Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Welcome to Smart With Points, the podcast that helps you travel more for less by mastering the art of miles and points. I'm Jack, your host, and if you're anything like me, you probably check award availability more often than you check your bank balance – which is probably for the best, considering how much we spend on flights! Today, I've got some fantastic news that'll have Avios collectors and Qatar Airways fans reaching for their calendars to start planning their next adventures.

Qatar Airways has just dropped some brilliant news for UK travellers. They've announced their winter two thousand and twenty-five to twenty-six schedule expansion plans, and honestly, it's music to the ears of anyone trying to squeeze maximum value from their points and miles.

So what's the big news? Qatar Airways is significantly boosting their global presence with over fifteen routes receiving frequency increases. Now, this isn't just any random expansion – they're focusing heavily on European connections, which includes UK services, alongside enhanced routes to Asia, North America, and Africa. This is the kind of network expansion that makes award travel enthusiasts do a little happy dance.

But here's why this should have you excited if you're collecting Avios or you're a Qatar Privilege Club member. More frequencies means more award seat availability across their network. It's simple mathematics really – more flights equals more seats equals more opportunities to use your hard-earned points. And we're talking about the winter season here, which is when many UK travellers are desperately seeking those winter sun destinations to escape our rather grim weather.

Let me break down what this means for you practically. First, you'll have increased frequencies on over fifteen routes, which will create significantly more award availability. Second, there's enhanced connectivity through Qatar's Doha hub for UK passengers, which opens up even more routing options. Third, you'll have more options for winter two thousand and twenty-five to twenty-six Avios redemptions, which is particularly exciting given how competitive winter bookings can be. Fourth, there's greater flexibility for connecting flights to Asia and Africa – perfect if you're planning one of those epic round-the-world redemptions. And finally, there's the potential for much better award availability during what's typically the peak winter season.

Now, here's my strategic planning tip for you. You need to start planning your winter two thousand and twenty-five to twenty-six redemptions early. Qatar Airways has a generous booking window of up to three hundred and sixty-one days in advance, so you'll want to be ready when these new frequencies open for booking. Trust me, the early bird really does catch the worm when it comes to premium cabin award seats.

The beauty of this expansion is that it's not just about having more flights – it's about having more flexibility and choice in how you use your points. Whether you're planning a business class escape to the Maldives or trying to get the family to Australia for Christmas, these additional frequencies could be the difference between finding award availability and having to pay cash.

So keep your eyes peeled for when these schedules go live for booking, and don't forget to set those calendar reminders. In the world of award travel, preparation really is everything.

That's all for today's episode of Smart With Points. Thanks for listening, and if you found this useful, please subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms or visit our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk. Your support helps us keep bringing you the latest miles and points news and strategies.

Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.