Smart With Points Podcast ✈️

Join our listeners in learning how to use miles & points to travel & save money!

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Travel Smarter with Points

Discover the latest strategies, card reviews, and exclusive deals to maximize your travel rewards and explore the world for less.

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Sunday Roundup

Apr 26, 2026

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3 min read

Sunday Roundup: BA Status Gifts, Virgin's World First & a Marriott Shortcut

Your weekly digest of the biggest UK points and miles stories

IHG One Rewards

BA Just Gifted Status to Members With 128 Tier Points - Plus Lufthansa Axes 20,000 Flights and IHG Drops a 5,000-Point Bonus

Apr 25, 2026

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6 min read

BA Just Gifted Status to Members With 128 Tier Points - Plus Lufthansa Axes 20,000 Flights and IHG Drops a 5,000-Point Bonus

British Airways is extending status for members who barely flew - some with just 128 tier points. Here's what's happening, who's affected, and three more stories worth your attention today.

New Flight Routes

British Airways Lands in St. Louis: The First UK Nonstop in 22 Years

Apr 23, 2026

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4 min read

British Airways Lands in St. Louis: The First UK Nonstop in 22 Years

BA's 27th US gateway took off yesterday. Here's what the new route means for Avios collectors, plus the quieter Guernsey launch that's arguably the better redemption.

Jack Culpan

Miles and Points

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Doubled to 36,000 Points - Plus Qatar Restores 150+ Destinations and a Marriott Safari Deal

Apr 22, 2026

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6 min read

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Doubled to 36,000 Points - Plus Qatar Restores 150+ Destinations and a Marriott Safari Deal

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ welcome bonus is back at 36,000 Virgin Points until 18 May. Here's the maths, who qualifies, and two more stories worth your attention today.

Airline News

Virgin Atlantic Just Became the First Airline to Launch an App Inside ChatGPT

Apr 21, 2026

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3 min read

Virgin Atlantic Just Became the First Airline to Launch an App Inside ChatGPT

A world-first tech move from Virgin, but here is what points collectors actually need to know

Jack Culpan

UK Credit Cards

Amex Just Slashed Centurion Lounge Guest Access - Plus Qatar Double QPoints Ends This Tuesday

Apr 20, 2026

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3 min read

Amex Just Slashed Centurion Lounge Guest Access - Plus Qatar Double QPoints Ends This Tuesday

Amex Platinum cardholders lose the right to bring two guests into Centurion Lounges from 8th July - here's exactly what changes and who gets caught out.

Sunday Roundup

Apr 19, 2026

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3 min read

Sunday Roundup: Seoul Routes, Avios on Takeaways & Marriott's Hidden Shortcut

Your weekly digest of the biggest UK points and miles stories

New Routes

Virgin Atlantic is Now Flying Daily to Seoul - Here's What It Means for Points Collectors

Apr 17, 2026

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5 min read

Virgin Atlantic is Now Flying Daily to Seoul - Here's What It Means for Points Collectors

The new London Heathrow to Seoul route is now live - but there's a caveat worth knowing before you book Upper Class

Hotel Loyalty

The "Secret" Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge: 16 Nights to Platinum in 2026

Apr 16, 2026

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6 min read

The "Secret" Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge: 16 Nights to Platinum in 2026

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum normally requires 50 nights. A little-known status challenge cuts that to just 16 paid stays - here's exactly how to do it, and why it matters more than ever this year.

Smart With Points Podcast ✈️

Join our listeners in learning how to use miles & points to travel & save money!

Latest podcasts

Dive into our collection of podcasts

Travel Smarter with Points

Latest posts

Dive into our collection of posts

Sunday Roundup: BA Status Gifts, Virgin's World First & a Marriott Shortcut

BA Just Gifted Status to Members With 128 Tier Points - Plus Lufthansa Axes 20,000 Flights and IHG Drops a 5,000-Point Bonus

British Airways Lands in St. Louis: The First UK Nonstop in 22 Years

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Doubled to 36,000 Points - Plus Qatar Restores 150+ Destinations and a Marriott Safari Deal

Virgin Atlantic Just Became the First Airline to Launch an App Inside ChatGPT

Amex Just Slashed Centurion Lounge Guest Access - Plus Qatar Double QPoints Ends This Tuesday

Sunday Roundup: Seoul Routes, Avios on Takeaways & Marriott's Hidden Shortcut

Virgin Atlantic is Now Flying Daily to Seoul - Here's What It Means for Points Collectors

The "Secret" Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge: 16 Nights to Platinum in 2026

Smart With Points: Travel Smarter with Miles & Points