March Roundup at Points of Arabia
I am still learning to write as a blogger, so please ignore any mistakes. I would also love to hear more from you on the topics you would like us to cover. March 2019 was only the second month in the life of this blog. It was very eventful.
Credit Cards (UAE)
The focus for this month was credit cards in UAE. Credit cards are an excellent financial tool in the hands of a savvy user. In 2018, I had saved over AED 15,000 ($4,000) through a mix of credit cards and a deal on Avianca Lifemiles.
We have covered best credit cards for
- Etihad Guest Miles,
- Emirates Skywards Miles
- Cashback
- Hotel Loyalty Cards
- Other Co-branded Credit Cards
The above categories should cover a lot of ground in picking the right credit card(s) for you. I had also explained how to the dos and don’ts of credit card loans & easy installments plan.
I could not cover all the topics on credit cards in March, so a few will spill over to April.
Airlines
This was the most discussed topic at Points of Arabia. The unfortunate crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight and subsequent grounding of Boeing Max planes was the main reason. In this backdrop, it is remarkable how a flight delay can change (or save) your life.
Etihad reported its financial results and went back to basic. Its discussions with Jet Airways are still ongoing. Jet Airways cancelled its Abu Dhabi flights and Etihad put an offer to sell stake to lenders of Jet Airways. However, I am certain that we have not heard last on this. Also, it appears that the merger with Emirates isn’t happening anytime soon.
You can also bid with miles for Etihad upgrades.
Turkish Airlines was the other major news-maker in March. It launched its maiden service to Sharjah. I feel this could be a game-changer in UAE. As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the airline is also having sweepstakes through December.
Oman Air is offering free stop-over at the beautiful Al Bustan Palace, Muscat. I tried to understand this offer in more detail.
Initially having plans to revolutionize Economy flying, Qatar Airways came up with an enhanced product.
Gulf Air is having its annual redemption discount and there are some absolute steals here.
Emirates is offering 4x miles for travel between April 10, 2019 and November 30, 2019. You need to register today!
Air Arabia could be one of the first to fly Airbus 321LR.
Deals
Spring break is upon us. I had discussed some great places to travel in Spring and some good flight deals out of Middle East.
If you live in UAE or are travelling, Cleartrip is offering up to 50% discount on activities in UAE. Nearly all the activities you can think of are included. From desert safari to Atlantis water-park. From watching different cultures at Global Village to the top of Burj Khalifa.
Finally, you can get as much as 70% cashback for stays at Hyatt properties in UAE. Many hotel chains are having spring promotion and you can couple this with the low season in UAE to get some get some great travel deals. I will discuss this more in April.
Reviews
I had reviewed Jet Airways flight 9W 558 before it was cancelled due to its financial troubles. Also, the Aviserv Lounge at Mumbai International Airport (arrivals) which could be a boon for passengers travelling on business.
We are looking for more content providers. If you love travelling, taking pictures and writing about your experience, please get in touch.
Bottomline
I would like to thank everyone who read these posts.
In April, we will continue to focus on credit card strategies and also on hotel programs and deals.
Keep reading.
