News You May Have Missed at Points Well Made - 14th Dec
- Sam
- 11h
- 4 min read
It's Friday then. Then Saturday, Sunday (what?)
Yup, it's Sunday which means it is time for the weekly round up in case you have missed any of these news stories. We've got for you a rare bonus on the Avios Barclaycard, two ways to find British Airways Club Suites, a First Class (?) review of Qatar Airways, and an opportunity to win 300,000 Virgin Points!
And one which may make you ponder, when should you use miles instead of points?
As always if you enjoy this weeks round up, and if you would like to switch to weekly emails, rather for each news story, please email me sam@pointswellmade.co.uk.
Barclaycard have an improved sign-up bonus running on the Barclaycard Avios Plus until mid-January, and it's the first time we've seen Barclays bump up this offer since late 2023. If you've been considering this card, this could be the time.
The Enhanced Offer
New cardholders can now collect 35,000 Avios by meeting two spending thresholds:
Hit £3,000 spend in three months = 25,000 Avios
Hit £6,000 spend in six months = an additional 10,000 Avios
There's also a year's Apple TV subscription included, assuming you're not already subscribed or haven't been in the past 60 days.
With the 9,000 Avios you'll earn from that £6,000 spend (the card pays 1.5 Avios per pound), you're looking at 44,000 Avios total in your first six months.
For all the details, click here.
Qatar Airways markets a First Class product on some of its regional routes, including this route that I'm reviewing from Doha to Riyadh. When I had the chance to upgrade from economy for 16,000 Avios, I took it - partly for the flight itself, but mainly for access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge during a four-hour layover.
But here's the uncomfortable truth that frequent flyers already know: Qatar's regional "First Class" is really just their Business Class seat with a different name. It's the same Business Class seat you'd find on any other route, just rebranded as First Class to give the product a premium sheen on shorter routes. And with Qatar offering so many different Business Class seats, it's pot luck to which you'll get!
If you want Qatar's actual First Class product, with proper suites and a genuine First Class experience, you need to fly on one of their A380's or catch one of the leased Cathay Pacific 777's they operate to Hong Kong. Everything else labelled "First Class" on Qatar is just Business Class in disguise. The question is whether that matters on a one-hour flight, and whether it's worth your Avios.
Guess you'll have to click here to find out.
For those of us who diligently collect Avios, Virgin Points, or any other points, there's an almost instinctive urge to redeem them whenever possible. After all, you've earned them, and using miles for flights feels like getting something for free. : sometimes paying cash is actually the smarter choice. Knowing when to use cash instead of miles can mean the difference between maximising your rewards and squandering them on poor-value redemptions.
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Virgin Red is giving you the chance to win 300,000 Virgin Points, and entering takes about 30 seconds. All you need to do is link your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account to your Virgin Red account by 31st December 2025, and you're automatically in the draw.
That's it. No purchase necessary, no jumping through hoops, just link two accounts you probably already have and you're entered for a prize that could book you multiple flights in the cabins of your choosing.
Whether you’re shopping for someone who loves to create a cosy, inviting home, enjoys entertaining with style, or simply appreciates little luxuries that make everyday life feel special, this guide has you covered. From soothing wellbeing pods and elegant letterbox flowers to fun kitchen gadgets, indulgent candles, and luxurious throws, every gift is chosen to delight, and all of them earn points along the way too. A gift for them, but also a gift for you!
Starting your shopping through the Avios Store or Virgin Shops Away portal ensures that every purchase goes further. That means your festive gift-giving isn’t just about ticking off the list, it’s about collecting points for future experiences, special treats, or even a well-earned weekend escape.
If you're redeeming Avios for British Airways business class, you probably want to end up in one of their new Club Suites rather than the older seats. The problem is that BA's website doesn't tell you which aircraft or seat type you're booking when you search for award availability. You just see "Business Class" and have to hope for the best. Or, you can do some manual detective work to figure out what you're actually getting (some of us plane nerds may in fact enjoy this).
For anyone who's redeemed over a tonne Avios for business class only to discover they're stuck in the old seats, and having to climb over another sleeping passenger to get into the aisle, this could be a genuine disappointment. You're spending the same number of points either way, so you might as well get the better seat. So how do you actually find Club Suite availability?
Sam
Points Well Made is a passion project of Sam and Helena with a loyal following. If you like what we do, and wish to help us continue to create the content you love, please consider buying us a Kofi, or subscribing monthly. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
