Bits: bonus miles with Virgin Trains, get up to 25% off SPG points
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News in brief:
Get 50% bonus Virgin Flying Club miles on your next train booking
Virgin Trains is running a special promotion when you buy tickets on Virgin West Coast or Virgin East Coast.
On your first booking between 9th November and 6th December, you will receive 3 Flying Club miles per £1 spent instead of the usual 2 miles for purchases of Advance tickets.
You need to book on the official Virgin West Coast or Virgin East Coast websites.
It is not clear if you can earn the bonus twice (once for your first East Coast booking and once for your first West Coast booking) or if they track across both companies.
If you don’t collect Flying Club miles, you can also collect 2 Nectar points per £1 spent on either of the Virgin Trains sites.
Get 10% to 25% savings when you buy Starwood points
With the announcement that Marriott is to acquire Starwood, it probably wasn’t the best time to try to persuade people to stock up on SPG points. However, SPG has launched the deal anyway.
At the top end, 20,000 points will now cost you $525 (£345). These can be converted in 25,000 airline miles in the majority of programmes. The price per mile works out at 1.4p, which is certainly not a bargain but less than a lot of airlines charge for buying their miles directly.
It is especially handy if you have a Miles & More account as it is no longer possible to purchase M&M miles.
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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)
There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.
The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.
You can apply here.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review
You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.
Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card? It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.
We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and 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
You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:
- American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)
and for small business owners:
- American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)
The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.
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