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Hilton 100% bonus & Amex offer
Hilton are offering a new buy bonus only a couple of weeks after the last one! The 100% Points bonus campaign is available for purchases of 5,000 or more Points made by 29 May. It is not clear if the offer is targeted, but most people seem to have an offer of a 100% bonus on purchases. You can purchase a maximum of 160,000 points per calendar year during this promotion period. All purchases are non-refundable.
There is also a new offer on American Express for Hilton, which joins offers for IHG and Marriott alongside some smaller groups such as The Pig and Four Seasons. The offer is on my British Airways Premium Plus Amex and gives £50 off when you spend £200 until 4 July 2025. The offer is cumulative and has a wider range of hotels than previously, as it includes the Middle East, US and Turkey. In Europe, it only includes mid-range hotels like Hilton, Curio and Hampton. However, in the UAE, it includes the Waldorf Astorias. I recommend the WA Ras Al Khamiah, which is reasonably priced for the region and has immaculate service. It was also recently updated. There is also a small selection of hotels in the US, including Resorts World in Vegas and a couple of hotels in Hawaii.
Buy points via the Hilton website here >>>
Qatar Airways Starlink rollout continues
Qatar Airways is now a few aircraft away from completing its Boeing 777 fleet-wide upgrade. Starlink offers a Wi-Fi service in the air, similar to the experience on the ground due to its fast speeds. This makes streaming and gaming in the air a much better experience than it was previously. I have used it on JSX and found it impressive.
Qatar Airways will now begin equipping its Airbus A350 fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi this month, becoming the first airline in the world to bring this connectivity to passengers onboard the Airbus A350 aircraft type.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are just a few aircraft away from completing a full fleet-wide upgrade of our Boeing 777s with Starlink connectivity—an industry-first for a widebody fleet of this scale. In April, we will become the first airline in the world to begin equipping the Airbus A350 with Starlink, taking another bold step in our journey of redefining connectivity in the skies. We affirm our continual efforts to enhance our onboard WiFi experience, ensuring passengers enjoy greater comfort, convenience, and service.”
AA updated Flagship lounge and Flagship Dining
If you are travelling from the US, you can use American Airlines Flagship lounges when you’re traveling in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international, transcontinental, or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld® airline, or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American. They are a big step up from the standard Admirals lounge with their cheese cubes and hummus! They usually have better drinks and a decent selection of food.
Flagship dining is for those travelling in First with AA internationally or transcontinental, as well as those flying BA First from Miami (and formerly Dallas before they ended the route). You can also access the New York one if flying First with Cathay Pacific. It has been a while since I have visited one, but I always found the choice of food and drinks pretty impressive.
AA has just announced the latest refresh of the James Beard Foundation menu offerings
- Fresh, seasonal ingredients — think crisp greens, bright citrus and vibrant herbs that celebrate the flavors of spring
- Globally inspired dishes — from soulful Southern comfort and Mediterranean spice to Japanese-Californian fusion, each dish reflects a unique culinary perspective
- Restaurant-quality dining — thoughtfully curated by award-winning chefs, these dishes bring bold flavors to the lounge experience
Then different locations also have local chefs who are offering specific dishes for the airport:
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): Tiffany Derry — Owner of Roots Southern Table, Roots Chicken Shak and Radici Wood Fired Grill, Derry is known for her bold, soulful flavors rooted in Southern traditions. Her dishes include her signature flair, with fresh, seasonal ingredients in each bite. This spring, Derry is serving up coconut chicken curry with carrots, onions, potatoes and peas for customers to enjoy ahead of takeoff.
- Chicago (ORD): Sarah Gruenberg — A James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of Monteverde, Gruenberg brings a fresh, contemporary spin on Italian cuisine, pairing handmade pastas with bright, seasonal ingredients. Customers will enjoy marinated lentil salad with smoked salmon, jammy eggs and chicories.
- Miami (MIA): Timon Balloo — The creative mind behind The Katherine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Balloo blends global influences with bright, citrusy flavors that are the perfect culinary depiction of the essence of Miami. To welcome the spring travel season, Balloo is bringing Dutch baby potatoes with salsa verde to the Flagship® lounge and pink shrimp ceviche for customers visiting the Flagship® First Dining space.
- Los Angeles (LAX): Brandon Kida — The mastermind behind Hinoki & the Bird and Go Go Bird, Kida blends Japanese technique with California’s seasonal bounty, offering refined, flavor-packed dishes with a modern edge. Kida will bring a unique bao bar where customers can enjoy a crispy maitake mushroom bao or a fried chicken bao.
- New York (JFK): Ayesha Nurdjaja — At the helm of Shuka and Shukette, Nurdjaja brings the vibrant, spice-laden dishes of the Mediterranean to life, with a focus on fresh herbs, grilled meats and bold textures. Customers visiting the Chelsea and Soho joint premium lounges can enjoy shrimp skewers with white beans, roasted peppers, lemon and cilantro.
I will be flying AA for the first time in a long while this month, so look out for my review to see what it is like.
