Bits: new BA cashback deal, Burj Al Arab refurbishment, Iberia drops Havana

News in brief:

New British Airways cashback offer launched

A day after the previous offer ended, Lloyds Banking Group has launched a new British Airways cashback offer running via some of its credit cards.

This could include Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and MBNA cards, although its not on my MBNA Horizon card.

Once activated, you will receive 15% cashback – with a maximum of £30 – on a British Airways transaction made by 15th May. BA Holidays transactions do not count.

Whilst generous, this is a ‘one time only’ offer. If you book tickets for multiple people, they may go through your card as separate transactions, meaning that you only get the 15% cashback on one ticket.

You may want to use a different credit card for a low value flight if you believe that you may be booking something more expensive before the 15th May deadline.

Irrespective of the terms and conditions, I suspect that the taxes and charges element of an Avios redemption flight would also trigger the cashback.

Thanks to Tim for flagging.

Burj Al Arab to (finally) be refubished

Jumeirah’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai was closed a few weeks ago after being hit by drone debris. Whilst most Dubai hotels remain open, some of the taller and more exposed ones – such as the Burj and The St Regis on the Palm – have shut.

Jumeirah has now announced that the hotel will remain closed for 18 months for a much needed refurbishment.

Despite all the marketing hype around the hotel, it has not been touched internally since it opened 27 years ago. This is odd because Jumeirah is generally very picky – Madinat Jumeirah, for example, has had two top-to-toe room refurbishments in the 20 years I have been going there.

I only stayed at the Burj once. It was, literally, the day it reopened after the pandemic. Rates were rock bottom and I even got a ‘3 for 2’ deal via Emyr. Service was so chaotic on that first day that I got it comped, so I ended up paying for just one night – already at a much reduced rate – out of three!

It was an interesting experience, especially as rooms start at 170 sq m and are duplexes with internal stairs! I reviewed it here.

Jumeirah has just opened Marsa Al Arab next door to the Burj which it is promoting as the new standard for Dubai luxury, although when I went in last year I found it a bit too serious for my taste. It will be interesting to see where the Burj is repositioned after the refurbishment.

It remains to be seen if the mirrors over the beds will remain ….

Iberia suspends Havana flights

Iberia has decided to suspend flights to Havana.

The suspension will start on 1st June and continue for at least the rest of the summer season, until the end of October.

It is not (publicly) offering to re-route passengers on other airlines but – handily – you can “change to another airport within up to 2,300 km, including Miami, Mexico City, Panama City and Santo Domingo”. Whether that satisfies anyone is a different question!