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NEWS & OFFERS: TLFL news, new BA route, Virgin Red extra points, AF/KLM status match and Kimpton sale

TLFL News

I founded Turning Left for Less in November 2016 and have been very lucky for it to become such a success. However, all good things must come to an end, and I am sad to say I am planning to semi-retire and put Turning Left for Less up for sale shortly. One of the provisions of the sale will be that I initially stay on as a part-time contributor, so hopefully, I’ll still be writing articles for a good while to come. The sale is likely to take some time, so nothing will be changing imminently, and hopefully, most of your favorite writers will also stay on. 

If you want further details about the sale with a view to purchase, you can contact us via admin {at} turningleftforless.com or the contact us form above. 

 

New British Airways route

 Adriatic Bay and the Village near Split, Croatia

BA has announced a new route to Split from Stansted with its subsidiary CityFlyer. Currently, it is only scheduled to operate on Saturdays between 7 September and 5 October, which seems a very odd timetable. 

The flight leaves at 12:55 and arrives in Split at 16:20. The return flight leaves Split at 17:05 and returns to Stansted at 18:45.

 

Virgin Red & Flying Club bonus points

There are a couple of offers to get extra bonus points through Virgin Red. Virgin Red points are exactly the same as Virgin Flying Club points and will go into your main Virgin Flying Club balance. However, by having the Virgin Red app, it gives you a wide selection of redemptions from sausage rolls to cruises. 

The Lodge Verbier

Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will earn triple Virgin Points on summer stays at Virgin Limited Edition’s The Lodge in Verbier, Switzerland. Members will earn 13,500 Virgin Points per night (normally 4,500 Virgin Points per night) if they book by 24 May 2024 for stays between 14 June and 15 September 2024.  

The Lodge is Sir Richard Branson’s luxury mountain chalet perched high in the Swiss Alps. The traditional wooden chalet is backed by forest with a view of the valley and surrounding mountain peaks. 

Summer in the Alps means mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, paragliding, horse riding, and golf, to name but a few. The region’s picturesque villages, lakes, and vineyards are also on its doorstep. The Lodge features a 9m indoor pool, indoor or outdoor hot tubs and steam room plus you can indulge with a spa treatment. 

Virgin Red members can also spend Virgin Points to stay at The Lodge this summer. Stays start from 200,000 Virgin Points. 

Find out more here or download the Virgin Red app on your smartphone. 

 

Booking.com

Virgin Red has teamed up with Booking.com to offer members to chance to earn big on their next getaway. Virgin Red members will earn a whooping 10 Virgin Points for every £1 spent when they book a Booking.com stay in the UK or Europe through Virgin Red (normally eight points per £1) between 22 April and 13 May 2024 – for stays on any date. 

On top of this, Virgin Red members who book three nights or more on Booking.com during this time and complete their stay before 31 August 2024 will be entered into a competition to win 50,000 Virgin Points

Find out more here or download the Virgin Red app on your smartphone. 

 

Air France/KLM status match deal extended to other countries

I wrote a little while ago about the best status matches available with airlines currently. You can see all the details of the status match here. The match will give you status in Sky Team which will work with Virgin Atlantic now they are a member. Previously, it was restricted to UK residents, but there is now a long list of other countries you can apply from:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

If you are not already a member of Flying Blue, you must first join the loyalty scheme. Then head over to the special status match page here.

 

Kimpton (IHG) up to 35% off sale

Kimpton Miami Beach

Kimpton is one of IHG’s boutique brands, and I find them generally very good and enjoy the free wine during social hour every day. If you are planning to head to the US, there is a new Kimpton hotel sale for 
IHG® One Rewards members to save up to 30% Off Kimpton’s Best Flexible Rate.

  • Book Dates: April 15 – May 15, 2024
  • Stay Dates: April 18 – September 2, 2024

There is a 3-day advance purchase required and a 7-day cancellation policy. Some hotels may require a minimum stay. 

You can find the sale page here. 

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30 comments

  1. It must have been a tough decision to decide to put your site up for sale but also appreciate it must be very difficult to keep it going single-handedly.

