What Credit Card Should I Get?

This post is designed for those who want to join the points game and who have excellent credit history and who have no plans to use their credit score for anything important (like a loan or a mortgage).

I am often asked what are the best first steps into the points game. I always answer, reward cards. Everyone has to spend money. Why not earn points while you spend? You don’t (and shouldn’t) have to spend more than usual to earn points. Think about how much you have to spend on everyday items and imagine you earn points for every one of those purchases and you can easily see how you can earn a lot of points very quickly without doing anything you aren’t already doing.

A travel reward card is a card that offers points that can be redeemed for travel-related purchases, such as flights and hotels. Certain card providers offer additional bonuses at the start to attract new customers. There are occasional annual bonuses available to those who spend a certain amount on the card.

The United Kingdom credit card industry is very competitive but unfortunately the best offers are reserved for those in need of balance transfers and large new purchases. The travel credit cards do have attractive offers but nothing compared with the bounty available to Americans. However, we can only work with what we have. So, I will list what I believe to be the best offers available to new customers, depending on the need. If you already have a travel reward card then you need to check if you are eligible for the sign up bonus.

 

Best For Large Spenders with a Fee

British Airways Premium Plus

• 25,000 Avios after £3,000 spend within 3 months
• 2-4-1 companion voucher after £10,000 annual spend
• 1.5 Avios per £1
• £150 annual fee

 

Best for Large Spenders with no Fee

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

• 20,000 Membership Reward points after £2,000 spend within 3 months
• 2 points per £1 on travel, supermarket and foreign spending, with 1 points per £1 on everything else
• No annual fee for first year, then £175

 

Best for Lower Spenders with Fee

 

Starwood Preferred Guest American Express

 

• 20,000 Starwood Points (convertible to 25,000 Avios) after £1,000 spend in 3 months
• 1 point per £1
• £75 annual fee

 

Priority Club Rewards Visa

 

• 40,000 Priority Club points after first purchase in 90 days
• 2 Priority Club points per £1
• £99 annual fee

 

Best for Lower Spenders with no Fee

 

Hilton HHonors Platinum Visa

 

• Free night at Hilton Group property after £750 spend in 90 days
• Instant Hilton Silver status
• Hilton Gold status after £10,000 spend in a year
• 2 Hilton Hhonors points per £1

 

Best Overall Card 

 

American Express Platinum

 

• 50,000 Membership Reward points after £2,000 spend within 3 months
• 1 year Cathay Pacific Gold status (BA Silver), 1 year Hilton HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, and Club Carlson Gold
• Travel insurance for your family
• £450 annual fee

 

I receive no commission for any credit card I discuss. I only provide information I believe to be correct and useful to the reader. If you wish me to refer you for either the American Express Platinum or Preferred Gold then email me at georgethetravelmonkey@gmail.com. I will receive American Express Membership Points for this referral but you will receive a higher sign up bonus.

What Credit Card Should I Get?

500 Amex MR Pts Transfer Bonus Last Chance!

American Express are still running their transfer bonus for first-time redemptions of Membership Rewards points. It’s too late to set up a new transfer partner but you will be able to transfer to an existing partner and take advantage of this deal.

What is the offer?
Make your first online redemption between 1 October 2012 and 31 December 2012 and earn a bonus of 500 Membership Reward points.

How do I redeem my membership reward points?
Redeem by visiting membership rewards.

What is the best redemption
It would be remiss of me to not mention Avios since this is an Avios blog. So, you can transfer to British Airways Executive Club with 1,000 points the minimum allowed. It is transferred on a 1:1 ratio. American Express has run transfer bonuses boosting the ratio in the past so it is always wise to keep your Membership Reward points until you need Avios for a redemption just in case a new transfer bonus is around the corner.

An alternative redemption is Nectar points. This is due to the minimum transfer being 1 point and since Nectar is the UK’s most popular loyalty programme you’re bound to have an account yourself or know someone who has.

When will I get the bonus points?
Bonus points will be awarded by 10 February 2013.

500 Amex MR Pts Transfer Bonus Last Chance!

£100 Off Trailfinders Holidays

As an American Express Cardmember, you can enjoy an exclusive £100 off selected Shangri-La holidays, when you book a trip for two people including flights and seven nights accommodation with Trailfinders. To receive this offer book before 31 January 2013.

Call Trailfinders on 020 7368 1200, or visit them in store and quote ‘Amex Shangri-La’ and pay with your American Express Card.

