Head for Points

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which shows you how Avios and The British Airways Club work. We publish one updated article each day. You can see all 220+ articles here. Sign up to our free weekly newsletter here to get links to the latest ‘BA Q&A’ articles.) Today I want to give you an overview of how many Avios you need to upgrade your British Airways economy flight to premium economy / World Traveller Plus.

In June, in an attempt to combat high levels of Avios fraud, Qatar Airways Privilege Club brought in some VERY tough new restrictions on making Avios redemptions for others. Historically Qatar Airways had operated in the same way as most other frequent flyer programmes. You could redeem flights for anyone from your Privilege Club account, and you did not need to travel with them. On the face of it, the changes seemed OK – until you read the small print.

News in brief: The Oxford Witney Hotel will become the first JdV by Hyatt hotel in the UK, with the property expected to join by the end of 2026. The hotel has 130 rooms. To quote: “Located within walking distance to Witney’s historical center, approximately 15 miles west of Oxford and within reach of the Cotswolds, the hotel is undergoing an extensive transformation designed to reflect the character and heritage of its surroundings.

British Airways launched ‘Avios Balance Boost’ in June 2023. It is a surprisingly good value way of buying Avios. Put simply,you can buy a lump sum of Avios equivalent to 100%, 200% or 300% of the Avios you have earned in the last 30 days. The cost can be as low as 0.92p per Avios. A new flash offer makes it easier to buy up to the annual 300,000 Avios cap. You can buy up to 500% of the Avios you have earned in the last 30 days.

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which shows you how Avios and The British Airways Club work. We publish one updated article each day. You can see all 220+ articles here. Sign up to our free weekly newsletter here to get links to the latest ‘BA Q&A’ articles.) Can you book a flight for someone else using your Avios points? Today I want to look at how flexible your Avios actually are and how you can use Avios for someone else.

This is our review of Air Transat’s premium economy cabin on a flight from London Gatwick to Toronto. Another year, another trip to Toronto – you can blame my Canadian boyfriend for that! Having reviewed Air Transat’s premium economy experience on the long haul narrowbody A321LR three years ago, I thought I’d see what differences, if any, the A330 experience offers. If anything, as you’ll see, it’s remarkably consistent, down to the size of the cabin and the food served on board.

When Hilton launched its three star budget Spark brand in 2023, management quietly predicted that it would become the biggest brand in the group within a decade. Given that Hilton now has 10,000 hotels, this seemed to be aggressive. What we didn’t realise is that there were a LOT of owners of mid-market hotels out there who were desperate to sign with a perceived higher end group, abandoning Best Western and the like or perhaps joining a brand for the first time.

Etihad is unveiling its fourth new business class seat in as many years as it lifts the lid on upcoming A330neo deliveries next year. The aircraft, of which Etihad has 15 on order, will support regional and medium haul flying where narrowbodies are too small but some of its larger aircraft are too big, including parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which shows you how Avios and The British Airways Club work. We publish one updated article each day. You can see all 220+ articles here. Sign up to our free weekly newsletter here to get links to the latest ‘BA Q&A’ articles.) How do you extend the expiry date of your Avios points? Today I want to take a look at what you can do to stop your Avios points expiring.

This article is sponsored by HSBC Premier We have always been very positive about the HSBC Premier Bank Account and the accompanying HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard, because it offers you the opportunity to earn Avios at an attractive rate. The HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard – which is ONLY available to HSBC Premier Bank Account holders – offers 3 HSBC reward points per eligible £1 spent.