be on a ‘full fare’ Heathrow Express ticket. This does not appear to be true.
In all the years that this offer has been available, I have never heard of anyone being thrown out for having a discounted Standard Class ticket – and of course I wasn’t thrown out either.
How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (December 2024)
None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.
There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card.
The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.
There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.
The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.
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
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