Matt Bunnell

Matt Bunnell is the founder and editor of MaxYourTrip. A frequent traveller for both business and leisure, Matt writes about airline loyalty programmes, Avios, UK rail travel, airports and ways to save money and get more from every trip. His articles combine detailed research with first-hand travel experience.

Loganair Loyalty Guide: Earning and Spending Avios

Loganair Loyalty, it may not surprise you to know, is the loyalty scheme for Loganair. Like British Airways and other airlines, Loganair uses Avios as it’s loyalty currency

Unlike most airline loyalty schemes, Loganair Loyalty is refreshingly simple. Flights earn a fixed number of Avios based on the ticket type, while almost every reward flight costs the same 6,500 Avios each way, regardless of the route.

Loganair Loyalty Guide: Earning and Spending Avios Read More »

Row of cars

The Complete Guide to UK Car Rental Loyalty Programmes

With the exception of Budget, all the major car hire companies offer loyalty programmes to their customers which include status benefits for regular renters. Some schemes also offer the opportunity to earn points that can be redeemed against future rentals, or alternatively enable rentals to earn points in various airline frequent flyer schemes.

Should You Collect Airline Miles or Car Rental Points? This is probably the main driver behind choosing the right scheme for you. If you are an occasional renter or someone who is unlikely to use points for free car rentals, choosing a scheme that offers airline miles will usually make the most sense. If you are a frequent renter, then a scheme with status benefits such as free upgrades or a free additional diver may be more for you.

The Complete Guide to UK Car Rental Loyalty Programmes Read More »

Boots Heathrow T5

Airport Prices Compared: Are Airport Shops Really More Expensive?

Airport shops have a reputation for charging premium prices, but is it really true? We compared the prices of 35 everyday products such as toiletries, sun protection and snacks at Boots Heathrow with the same items in a Boots high street store to see how much more travellers actually pay. The answer? On average, airport prices were 16% higher, with drinks and snacks costing almost 20% more.

Airport Prices Compared: Are Airport Shops Really More Expensive? Read More »

Mickey & Minnie Mouse

Can You Visit Orlando Without Hiring a Car?

Conventional wisdom says you need a hire car in Orlando and after seven visits, I would have agreed. However, on our most recent trip we spent two weeks relying entirely on Uber and spent just £264 on transport, significantly less than the £700 it would have have cost of having a car, including fuel and parking.

Florida used to be the most competitive car hire market in the world. Pre 2020, you could usually pick up a fortnight’s rental for £200 but when covid hit, the rental companies sold off many of their vehicles and when everything opened up again, prices had tripled and have never really got back to the level seen pre-covid.

Can You Visit Orlando Without Hiring a Car? Read More »

UK Amex Platinum card

Amex Express Membership Rewards: The Complete UK Guide

Membership Rewards are the loyalty currency of American Express. Membership Rewards are earned on the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold and Amex Rewards personal credit cards, and the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold business cards. In addition if you have an American Express Corporate Card from your employer, you may also be able to collect Membership Rewards. The number of points earned per transaction varies according to the card used by the member.

Membership Rewards points are flexible, meaning that you have a variety of options of how you spend them, from pseudo cash discounts to points transfers to travel programmes. Importantly, the points are held in your American Express account until you are ready to spend or transfer them out.

Amex Express Membership Rewards: The Complete UK Guide Read More »

Calendar

Maximise Annual Leave 2027: Turn 25 Days Into 55 Days Off

Optimising your annual leave is one of the easiest ways to enjoy more holidays without using more holiday entitlement.

By strategically booking leave around UK bank holidays, an employee with a standard 25-day annual holiday entitlement can enjoy six weeks of time off throughout the year while using only their normal allowance.

Maximise Annual Leave 2027: Turn 25 Days Into 55 Days Off Read More »

Northern Rail train

Northern Explorer: Unlimited Rail Travel Across the North of England from £35

Northern is the state owned train operator running extensive rail services across the North of England. They have just launched a new day ticket that I thought I would share as I thought it could be useful for some people.

The Northern Explorer ticket allows you to travel on any Northern train, at any time; weekdays, weekends, peak & off-peak – for a fixed daily price of £35.

Northern Explorer: Unlimited Rail Travel Across the North of England from £35 Read More »

Man at airport

59 Ways To Turn Work Travel Into Free Flights, Hotel Stays and Tax Savings

If your employer spends thousands of pounds each year on flights, hotels, rail travel and expenses for your business trips, there is a good chance you are missing out on valuable rewards and savings.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to maximise the personal benefits from work travel without costing your employer an extra penny.

59 Ways To Turn Work Travel Into Free Flights, Hotel Stays and Tax Savings Read More »