The Maldives
7 nights from £3,399 per person
Includes return flights to Malé from London Heathrow
Seven nights in a Deluxe Pool Villa with Private Pool, half board

Australia
7 nights from £1,599 per person
Includes flights to Sydney from London Heathrow
Four nights at the 5* Shangri-La Hotel Sydney in a Deluxe Darling Harbour View Room
Flights from Sydney to Cairns, three nights at the 5* Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns in a Superior Room
Return flight from Cairns to London Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

Borneo
7 nights from £989 per person
Includes return flights to Kota Kinabalu from London Heathrow, seven nights in a superior Rainforest View room and transfers

£100 Off Trailfinders Holidays

£20 off and 4% Cashback with Lufthansa

Quidco are offering 4% cashback for the next 5 days on top of existing £20 discount on Lufthansa flights.

When must I book by?
Book between 1 November 2012 and 31 December 2012.

When must I travel by?
Travel must be between 1 November 2012 and 31 March 2013.

What are the restrictions?
Vouchers are only valid for itineraries where all flights are operated by Lufthansa and Lufthansa Regional Partners (incl. Lufthansa City Line and Eurowings).

The voucher is only valid for flights departing in United Kingdom

£20 off and 4% Cashback with Lufthansa

Amazing British Airways Premium Plus Offer!

From Headfor Points, Quidco are offering excellent cashback for the next 7 days for the British Airways Premium Plus credit card, which combined with the extra sign up bonus makes a very attractive offer.

The Quidco cashback is £80 making the annual fee £70 for the first year. The sign up bonus is 25,000 Avios after a £3,000 spend within the first 3 months of Cardmembership.

The two keys advantages of the British Airways Premium Plus credit card are:

• Collect 1.5 Avios for virtually every £1 you spend and earn double Avios on British Airways flights and holidays
• Spent £10,000 on the Card in one year an earn a 2-4-1 companion voucher

If you have had a British Airways American Express Card in the last 6 months you will not be eligible for the bonus Avios and £30,000 household income required.

You can be referred by a friend and earn 26,000 Avios sign up bonus but you won’t be able to take advantage of the Quidco cashback offer.

Amazing British Airways Premium Plus Offer!

Avios Offer - Bonus Tesco Clubcard Points Round-Up

Avios Airmiles can be earned through Tesco Clubcard. You earn Tesco clubcard points which are changed into Tesco vouchers which can be converted into Avios at a rate of £5 = 240 Avios. This means the ratio is 1 clubcard point = 2.4 Avios. There are regular bonus promotions that multipliers this ratio. For example, within the last six months there was a 50% bonus offer meaning £5 = 360 Avios. Therefore it is always best to keep Tesco clubcard vouchers and wait for a conversion bonus unless needed for an immediate Avios redemption.

Here is a round-up of Tesco bonus clubcard points opportunities available now.

Tesco Wine are offering 500 bonus clubcard points (1,200 Avios) for Tesco clubcard credit card customers when they spend over £50 by 13 January 2013. Simply enter eCoupon code XXNFYL at the online checkout.  You can combine this with £10 off eCoupon code XXFQ3N for spends over £60 and also benefit from free pre-Xmas delivery on £50+ orders.

Also earn 3% cashback from Quidco.

Tesco Direct are offering bonus clubcard points on Sylvanian Families toys. The most expensive costs £109.97 and earns 1,000 clubcard points (1 Avios = 4.5p) and the cheapest costs £15.97 and earns 200 clubcard points (1 Avios = 7.9p).

You can also buy Hornby trains. Thomas the Tank Engine costs £110.25 and earns 300 clubcard points (1 Avios = 14p) or Virgin Trains costs £139.99 and earns 500 clubcard points (1 Avios = 11p)

This is not worth doing for the Avios alone but useful if you need to buy these items for Christmas anyway.

Also earn 3% cashback from Quidco.

Avios Offer - Bonus Tesco Clubcard Points Round-Up

35% off Dubai Holiday

British Airways have another travel offer through their advent calendar promotion.

Get 35% off and free half board when you book a holiday to one of the three Madinat hotels in Dubai when you travel

What are the limits? Offers are valid when flights and hotel stay are booked at the same time. You stay at either the 5* Madinat Jumeirah – Mina A Salam, 5* Madinat Jumeriah – Al Qasr or Madinat Jumeriah – Dar Al Masyaf.

