25% off Avios sale to Middle East now works with a 2-4-1 – but you must book TODAY

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TODAY, Sunday, is the last chance to get a 25% discount on Avios redemptions to the Middle East booked via avios.com or ba.com. Full details can be found here.

When I first wrote about this offer, I was critical of the fact that you could not combine the 25% discount with a British Airways American Express 2-4-1 voucher.

Right at the death, I found out that British Airways has changed their policy. You can now combine a 2-4-1 voucher with this promotion.

It also works with a Lloyds Avios Rewards card upgrade voucher if you book via avios.com.

This means two things:

if you have an existing 2-4-1 Middle East redemption booked between now and December, you may want to consider rebooking it. You will pay the £70 change fee but you will save at least 25,000 Avios on a Club World booking.

if you were put off taking part in this offer because you couldn’t use a 2-4-1 voucher, take another look – but do it TODAY

This seems a slightly odd time to launch a Middle East sale, with the peak travel period to the region coming up. I get a feeling that British Airways has been hit by a nasty combination of:

falling leisure demand (the UAE currencies are pegged to the US$ so everything has got 20% more expensive in £ terms in recent weeks)

increased capacity (Doha and Muscat are to get their own dedicated flights instead of being tagged on to existing services)

falling corporate travel demand post the EU referendum

massively strong competition from Etihad, Emirates and Qatar – exacerbated by the fact that you can earn Avios and tier points on Qatar and, as long as you book it as a Qantas codeshare, Emirates

The 25% discount is valid on:

Abu Dhabi

Bahrain

Doha

Dubai

Muscat

You can travel in:

World Traveller

World Traveller Plus

Club World

but not First.

You must book by 7th August and travel before 11th December.

The EARLIEST travel date varies by route:

Abu Dhabi – 1st September for WT, immediately for WTP, 1st November for CW

Bahrain – 1st September for WT, 1st October for WTP, 1st November for CW

Doha – immediately

Dubai – 1st September for WT, immediately for WTP and CW

Muscat – immediately

The discount applies to both one-way and return tickets. Full taxes must be paid – these are not discounted by 25%!

If you are heading to Dubai, remember my handy tip. Flying into Abu Dhabi is more sensible – you land three hours earlier than the first BA Dubai flight and you get to fly a new Boeing 787. A taxi into Dubai will only be £40 and, time wise, it adds 30 minutes at most to your transfer if you staying near The Palm.

Remember that Doha and Muscat are new routes and you will find the best Avios availability there. From Doha you can use 4,500 Avios each way for connections on Qatar Airways to elsewhere in the region.

Read all the small print before booking – details are on the Executive Club news pages here.

Atlantis The Palm hotel promo

Atlantis The Palm is one of the major resorts in Dubai with a huge range of facilities including its own water park. It is now running a special Avios deal for British Airways Executive Club members which may tie in nicely with these discounted redemptions:

15% off the Best Available Rate on Deluxe Rooms and Imperial Club rooms plus earn triple Avios (6 Avios) for every $1 spent on your accommodation
25% off the Best Available Rate on Suites rooms plus earn quadruple Avios (8 Avios) for every $1 spent on your accommodation
Unlimited access to The Lost Chambers Aquarium and Aquaventure Waterpark during your stay
Discounted rates to swim with dolphins at Dolphin Bay or meet sea lions at Sea Lion Point
Complimentary Wi-Fi access

Booking Dates: Before 31 August 2016
Staying Dates: Until 17 March 2017
Blackout Dates: 10 – 14 September 2016, 28 December 2016 – 2 January 2017

The package is only available if booked via this special BAEC page on the Atlantis site.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

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

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

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a 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, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus: