Bits: two BA-related competitions, new Innsbruck lounge, new BA / China Southern codeshare

News in brief:

Two interesting British Airways competitions

The latest issue of British Airways’ ‘The Club’ magazine contains a couple of interesting competitions.  These literally take 30 seconds to enter (name, email address, BA number) so you’re nothing to lose.

First up is two VIP tickets to the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 25th February, with full hospitality, and a one-night stay at Dorsett Shepherds Bush either before or after.  You need to enter this on the Dorsett site.  Closing date is 31st January.

Secondly, I was quite taken by this cashmere hat and scarf set from MrQuintessential, classy and suitably expensive at £190.  You can win this on this page of ba.com here.   Again, the closing date is 31st January.

Innsbruck now has a lounge, available via Priority Pass

A few months I wrote this popular article listing British Airways European routes where you do not receive lounge access.

One airport on that list was Innsbruck.  This wasn’t the fault of BA – Innsbruck simply didn’t have a lounge.  Now it does.

The Tyrol Lounge is open from 5.30am to 7pm daily.  It is airside, between gates 11 and 12.  The two photos above and below show what it is like.

I don’t know if British Airways has arranged for Club Europe or status passengers to get access.  You CAN get in using a Priority Pass (free with Amex Platinum or buy one here) or a Lounge Club card (two free passes when you get the free Amex Gold card).  It is also available via Lounge Key if you have a HSBC Premier World Elite card.

British Airways signs a codeshare deal with China Southern

British Airways has agreed a codeshare deal with the largest Chinese airline, China Southern, to add four new destinations to the BA network –  Shenyang, Harbin, Changchun and Dalian.  Seats are available for sale on ba.com.

Connections will be available:

• Via Shanghai to Shenyang and Harbin
• Via Beijing to Dalian
• Via either Shanghai or Beijing to Changchun

You will earn Avios when travelling on a China Southern flight if you have a BA flight number.  However, these can only be booked in connection with a long-haul British Airways flight.

In return, China Southern flight codes will be added to BA domestic flights from Heathrow to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

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.

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.

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

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

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

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

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

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

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.