Flights depart from London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

When must I travel? Travel between 20 May and 30 September 2013

When must I book by?
Book by midnight 24 December 2012.

Remember Quidco cashback for British Airways flights and holidays.

35% off Dubai Holiday

£150 Off Florida Holiday

The British Airways Advent Calendar promotion has been lacking travel-related offers recently but thankfully the latest one is different.

What is the offer?
Save up to £150 on Florida holidays in 2013, when you book a holiday for a minimum duration of 7 nights.

When must I travel by?
Travel between 15 April and 31 August 2013.

When must I book by
Book by midnight 17 December 2012.

Remember Quidco cashback for British Airways flights and holidays.

£150 Off Florida Holiday

£30 Off European Breaks

British Airways Advent Calendar Day Ten – save up to £30 on a European break.

What is the offer?
Save an extra £30 when booking a 2013 short break to a selected UK & Europe destinations for a minimum of £300.

Where can I go?
Rome
Venice
Barcelona
Amsterdam
Prague
Istanbul
Vienna
London
Berlin
Nice
Marrakech
Lisbon
Paris
Dubrovnik
Larnaca
Jersey
Madrid
Edinburgh
Naples
Pisa
Budapest
Athens
Paphos
Sofia
Stockholm
Milan
Bologna
Faro
Gibraltar
Salzberg

What are the conditions of this offer?
Saving of £30 per booking is valid when flights and hotel stay are booked at the same time, and when the minimum spend for the holiday is £300.

When do I have to travel?
Travel between 1 January 2013 and 31 October 2013

When do I need to book by?
Book by midnight 10 December 2012.

Remember Quidco cashback for British Airways flights and holidays.

£30 Off European Breaks

£30 Off European Breaks

British Airways Advent Calendar Day Ten – save up to £30 on a European break.

What is the offer?
Save an extra £30 when booking a 2013 short break to a selected UK & Europe destinations for a minimum of £300.

Where can I go?
Rome
Venice
Barcelona
Amsterdam
Prague
Istanbul
Vienna
London
Berlin
Nice
Marrakech
Lisbon
Paris
Dubrovnik
Larnaca
Jersey
Madrid
Edinburgh
Naples
Pisa
Budapest
Athens
Paphos
Sofia
Stockholm
Milan
Bologna
Faro
Gibraltar
Salzberg

What are the conditions of this offer?
Saving of £30 per booking is valid when flights and hotel stay are booked at the same time, and when the minimum spend for the holiday is £300.

When do I have to travel?
Travel between 1 January 2013 and 31 October 2013

When do I need to book by?
Book by midnight 10 December 2012.

£30 Off European Breaks

How to Get the Best From American Express

 

American Express

American Express are a card provider. The two biggest card providers in the United Kingdom are VISA and Mastercard. Almost all UK debit cards are VISA and a majority of UK credit cards are Mastercard. VISA and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere as a result. American Express is the third largest card provider, and contrary to their advertising, does not enjoy the same acceptance as the other two. However, there are advantages in having one and I will use this article to provide a guide to the benefits of using an American Express card.

The current American Express reward cards:

• American Express Platinum

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

• American Express Starwoods Preferred Guest

• American Express British Airways

• Lloyds TSB Duo

These cards offer reward points for each pound spent. They are an encouragement by American Express to use your card. I found this point is often the hardest for people to understand and accept. The credit card industry makes money from people use their card and DO NOT pay the outstanding balance in FULL. They know that a certain number of cardholders will pay their balances in full each month. They know they will not make money from these people. They accept this and factor it into their business model. They will offer benefits for using their card and do not expect to make money from ALL of their customers. You can get the benefits for FREE.

However, DO NOT read on if you have an outstanding balance on a credit card that you will not pay at the end of the month. This article is not for you. ALWAYS pay your credit card debit first because even thinking about using a reward travel credit card.

What are the benefits of an American Express card? You earn reward points for every pound you spend. The amount of points earned and the type depend on the card you have selected. You can earn Avios for British Airways and OneWorld flight redemptions. You can earn American Express membership points redeemable in a number of different ways and transferable to a number of different loyalty programs. You can earn Starwood points redeemable for free nights at Starwood hotels. There are also additional rewards for hitting certain spending targets, such as the 2-4-1 companion voucher with the British Airways cards. These are all covered in more detail in my credit card reviews.

What I want to focus on is the supplementary benefits of having an American Express card. These often do not differentiate between which American Express card you have (though occasionally they do so it is always important to check if your card is considered an eligible card for the offer).

 

 

Foursquare is a location-based social networking site. It works with a smartphone or tablet that uses your geographic location to share information about the places you visit. American Express have joined with Foursquare to offer deals for American Express cardholders when they have “checked-in” to certain stores. You can check in from anywhere and once the deal has been loaded to your card you do not need to do anything else but pay on that card. The person serving you will have no idea that you opted into the deal. Also, you will offer be able to combine it with in-store promotions or even just buy gift cards for future use. An excellent recent example is spend £25 at Harvey Nichols, get £25 back.If you have more than one American Express card, including supplementary cards given to spouse/partner, you can create multiple Foursquare accounts. More information can be found on my American Express/Foursquare post.

 

 

American Express Shop Small

 

American Express runs campaigns to encourage use of their cards. A recent example was their ShopSmall campaign. This was designed to encourage use of American Express cards in small businesses that cardholders may think would not accept their card. The deal was spend £5 and get £5 back. This sounds as good as it was. If you buy an item costing exactly £5 then it was free. If you are reading this with a hint of disbelief then I understand. I refer you back to the third paragraph of this article. Credit card companies DO offer rewards for free to cardholders who pay their balance in FULL at the end of each month.

Other recent American Express campaigns:

•  20% discount at Selfridges
• Spend £50, Get £25 Back at the West End
• £5 Voucher for World Duty Free
• American Express Christmas Campaign
• 20% off Air France Premium Economy
• 20% off Aer Lingus Business Class

You can keep up-to-date of the latest offers by signing up to American Express communications or checking the American Express Network.

 

American Express Preferred Seating

 

The final benefit I will outline here is American Express Preferred Seating. This service allows you to reserve a place at a highly in-demand event by simply holding an American Express card. I used this service to book a special screening of James Bond’s Skyfall on opening weekend at the BFI’s IMAX. I have also attended a champagne BBQ on top of the National Theatre overlooking the Thames with glorious views of St Paul’s Cathedral.

If you want more information on the benefits of American Express you can visit their site directly.

 

How to Get the Best From American Express

2 Nights Free on Caribbean Getaway

British Airways Advent Calendar Day Six -
Escape the cold and get two nights free when you stay seven nights in St Lucia.

What is the offer?
Book a 7 night stay and get 2 nights extra for free, offer valid at the 5* BodyHoliday on an All Inclusive board basis

Any restrictions?
Saving is valid when flights and hotel stay are booked at the same time.

When must I travel?
Travel between 1 May and 31October 2013.

When must I book?
Book before midnight 24 December 2012.

Remember Quidco cashback for British Airways flights and holidays.

2 Nights Free on Caribbean Getaway

Avios Special Offer - 1,272 Avios for GTA 5 pre-order

Pre-order GTA 5 for £30 with Tesco Direct and earn 530 clubcard points, convertible 1,272 Avios. (1 Avios = 2.4p)

Game is priced £40, enter code TDX-RJMW for £10 discount. Remember quidco cashback. Available to pre-order on PS3 and Xbox.

Tesco Direct do take money straight away even though its a pre-order.

Avios Special Offer - 1,272 Avios for GTA 5 pre-order

Double Amex MR Points at Sainsbury's

From HeadforPoints.

American Express are offering double membership reward points on spending at Sainsbury’s.

T&Cs

American Express Cardmembers are eligible to receive double rewards when they enrol below by registering their American Express Card number and e-mail before 31 December 2012and spend at Sainsbury’s in-store or online at sainsburys.co.uk before 31 December 2012.

Cardmembers enrolled in the Membership Rewards programme will earn double Membership Reward points, Cardmembers enrolled in the cashback reward programme will earn an additional 1% Cashback on all spend.

This promotion is open to residents of the U.K whose Card is issued in the United Kingdom.

Rewards will be credited to the account within 8 weeks of the transaction.

Spend at Sainsbury’s pertol stations will not be rewarded.

Eligible cards are Platinum charge and cashback, Preferred Gold, and Green. Accounts must be at least 100 days old.

Double Amex MR Points at Sainsbury's

20% Selfridges

From flymeforfree a special offer for Selfridges.

On Wednesday 21 November 2012 shop in-store with voucher printed or on mobile or online using code SELF20 or SELF10, and pay using American Express card, and receive up to 20% discount.

