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The joys of doing live TV

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I was planning to do an article this week linked to a TV interview I did on Friday for BBC World News on ‘Talking Business with Aaron Heslehurst’.  However, it turns out that you can’t get BBC World News on catch-up anywhere so I can’t show you the clip.

(EDIT: we have HfP readers everywhere, and I have now got my hands on a copy of this interview. If I decide it is fit for sharing I’ll run it.)

This is a shame, because it got a bit complicated when they put up a picture of the current Virgin Upper Class seat and announced it as the new one and then asked me what I thought of it 🙂  Given that we were broadcasting live the potential for disaster was high but I think we dealt with it!  Luckily the picture of the new BA Club Suite that went up next was the right one.

I think it went well.  An earlier remote guest was cancelled due to technical problems so we got to chat for longer than was originally planned, and Aaron is a big aviation fan.  I’ll never know, however …..

Head for Points on Talking Business with Aaron Heslehurst

Get a 25% discount if you buy Marriott Bonvoy points

Today is your last day to get a discount when you buy Marriott Bonvoy points.

Via this page of the website, you will save 25% on all points purchases until tonight, Wednesday 15th May.

You can buy up to 50,000 points per year, which will cost you $468.75 (£360) under this offer.

My rule of thumb is that a Marriott Bonvoy point is worth 0.5p so this offer is not great at 0.72p per point.

However, you might find it worthwhile if:

you are topping off your account before making a points booking, or

you are planning a stay at a property where you know you will get outsized value

The snag with Marriott Bonvoy is that the annual points buying cap is too low to allow you to exploit the deal.  The St Regis New York, for example, can easily run to $1,300 per night including taxes, which makes 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a great deal.  The problem is that you can only buy 50,000 points per year.

The link to buy is here if you are interested.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

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.

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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:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Category

Marriott Bonvoy

Comments (147)

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

  • Delbert says:
    15 May15 May 04:49

    Aaron Heslehurst is a breath of fresh air on the Beeb.

  • ChrisC says:
    15 May15 May 05:21

    They sometimes show his stuff on the business programmes on BBC News Channel at 5.30am and 8.30am so that may be worth a look.

    He reminds me a bit of Richard Quest who moved to US TV from the BBC. Both annoying in their own way.

  • Dr Tom says:
    15 May15 May 06:34

    If you know anyone who’s a university student (or works in a university), they may well be able to access the recording via learningonscreen.ac.uk. Live TV isn’t available for all that long (maybe a week), but they can mark the programme they want to be stored in their account permanently.

    It’s a service meant to be used for clips for teaching, but has all types of other uses. I’m sure some just catch up on 20 year old episodes of soaps! The more mainstream channels tend to be automatically archived, just not the news channels.

  • Liz says:
    15 May15 May 06:59

    OT is anyone else having issues with Award Wallet and their BAEC – i keep getting asked for a verification code and then having to change my password. Had the same password for years and now had to change in twice in the past few days times our 3 accounts. Very annoying.

    • Rob says:
      15 May15 May 07:07

      Get the verification message sometimes but no password issue.

      • JohnT says:
        15 May15 May 07:22

        I just had that twice after app kept saying unable to update data. First time sent code but didn’t ask to change password. Yesterday had to do a change on both our acs. Won’t be happy if regular occurrence!

    • CC says:
      15 May15 May 07:15

      I had to sign in to my award wallet just now and set up a pin again. As soon as I did that I then got a fishing email from BA with a new verification code and a link to ‘unlock my account’. But if a strange coincidence.

    • Tilly71 says:
      15 May15 May 07:19

      BAEC made me change my password yesterday, might be a new security measure.

    • Jonathan says:
      15 May15 May 07:20

      Yep, for all 5 of my families accounts – it’s very annoying!

    • the_real_a says:
      15 May15 May 12:28

      Award wallet is using a data center in the USA so it appears the “simulated” login comes from a a different continent than usual.

  • Craig says:
    15 May15 May 07:12

    OT: I have just received the Amex Green, what are peoples recent experiences with upgrading? Wait for first statement or upgrade immediately?

    • Craig says:
      15 May15 May 07:12

      Upgrade to Platinum that is?

