Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The weekly Head for Points travel trade newsletter

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

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This newsletter is the successor to Malcolm Ginsberg’s Business Travel News. Malcolm’s new monthly forward-looking Travel News Update is available at travelnewsupdate.co.uk.

Red By Dufry status match

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.)

The Walkway O2 London

The latest UK business travel news:

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

The new Hotel Indigo Coventry finally opens

Cathay Pacific returns to Barcelona

The oneworld alliance opens its first airport lounge in Seoul

Aer Lingus quits Gatwick

IHG is opening a voco hotel on Dubai’s The World Islands, advertised as a ’24/7 party haven’

Eurostar will run a big redemption sale next month

You can now redeem Virgin Points for Eurostar gift vouchers

Which UK airports offer £15 meal credits via Priority Pass?

Another Hilton adds a pool charge – now coming to Nottingham

South Place Hotel in the City of London joins Preferred Hotels

Turkish Airlines will finally fly to Australia – but not direct

Get a £1,300 business class deal to Bogota, Colombia with LATAM

Rhys walks the runway at Southampton to see why a 164m extension is a big deal. Image below.

Stories we recommend from other sites:

Scottish carrier Loganair’s chief steps down as final Saab 340 retires (FlightGlobal)

Wizz Air to resume flights from UK to Israel (UK Aviation News)

Comment: The cost of Loveholidays’ access to Ryanair flights (Travel Weekly)

KLM adds evening Southampton-Amsterdam service (Business Traveller)

Phoenix will become Air France’s 17th US destination (Simple Flying)

Our latest reviews:

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.

Best Bed At The Bridge

The latest UK travel loyalty news:

Why ‘Best Bed at The Bridge’ is the silliest and coolest Hilton Honors redemption available – image above. My son and I really are sitting in a hotel bed in the middle of Stamford Bridge during a Chelsea FC Women game ….

How do Qatar Airways ‘double Avios’ flexi awards work?

Get a 80% – 100% bonus when buying Hilton Honors pointsclick here to buy

Get a 100% bonus when buying IHG One Rewards pointsclick here to buy

How does IHG One Rewards work? We run a hugely detailed review of the programme.

Redeem Hilton points for BRIT Awards tickets

Is ‘Part Pay with Avios’ for British Airways flights worth it in the Nectar era?

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)

Thank you for reading

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

Rob, Rhys and Katie @ Head for Points

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