MaltaPoints – some 2013 highlights
So, 2014 is upon us and it’s a new dawn for MaltaPoints.
2013 has been an enjoyable and very interesting year for the MaltaPoints team, culminating in the move to BoardingArea.
We’ve had a number of highlights, including BA’s announcement of its return to Malta, some great offers year-round (my personal favourite probably being Turkish Airline’s €99 all-in Istanbul return), and of course Air Malta’s entirely expected failure to do anything whatsoever with its mediocre frequent flyer scheme, Flypass.
Not least given our new and extended BoardingArea audience, we thought it might be of use/interest to flag some of our most popular posts over the past year (ignoring, of course, those where the deals have expired).
Notable highlights include:
- Rocketmiles bursting onto the scene and offering sizeable chunks of AAdvantage (or other) miles with each booking, including various bonuses.
- The Hilton Malta at €97 a night until the end of March 2014. I go on about how much I like this hotel to the extent that many of you probably think I have a stake in it. I don’t. I’d be on my yacht, not writing this blog, if I did.
- The Westin Dragonara continuing to offer superb value dining via the set menu at Quadro, plus 10% off, plus SPG points.
- Confirmation from Air Malta that you CAN pay for all flights with American Express (and therefore earn Membership Reward points on some potentially hefty spending).
- Some negotiated MaltaPoints “exclusives” including 15% off Maltatransfer.com, €3 off Malta Taxi Online, €2 off HiCabs taxis, €20 off any Lufthansa flight from Malta
- Istanbul for €99 all-in return with Turkish Airlines. Yes this one has expired, but I’ve flagged it because i) it is a fantastic deal and ii) I fully expect it to return at various points in 2014.
- Air Malta responding to Turkish Airlines’ €99 return to Istanbul with returns for €99.64 all-in – and this is still a current offer.
- Free instant HHonors silver status.
- Air Malta’s Flypass appearing on the excellent AwardWallet, plus a free AwardWallet upgrade for MaltaPoints readers.
- We even said something nice about Ryanair (re the value of travel to Sicily).
- An alert to the fact you can use Avios on Air Malta flights (I’m not sure how long this will last now BA are returning though…)
- A free chapter of Lonely Planet (don’t say we don’t look after you).
- The disappointing demise of the BOV Flypass credit card (no more KMiles), and our subsequent recommendation that you switch to American Express with BOV.
- One year’s free Regus Businessworld Gold (although this offer has now been reduced to “Preferred” membership, it’s still worth signing up to, for free).
- Finally, let’s not forget the current BA sale, applicable to bookings up to 28 January. Some great deals on Malta flights from March.
Of course, in ignoring all the expired deals we flagged, we have done ourselves a bit of a disservice – throughout the year there were some great offers that are no longer available, with a notable mention to the Kempinski, Gozo at €49 a night for two people, plus breakfast, plus 500 airline miles. Principally, however, the expired deals consisted of a number of free or reduced rate points earning opportunities, including various major (and minor) hotels and airlines.
As such, please do keep an eye on MaltaPoints in 2014 – we really value your support, and like to think you get a helpful, enjoyable, and certainly always free, service from us. While our principal focus will remain, of course, on the Malta market, we will continue to have relevance to anyone who likes to keep an eye on flight and hotel offers, and frequent traveller point bargains (many of which have global applicability).
So, whether you’re based in Valletta, Virginia, Vermont or Vanuatu, we look forward to the rest of 2014 with you.