NEWS: New Avios routes to Peru & US and new IHG brand Garner details

New Avios routes

Two new routes have been announced today that open up possibilities for redeeming Avios. 

Peru

LATAM is launching a new route direct from Heathrow to Lima. Although they are no longer part of oneworld, they are still a Qatar Airways partner airline. So if you transfer Avios to them, you can book flights with LATAM (and earn Avios with them too). Simply open a Privilege Club account and link it with your BA Executive Club account to transfer between the two accounts instantly. 

LATAM will begin operating flights between London Heathrow and Lima, the capital of Peru from 2 December 2023. LATAM Airlines Peru’s subsidiary will run the new route.

The five weekly flights will depart Heathrow at 2230 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and arrive in Lima at 0635 on the following day. The return flights will leave Lima at 2100 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays and arrive in London at 1400 on the following day. 

A Boeing 787-9 aircraft will be on the route with seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. You can read our most recent review of LATAM business class here. 

Currently, there are no nonstop flights connecting the UK with Peru. 

US flights

Aer Lingus is introducing two routes from Dublin. Not only can you redeem Avios for Aer Lingus flights, but you also can now use a BA Amex companion voucher for Aer Lingus as well. Starting from Dublin may seem a bit of a pain, but as you clear US customs and immigration before you leave, it saves a lot of time on arrival in the US. If you are not using a companion voucher, it is usually substantially cheaper to book through Aer Club by transferring your Avios over rather than booking on ba.com.

Flights to Minneapolis-St Paul commence on 29 April 2024, increasing from four-times weekly to a daily year-round service from next October and will be served by the A321XLR from Winter 2024. Dublin – Denver flights, which will also operate four times a week, will begin from 17 May 2024.    

Speaking at the launch of the new Aer Lingus transatlantic routes, Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Lynne Embleton said: 

“With Dublin’s geographic position as the gateway to Europe, pre-clearance facilities at the airport and the strong, long established Irish American ties, Aer Lingus is ideally placed to connect people and places across the Atlantic.”  

“Denver and Minneapolis-St Paul are significant business destinations within the US and the new Aer Lingus routes facilitate corporate links and connectivity between Europe and North America, through our Dublin Hub. Denver’s position as the ‘Gateway to the Rockies’ and its outdoor appeal, from world class skiing to hiking, opens up a whole new US experience to leisure travellers from Ireland and Europe.”

“This summer has been our biggest yet, with 2.25 million seats to North America and the successful addition of Cleveland, Ohio to our network. We are confident in our growth strategy and look forward to welcoming customers onboard these two new routes next year.

• Denver 
  • EI59 DUB 1615-1900 DEN (M, W, F & Su)
  • EI60 DEN 2045-1230+1 DUB (M, W, F & Su)
• Minneapolis
  • EI89 DUB 1420-1655 MSP (M, W, F & Sa)
  • EI88 MSP 1845-0825+1 DUB (M, W, F & Sa)

You can check availability with Aer Lingus here.

IHG launches new brand of hotels, Garner

IHG has launched its new midscale conversion brand, Garner™ – an IHG Hotel. The brand is aimed at guests wanting great value stays at high-quality properties. The idea was for people who want something better priced than a Holiday Inn and are happy with “limited service”. It seems pretty similar to Hampton by Hilton, except that those are purpose built, but these are conversions. 

The brand will offer an affordable price point alongside  a convenient location, a sound night’s sleep, and a complimentary hot breakfast – all at a quality and price that’s currently hard to find in the market.

IHG will work with each owner and property site to evaluate the level of renovation required, while still providing Garner’s brand-defining hallmarks and experience. The requirements for Garner hotels that owners convert from existing hotels are lower than for other brands within IHG. I would certainly be looking carefully at the reviews for a Garner hotel before I booked one, given how diverse they could potentially be. 

Key brand feature include:

• Friendly front desk team that’s available 24/7, lobbies that are designed to help guests unwind and IHG Digital Check-in.
• Complimentary flavour-infused water on arrival and fresh coffee and snacks available all day in the Garner Shop. Free hot breakfast includes a build-your-own protein-packed meal, with choices like sandwiches, egg bowls, yogurt parfait, fruit, and more.
• No two hotels are exactly alike, but each should have a commitment to “consistent, top-notch service that supports all of our guests’ journeys”. 
• Pet friendly

These will not be the same as Holiday Inn Express as they will not have some facilities like a pool. They will also not have a restaurant, just an area where the free breakfast is served. 

Garner will be ready to franchise initially in the US by early September, with the first hotels expected to open by the end of 2023. IHG expects the brand to reach an estate of over 500 hotels over the next 10 years.