Bits: 50 free Avios via Avios Suitcase, Cathay business sale, Plaza Premium in Singapore

News in brief:

Avios Suitcase is back

Avios Suitcase is a Facebook app which allows you to earn Avios points – credited to avios.com and NOT British Airways Executive Club accounts – for completing various simple tasks and earning ‘badges’.

If you’ve never tried it, log into Facebook and search for Avios Suitcase.

A new badge has appeared which offers an easy 50 Avios points.  The badge is entitled ‘Guess The Currency – July’.  You don’t need to share anything to get the Avios.  You only need to answer a simple question.  I won’t spoil the fun by telling you the answer!

Cathay Pacific business class sale to China, Australia and the Philippines (tickets refundable)

BA’s fellow oneworld member, Cathay Pacific, is running a sale on business class tickets to China.  You can fly from London or Manchester, via Hong Kong, to Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou or Chengdu, for £1,899 return.  Flights to the Philippines are £1,959 return whilst Australia is £2,979.

You need to book by July 31st for travel at any point in 2015 except for September.  Tickets, at least on the China routes (check the rules for the others) are refundable for a £250 fee which is very generous given that this is a sale.

You earn Avios and tier points on Cathay Pacific flights and, of course, their seats and service are very highly regarded.

More details can be found on the Cathay website here.

Plaza Premium opens a new lounge at Singapore Changi Terminal 1

If you are passing through Singapore on British Airways this Summer, you have a new lounge option if you have a Priority Pass (free with Amex Platinum) or Lounge Club (free with Amex Gold) card.

Plaza Premium, which operates the very well regarded independent lounges in Heathrow Terminal 2 and Terminal 4, has expanded into Changi Terminal 1.  The lounge, pictured above, covers 7,000 square feet and includes a live cooking station.

If you don’t have a way of getting free access, you can also pay at approximately £27 per person.  You can find out more on the Plaza Premium website here.

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

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 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here. 

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here. 

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20.  You get two 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.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network.  Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.