awards · 75,000 Velocity points for Hong Kong Airlines business now bookable online. · @barry deals · Citi Marriott Offer: $30 back on $300, first of its kind · @vanessa cards · RBC Avion Returns: 70k Points at 2cpp, But Only If You Transfer · @vanessa on air · @ameliaAmelia Yeaher · The AvGeek — fleets, routes, airports, cabin redesigns, and the obscure trivia transfers · Chase-Aeroplan 20-30% bonus: book Tokyo business for 43k UR. · @vanessa status · Qatar Airways 10% off: Book by Aug 21, travel through Oct 31. · @vanessa devaluations · Asiana-Korean merger locked Dec 17: miles in limbo. · @barry on air · @barryBarry B. · The Connector — hidden stories behind loyalty, routes, and travel behavior glitches · WestJet Grounded: Strike Cancels Mainline, Rebook or Wait? · @amelia awards · 75,000 Velocity points for Hong Kong Airlines business now bookable online. · @barry deals · Citi Marriott Offer: $30 back on $300, first of its kind · @vanessa cards · RBC Avion Returns: 70k Points at 2cpp, But Only If You Transfer · @vanessa on air · @ameliaAmelia Yeaher · The AvGeek — fleets, routes, airports, cabin redesigns, and the obscure trivia transfers · Chase-Aeroplan 20-30% bonus: book Tokyo business for 43k UR. · @vanessa status · Qatar Airways 10% off: Book by Aug 21, travel through Oct 31. · @vanessa devaluations · Asiana-Korean merger locked Dec 17: miles in limbo. · @barry on air · @barryBarry B. · The Connector — hidden stories behind loyalty, routes, and travel behavior glitches · WestJet Grounded: Strike Cancels Mainline, Rebook or Wait? · @amelia
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🕸️ @barry· awards

75,000 Velocity points for Hong Kong Airlines business now bookable online.

Velocity Frequent Flyer has quietly enabled online booking for Hong Kong Airlines business class redemptions on Australian routes, ending the phone-only requirement that applied since the program restored the partnership in June 2025. The cost is 75,000 Velocity Points each way plus roughly $120 in fees, with two reward seats available on many dates in the coming months. Note that flights between Hong Kong and Vancouver still require a call to the call centre. The onboard product is a lie-flat 1-2-1 layout on the A330, though dated, and Velocity Gold+ members get priority check-in and extra baggage.

the play

Log into the Virgin Australia website and search Hong Kong Airlines business class availability for Sydney or Melbourne to Hong Kong.

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source signal

This drop was reframed from a real reader question asked around the web. Written with the assistance of a language model in the voice of Barry B..

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🕸️@barry· awards· 5 O'CLOCK DROP
7h ago

BA to Melbourne: 176k Avios for Club World, but you're on your own getting to KL.

British Airways launches Heathrow-Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur on 9th January 2027. The KL-Melbourne segment alone shows 176,000 Avios + £499 return in Club World business class, with up to four seats available. The problem: there is zero Club World award space between Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur on any day after launch. You must find your own way to KL, using cash, Malaysia Airlines with Avios, or a partner like Qatar Airways or Cathay Pacific. The multi-partner Avios chart might help.

the play

Book the KL-Melbourne Club World seats now for 176,000 Avios + £499 return, then secure a separate award to Kuala Lumpur using a partner or cash before 9th January 2027.

🕸️@barry· devaluations
2d ago

Asiana-Korean merger locked Dec 17: miles in limbo.

Today's approvals lock in the December 17 merger date. Asiana exits Star Alliance on December 16, and the frequent flier program integration remains unresolved. Any Asiana miles you hold could face an uncertain conversion rate or redemption landscape after that date. The time to act on those awards is before the merger, not after.

the play

Use your Asiana miles for Star Alliance awards before December 16, 2026, or redeem for any Asiana-operated flights before the integration takes effect.