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.

BA Club World

How to Upgrade British Airways Flights with Avios

Points & Miles / /

One of the best ways of using Avios in the British Airways Club is of course for reward flights. However, if you have already booked a cash ticket, or don’t yet have enough points for a full reward flight, you may be able to upgrade your flight to the next cabin using your Avios.

In this guide we explain exactly how Avios upgrades work, how much they cost, the additional taxes and charges you’ll pay, and whether upgrading actually represents good value for money.

How to Upgrade British Airways Flights with Avios Read More »

Person using the MPC app

Mobile Passport Control (MPC): Skip the US Passport Control Queue

At the Airport, Tips & Hacks / /

Arriving in the US can sometimes mean spending longer at passport control than waiting at the luggage carousel. Fortunately, there is a free app that many visitors from the UK & Europe can use to hugely reduce their waiting time at immigration.

The free MPC (Mobile Passport Control) App allows visitors to skip the regular passport control queues at most US airports by submitting much of the required immigration and customs information before they reach the US border.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC): Skip the US Passport Control Queue Read More »

East Midlands Train at Nottingham station

Seatfrog Secret Fares: Save Up to 50% on Train Tickets

Trains / /

If you’re flexible about what time you travel, there’s another little-known way to save money on train tickets.

Many readers will already be familiar with Avanti SuperFare, where travellers on the West Coast Main Line choose whether they would like to travel in the morning, afternoon or evening and only find out their exact departure time the day before travel – in return for a heavily discounted ticket.

Seatfrog has a similar scheme called Secret Fares, covering five other train operators. We analysed the routes, availability and prices to find out whether these hidden fares really offer good value and how they compare with ordinary Advance tickets.

Seatfrog Secret Fares: Save Up to 50% on Train Tickets Read More »

BA 777-200

Your Guide to the British Airways Club: Earning Status & Status Benefits

Points & Miles / /

British Airways Club status can transform your travel experience. From free seat selection and lounge access to priority boarding, fast-track security, additional reward flight availability and increased Avios earning, elite status offers benefits that can easily outweigh the effort required to earn it.

This guide explains exactly how the system works, how to earn Tier Points as quickly as possible and what benefits you’ll receive at each status level.

Your Guide to the British Airways Club: Earning Status & Status Benefits Read More »

Airport lounge

How to Get Airport Lounge Access for Just £21

At the Airport, Tips & Hacks / /

Airport lounges are one of the easiest ways to make travelling more enjoyable, offering complimentary food and drinks, comfortable seating and a quieter place to relax or work before your flight. While some travellers gain access through business class tickets, airline status or lounge memberships, everyone else is often faced with paying £30–£50 per person for a single visit.

Fortunately, there’s a little-known workaround.  By combining the free Club Avolta loyalty scheme with DragonPass, it’s currently possible to access many of the UK’s best airport lounges for around £21 per visit which we believe is currently the cheapest way to get UK airport lounge access.

How to Get Airport Lounge Access for Just £21 Read More »

Avanti West Coast Pendolino

Hidden Avanti Fixed-Price Tickets: Save Up to 45% and Choose Your Train

Trains / /

Hidden away through the Discounts for Teachers and Discounts for Carers websites are fixed-price Avanti tickets available on every Avanti West Coast route. Unlike SuperFare, you choose your train when you book, and our research found savings of up to 45% compared with the cheapest publicly available fares.

We compared these promotional fares with both standard Advance tickets and Avanti SuperFare to find out whether this hidden deal is really worth using.

Hidden Avanti Fixed-Price Tickets: Save Up to 45% and Choose Your Train Read More »

Luggage in overhead

Which Airline Has the Best Baggage Allowance? UK Airlines Compared

At the Airport, Tips & Hacks / /

Whether you’re packing for a weekend city break or a two-week holiday, understanding your airline’s baggage rules can save you money and avoid an unpleasant surprise at the airport.

Airline baggage allowances vary significantly between airlines. British Airways, Jet2, TUI and Virgin Atlantic include a large cabin bag on their standard fares, while Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air generally charge extra. Checked baggage allowances also vary considerably by airline and fare type.

We compared the baggage allowances of eight airlines popular with UK travellers, looking at cabin baggage, checked luggage and sports equipment to see which offers the best overall value.

Which Airline Has the Best Baggage Allowance? UK Airlines Compared Read More »

Vacbird Review: The Travel Gadget That Helped Me Pack More Into Hand Luggage

Tips & Hacks / /

Travelling with hand luggage only can save time and money, but squeezing five days’ worth of clothes into a cabin suitcase isn’t always easy. Before a recent 3 city trip to the US, I decided to test whether the Vacbird Electric Air Pump and compression bags could genuinely create more space.

Vacbird Review: The Travel Gadget That Helped Me Pack More Into Hand Luggage Read More »

How to Redeem Avios for Flights: The Complete Guide

Flights, Points & Miles / /

You can redeem Avios for reward flights with British Airways and a wide range of partner airlines. BA reward flights start from 10,000 Avios plus £2.50 one way, with the number of Avios required depending on your destination, cabin and whether you travel on a peak or off-peak date.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to redeem Avios for flights, how many Avios you’ll need, the taxes and fees you’ll pay, where to find reward availability and how to work out whether you’re getting good value for your points.

How to Redeem Avios for Flights: The Complete Guide Read More »

How Many Avios Will I Earn on a British Airways Flight?

Flights, Points & Miles / /

Historically, frequent flyer schemes were simply a case of airlines issuing air miles to their frequent flyers, who could then cash them in for cabin upgrades or free flights. Things have moved on considerably over the years and there are now many different ways of earning Avios in the British Airways club.

However, rewarding flying remains a key pillar of all airline loyalty schemes and BA Club members need to understand how their future flight bookings will impact their Avios bank balance.

How Many Avios Will I Earn on a British Airways Flight? Read More »

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