£100 off Longhaul Y for 5,000 Avios - this weekend only
Oct 20, 2018, 3:59 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald), TK Elite (*A Gold)
Posts: 573
No, booked through the hotel it worked out about £30 each way. Given the BA flight times it felt a lot for the actual journey time since the roads were quiet, but the driver I got was great at explaining the city and offering recommendations on the arriving trip. He also took me on a short detour to point out some of the main buildings which was nice. Local taxis are no doubt a lot cheaper but if I return I'd do the same hotel option, since the roaming vehicles are quite 'intimidating'.
Oct 20, 2018, 4:36 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,125
You can also use Allo Taxi (they have quite a good app), very reliable, about £13 to the airport and £15 from the airport (including meet and greet with a sign board in the arrivals hall). Perhaps take the hotel car on the way in and a pre-booked taxi on the way back.
Oct 21, 2018, 1:43 am
#48
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,581
The £60 voucher for the price guarantee came in fine overnight.
i used Agoda to book the Radisson and they offer a £20 meet and greet. So all set now. Very pleased with this as a deal.
i used Agoda to book the Radisson and they offer a £20 meet and greet. So all set now. Very pleased with this as a deal.
Oct 21, 2018, 4:25 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *Gold
Posts: 887
Excellent deal, just booked a long weekend in NY in January on the exact weekend we were looking at being in the US anyway, for £220 and 5000 Avios. Would have been even cheaper from Gatters but worth the extra for us to use Heathrow. Can’t complain about value like that.
(Hotels in NY are as good value as I’ve ever seen them as well)
(Hotels in NY are as good value as I’ve ever seen them as well)
Oct 21, 2018, 5:28 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
I've never booked long haul economy with BA before and I've noticed they're trying to be misleading by listing food and drink only as an advantage of the regular fare and not the basic fare.
Oct 21, 2018, 5:32 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 439
Call me out all you like on this but reckon this has got to be one of BAs best offers that I’ve seen for ages. It’s relatively minor all things considered but a return weekend to New York in 3 weeks time for £230 and 5000 avios seems exceptionally good value to me
Oct 21, 2018, 6:10 am
#53
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,734
I think CAI, TLV, BEY and AMM are good uses of this particular offer.
Oct 21, 2018, 6:43 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,581
Uber isn't liked by the authorities as I understand things, but there was a high profile murder of a diplomat by an Uber driver in Beirut.
I doubt there's any significant risk that's different for any ride sharing service, and there are probably similar levels of risk in other places.
Probably worth adding that the risk in many destinations in the Middle East, India and far East is from traffic more than crime. You have to take it in your stride really, otherwise you'd never go anywhere, but never feel embarrassed to ask a driver to slow down or reject a taxi without a seatbelt.
I doubt there's any significant risk that's different for any ride sharing service, and there are probably similar levels of risk in other places.
Probably worth adding that the risk in many destinations in the Middle East, India and far East is from traffic more than crime. You have to take it in your stride really, otherwise you'd never go anywhere, but never feel embarrassed to ask a driver to slow down or reject a taxi without a seatbelt.
Oct 21, 2018, 6:52 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
Uber isn't liked by the authorities as I understand things, but there was a high profile murder of a diplomat by an Uber driver in Beirut.
I doubt there's any significant risk that's different for any ride sharing service, and there are probably similar levels of risk in other places.
Probably worth adding that the risk in many destinations in the Middle East, India and far East is from traffic more than crime. You have to take it in your stride really, otherwise you'd never go anywhere, but never feel embarrassed to ask a driver to slow down or reject a taxi without a seatbelt.
I doubt there's any significant risk that's different for any ride sharing service, and there are probably similar levels of risk in other places.
Probably worth adding that the risk in many destinations in the Middle East, India and far East is from traffic more than crime. You have to take it in your stride really, otherwise you'd never go anywhere, but never feel embarrassed to ask a driver to slow down or reject a taxi without a seatbelt.
I remember my first time in Cairo, as usual when stepping into a car I put my seatbelt on, the driver looked offended "it's OK I'm not a bad driver" (or similar) I had to explain in the UK that we always wear them and it'd feel odd not wearing them.
I didn't encounter any scary taxi rides when I was in Israel or Jordan (but with Jordan it was a hotel provided car to/from AMM), so it sounds like Beirut might be similar in experience to Egypt when using taxis.
Any advice on Hiltons in Beirut?
Oct 21, 2018, 6:55 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,581
I scanned a few hotels, and the best compromise for location/price/quality seemed to be the Radisson. There are a couple of Hiltons but they were much more expensive and the redemption rates were unattractive. Seems like a couple of people have reached the same conclusion as me by different routes.
Oct 21, 2018, 9:18 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 86
OK, here's a nice TP efficient possibility I just booked, which stacks everything available to the max.
I'm booking LHR to Beirut 16th November to 18th (Sunday). Turns essentially into a Saturday in Beirut because of the timings. The outbound is 15.15 on the Friday and it returns Sunday morning, so minimal holiday required.
Base fare is £308, reduces to £208 with the 5000 Avios discount. As a gold, I get 6498 Avios back, and because it's in the double avios this year period, I get double base avios too, which I think totals 2166. So net 3664 avios.
There are cheaper dates for a long weekend in Beirut, BUT, this weekend the fare is available via travelpack (and few other OTAs, easiest route is to look via Skyscanner) for £278. So assuming BA allow the claim (no reason why they shouldn't, it seems very clear cut) that will bring back £60 as a voucher via best price guarantee double the difference. So we are getting about £95 back on vouchers and avios. So nets out to a very reasonable £120ish return.
Books in N so 70 TP.
I'm quite pleased with this one - main risk factor being the price promise and obviously if you're not gold you won't get the full avios stash returned.
Anyone who wants to join me is very welcome. I'll be trying to get the remaining value of the fare back in LPGS in the CCR and could probably do with help.
Quite possible something similar can be constructed using other destinations, always worth checking on the price promise I think.
I'm booking LHR to Beirut 16th November to 18th (Sunday). Turns essentially into a Saturday in Beirut because of the timings. The outbound is 15.15 on the Friday and it returns Sunday morning, so minimal holiday required.
Base fare is £308, reduces to £208 with the 5000 Avios discount. As a gold, I get 6498 Avios back, and because it's in the double avios this year period, I get double base avios too, which I think totals 2166. So net 3664 avios.
There are cheaper dates for a long weekend in Beirut, BUT, this weekend the fare is available via travelpack (and few other OTAs, easiest route is to look via Skyscanner) for £278. So assuming BA allow the claim (no reason why they shouldn't, it seems very clear cut) that will bring back £60 as a voucher via best price guarantee double the difference. So we are getting about £95 back on vouchers and avios. So nets out to a very reasonable £120ish return.
Books in N so 70 TP.
I'm quite pleased with this one - main risk factor being the price promise and obviously if you're not gold you won't get the full avios stash returned.
Anyone who wants to join me is very welcome. I'll be trying to get the remaining value of the fare back in LPGS in the CCR and could probably do with help.
Quite possible something similar can be constructed using other destinations, always worth checking on the price promise I think.
Thanks for the really helpful post. You've inspired me, and I've decided to follow in your footsteps... have just booked Beirut for the same weekend as you.
Will also book the Radisson as well. Look forward to meeting you at LHR (and anyone else who might be joining).
Cheers
estrangeiro8