Bits: IHG UK sale at launches 9am, triple Avios registration hiccups, HfP lounge review links

News in brief:

IHG flash sale starts at 9am

IHG, owner of the Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental and Indigo brands amongst others, is launching a 72-hour flash sale at 9am today.

This will ONLY cover hotels in the UK.

I don’t have any further information except that the discounts will be “amazing” (says IHG) and that you need to stay between 4th January and 27th February 2017.

The landing page for the sale is here.  The InterContinental O2, pictured below, may or may not be included.

As the sale requires you to be an IHG Rewards Club (free to join) member to book, I would imagine – but check the small print – that rooms are guaranteed to qualify to earn points and stay credit.  This could make it a cheap way to tick off some of your targets for the Spring ‘Accelerate’ promotion, especially if you are targeted for an extra bonus for a stay in January.

Registration issues with the new ‘triple Avios’ promotion

I wrote about the new British Airways ‘triple Avios’ promotion yesterday.

Many of us were getting odd messages when registering. During the morning, BA changed the website to say that UK and US residents must wait until Thursday to register.  If your BA account lives elsewhere you can register now.

If you tried to register yesterday and got the confusing ‘Thank you for registering / you are not registered’ message, try again tomorrow.

Our UK airport lounge reviews collected

Following a reader suggestion, I have put together links to all of our UK airport and train lounge reviews in one place.

Going forward, you can easily find a link to a UK lounge review by going here.  I haven’t included our overseas reviews because they are a rather eclectic selection.  The UK listing is fairly comprehensive for the South East – I apologise for the weaker coverage elsewhere.

This is what we have so far:

Heathrow: Club Millesime T5 Arrivals, British Airways Concorde Room T5, British Airways Galleries First T5, British Airways T5 Arrivals, Aspire T5, Plaza Premium T4, Etihad T4, SkyTeam T4, Qatar Airways T4, Cathay Pacific T3 (and video and video), American Airlines T3, British Airways Galleries T3, Club Aspire T3 (and a video), Emirates T3, No1 Lounges T3, Virgin Atlantic T3, Aer Lingus T2, Plaza Premium T2, Plaza Premium T2 #2, Plaza Premium T2 Arrivals, Lufthansa T2, Air Canada T2, United Airlines Business and First T2, Singapore Airlines T2

Gatwick:  No1 Traveller North, My Lounge North, My Lounge North #2, No1 Lounges South, No1 Lounges Clubrooms South

London City:  First Class / Private Jet Terminal (and a video)

Luton:  Aspire

Stansted:  Escape

Southend:  SkyLife

Edinburgh:  No1 Lounges, British Airways

Eurostar:  St Pancras

Trains:  Euston, Kings Cross, Paddington, Liverpool, Manchester Piccadilly

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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.