🛫 Manchester Airport's Stunning New Private Terminal

Hello, Adventurous Travellers, and Happy Thursday!

From new luxury experiences at Manchester Airport to changes in Avios earning, there’s plenty to catch up on.

Let's get started:

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The New Private Terminal at Manchester Airport: Exclusive amenities regardless of ticket class.

• 🎫 Airline Ticket Coding: The fare class codes used in airline tickets and what each letter stands for.

• 🇦🇪 An End to Earning Avios and BA Tier Points with Emirates: Recent changes that close yet another loophole.

• 💳 How to Delay Receiving a Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher: A little-known trick that’s easy to do.

A Look Inside Aether: The New Private Terminal at Manchester Airport

You can now book a spot at Manchester Airport’s new private terminal, Aether, which will open on Monday 4th November.

Aether will redefine the airport experience, offering exclusive amenities previously reserved for premium ticket holders to all passengers.

Aether will eliminate many of the stresses associated with air travel and provide private access to a secluded terminal with no parking issues, hassle-free dedicated security, and a gourmet menu. 

Many first-class tickets also include this kind of service with airport lounges and fast-track security, but the new terminal is set to be a step above, with electric BMW transfers across the airport straight to the plane and no departure boards—staff will keep you updated. 

You can even bring non-flying guests to the terminal to wave you off (at an additional cost).

There is a range of packages available for access to the terminal:

• Express: £90 per person. Access through the private terminal to the gate with cabin bags. Departures only. 

• Inclusive with Cabin Bags: £150 per person. Open to all airlines. Full access to the terminal, including curated food and drinks. Departures and arrivals. 

• Inclusive Checked: £170 per person. This can be done with checked bags. Open to if you’re flying with specific partner airlines, including Emirates, BA, Virgin Atlantic, and more. 

Aether also seems very easy to book. The form is well-designed, and you can easily pay and reserve your spot. 

This isn’t the first private terminal in the UK, but it’s the most inclusive. The prices are considerably lower than tickets for the private terminals at Heathrow and Gatwick. 

Access to Heathrow VIP starts from £3025 for 3 people. Gatwick’s Signature Elite Class Terminal costs £660 for the first passenger and £330 for add-on passengers.  

Anyone can use Aether - even if you’re flying on a budget airline and prices start at £90!

Will you be trying out Aether? Continue the conversation in the community group.

Why Are Airline Tickets Coded Y, W, J, and F?

You may have noticed the seemingly random letters on your boarding pass from time to time. What do Y, W, J, and F stand for, and why are they not just labelled Economy and business?

These are the main ticket codes you’ll find

Y: Economy

W: Premium economy

J: Business

F: First

The Story Behind Ticket Coding

These letters are part of the industry's fare class codes, which designate different types of service and ticket pricing.

Business Class was initially known as C but is still used by airlines like BA. However, other airlines did not want Business Class to be known as C and J, which many airlines use. This code is used for the full-fare code. 

There were also arguments about what to call economy class. Around the world, it's known as Y class, which is a compromise for the last letter of Economy. 

F class stands for 'First' and is used for full-fare first-class tickets. An exception is the Singapore Airlines Q suites, which are coded as R. 

You may also see other abbreviations including:

Whether you see these abbreviations on your ticket or in forums or Facebook groups, now you know what they stand for!

An End to Earning Avios and BA Tier Points with Emirates

Previously, you could earn Avios points when flying with Emirates if the flight operated under a Qantas codeshare (due to Qantas being part of oneworld). As long as your Emirates flight had a Qantas (QF) flight number, you would receive Avios and tier points when you credited your flight to BA.

Earning these rewards on Emirates flights, even if booked under a Qantas flight number (QF), is now sadly no longer possible.

This is because BA has changed the policy wording without warning. The change removed the clause allowing earning points on flights "operated by another third party under a codeshare agreement."

Flights must now be operated and marketed with Qantas, a Qantas affiliate, BA, or a oneworld partner. 

Impacted Flights

• Emirates: You can no longer earn Avios and tier points on any Emirates flight, even if booked under a Qantas flight number.

• KLM: A similar arrangement existed for KLM's Amsterdam to Singapore route under a Qantas code. This loophole is also likely closed.

These changes close yet another loophole!

Reader Tip: How to Delay Receiving a Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher

You will receive your British Airways cabin upgrade voucher as soon as you reach the minimum spend on your Barclaycard credit card. The same voucher is also issued as part of the Barclays Premier Bank Account with Barclays Avios Rewards, which is activated each year after having the bank account.

The upgrade voucher can be used for one Avios return flight for one person or a one-way flight for two people. You must book the flight with Avios, and you will be charged the same amount of Avios as the fare for the cabin below.

The Trick: When you reach the minimum spend or have Barclays Avios Rewards for 12 months, you can choose the upgrade voucher or 7000 Avios. You can hold off choosing which one you would prefer until nearly the end of the card year - even if you hit the minimum spend earlier.

Final Words

That’s all for this week! We hope these tips help you maximise your travel rewards and have better experiences.

Safe travels, and always aim for the upgrade!

Want to continue the conversation? Come and join our free Facebook group.

Bye for now!