NEWS & OFFERS: Qatar launch Avios experience redemptions, Hyatt sale with 24% off, More New Year sales and Cathay to offer free wifi

Qatar launch new experience redemptions with Avios

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has launched the new Privilege Club Collection platform, available to all its members. This will give Privilege Club members access to unique events and experiences.

Privilege Club Collection platform will allow members to bid for exclusive experiences, including access to VIP tickets at The O2 arena for concerts featuring artists such as Depeche Mode, John Mayer, Liam Gallagher and The Jonas Brothers; as well as VIP and pitch-side tickets to Paris Saint-Germain matches, signed jerseys and more.

For the O2, you get a couple of extras included with the tickets. This includes access to the Walkway, premium entry lanes and access to the American Express Lounge. The Walkway is the O2’s latest VIP experience where you get to stand 70ft above the crowds to watch the show.

At the moment, the following concerts are available for redemptions:

• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party at The O2 – 18 February
• John Mayer – 18 March

Coming soon

• Liam Gallagher: Definitely Maybe – 10-11 June
• Jonas Brothers – 12 June

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Our vision for Privilege Club is to build a loyalty proposition which offers value and inspires our members. In the last year, Privilege Club has seen the adoption of Avios, and the establishment of global partnerships with leading banks and hotels. The latest evolution of our member-centric approach is the Privilege Club Collection, which not only boosts Avios’ spending opportunities, but also offers exceptional once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

You can find more information, including Frequently Asked Questions, here. 

Hyatt sale with 24% off and free breakfast

Hyatt has launched a new sale which offers 24% off in  Europe, Africa and the Middle East when booking between 5 January and 29 January 2024 for qualifying stays between 12 January and 6 May 2024.

The sale prices are restricted to members of World of Hyatt, but it is free to join. You will need to enter Offer Code SALE24.

The usual catch applies in that prepayment is required, and bookings made under this offer are non-refundable and cannot be changed. The discount applies to room rate only, and represents a discount off the Standard Rate. 

If you would like some inspiration on choosing a Hyatt hotel, there are plenty of Hyatt hotel reviews to peruse on this page. 

You can find the sale page here.

More New Year sales coming this week

I thought that it was worth giving my readers a heads up that there are a number of sales this week due to launch that you may want to keep an eye out for. I will, of course, bring you full details when they launch. The January Qatar sale is usually the best sale of the year. 

• Tuesday 9 January – European Qatar sale
• Wednesday 10 January – Radisson sale
• Thursday 11 January – 15% off IHG redemptions for Platinum and above members
• Friday 12 January – up to 50% off Barcelo hotels

Cathay Pacific announced free wifi for business class

Joining a growing trend for giving free wi-fi to top status holders and business class passengers, Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam announced that Cathay is introducing free WiFI for all Business Class passengers and Diamond members in any class. Cathay already offers free wifi in First class. The wi-fi will be free on A330, A350, A321 and B777 aircraft. Unfortunately, the free wifi does not apply to the oneworld equivalent of Diamond class (Emerald). 

Cathay are due to launch their new B777  first and business class cabins imminently, but it was also announced that they will be introducing a new 3rd generation Premium Economy seat, which is said to be “more premium than economy”.