      • Liz says:
        15 May15 May 07:18

        If you upgrade immediately you get charged £450 on first statement – me and several others yesterday confirmed this.

    • BJ says:
      15 May15 May 07:18

      See yesterdays anex post, 3 pages from end. In short, it is likely best to take the £60 fee hit on green and upgrade to the new platinum card and fee later.

    • Craig says:
      15 May15 May 07:26

      Ta, first statement will be 03 Jun, so should catch the upgrade before the price rise.

      • Shoestring says:
        15 May15 May 07:45

        surely BJ’s suggestion is worth a try (assuming you won’t be holding Plat for 12 months?)

        You could get it for % of £60 instead of £450

        • Craig says:
          15 May15 May 08:01

          That’s the plan Shoestring, upgrade after the first statement on the 3rd before the price rise one the 11th.

    • PaulC says:
      15 May15 May 08:45

      Correct me if I’m wrong If you apply for a green card today, the first statement date will be 15th June so unable to chance upgrading after the £60 fee has posted?

      I already have two Hilton bookings that are paid for in the next two months. Do you have to keep your Plat card open to keep the hotel status’s open?

  • BJ says:
    15 May15 May 07:15

    Not cheeky at all Cat, was a pleasure to support you. Good luck and best wishes for both the hike and your travels.

    • Cat says:
      15 May15 May 07:21

      Thanks BJ, you’re a star!
      ☺️

      • BJ says:
        15 May15 May 11:09

        Hardly, it’s you who’s the star Cat, well done! BTW, stunning photo on your just giving page 🙂 En route from Skye to Oban last week we were intent on a wee stroll in Lochaber only to spend a lazy day on the Sands of Morar instead, weather was glorious and met many nice people stopping there on way to Mallaig. Seriously tempted to get a house around Morar for later retirement.

        • Cat says:
          15 May15 May 12:34

          Just Google imaged and wow! I somehow have never been there, despite countless trips up to the Highlands and islands! That’s going on the list for the next Highland fling!

          Iona and Harris have stunning beaches too, if you go back anytime soon.

          The picture on the Just Giving page was taken in Guatemala while climbing Pacaya to see a lava flow. I actually managed to burn my bum on the volcano (at one point we crossed a rock fall sitting on top of an old lava flow, the rocks shifted under me and I dropped about a metre, landing in a seated position on insanely hot rocks below – I’ve never moved so fast in my life getting out of there!). My hiking trousers melted in about 20 places, and I got blisters. My flight home the next day in Iberia economy was the last time I flew Iberia. I’m hoping my Iberia experience this summer is considerably more comfortable!

  • Mike says:
    15 May15 May 07:20

    Cat – good luck. I hope we can all rally behind you.

    • Cat says:
      15 May15 May 07:37

      Oh good, that’s a relief, I was a bit worried people would think I was taking the mick!

      Thanks Mike!

      • Mike says:
        15 May15 May 08:15

        Cat – Never be worried ! If in doubt do it – I suggest others follow Robs example and make a donation – however small it all helps (and shows the spirit of HFP) and perhaps should be prefixed with “HFP -” on the Donation Submission. Lets harness the power of HFP for good !

        • Cat says:
          15 May15 May 08:23

          Thanks Mike, that’s really very sweet!

          Rob – you’re a legend!

        • Lyn says:
          15 May15 May 14:33

          Mike – a great idea to add Hfp and encourage contributions from commenters / comment readers, however small.

          My donation was small and my first instinct was of course to make it anonymous. Then I realised that seeing 5 or 10 pounds as well as significantly larger amounts might help encourage other people to contribute whatever they feel like, without worrying that it is too small.

        • Cat says:
          15 May15 May 15:25

          Lynn, thanks so much, that was a stroke of genius!

          Every bit counts, and I do appreciate it massively, especially when it encourages others, as you say!

  • Bill says:
    15 May15 May 07:38

    I get bbc world on my satellite tv. If there’s a repeat scheduled let me know and I can record the programme

    • Shoestring says:
      15 May15 May 07:46

      they don’t repeat daily episodes this long after the event, it’s a financial news programme

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

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