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Here you go:
No paywall (thanks Claer!)
Has anyone ever called it “Glastonbury for points nerds”?!
I also resent being lumped into the same group as “City workers and retired couples”.
Has anyone ever called it “Glastonbury for points nerds”?!
I also resent being lumped into the same group as “City workers and retired couples”.
It’s just typical desperate newspaper reporting written by somebody who doesn’t have a clue about the topic in hand (as she admitted at the end of the article).
This is the case with most newspaper articles – the writer doesn’t understand the subject and writes any old crap. Having said that, there are some good specialist reporters out there, so it’s not all bad.
I asked ChatGPT to write me a news article about the head for points summer party. Is this better than the FT version? And I wonder if the Rob quote is real….
“Headline: HfP Summer Party 2025: A Fun-Filled Evening for Travel Enthusiasts and Loyalty Program Fans
London, UK — June 20, 2025
The annual Head for Points (HfP) Summer Party took place last night at the stylish The Vault venue in central London, drawing together a lively crowd of travel enthusiasts, loyalty program experts, and industry insiders. As always, the event provided an opportunity for fans of frequent flyer programs, hotel points, and travel hacks to mingle, learn, and—of course—celebrate the art of maximizing points and miles.Attendees were treated to a casual yet engaging evening that featured a mix of networking, interactive discussions, and presentations from key players in the travel rewards space. From the latest updates on British Airways Avios to tips on how to get the most out of American Express Membership Rewards, the event was a goldmine of insider knowledge.
“The HfP Summer Party has always been about bringing the community together, sharing our passion for travel, and helping each other make the most of loyalty programs,” said HfP founder, Rob Burgess. “It’s exciting to see so many new faces this year, and we’re thrilled that our community continues to grow stronger.”
The party was also a great opportunity for some lighthearted fun, with a raffle featuring prizes like free hotel stays, airline miles, and a coveted First Class Upgrade voucher. Guests indulged in craft cocktails, canapés, and travel-themed games, creating an atmosphere that was both relaxed and festive.
As the event came to a close, many left with new tips for scoring the next flight upgrade or maximizing hotel rewards, and a renewed sense of excitement for their next travel adventure.
With more than 100 travel enthusiasts in attendance, the HfP Summer Party 2025 was once again a hit, reaffirming its status as one of the must-attend events in the frequent flyer community.”
Claer called it that in her Instagram story so she is quoting herself!
Lol @ChrisBCN
“The bottom line is, anyone who pays their credit card bills in full every month and gets nothing back should do something to get some kind of reward,” says Rob Burgess, the ex-investment banker who founded Head for Points.
Has anyone ever called it “Glastonbury for points nerds”?!
I also resent being lumped into the same group as “City workers and retired couples”.
It’s just typical desperate newspaper reporting written by somebody who doesn’t have a clue about the topic in hand (as she admitted at the end of the article).
This is the case with most newspaper articles – the writer doesn’t understand the subject and writes any old crap. Having said that, there are some good specialist reporters out there, so it’s not all bad.
You’d expect that with DT or DM, but not at a reputed paper like FT.
I think you’d actually expect that from FT Money,
Next page from “Rich People’s Problems”FT is pretty bad at anything but finance-politics.
I was there and I missed this bit “ Guests indulged in craft cocktails, canapés, and travel-themed games, creating an atmosphere that was both relaxed and festive.”
And the most anticipated prize was the trip to Oz on MH in J!
I think you’d actually expect that from FT Money,
Next page from “Rich People’s Problems”FT is pretty bad at anything but finance-politics.
The promised Telegraph article has a somewhat more balanced view!
“the point of it all is lost on me.”
I sure hope that line was written just for the bad pun, because if she can’t very easily understand and appreciate the benefit of maximising cashback or points on necessary credit card spend (which was what the few lines before was about) then she’s REALLY in the wrong job. 😀
The tone was really quite sneering wasn’t it?
I always love the inevitable deluge of comments from FT readers who “couldn’t find availability” so just gave up, or who don’t get the value. They always keep the game quite easy and fun while it lasts. I’m selfishly glad the topic requires a bit of reading, tinkering and old fashioned websites to keep people away. For now!
Well, I am one half of a retired couple, and very happy to be lumped in with you all….. it was a great evening, with lots of tips shared. That comment is either tongue in cheek, or she hasn’t a clue.