    As I’ve said before, so many of us have benefited from the different travel articles you have provided over the years that my initial thought was; where am I going to get my bargains and advice from from?! But glad it’s likely to keep going 👍

    Hopefully, whoever takes over will continue your winning formula.

    Best wishes.

    1. Thanks so much Duncan. It was a difficult decision but hopefully I’ll still get to contribute.

  2. Ditto everything that Duncan said. Thanks and all the best to you, Michelle!
    Eric

  3. Re status match – I have just looked at the this – BA Silver to Air France Gold – they wanted €199 to do it.

  4. Very much echo Duncan’s comments. My day invariably starts with a coffee and the TLFL email news. You have done a sterling job in keeping us all informed and “getting the inside track”.

  5. I’ve been using TLFL since you started Michele and have had some great fares as a result. I was so pleased for you that it was such a success and I wish you all the very best for the future. I can highly recommend retirement – I finished at Christmas and am loving it! All the very best

    1. Thanks Juliet! I’m glad you are enjoying your retirement, it’s well deserved.

  6. I too feel sad that we will not get Tips & advance sale information.

    Wishing you the best.

    1. Hopefully the new owner will continue it as it is and I’ll continue to write for TLFL.

  7. I’ve been able to take so many trips I wouldn’t have been able to have done using tips from TLFL with departing ex-EU being the best one.

    You were my ‘go to’ for travel advice when we were still working together and it was wonderful to see you become such a success turning your passion into something you have shared with so many more through TLFL.

    Congratulations on your success and welcome to the retirement club!

    1. Thanks Shaneen and thank you for your contributions to TLFL over the years!

  8. Michelle, I’m currently sat in Al Maha for the first time following an Avios redemption business and first to Sydney. Wouldn’t have done it othpit you and your site. Well done for having such success since leaving us at NATS! And Best Wishes for the future

    1. Thanks Steve. That’s great you managed to get that on a redemption! Really tricky.

  9. Thanks Michele for all your work in bring the site to us. I have ‘turned left’ on a regular basis, thanks to your fare alerts and tips. I wish you a wonderful retirement and also look forward to your continued participation with a new owner. David x

  10. I’ve really appreciated your fare alerts, tips and articles so hope that this does continue. I’ve been also trying to retire and managed semi retirement, so hope you enjoy it 🙂

  11. Wishing you all the best Michelle. We read your site every day and have gained so much with all your advice. We will miss you but hope you will find time to contribute now and then. Wishing you all the best in retirement, you deserve it.

    1. Thanks Kate. I’m hoping to stay on and write regularly if the new owners are amenable.

  12. Thank you for all your hard work. I always love reading it everyday. Happy retirement, but keep travelling for as long as you can.

  13. Michele, thank you for all your savvy insights and tricks and informative news for us keen travellers. I always look forward to your new drop in my inbox, today was a little different though but I will say, I wish you a healthy, happy, travel-filled, fun retirement! Thank you for all you’ve done for your readership and wish you every success with the sale, Deb xx

  14. Really loved the articles on the sight. All the best with semi retirement Michelle

  15. I wish to thank you Michele for your continuous, professional commitment which thrived this page and for providing detailed, useful and informative insights to aviation, bringing countless great deals to your your readers’ attention. Your amazing personality will be missed. Good luck for the next chapter in your life. Hope one day we will bump into each other in one of the airports or flights somewhere.

  16. Thanks Michele, I never knew people could fly business or first who were not rich or celebrities. Since I discovered this site in 2018 I’ve never turned right. I always would look out for you in the CCR or some other lounge round the world so I could say hello and thank you. Good luck! I’ve always enjoyed your news and reviews.

    1. Thanks Michael. So glad you r managed to get some good deals out of the site.

  17. Re the timetable for the new flights ti Croatia. I assume that like the various summer weekend flights from Edinburgh, Southampton and others, these are using the City Flyer equipment that cannot operate from LCY because of the weekend restrictions there. If LCY ever get those restrictions lifted those regional airports will presumably lose these services.

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