Deal ends Sunday 25 November 2012.

Product List

20% Selfridges

Reminder: Spend £50, Get £25 This Sat with Amex

American Express Cardmembers who register their Card can receive a one-time £25 statement credit on their first transaction of £50 or more on 24 or 25 November 2012.

This offer is available at participating Shop West End locations across Oxford Street, Regent Street, New Bond Street and Old Bond Street.

And to make you feel better for every transaction made using an American Express Card, £1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, up to £50,000.

T&Cs

To be eligible for the one-time only £25 statement credit, you must register your American Express Card and use the registered Card to make a purchase of £50 or more at participating “Shop West End VIP” locations between November 24 and November 25, 2012. Online transactions are excluded. Limit one statement credit per Card.

This promotion is open to residents of the United Kingdom who are existing American Express Cardmembers and whose Card is issued in the United Kingdom. American Express Corporate Cards and Prepaid Cards are not eligible.

Statement credits are generally issued within 3-5 business days after your qualifying purchase, but may take up to 2 billing periods to post to your account.

Reminder: Spend £50, Get £25 This Sat with Amex

Double Avios for Hace Spanish Hotel Stays

Double Avios for stays at participating Hace hotels in Spain through Iberia Plus from frequentflyerbonuses .

Available with the following hotels:

- Hotel Villa de Jerez 5*
- Hotel Jerez & Spa 5*
- Duque de Nájera 4*
- Hotel Playa de la Luz 4* (till 18th November)
- Hotel Puerto Sherry 4*

1200 Avios for 5* hotel
800 Avios for 4* hotel

Offer valid from 1 November to 31 December 2012. Deal requires a minimum 3 nights stay.

If you haven’t registered for Iberia Plus then do it now since you need the account to be opened for 90 days before you can transfer Avios from British Airways Executive Club.

Double Avios for Hace Spanish Hotel Stays

Avios Special Offer - 1,344 Avios for £60

Avios Special Offer – £60 learning tablet earns 1,334 Avios.

Yet another clubcard points offer from Tesco. This time it’s a VTech InnoTab 2 Learning Tablet, Blue for £60 through Tesco Direct (1 Avios = 4.5p)

Don’t forget cashback available on all Tesco Direct purchases. Plus £10 off £50 purchase for new customers.

Not great value but useful if you need this for Christmas.

I might have to create a separate section just for clubcard deals. Tesco seem desperate for customers in the run-up to Christmas. Good news for us Avios collectors!

Avios Special Offer - 1,344 Avios for £60

Avios Special Offer - 480 Avios for WOW toy

Avios Special Offer – buy a WOW toy through Tesco Direct and earn 200 extra clubcard points convertible into 480 Avios.

Cheapest one I found was WOW Toys Misty ‘n’ Molly Toy Stable Playset for £7.99. (1 Avios = 1.7p)

Not a great Avios earning offer but useful if you need to buy one of these toys for Christmas.

Always remember Quidco cashback.

Avios Special Offer - 480 Avios for WOW toy

Avios Special Offer - up to 2,400 Avios for iPod Docking Stations

Avios Special Offer – earn 1,200 to 2,400 Avios when you buy a iPod docking station through Tesco Direct

Gear Street Party 3 for £21.50 earns 1,200 Avios. (1 Avios = 1.7p)
Sony MX550 iPhone Docking HiFi Black – black for £185 earns 2,400 Avios (1 Avios = 7.7p)

Remember, 3% cashback available from Quidco. Plus £10 off £50 spend for new Tesco Direct customers.

Avios Special Offer - up to 2,400 Avios for iPod Docking Stations

Avios Special Offer - 4,800 Avios for £38.50 from Tesco Direct

Avios special offer from headforpoints – spend £5 at Tesco Direct and earn 480 Avios.

Buy two ink cartridges from Tesco Direct and receive an extra 200 clubcard points convertible to 480 Avios. (1 Avios = 1p)

Quidco offer £10 off £50 spend at Tesco Direct for new customers plus 3% cash back.

So, if you are a new customer to Tesco Direct you can buy 10 cartridge pairs for £50 and receive £10 off with £1.50 cash back.

Therefore, spend £38.50 and earn 4,800 Avios (1 Avios = 0.8p)

An excellent Avios earning offer. I normally value Avios around 1 pence per point so you would not even need to resell cartridges on eBay to make this deal work.