And why shouldn’t we earn points on our cards, we spend, we earn, then enjoy the benefits. Those who wish to learn, can make the effort and join a forum. It won’t be handed to them on a plate. Agree, hate those comments in The Times too, who claim never to be able to find flights….
Keep up the good work hfp.
The real question is, who was the FT sneak in our midst?That’s a rather misleading picture of “a BA lounge”!
Well, I am one half of a retired couple, and very happy to be lumped in with you all….. it was a great evening, with lots of tips shared. That comment is either tongue in cheek, or she hasn’t a clue.
And why shouldn’t we earn points on our cards, we spend, we earn, then enjoy the benefits. Those who wish to learn, can make the effort and join a forum. It won’t be handed to them on a plate. Agree, hate those comments in The Times too, who claim never to be able to find flights….
Keep up the good work hfp.
The real question is, who was the FT sneak in our midst?Claer was there. See her Instagram reel today.
Tnx Rob for clarifying. Was a fun read, it might put off people from joining the points brigade…..esp when she highlighted the spend needed for silver…. Love the 5 flights/Silver part!
@JDB Did you have a nice day at Ascot? Would you have preferred to have been at the party? When is the Telegraph article available?
And why shouldn’t we earn points on our cards, we spend, we earn, then enjoy the benefits. Those who wish to learn, can make the effort and join a forum. It won’t be handed to them on a plate. Agree, hate those comments in The Times too, who claim never to be able to find flights….
Tbf, they subsidise the miles game for us. Am happy the game is not for everyone. Enjoy it while it lasts.
No paywall (thanks Claer!)
Looks like you can no longer use this link
Too many other people have used it to read this article before you.To read the full story
Subscribe to the FT
Sign inoff to archive I guess
If you were at the party, or indeed reading this forum, you are not the target market for the article.
I think this is what is known in the trade as “colour piece” … low on fact, a broad brush look-and-feel of a topic. As such, it’s absolutely fine.
Some pretty unfair comments above.
First, it is an opinion piece. It is not aimed at telling you much about the specific details that you may want from a news piece. It is a fun piece, as someone else said.
Second, she was relaying actual conversations she had in the party. If you want to tell her how easy it was to find 241 Avios seats, you could have.
Third, if you had actually spoken to Claer, you will know that she knows how the scheme works and the differences between Bronze, Silver and Gold etc. The ending is most likely a pun with the title of the article, and typical British self-deprecation.
And it’s the FT, they literally have a section called How To Spend It. Well, you can now spend it earning BA Silver!
It’s now HTSI.
They were a bit shamed to keep calling it that way and changed the name — I still remember the editorial of the first issue after the change. They were pedantically explaining it: it now also stands for “how to save it”.I’m a FT hardcopy subscriber for years and I find FT Weekend a two-ply — okay except for “Lunch with FT”
As the link has been exhausted by HfP readers, here’s a permanent archive: https://archive.ph/EfmAh
I, too, found the tone a little sneering. This, in particular, was a typically understated British sniff of disapproval, ‘One man convinced his boyfriend that they should do five layover flights on Christmas Day between London, Dublin, Brussels and (eventually) the US in order to get enough tier points to qualify for BA silver status. “A fun Christmas,” his partner grinned.’
Having said that – and I say this as an FT subscriber – the FT is very much an establishment rag that sees itself as the grown-up in the room. Demonstration of an ability to adopt the correct supercilious tone is an essential part of the screening process for aspiring FT journalists.
If someone wants to spend their Christmas flying (I don’t), good luck to them. Eccentricity is a charming virtue, and world would be a much duller place without such people.
Having said that – and I say this as an FT subscriber – the FT is very much an establishment rag that sees itself as the grown-up in the room. Demonstration of an ability to adopt the correct supercilious tone is an essential part of the screening process for aspiring FT journalists.
If someone wants to spend their Christmas flying (I don’t), good luck to them. Eccentricity is a charming virtue, and world would be a much duller place without such people.
That would have made sense years ago when the City was full of old career bankers educated in private schools by parents and behaving supercilious was tolerated.
Nowadays FT is relying on brand value and few of their journalists are worth following for their opinions.
There’s only a thin line between eccentricity and being out of touch.
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