News: get triple Avios at Bicester Village, Delta Colchester hotel opens

News in brief:

Get triple Avios at Bicester Village

If you are heading off to Bicester Village for some pre-Christmas luxury shopping bargains, Qatar Airways Privilege Club is offering a ‘triple Avios’ promotion until 4th January.

The British Airways offer at Bicester Village (5 Avios per £4 spent) is usually better than the Qatar Airways alternative (1 Avios per £1 spent).

Under this new offer, however, Qatar Airways will give you 3 Avios per £1 spent. You need a Qatar Airways Privilege Club account to do this, from where you can transfer your Avios across to British Airways following the instructions here.

If you want to do this, you will need to pay for your shopping with a credit card which is NOT registered with British Airways to earn Avios from in-store shopping.

This is because BA Avios-earning at Bicester Village is now a card linked offer. The IT at Bicester is VERY good and any claims to earn in other loyalty programmes will be rejected if you have already earned Avios in Executive Club via card-linking.

For all loyalty partners except British Airways Executive Club, you need to claim your miles or points at the Visitor Centre at the railway station on the day of your visit, or by scanning and emailing your receipts. Full details of all loyalty partners are here – the most lucrative, even with this Qatar Airways offer, is Accor Live Limitless where you earn points worth 5% of your Bicester spending.

This offer will stack with any Bicester Village credit card cashback offer you may have, as well as the 10% discount card offered to American Express Platinum cardholders.

PS. Privilege Club Collection is currently auctioning (for Avios) a VIP trip to Bicester Village, including a two night luxury hotel stay. Details are here.

Marriott opens in Colchester

If your travels take you to Colchester, you now have a new branded option.

The Marks Tey Hotel has rebranded as Delta Hotels by Marriott Colchester following a refurbishment.

The rooms look smart enough, see above, and there is also a large swimming pool.

You can find out more on the website here.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (June 2025)

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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

60,000 points (to 15th July) 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 The Platinum Card from American Express in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• The American Express Business Gold Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Business Platinum Card (50,000 bonus Amex points)

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.