News you may have missed at Points Well Made - 31st May
- Sam
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
What's happened this week then?
The new BA Avios reward flight taxes and fees went live this week. The Avios prices haven't changed (that happened back in December), but the cash element has, and we've built a tool so you can check every route and every cabin. Some of the increases are eye-catching, particularly on the cheaper routes where the percentage jump is steepest.
We've also published a full guide to every UK credit card that comes with airport lounge access, covering which networks they use, how many visits you get, and whether the annual fee is actually worth it. Spoiler: some are and some aren't.
Amex has launched boosted referral bonuses across ten cards running until 21 July, we've answered the supplementary card question that kept coming up (no, being added to someone else's Amex won't stop you getting your own sign-up bonus), and Helena has written up the BA household account guide for anyone looking to pool Avios with family. There's also a review of the City Lodge at Johannesburg's OR Tambo, which turned out to be a genuinely pleasant surprise.
As always, a bit of housekeeping, if you want to get in touch to change your subscription to a weekly only email, or from weekly to daily, then please do email sam@pointswellmade.co.uk. Or if you have anything else you want to ask us, tell us or request for us to cover, we love to hear from you so feel free to email helena@pointswellmade.co.uk.
Sam
After our piece the other week on the 10,000 bonus Avios for adding a free supplementary card to your BA Amex, we got a sensible question from a few readers:
If I am added as a supplementary cardholder on someone else's Amex, does that count as having "held" the card? Will it stop me getting a sign-up bonus when I apply for my own?
Short answer: no.
If you collect Avios through the British Airways Club, chances are you’ve wondered how to make them go further, especially if you don’t always travel alone.
That’s exactly where British Airways Household Accounts come into play. Designed to make group travel easier to handle, they allow you to combine Avios across multiple people, unlocking redemptions faster and with far less friction. Sam and I utilise this to great effect.
In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know, from how they work in practice to the often-overlooked rules.
Today is the day that British Airways updates the taxes and fees for its Avios Reward Flights. We had a sneak peek from BA last week with some limited information on four specific routes, with the rest left for today
Now we've got the full picture.
The amount of Avios you'll need hasn't changed, as this changed back in December last year, just the cash element has changed this time around.
We've got a tool so you can see the new taxes and fees for every route.
If you’re looking for a convenient, comfortable and surprisingly good-value airport hotel at Johannesburg's O. R. Tambo International Airport, the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo is one that absolutely deserves your attention.
What was meant to be a simple overnight stay between flights turned into a genuinely enjoyable experience, and one that exceeded expectations at almost every turn.
American Express has unveiled a series of boosted referral bonuses across ten cards, giving existing Cardmembers and their friends the chance to earn enhanced amounts Membership Rewards points, Avios, and cashback, but only until 21 July 2026.
If you've held an Amex within the past two years, this may render you ineligible for a welcome bonus on a new Amex card. You can use our Amex eligibility tool to check whether you are able to earn one of these sign up bonuses.
Tired of paying £8 for a limp airport sandwich while you wait at the gate? Airport lounges offer an upgrade to your pre-flight experience, free food and drinks, comfortable seating, fast Wi-Fi, and a welcome escape from the terminal chaos. And the good news is, you don't need a business class ticket to get in.
The right credit card can unlock the lounge door. But with so many options out there, knowing which card gives you what, and at what cost, isn't always clear. Different cards partner with different lounge networks (Priority Pass, LoungeKey, and DragonPass each have their own selection), and the difference between "unlimited free access" and "discounted access" is larger than you think.
In this guide, we break down every major UK credit card offering airport lounge access in 2026, what network they use, how many visits you get, and whether it's worth the annual fee.
Spoiler alert, some are, and some aren't.
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