Six Flights, 72 Hours, Booked With Points, Here's How...

Six flights, over 72 hours. Starting this afternoon, that's what I've got coming up, all in the name of bringing you fine people the content you desire. Plus, I booked it all using Avios or Virgin Points, because that's ultimately why you're here, to learn our tips and tricks to get you travelling better, for less. I'll be posting frequently to our Instagram, so if you aren't already, give us a follow, and make sure to like and share, this helps get our message out further, TYIA.

Flight #1 - British Airways Club Europe - Heathrow T3 to Budapest

British Airways retro BEA livery

Yes, you read that right, British Airways operates a small number of flights out of Terminal 3 at Heathrow. Why does this matter? Terminal 3 is home to a number of oneworld airlines, of which British Airways is a member of. This means that my simple Club Europe ticket doesn't just get me in to the British Airways lounge, but also Qantas, American Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. So my aim is to review as many lounges as I can do in the three hours preceding my flight.

I booked this flight using Avios, using 17,250 Avios for a one way peak fare in Club Europe, which is British Airways short haul business class. On top of the Avios used, I had to pay a small amount in taxes, £29.50 to be exact, which I put on my American Express Platinum card as I'm currently working towards hitting the sign up bonus that results in 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, which can then be transferred to Avios or Virgin Points amongst a few other airlines on offer.

British Airways Club Europe

I will of course be documenting the flight. British Airways Club Europe is quite often people's first experience of business class, but it's important to align your expectations with the reality of the product. I for one always enjoy travelling, regardless of travel class, but a more discerning person may turn their nose up at BA's short haul business class.

Flight #2 and #3 - Air France Business Class - Budapest to Athens, via Paris CDG

Air France Airbus A220

This pair of flights are part of one itinerary, and I know what you're thinking, "But Sam, Paris is the opposite direction to Athens?", I never said this was about efficiency! I booked this flight on the Virgin Atlantic website, as Virgin Atlantic are a member of Skyteam they allow you to buy flights with partner airlines, such as Delta, SAS, or Air France. You are also able to use Virgin Points, so I paid 26,000 Virgin Points, plus $62.80 in taxes. The taxes needed to be paid in USD, so I used my Hilton Honors Plus debit card, with a rate of 3 Hilton Honors points per £1 spent, I earned 138 Hilton Honors points for this transaction. For more about the Hilton Honors Plus debit card, click here to read our latest post.

I've never flown Air France before, so I'm interested to see what it's like onboard as I've read great things about the food! I have a four hour layover at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport, ample time to explore and get a few more lounge reviews.

Flight #4 - Qatar Airways Economy Class - Athens to Doha, and Flight #5 - Qatar Airways First Class - Doha to Riyadh

Much like with the Air France flights, this pair of flights were booked as one itinerary, but what makes this one slightly different is I had initially paid €229, using my Hiton debit card for 582 Hilton points, with both legs in economy. A business class ticket was 80,000 Avios, a bit much for my liking considering the price of the ticket. But Qatar Airways operate a very transparent upgrade policy when using Avios. Using this website, you can calculate how many Avios you will need to upgrade. In my case, I wanted to upgrade the second leg of my flight, so I could use the fantastic lounges at Doha airport.

To upgrade the second leg of this flight only cost 16,000 Avios! The additional bonus is that the second leg is marketed as First Class, meaning I get access to the phenomenal Al Safwa First Lounge, a lounge unlike any other, with a cathedral-esque experience. I will also be aiming to do a review of the new Al Mourjan Garden Lounge. Helena and I visited here on our Business Class flight from Heathrow to Auckland earlier in the year, and it was already one of the best Business Class lounge's we have ever been to, so I'm already looking forward to revisiting.

Our flight earlier in the year in Qatar Airways Qsuites

The first flight is operated by a Boeing 787-8, where I have managed to snag a bulkhead seat in Economy. I'm looking forward to doing a direct comparison to our recent flights onboard Emirates in Economy. Will it be as disappointing as Emirates' Boeing 777, or as good as the A380? The First Class leg to Riyadh is going to be operated by a Boeing 777, equipped with Qsuites, Qatar Airways' game changing product. We flew Qsuites to/from Auckland earlier in the year, and it is a fantastic way to travel, whether that be one hour, or seventeen hours.

Flight #6 - Virgin Atlantic Upper Class - Riyadh to Heathrow

Lastly, I return to the UK on one of Virgin Atlantic's newest routes, onboard their Airbus A330neo. When planning this trip, for the day I wanted to travel, a one way in Upper Class was only 29,000 Virgin Points, an absolute steal! But, Virgin Atlantic uses a dynamic pricing model for points rewards flights, so when I came to booking it had increased to 68,000 Virgin Points. This isn't the first time I've written about Virgin's dynamic pricing model screwing customers over. For me, I'm sitting on a fair few points so it was annoying, but not a deal breaker. Of course, taxes needed to be paid and this time it was SSR 779 (£152). Again, I used my Hilton Honors Plus debit card netting me 456 Hilton Honors points.

The Retreat Suite on the Virgin Atlantic A330neo

Helena flew a few weeks ago on Virgin's A350 in Upper Class, but the seat Virgin uses on the A330neo that I am on is different, so worthy of flying to review so soon. I do have the option of flying in the "Retreat Suite", a 6ft7 long pair of seats at the front of the cabin, with room for a pair of people to dine . But at an additional £340 just to sit there, I think I'm going to pass, unless I can snag it somehow...

And with that, a ride in a Mazda back home

You may think I'm mad, and I agree! But don't worry, I do have time to sleep amidst all of this travel. I will be writing this all up on the website in due course, but to keep up to date in the heat of battle, make sure to follow us our Instagram @wellmadepoints.

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.