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10 Avios per £1 spent with Avis
Avis has just launched a great Avios bonus when you click via Avios.com. You’ll now earn 10 Avios per £1, up from the usual 5. This makes a huge difference!
To be eligible, you must book by 27th February and travel by 31st August 2026. The offer is available via Aer Lingus AerClub (10 Avios per €1 spent).
A £400 Avis rental would earn 4,000 Avios under this offer, compared with the usual 2,000. Avios are awarded based on the total amount paid upfront, including taxes and fees, and should be credited to your account within 31 days of completing the rental.
The booking must be paid in full in cash, include your membership number at the time of reservation, and be made by the lead driver. Bookings paid for in part or in full with Avios won’t earn Avios, nor will extras charged at the desk.
It’s worth knowing that members of The British Airways Club/AerClub can add an extra driver at no cost when booking on Avios.com, which is useful for longer trips. Budget is also offering double Avios, but at a rate of 4 Avios per £1 rather than the usual 2.
10 Avios per £1 is a great return on something you would have booked anyway. Remember, if you book via an Avios-earning card, you can earn even more. If you’ve got any car hire planned between now and the end of August, it’s well worth booking before 27th February.
30% Bonus on Qatar to Accor Points Transfers
If you convert Avios from Qatar Airways Privilege Club to ALL – Accor Live Limitless before 24th February, you’ll receive a 30% conversion bonus.
Under normal circumstances, 3,500 Qatar Avios convert to 1,000 Accor points. During the promotion, that same transfer will get you 1,300 Accor points.
It’s also possible to convert Avios from Finnair Plus into Accor points, but the rate is far less appealing: 2,300 Finnair Avios = 500 Accor points. Even without the bonus, the Qatar route is better.
Points may take up to 6 weeks to appear in your account. Something to keep in mind if you’re hoping to redeem the points soon.
To transfer, you must sign up for the Accor-Qatar partnership. After linking your accounts, you can earn both Avios and ALL Reward points on eligible hotel stays and Qatar Airways flights. This is well worth doing regardless, unless you’d prefer to make the most of the Flying Blue-Accor Partnership instead.
Worth It?
The value of Accor Points is fixed to 1,000 Points = €20 off your stay. 1 Point is worth EUR 0.02. 3,500 Qatar Avios would get you €26 off your hotel bill. It’s also worth noting that if you want to use points online, Accor generally requires redemptions in 2,000-point blocks (€40). You can often redeem from 1,000 points at the hotel or against on-site spend, but the rules can vary by location
This makes sense in only a few situations. If you need to add to your Accor balance to meet the minimum redemption balance, this is a good way to do it. Likewise, if you’ve moved on from Avios and have a small balance, this could be a good way to use your points. It’s also a good way to keep your Accor account active and prevent points from expiring.
Generally, converting to Accor Points is a long way short of the value your points would be worth if you redeemed them for a flight.
New Plaza Premium Lounges for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, including a First Lounge
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) welcomes increasing passenger numbers each year, reaching 48 million in 2025. There has also been a 32% increase in the use of lounges, fast-track, and meet-and-assist. To meet demand, a Plaza Premium First lounge is due to open later this year, and a new Domestic lounge has just opened.
SAW Airport is an alternative to Istanbul Airport (IST) and is often the destination you’ll arrive at when flying with low-cost carriers such as Pegasus and Ajet.
Plaza Premium First
The new First Lounge is due to open during the peak summer season. Designed for discerning travellers, the lounge will focus on personalised hospitality, bespoke dining, and curated cocktails, wines, and spirits.
You’ll already find Plaza Premium First lounges in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Macau, Vancouver, Phnom Penh, and, most recently, Rome. Dallas, New York, and Riyadh are coming soon.
With it being mainly budget airlines flying to SAW, this lounge is much needed to improve the airport experience.
Domestic: Plaza Premium Anadolu – JUST OPENED
Located on the mezzanine floor of the Domestic Departures level, the Anadolu lounge is open 24 hours and has Turkish and international dining options, workspaces, and a lounge area. You’ll also find fast WIFI and charging ports. If you book online via Plaza Premium, the price is £43 for a 3-hour stay. It’s also available via some lounge passes, such as Priority Pass.
The existing domestic lounge will be turned into an international lounge.
Other Options
Plaza Premium aims to operate 4 lounges at the airport by summer 2026 (3 international and 1 domestic). Other options include the Bosphorus and Marmara Lounge.
It’s always good news to hear about new lounges!
2 comments
As somebody who regularly uses SAW, the current lounges are a nightmare. Even flying BA Club you get squeezed into a lounge which operates pay-to-enter, but also lounge access using a Turkish credit card is also extremely popular.
Add the fact that one of the two lounges has a smoking area, makes it incredibly popular.
I look forward to this First lounge but only if it is exclusively for invited guests, not an overflow area for the better off passengers with premium credit cards.
Can I add that Istanbul is a convenient hub between Europe and Russia, with Turkish, Pegasus and A-Jet flying to a host of RU destinations
The current SAW lounges attract a host of wealthy Soviets with many competing with their comparable British Stag-do crowd in emptying the beer barrels as early as possible.
I suggrst Plaza Premium First stocks up with a range of beers and vodkas.
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