Avios Special Offer - 4,800 Avios for £38.50 from Tesco Direct

Avios Special Offer - Luxury Hotel Bonus

Avios Special Offer from frequentflyerbonuses .

Earn up to 4x Avios when staying at any Fairmont, Raffles or Swissotel Hotels & Resorts worldwide. Until 31 December 2012.

Bonuses as follows:

1st night earn 500 base Avios + 500 bonus Avios

2nd night earn 500 bonus Avios

3rd night earn 500 bonus Avios

Fairmont

Raffles

Swissotel

Avios Special Offer - Luxury Hotel Bonus

Spend £50, get £25 with American Express

American Express Cardmembers who register their Card can receive a one-time £25 statement credit on their first transaction of £50 or more on 24 or 25 November 2012.

This offer is available at participating Shop West End locations across Oxford Street, Regent Street, New Bond Street and Old Bond Street.

And to make you feel better for every transaction made using an American Express Card, £1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, up to £50,000.

T&Cs

To be eligible for the one-time only £25 statement credit, you must register your American Express Card and use the registered Card to make a purchase of £50 or more at participating “Shop West End VIP” locations between November 24 and November 25, 2012. Online transactions are excluded. Limit one statement credit per Card.

This promotion is open to residents of the United Kingdom who are existing American Express Cardmembers and whose Card is issued in the United Kingdom. American Express Corporate Cards and Prepaid Cards are not eligible.

Statement credits are generally issued within 3-5 business days after your qualifying purchase, but may take up to 2 billing periods to post to your account.

Spend £50, get £25 with American Express

Avios Special Offer - 1,200 Avios with Tesco Wine

Avios Special Offer – Earn 500 clubcard points (convertible to 1,200 Avios) with Tesco Wine using code available through moneysavingexpert.

“Get 500 bonus Clubcard points on your first Tesco Wine order when you use the code XXNKKL before Mon 31 Dec 2012. It can be used on all cases of wine and champagne, including those in the 50% off wine sale and there’s no minimum spend. But delivery’s £6 unless you spend over £50.”

Cheapest option is Tesco Buck’s Fizz at just under £12 for a case of 6 bottles.

So, with the £6 delivery charge this means 1,200 Avios for £18 (1 Avios = 1.5p). See my guide for Avios redemption to see if this is good value for how you want to use them.

Tesco Wine

Avios Special Offer - 1,200 Avios with Tesco Wine

Lufthansa Sale! One Day Only!

There is a Lufthansa Sale for Long-Haul First and Business class and it is only available today, 14 November 2012.

Fly from London, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester to Beijing, Dubai, Johannesburg, Rio De Janeiro.

You can combine different cabin classes as well. Fly out business and fly back First class or vice versa.

T&Cs

Purchase by: 14.11.2012
Departure period: 20.12.2012-05.04.2013
Return period: 23.12.2012-04.07.2013
Minimum stay : 3 days.
Maximum stay : 3 months.

Available fares

Abu Dhabi from £1,199
Bengaluru – Bangalore from £1,449
Beijing from £1,599
Bogotá from £1,769
Mumbai/Bombay from £1,449
Buenos Aires from £1,769
Busan from £1,699
Cape Town from £1,599
Caracas from £1,769
New Delhi from £1,449
Dubai from £1,199
Hong Kong from £1,599
Johannesburg from £1,599
Lagos from £1,849
Malabo from £1,769
Muscat from £1,199
Osaka from £1,849
Nagoya from £1,929
Rio de Janeiro from £1,699
Sao Paulo from £1,769
Seoul from £1,699
Shanghai from £1,599
Tokyo from £1,849

See this offer first at Miles from Blighty

Lufthansa Sale! One Day Only!

Avios Sale Starts Tomorrow!

There will be a 25% Avios redemption sale tomorrow according to HeadforPoints and View from the Wing.

Full details tomorrow.

Avios Sale Starts Tomorrow!

66,220 Avios for £804 through a Tesco Mobile contract

A new Avios offer is courtesy of headforpoints

Tesco Mobile are offering clubcard bonus points on a range of pay monthly contracts. Full list here.

The pick is a BlackBerry Curve 9320 for £36 per month on a 24 month contract. This earns 25,000 clubcard points equal to 60,000 Avios. The contract costs £864 but there is a £60 cashback available through Quidco.

So, £804 buys 60,00 Avios (1 Avios = 1.34p).

