Travel Deals & Airport News: Expedia, Virgin Amex, Southend
The article details three significant updates in the travel and loyalty sectors: an Expedia discount through McDonald's, a Virgin Atlantic American Express cashback offer, and London Southend Airport's expanded winter schedule.
Expedia has partnered with MyMcDonald's Rewards, enabling members to redeem points for hotel discounts. Options include 2,500 points (£25 spend) for 5% off, or 4,000 points (£40 spend) for 9% off, on eligible Expedia hotel bookings, with a minimum spend of £110. The offer runs until January 20, 2026, with bookings by July 31, 2026, and stays by January 30, 2027. Each account is limited to two redemptions. A crucial limitation is that most branded hotels are excluded, meaning the discount primarily applies to independent properties.
Virgin Atlantic has launched a new American Express cashback deal, a recurring promotion. Cardholders must activate the offer via their Amex app. Typical offers include £100 cashback on £800 spend or £150 on £1,500 spend with Virgin Atlantic. The £800 tier is notably lower than previous offers, potentially covering taxes and charges for an Upper Class redemption flight. Cumulative spend is allowed, and redemption flight taxes qualify. However, bookings must be made by November 27 from a UK airport; phone bookings, Virgin Points purchases (via third parties), and Virgin Holidays bookings are excluded.
Finally, London Southend Airport announced its largest post-pandemic winter schedule for 2025/26, with easyJet as the core airline. New routes include Barcelona (3x weekly), Berlin (2x weekly), Grenoble, Lanzarote (3x weekly), Rovaniemi/Lapland (2x weekly), and Salzburg. These additions complement existing routes such as Alicante, Amsterdam, and Tenerife. The airport boasts a railway station just two minutes from the terminal, offering direct trains to London Liverpool Street, and features a newly expanded SKYLIFE lounge accessible with Priority Pass.
(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/10/26/expedia-discount-from-mcdonalds/)
