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New US Avios route
Flying with Aer Lingus via Dublin can have a number of advantages, including not having to pay UK departure tax (if you book the flight from Dublin separately) and getting pre-clearance for US customs and immigration. Aer Lingus flights also cost less in taxes and charges anyway than flying with BA.
Over the last year, Aer Lingus has been expanding its routes from Dublin, including Denver, which I flew to with them a few months ago. Aer Lingus has now announced the launch of Ireland’s first direct flight from Dublin to Nashville, Tennessee, starting on 12 April 2025. The new route will operate four weekly flights on Aer Lingus’ new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
The journey time from Dublin to Nashville is 9hrs 05 and 8hrs 10 return from Nashville to Dublin, with the route operating almost year-round, with a brief six-week suspension in January and February.
Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus’ Chief Customer Officer, commented: “We are thrilled to add Nashville to our expanding North American network, offering Irish customers direct access into one of the most exciting and culturally rich cities in the United States. The connection between Irish and American country music runs deep and Nashville’s iconic status as the capital of country music makes it a dream destination for music lovers. Its fast-growing fashion, finance, healthcare and automotive industries also offer plenty of opportunities for business travellers.”
Nashville is home to some of the most celebrated music venues and institutions in the world, particularly for country music. You can explore legendary sites like the Grand Ole Opry, which has been hosting performances since 1925, or take a stroll down Music Row, with its recording studios and publishing houses. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Auditorium are must-see stops for anyone wanting to dive into the history and evolution of the genre.
Tickets are now on sale for cash and Avios.
New American Express hotel stays offer
There have been a slew of hotel offers recently on American Express, including a great Hyatt one last week. There is now a more generic offer for hotels until 17 November 2024. Cardmembers can receive £75 back in a statement credit when they make a minimum payment of £300 (in one transaction) at qualifying hotel brands. Most cards are included except Marriott Bonvoy American Express® Cards. Eligible Cardmembers will see the Offer in the app.
This Offer is valid at 56 hotels across 42 hotel brands, including Nobu Hotel Portman Square, Hotel Cafe Royal, Clermont, Ham Yard, The May Fair, Soho Hotel, Sea Containers, The Soho Hotel, The Standard London, Hay Market Hotel, The Doyle Collection and more. A full list of participating brands, hotels, and eligibility can be found here.
You can use the offer up to 42 times, once per qualifying hotel brand. It applies to payments made online directly on the relevant hotel website or in person at participating locations. Spend must be made and settled by 17 November 2024. It is a shame that the offer is not for longer, but if you need a hotel after that date, you could get around it by choosing a pre-payment rate, as those count.
You can also double dip by using our partner GTC as long as you settle the hotel bill when you check out with the right card or they do sometimes offer pre-payment rates for certain hotels. GTC can offer free perks such as free breakfast and upgrades at many luxury hotels. You can enquire about your chosen hotel here.
Red by Dufry changes
If you use World Duty Free at Heathrow, you can now earn Avios on your shopping through the Red by Dufry app which also gives discounts of up to 10% depending on your tier. You can also swap Avios for vouchers to spend on Club Avolta and Club Avolta members can access DragonPass lounges for just $28 USD per visit.
Without bothering to tell anyone, they have changed the name of the brand to Club Avolta, and you will find that if you had your card saved in your phone passbook, it may have changed automatically.
The discounts appear the same but I noticed when in Barcelona airport that there were a number of restaurants and shops that were included for using your card.
You can find more information on the Club Avolta website here.
