Discounts for British Airways and Etihad flights
Both BA and Etihad are offering discounts on flights for a limited period to help us recover from England’s World Cup defeat (or recover some of the sales they lost during it!). Yesterday I questioned whether you could combine it with the Dublin Premium Economy offers seeing as the T&C didn’t say you couldn’t use it for non-UK originating flights. Unfortunately, I could not get it to work but you may be able to use it for the UK departing PE flights further below.
If you missed it yesterday, a BA discount code of STILLPROUD for Executive Club members for £66 per person off long-haul flights is available. You must book before midnight on 14 June and spend at least £300. They must be on BA operated flights and can’t be combined with part pay with Avios. The travel period is pretty good as it’s for travel up to 30 June 2019. You can only make one booking per Executive Club member.
You can see the BA special page here.
Etihad code
Etihad are offering a straight 10% off Economy and Business Class flights worldwide. Fly from London Heathrow or Manchester to the Middle East, Asia or Australia between 1 September 2018 and 31 March 2019 using the promotion code: WORLDENG. Book by 15 July 2018 to receive your 10% off. The offer is only valid on one-way or return trip fares on Etihad aircraft. The discount does not apply to multi-city flights.
To book, visit etihad.com and enter your flight requirements as normal. Before clicking to select your flight enter the promotion code WORLDENG in the ”Do you have a promotional code” section – this is under the ”Guest” tab within the booking engine. Once the code is entered click the “Search Flights” Button to select your flight and the discount will be applied automatically.
The discount does not apply during the following peak travel periods: Outbound travel between 10 December to 24 December 2018 and Inbound travel between 1 September to 12 September 2018 and 29 December 2018 to 13 January 2019. Flights eligible for the discount are clearly marked by a yellow star next to them.
You can read my review of Etihad’s business class here.
You can book the flights with the discount on Etihad’s website here.
More BA Premium Economy flights – London to Abu Dhabi/Dubai from £539 (after discount)
A slightly less complicated offer than yesterday’s Dublin fares is available for the UAE from the UK in BA’s World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy). The UAE is generally a poor value redemption for the number of Avios for what is a relatively short flight time. Instead, you could consider paying for WTP and upgrading with Avios. This can be done during the booking process if you are signed into your Executive Club account to ensure you can definitely get the upgrade. You can work out the upgrade Avios price by subtracting the price of a Premium Economy Avios ticket from a Club World one. You can work out the individual prices using this BA tool.
Rather strangely they work out cheaper during peak periods. Abu Dhabi in Club costs 120,000 Avios peak return whilst a Premium Economy ticket would be 80,000 if you paid for an Avios redemption. If you were to book this PE offer and use Avios to upgrade to Club it would cost 40,000 Avios return peak versus an Avios Club ticket for 120,000+ around £500 in taxes and charges! Off-peak, you would pay 60,000 Avios to upgrade versus 100,000 for a straight redemption.
There are two other things to consider. First, you should be able use the discount code at the start of this article which brings the price down from £606 to the £539 quoted above. Secondly, you will still earn the Avios and Tier Points for a Premium Economy booking so will get a good part of your Avios back!
The fares are available for travel until 12 December 2019 and the minimum stay is 3-7 nights depending on the exact ticket type. Bookings must be made by 23 July 2018. Tickets are non-refundable but changeable for a fee. You can book and upgrade with Avios via this BA.com page.
HT: Gilbert from God Save the Points
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix packages discounts – but is it a good deal?
Although Secret Escapes currently have some package deals with Etihad, the current deals are better on Etihad.com – but are they good value versus putting together a package yourself? The Etihad offer gives up to 20% plus you can earn Etihad Guest miles on every package purchase.
What’s included?
The last race of the 2018 Formula 1® calendar and the world’s only twilight race heads to Yas Marina Circuit on 23, 24 and 25 November. The ticket includes the after-race concerts, with this year’s acts including The Weekend, Guns N Roses and Sam Smith.
The F1 package includes:
- Return Economy Class flights to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways departing from the UK
- 3 nights’ accommodation (24, 25 and 26 November)
- 2 day Abu Dhabi Hill tickets
- Super Park Pass
- Access to the after race concerts
- Etihad Race pack full of official merchandise
How does it compare to DIY?
Let’s compare a package with accommodation at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi which starts from £1119 as a package.
Abu Dhabi Hill race tickets + Super Park pass = £275
Flights – cheapest £344 via Bahrain or £389 on Etihad
3 nights accommodation at Intercontinental Abu Dhabi based on 2 sharing and using an IHG Rewards Club rate = £307
Total spend: £971 on Etihad or £927 on Gulf Air
Conclusion – although this may not be the case with all the packages, it pays to look at the individual elements.
The special Etihad F1 page is here.
