TPG U.K. staff travel highlights for 2019
It's been a huge first year for TPG U.K. We launched the site in April with a big pop-up event, the small but close-knit team has grown to eight full-time staff (plus our wonderful freelancers) and they have traveled the world to help you maximize your adventures.
Here are their personal travel highlights:
BEN SMITHSON
Flying Norwegian Premium on the leased Evelop A330 from New York to London Gatwick. There was very little information online about what seats the aircraft even had in the premium cabin, and I trusted a single TripAdvisor review that said it was well worth upgrading on this flight. The aircraft turned out to be an ex-Singapore Airlines-fitted plane with angled flat seats Norwegian sold as Premium. It was easily the best premium economy flight I’ve ever taken and was a wonderful surprise.
CHRISTIAN KRAMER
From a points and miles point of view, Gold Guest List and Concorde Room Card maintained -- a total of 8,000 Tier Points earned (mostly through creative routing for personal trips). That included some great flights and products including Qatar's Qsuite as well as Cathay Pacific and Finnair long-haul flights. I also ticked off the places from my list like New Orleans, Iceland and Bali.
Less positively, I have been able to use miles to book almost next-day trips to see family when they were unwell and attend a funeral. Having that last-minute ability to book flights without paying hundreds of pounds is one of the upside for having miles and points.
DANIEL ROSS
Flying the world’s shortest flight is something I have wanted to tick off my AvGeek bucket list for a long time. It turned out to be more of an adventure than I could have imagined as I found myself stranded due to bad weather. In the space of 48 hours I took five flights, numerous travel sickness tablets, flew with two new airlines and survived two extremely rocky boat trips.
I also discovered a beautiful and unique part of the country. I experienced the most incredible hospitality from those Orkadians and expats that I encountered on the island. To top it off, I ate some great local food and sampled a few local Orkadian gins. I would highly recommend a trip to Orkney.
EMILY MCNUTT
Before this year, I'd only flown first class once -- a 50-minute hop in Emirates first class between Dubai and Muscat. But this year, I took it a step further and flew two of the world's best first-class products within a week. I got to test out both Cathay Pacific first class and Air France La Première in the same trip. My high expectations were met, and I think it'll be hard to not sip Champagne and dine on caviar on any flight going forward.
Related: As good as it gets: A review of Air France La Première (777-300ER) from Paris to Beijing
Hayley Coyle
My travel highlight of 2019 was spending two weeks in St Lucia with my husband on our honeymoon. We stayed at some amazing hotels, and I also loved going on local radio to talk about being a travel writer. Climbing St Lucia's famous Gros Piton mountain was another highlight.
In terms of flights, I was unexpectedly upgraded from economy to business from Oman to London on Oman Air back in March. It was glorious. The best food I've ever eaten on a plane and the best amenities. A fond memory is watching Bohemian Rhapsody drinking Champagne and getting a "bit" emotional watching Freddy perform.
LIAM SPENCER
With 10 countries and 34 flights under my belt in 2019, this has certainly been the busiest travel year of my life! Out of all those flights, one in particular stands out: Munich to New York on Lufthansa's A340 in first class. Prior to this I'd only ever flown in economy so needless to say I was absolutely blown away by the experience.
Related: Treated like a king for a day: Flying first class for the first time on Lufthansa’s A340
NICKY KELVIN
My 2019 travel highlight was easily flying Singapore's new suites. Best flight of my life hands down, and a great redemption at 125,000 KrisFlyer miles and £19 ($25) tax.
KATHLEEN PORTER KRISTIANSEN
This was my year of using Avios and hotel points to fly to sublime islands on nonstop flights from London. I made it to the Seychelles and Maldives on points. For 34,125 Avios plus £436.86 ($574) I flew direct to the Seychelles on a Dreamliner with just my boys who were 3 and 1 at the time. We spent a few days at Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa before joining friends on another island and then heading to Ethiopia for our return journey.
For the Maldives, my husband and I maximized a BA Companion Voucher for two tickets in premium economy from London to Male for 82,000 Avios and £943 ($1,240) return. Due to good luck and an oversold flight, we were upgraded to Club World on the outbound. In the Maldives, we stayed at the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort with 360,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (rates have since increased) — a true points dream property.
Related: Entering Eden: A Review of the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa
LORI ZAINO
Last February, I decided I wanted to take a special trip to escape winter and focus on my well-being. I used 70,000 AAdvantage miles to fly business class on Qatar to Bangkok from Madrid via Doha. I snagged a cash deal for about £700 ($920) to fly back on Royal Jordanian via Amman — a solid start to earning some EQMs to get AAdvantage elite status this year. After a couple days eating as much street food as humanly possible in Bangkok, I then flew to my favorite Thai island Koh Tao to do a yoga retreat and relax in the sunshine, staying in secluded beach huts and boutique hotels.
A truly blissful wellness experience I’m so glad I gave myself.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.