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Liquids ban will remain until 2025 for UK airports
I previously wrote about how several of the UK’s major airports are struggling to install scanners in time for the government target date of June 2024. Once all airports have fully installed scanners, it means that the current 100ml liquids rule can be updated to a maximum size of up to 2 litres, a massive improvement for travellers. However, the Department of Transport will not update the rules until all UK airports are in compliance.
Despite several major European airports having had the technology for some time, our largest airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, are way behind schedule. Yes, it is difficult as they can only implement one at a time as they need to close a security lane to do it, but COVID and the 18 months after it when travel remained quiet would have been the perfect time to start this. Heathrow were already trialling the new scanners prior to Covid. Only two airports, Teesside and London City, have the new technology fully installed.
According to the Guardian, the UK government has now decided to give exemptions to those airports that can’t make the targets, so it looks like 2025 before we can finally see an end to the liquids rule.
40% buy Avios bonus with Qatar
If you are waiting for an Avios bonus, Qatar Privilege Club has a new offer for 40% extra on Avios bonuses. You can collect up to 40% bonus Avios for five days only until 1 February 2024. It is easy to connect your BA Executive account to your Qatar account and transfer Avios instantly. Qatar also offers extra availability for Qatar flights with their double Avios redemptions.
However, the best value for buying Avios is usually by using the “Boost your Avios” option, which only works if you have earned Avios in the last month, which you can boost by 2 or 3 times for a fee.
IHG Flash Buy points bonus
IHG has a new personalised buy bonus of up to 100% for purchases until 2 February. With the current high hotel prices in many parts of the world, it is often worth looking at a comparison between buying points and cash. Obviously, make sure you know that the hotel you want is available on points immediately before you purchase them if they are for something specific. You can buy up to 150,000 points.
My offer is for a 100% bonus, and you can buy 300,000 points for $1500. As a point of reference, I recently used 140,000 points plus £150 cash for the Intercontinental Phuket for three nights. The cash price would have been about £1200, so in this case worth busing the points.
You can find the buy points page here.
Hilton Mystery Buy Bonus
Hilton also has a mystery bonus on buying points with my own offer being 80%. You can buy a maximum of 160,000 points per year, and the offer is valid for a decent length of time until 12 March 2024.
You can find the offer page here.
4 comments
Both Jersey & Guernsey airports also have the technolgy installed and are now compliant.
Newcastle also has the new scanners fully installed (and all old ones removed).
We came through fast track security at T3., LHR last week [Tuesday] and were shocked how efficiently the newly installed systems were working with minimum fuss and without the normal pedantic aggressive checks. For the first time ever I did not even need to take off my shoes due to my knee replacement………as well as the speed of the whole process, and without removing any items from our hand luggage, all highly commendable, like last year in Bermuda!!
I also came through there last week Rex and totally agree. Far less painful than usual. I normally found that T3 staff were particularly pedantic compared to T5 the first wing and this certainly made things a lot easier. Hopefully it won’t be long until T5 has it in the First Wing and Fast track.
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