Bits: 50 free Avios via Avios Suitcase, Cathay business sale, Plaza Premium in Singapore

News in brief:

Avios Suitcase is back

Avios Suitcase is a Facebook app which allows you to earn Avios points – credited to avios.com and NOT British Airways Executive Club accounts – for completing various simple tasks and earning ‘badges’.

If you’ve never tried it, log into Facebook and search for Avios Suitcase.

A new badge has appeared which offers an easy 50 Avios points.  The badge is entitled ‘Guess The Currency – July’.  You don’t need to share anything to get the Avios.  You only need to answer a simple question.  I won’t spoil the fun by telling you the answer!

Cathay Pacific business class sale to China, Australia and the Philippines

BA’s fellow oneworld member, Cathay Pacific, is running a sale on business class tickets to China.  You can fly from London or Manchester, via Hong Kong, to Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou or Chengdu, for £1,899 return.  Flights to the Philippines are £1,959 return whilst Australia is £2,979.

You need to book by July 31st for travel at any point in 2015 except for September.  Tickets, at least on the China routes (check the rules for the others) are refundable for a £250 fee which is very generous given that this is a sale.

You earn Avios and tier points on Cathay Pacific flights and, of course, their seats and service are very highly regarded.

More details can be found on the Cathay website here.

Plaza Premium opens a lounge at Singapore Changi Terminal 1

If you are passing through Singapore on British Airways this Summer, you have a new lounge option if you have a Priority Pass (free with Amex Platinum) or Lounge Club (free with Amex Gold) card.

Plaza Premium, which operates the very well regarded independent lounges in Heathrow Terminal 2 and Terminal 4, has expanded into Changi Terminal 1.  The lounge, pictured above, covers 7,000 square feet and includes a live cooking station.

If you don’t have a way of getting free access, you can also pay at approximately £27 per person.  You can find out more on the Plaza Premium website here.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.