In this post:
British Airways Announces an Avios-Only Flight to New York
To celebrate 25 years of the British Airways American Express Cards, BA has announced a special Avios-only flight to New York for cardholders.
There are some fantastic one-off discounts available, including heavily reduced Avios rates and no cash payment required. You must travel on both flights.
Return costs are as follows:
- First – 160,000 Avios + £0
- Club World – 100,000 Avios + £0
- World Traveller Plus – 50,000 Avios + £0
- World Traveller – 25,000 Avios + £0
Further benefits include an invitation to a private event at One Vanderbilt in Manhattan and even a complimentary BLADE helicopter transfer for First ticket holders.
- BA177 – Departs Heathrow 15th October 13:20 – Arrives at New York JFK 16:16
- BA180 – Departs New York 19:10 on 18th October – Arrives into Heathrow 7:20 on 19th October
You can register your interest here until 24th June, and you’ll also receive booking instructions ahead of the release! Bookings open on 15th July.
There are a few important things to note:
- One person can book up to four seats in their chosen cabin and use up to two AMEX Companion Vouchers. Additional travellers do not need to be cardholders.
- Seats will be offered to pre-registered Cardmembers on a first-come, first-served basis once bookings open.
- You can’t use the balances held by other members of your Household Account towards the booking.
- You must travel in the same cabin on both flights.
- If you don’t get a seat, you can join the waitlist (though I expect this will be very long).
- You can request to cancel up to 30 days before the outbound flight. In this case, the Avios used and any Companion Voucher applied will be returned to your British Airways Club account within 30 days.
Colm Lacy, Chief Commercial Officer, British Airways, said:
“For 25 years, our partnership with American Express has set the standard for rewarding loyalty, creating exceptional travel experiences for millions of customers. This exclusive anniversary flight is a fitting way to celebrate that milestone, and we’re delighted to be giving cardmembers the chance to turn their loyalty into a truly unforgettable journey to New York.”
Register your interest here >>>
Riyadh Air Manchester Flights Now on Sale
Riyadh Air has now received three of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and announced the launch dates of new routes, including:
- Jeddah – 14th June
- Dubai – 18th June
- Cairo – 25th June
- Madrid – 17th July
- Manchester – 23rd July
The Manchester route will operate three times per week from Terminal 2:
- RX417 – Riyadh to Manchester – Departure 01:30 – Arrival 06:40
- RX408 – Manchester to Riyadh – Departure 08:40 – Arrival 17:20
Manchester will become Riyadh Air’s second UK destination alongside Heathrow and the first direct link between Manchester and Riyadh. The start of the Heathrow route has been brought forward to today (10th June) from 1st July due to deliveries accelerating.
Riyadh Air’s 787-9 Dreamliners have a 4-cabin configuration including Economy, Premium Economy, Business and Business Elite. Business Elite features just four seats per aircraft, with sliding privacy doors, companion dining and 32-inch 4K entertainment screens.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, stated:
“Today is a momentous day for Riyadh Air as we open sales for Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid, and Manchester. Following the arrival of our first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, this is a major step in our journey to connect Riyadh to the world. But this is just the beginning of our rapid expansion; in the coming weeks we will also be announcing the opening of ticket sales to many more exciting destinations.
“These routes have been carefully selected to serve key markets for business, tourism, and trade, and are designed to facilitate seamless transit for travelers from Europe to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and beyond, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline and a significant contributor to Vision 2030. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard to experience our distinctive Saudi hospitality as we connect these great cities and continue to redefine the future of air travel.”
Tickets for all new routes are already on sale.
Virgin Points Can Now Be Spent on Virgin Voyages Bar Tab Credit
You can now opt to spend Virgin Points on onboard drinks credit via Virgin Red, which can be used throughout your Virgin Voyages sailing. That includes everything from coffees and soft drinks to cocktails, premium spirits, the popular Shake for Champagne service and The Beach Club at Bimini.
40,000 Virgin Points can be redeemed for a $300 (£222) bar tab, which is certainly not the best value use of points. Each point redeemed this way is worth 0.56p, which is similar to many other Virgin Red redemption options, though slightly higher than many that give 0.5p. The most valuable way to redeem Virgin Points is on Premium and Upper Class flights and upgrades.
You can click the option on the Virgin Red site to receive an email with a unique voucher code. You’ll then need to complete the redemption form to have the bar tab added to your account within 5 working days.
This is available for a limited time and cannot be combined with other onboard credits or promotional offers. Credit is valid for 12 months.
It’s always great to have new ways to spend Virgin Points. If you have a Virgin Voyages trip planned, this is a good way to reduce your onboard spend.
