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Qatar Airways hoping to launch Belfast flights, says the CEO

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I was in Cardiff yesterday to watch the First Minister of Wales and the Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive inaugurate the new service from Cardiff to Doha.

It is currently operating five days per week but will increase to daily from June.

All services will use a new Boeing 787 in a 22 Business / 232 Economy configuration.

The Qatar Airways CEO gave another of his famously unscripted speeches.  One of his plans is to build a five-star hotel in Cardiff – there are no five-star hotels at present – as part of the airline’s nascent hotel arm.  This would, as he said clearly, be dependent on ‘support’ from the First Minister.

The most interesting item of note was the stated wish to launch services from Belfast as the next UK departure point.

Given that the airline is about to start flying to Malaga, Luxembourg, Valletta, Antalya and Tallinn, Belfast doesn’t seem that crazy.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

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 card

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Barclaycard Avios card

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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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British Airways American Express

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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.

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The Platinum Card from American Express

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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.

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

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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.

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

Category

Qatar Airways and Privilege Club

Comments (83)

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

  • Chris says:
    3 May3 May 13:26

    How on earth would Amex know if you bought a Harrods gift card? Surely it would be only if you paid through a different merchant account.

    Is it possible that the Harrods tills can utilise different merchant accounts through the same chip&pin device, and send to a different account for gift cards?

    Or Rob, was your gift card purchase done at the Harrods Rewards concierge? (who may well use a different merchant account).

    • Rob says:
      3 May3 May 13:32

      No, I bought it in the toy department, on its own. Absolutely no idea why it failed to track.

      • Paul says:
        3 May3 May 22:49

        I managed to successfully put it through on three different Amex cards last time. Let me see how I get on tomorrow

  • totaltool says:
    3 May3 May 14:46

    O/T but Virgin miles related. Just found out that 8k points for opening a Virgin Money ISA last June have never posted. The site to claim back miles has a link to everyone possible partner apart from Virgin Money. Any advice welcome on the best way to claim back these miles. Thanks

    • wally1976 says:
      4 May4 May 23:55

      Contact Virgin Money itself via their secure messaging facility.

  • Anna says:
    3 May3 May 17:00

    OT – which Amex-accepting retailers sell B & Q vouchers, have some decorating planned? No joy in my local Boots and Smith’s.

  • Boi says:
    3 May3 May 17:36

    OT:
    Hubby upgraded from PRG to platinum. Prior to this he had cancelled my supplementary card ( about 3 weeks before upgrade). Ticked no supp during application. Annoyingly they have sent me a supp card even though I was no longer a supp on his gold. This messed our plan to add one later for bonus.
    Anyone had same experience? Options?

    • brenda says:
      3 May3 May 18:32

      More or less the same experience here.
      I only found out the supp was still current when they charged me £170 for a second supp.
      So:-
      Open a CHAT and cancel the supp.
      Wait until letter arrives, or contact chat again to confirm it’s gone.
      Then apply again.
      Worked for me.

  • Kinkell says:
    3 May3 May 17:55

    OT: clarification please. I have booked a city break with BA holidays for 3 of us, travelling ET from ABZ-LHR-VIE. I have BAEC Silver status, the other 2 are Bronze. The BA itinerary ( with all our names) tells me each pax. is allowed 2×23 kgs ( very generous, not that we need it for 4 nights away!) and also gives info on where to access Lounges. Do I take it that all 3 of us get into the lounges as it is my booking, or is it just me + guest.? If that’s the case , do you think the Lounge Ladies would let 3rd person in ….if I ask nicely? ( hubby just recently soft landed to bronze at end of April).
    Thanks

  • Go says:
    3 May3 May 18:59

    I priced a one way flight using miles from London to Belfast and it shows a price of £27.30 + 4000 Miles in economy. However when I price it as a return it’s £35 + 8000 as I expected. Anytime I’ve booked a one way fare in the Uk before it’s priced as £17.50. Has something changed?

    • Rob says:
      3 May3 May 19:32

      Weird. If you’ve earned 1 Avios in the past year it should be £17.50.

      • Go says:
        3 May3 May 19:52

        Definitely earned some plus big amex transfers. Going to run it through another family account and see if that works

        • Go says:
          3 May3 May 20:01

          Same on the other account although there the only activity has been Amex transfers. Is it a rolling 12 months activity, calendar or something else?

  • Graham Walsh says:
    3 May3 May 22:13

    OT Has a new Plat always been 35k points?
    Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 within the first three months of Cardmembership

  • Billy says:
    4 May4 May 20:26

    Doesn’t the IAG dispute relate to EI moving from BFS to BHD?

    BFS claims it was a breach of contract. Not sure if it was resolved.

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

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