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Bits: got Shangri-La points expiring today?, Lufthansa matching BA sale fares

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News in brief:

Do you have Golden Circle points expiring today?

If you earned a pile of Shangri-La Golden Circle points from their big 2013 promotion, they will be expiring today if you failed to use them.

It is worth remembering that you can order a dining voucher today and it will be valid for six months.  That gives you a little bit of leeway.  Don’t let them die without a fight!

Alternatively, convert them to Avios.  Until midnight today (UK or Singapore time?) the minimum airline conversion has been cut to just 1,000 points so you may well have enough.

Lufthansa matching BA sale fares from Dublin

Before Christmas I covered some of the excellent British Airways business class fares to North America currently available if you are willing to start your trip in Dublin.  Fares are available for under £800 return.

Lufthansa has matched this with its own sale out of Dublin.  If you are focussed on Star Alliance instead of oneworld, this could be an opportunity to top up your miles or earn status more quickly.

Here are the headline prices which should allow routings on Lufthansa or SWISS.  SWISS business class is generally seen as being better than Lufthansa if you get offered the choice, especially in terms of seat:

Dublin to …. (all prices business class, return)

  • New York €1,119
  • Boston €1,129
  • Honolulu  €1,769
  • Los Angeles €1,399
  • Seattle €1,399
  • Miami €1,279
  • Detroit €1,339
  • San Francisco €1,339
  • Atlanta €1,319
  • Denver €1,399
  • Calgary €1,499
  • Vancouver €1,499
  • Toronto €1,319

You need to book by 2nd February and travel between 19th March – 18th April or 1st July to 31st August.  Saturday night stay required.

The Lufthansa booking site is here whilst the SWISS site is here.

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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards

How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.

There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card. 

The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.

There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

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

Category

Lufthansa and Miles & More, Shangri-La Circle

Comments (125)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • David says:
    31 Dec31 December 08:43

    One more upgrade code:

    free-poptac

    10 left

  • Trevor says:
    31 Dec31 December 08:47

    Hi Award Wallet’ers. Love the service of this website (that goes for HfP and Awardwallet) – I track loads of airlines and hotel groups, shopping portals and other random accounts. Having a premium account means the expiry dates are tracked along with travel plans and I’m emailed when things change or are about to expire – even my private gift cards which I load on to keep track of (like when taking advantage of Amex specials). What more could you want?

    Here’s the free upgrade code for first time users, currently with 3 uses left: free-zbtolq

  • Andrew (U) says:
    31 Dec31 December 08:56

    Still 8 left on this: free-bdbmbj

  • rotundo says:
    31 Dec31 December 09:09

    free-oscnnz
    10 left

  • Steve says:
    31 Dec31 December 09:12

    Here is mine

    free-iolstu

  • Roger says:
    31 Dec31 December 09:18

    re SWISS ex-DUB fares – it gets better.

    When I checked a couple of weeks ago, I priced DUB-NYC return in April (into EWR, back from JFK) at about €900.

    Checking again just now, I find DUB-JFK return at €1,009. Overnights in ZRH possible. Handy for Swiss, or those with Swiss in-laws.

    It may be necessary to try various dates for the discount fares.

  • Roger says:
    31 Dec31 December 09:22

    re Shangri-La points conversions:

    When I converted a month or so ago, there was a 25% miles bonus, meaning 1,250 Avios (or some other miles) per 1,000 points.

    I only became aware of the offer when I converted. The Avios credited satisfactorily.

  • Andrew H says:
    31 Dec31 December 09:29

    I still have three of these left

    free-vivbhb

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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