Head for Points

A few days ago I reviewed my Iberia Express flight from London Gatwick to Madrid. My conclusion was that business class on Iberia Express is, in most areas, surprisingly good. You shouldn’t be put off by any image you have of the airline as a low cost carrier.

On my way back from Madrid I did even better – I had a flat bed.

For cargo reasons, both Finnair and Iberia run long haul aircraft on selected daily flights to London Heathrow. For Iberia this is usually a mid afternoon service from Madrid which returns as an evening flight from Heathrow.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/13/iberia-long-haul-madrid-heathrow/

How I got a flat bed on my Iberia flight from London to Madrid Iberia runs an Airbus A350 long haul aircraft between London and Madrid for cargo purposes. This means you get a fully flat bed in business class!

American Express has emailed holders of the Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card to say that, from 15th October, the annual spend bonus is being reduced.

It won’t impact too many people, I suspect, but at the same time Amex clearly believes that the savings will be worthwhile.

Let’s take a look.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/13/amex-preferred-rewards-gold-cuts-spend-bonuses/

Amex Preferred Rewards Gold cuts its annual spend bonuses American Express has emailed holders of the Preferred Rewards Gold card to say that, from 15th October, the annual spend bonus is being changed and reduced.

Today’s news in brief:

*IHG launches strong 3-4-2 suites offer

*new Accor Wembley events bookable

Bits: IHG launches strong 3-4-2 suites offer, new Accor Wembley tickets IHG One Rewards, the loyalty programme for InterContinental, Regent, Hotel Indigo etc, has launched a strong 'buy two, get one night free' suites promotion.

Today’s news in brief:

*new Avios Toronto option with Finnair

*new Hyatt bonus points promo

*Play cuts US routes

Bits: new Avios Toronto option with Finnair, new Hyatt promo, Play cuts US routes Finnair, which is an Avios partner, is returning to Canada after an 11 year absence. The airline will launch flights from Helsinki to Toronto next May.

Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new promotion which offers 2,000 to 10,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points per stay.

It covers over 600 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and is valid for stays between 27th June and 26th September.

The bonus varies depending on the brand you stay at and the room type you book.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/12/marriott-bonvoy-bonus-points-offer/

NEW: Earn 2,000 to 10,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points per stay Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new promotion which offers 2,000 to 10,000 bonus points per stay. It covers over 600 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In a surprising move, Lucknam Park – the well regarded 42-room luxury hotel and spa near Bath – is to join Accor Live Limitless.

It will be the launch hotel for a new Accor brand, Emblems Collection.

Emblems Collection will be Accor’s equivalent of Hilton’s LXR Collection or Marriott’s The Luxury Collection. These ‘collection’ brands allow luxury hotels to benefit from the distribution offered by a global brand whilst still retaining their indviduality.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/12/lucknam-park-hotel-to-launch-accors-new-emblems-collection/

Lucknam Park hotel to launch Accor's new Emblems Collection In a surprising move, Lucknam Park - the regarded 42-room luxury hotel and spa near Bath - is to be the launch hotel for a new Accor brand, Emblems Collection.

Well, the rumours that something was ‘up’ at Hilton Manchester Deansgate, situated in the Beetham Tower, were true.

The management contract with Hilton was apparently coming to an end and the rooms were getting very tired. What would happen?

Now we know. InterContinental is coming to Manchester.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/11/intercontinental-manchester-deansgate-was-hilton/

InterContinental Manchester Deansgate coming as Hilton rebrands InterContinental is coming to Manchester as the 264 room Hilton Manchester Deansgate hotel will rebrand as InterContinental Manchester Deansgate by 2027.

If you want to brush up your language skills before your summer holiday, Marriott Bonvoy has partnered with Duolingo to offer their members a 1-month free trial of Super Duolingo.

If you’re not a member of Marrriot Bonvoy, it’s not a problem. You can sign up for free and immediately receive a code for your Super Duolingo trial.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/11/marriott-bonvoy-1-month-super-duolingo-free/

Get 1 month of Super Duolingo free if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member If you are a member of Marriott Bonvoy (which is free) you can claim a free one month subscription to Super Duolingo, and improve your foreign language skills.

Alaska Airlines has been offering good deals on its partner Aer Lingus for some time now. It’s not entirely clear why – they do not seem to be mistake fares, because they wouldn’t have carried on being offered this cheaply.

Via the Alaska Airlines website, you can book the direct Manchester to New York flight on Aer Lingus for £850 return in business class.

(Aer Lingus UK flies DIRECT and non-stop from Manchester to New York, and indeed Barbados and Orlando. You do not stop or change aircraft in Dublin.)

If £850 is too expensive, you can get it cheaper (around £675) by starting your trip in Dublin and booking Dublin – Manchester – New York – Manchester – Dublin.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/10/aer-lingus-new-york-business-class-deal-2/

Book £850 Manchester to New York in business class on Aer Lingus Via the Alaska Airlines website, you can book the direct Manchester to New York flight on Aer Lingus for £850 return in business class. Availability is good.

It’s back! Hilton has extended its popular ‘3 for 2’ and ‘4 for 3’ offer for its most luxurious hotels.

Things are a little different this year but the deals are up and running, if less generous overall.

As we covered, Hilton’s Impresario scheme for luxury travel agents was replaced by ‘Hilton for Luxury’ last year. This led to some disruption in the offers but we now have a list.

You CANNOT book these offers on the Hilton website. You need to use a travel agent which can access ‘Hilton for Luxury’ benefits – details of our partner are below.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/10/hilton-for-luxury-special-offers/

Many luxury Hilton hotels now offering '3rd night free' Only available via Hilton for Luxury booking agents

News in brief:

*BA Manchester Gate 37 lounge opens

*good Accor competition

*Venice’s San Clemente Palace rebrands

Bits: BA Manchester Gate 37 lounge update, win 100,000 Accor points The Escape lounge in Manchester Terminal 3 closed yesterday. From this morning, British Airways will use part of the gate area, in the dead end beyond Gate 37.

Virgin Atlantic has brought back its biggest ever deal for buying Virgin Points.

This new 70% bonus offer runs until 23rd June. After that it will drop to 60% until 18th July.

If you are short of points for your next redemption, now is as good a time as any to top up. This deal matches the highest bonus offer we have seen.

Click to read more: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/06/10/70-bonus-buying-virgin-points-3/

Get up to a 70% bonus buying Virgin Points! It's back! Virgin Atlantic is repeating its biggest ever deal for buying Virgin Points! This offer runs until 23rd June and is highest bonus you ever see.