However, there is another offer available until 1 January 2013. Tesco Mobile is offering 3x clubcard points for every £1 spent on a monthly contract mobile phone bill. Registration is required.

To register:

1) call 282 from a Tesco mobile

2) Register here

This would add a further 2,592 clubcard points.

Therefore, for £804 you can earn 66,221 Avios (1 Avios = 1.2p)

66,220 Avios for £804 through a Tesco Mobile contract

Last Day for 30,000 MR Pts With Amex Gold

Courtesy of Head for Points and FlyerTalk.

This special sign up offer ends TODAY 4 November 2012. Act now as the standard bonus is 20,000 membership points (higher if referred – email me for a referral at georgethetravelmonkey@gmail.com if interested).

If you apply for the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold charge card with code FLYER you will receive a sign up bonus of 30,000 membership rewards points (equal to 30,000 Avios)

See my credit card reviews for a full review on the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold.

Offer not available to existing American Express Platinum, Gold or Green cardholders. Or those who have cancelled within the last 6 months.

Better deal available through referrals for a household with an existing Amex cardholder.

Standard sign up bonus is 20,000, though recently went down as far as 10,000 so historically this is a great sign bonus for a UK American Express card.

I value 30,000 membership rewards points between £225 – £350. They can be converted into various different hotel and airline loyalty programmes so are a very attractive currency to hold.

There is a minimum spend requirement of £2,000 within first 90 days. If you are worried about this then read more about the Amex Shop Small campaign. You can always buy a refundable airline ticket for any shortfall in your spending, cash out the membership reward bonus, then cancel the ticket.

If you haven’t got an existing Amex platinium, gold or green card then look very seriously at this option. This is about as good as UK travel reward credit card sign up bonuses get.

Act quickly though.

Offer ends TODAY – 4 November 2012.

Apply Here

 

Last Day for 30,000 MR Pts With Amex Gold

Double Avios on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines

Courtesy of Business Traveller; British Airways Executive Club are offering double Avios reward on selected First or Business return flights between 1 November 2012 and 31 December 2012 on British Airways, Iberia, and American Airlines.

The qualifying routes are:

London Heathrow to: New York (JFK), Newark, Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham, Mexico City, Moscow, Delhi, Dubai, Singapore, Lagos, Johannesburg

Manchester to: New York (JFK), Chicago O’Hare

London Heathrow via Madrid (operated by Iberia) to:

Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Bogota

Eligible return flights are First or Club World cabins (fare classes F, A, J, C or D) or American Airlines’ First Class or Business Class cabins (fare classes F, A, P, J, D or R) or Iberia’s Business Plus (fare classes J, C or D)

You must register to qualify

Double Avios on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines

20% LOT Airlines Discount

I have a 20% discount code for LOT Airlines if anyone is interested.

20% LOT Airlines Discount

30,000 Points for Amex Gold for 5 Days Only!

Courtesy of Head for Points and FlyerTalk.

If you apply for the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold charge card with code FLYER you will receive a sign up bonus of 30,000 membership rewards points (equal to 30,000 Avios)

See my credit card reviews for a full review on the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold.

Offer not available to existing American Express Platinum, Gold or Green cardholders.

Better deal available through referrals for a household with an existing Amex cardholder.

Standard sign up bonus is 20,000, though recently went down as far as 10,000.

I value 30,000 membership rewards points between £225 – £350. They can be converted into various different hotel and airline loyalty programmes so are a very attractive currency to hold.

If you haven’t got an existing Amex card then look very seriously at this option. It is a very good travel rewards credit card deal.

Act quickly though.

Offer ends 4 November 2012.

Apply Here

30,000 Points for Amex Gold for 5 Days Only!

600 Avios for Now 83 with Tesco Clubcard

Buy Now 83 music collection through Tesco Direct and earn extra 250 clubcard points, convertible to 600 Avios.

600 Avios for Now 83 with Tesco Clubcard

360 Avios for £5 Spend at Tesco Photo

Join Tesco Photo and spend £5 within first 60 days and earn 150 Clubcard Points equal to 340 Avios.

Points will be credited to your account within 6 weeks of order.

1 Avios = 1.47p is not great value.

My Avios valuation is between 0.75 to 1p.

However, if you have some photos you would like to develop this is a good opportunity to do so.

360 Avios for £5 Spend at Tesco Photo

Test Post from George the Travel Monkey

Test Post from George the Travel Monkey http://www.georgethetravelmonkey.co.uk