19/03/2026
UK credit card tips for anyone who wants to fly business class for freeeeeeee (like me!)
ROUTE: Moscow-Doha-Bangkok (including tips of fast immigration in Thailand, and UK credit card tips!)
EXPERIENCE:
Leg 1…
The lounge in SVO airport in Moscow was really great. It had so many food options, a games room, Playstations, all of that kind of stuff. And the food in a country like Russia where the food can be awful was actually great. Only problem was it was just wine and beers free, everything else was chargeable.
When I boarded then, it was supposed to be the Q Suites on the 777s and I boarded in and it was 222 configuration. Gutted, but because of the last minute switch, that meant there was no one beside me. So at least I had the privacy there. The food was great and the drinks as always were great. The staff were commiserating with me with the situation about the plane switch.
Doha lounge…
Then I got to Doha airport, as we all know, it's amazing. The Al Maraj lounge is brilliant. I also thought even better, but my next leg was business, not first, so I was in the Al Maraj. And if you know, there's actually two lounges for business class passengers there. The one near the jungle area has quiet rooms that you can sleep in. And this is a massive tip, actually. The bed is semi-comfortable to sleep, kind of curved. I can't sleep like that, I don't know about you guys, but you can have unlimited blankets. So I got like six blankets and made it into a makeshift mattress on the floor and slept sound for six hours or so, then woke up, went to the gym and then hammered about 10 champagnes before my next flight to Bangkok. Not sorry!
Leg 2…
When I was trying to find cheap redemptions to come back from Russia to Thailand, (as always) I actively chose to have a 10-hour layover in Doha Lounge because I know it's got a gym and you can sleep and enjoy all the lounges. It was great. And then also I chose this one because it's the A380 on the way back. So although the seat is the standard kind of old Qatar business class, the A380 gives you that banging bar. And I had just been working on an expedition in Siberia to the coldest place on Earth, which was amazing, but I wanted to celebrate in style and comfort after suffering in Siberia in winter. So sitting drinking espresso martinis and old fashions in the A380 bar was amazing. And then, remember folks, for people who don't know, if you're flying business and land in Thailand, you get priority immigration in Bangkok. When I come off the plane, when I'm flying business with Qatar, I see everyone joining the normal queue, but you can go through the queue for Thai people on the priority immigration is there.
HOW I AFFORD IT
I’m a travel blogger (IG at @ Onestep4ward) so I fly up to 100 flights per year! I have a UK address (thanks mum!) so I rack of credit card points. One benefit of Brexit is that FINALLY the UK is catching up with the US for these bonuses, long way to go though.
Last year I flew biz 37 times (out of 83 flights), spent 336,000 miles, and $15,599USD.
UK Credit cards:
If you have a UK address and want a basic run-down of how I do it, just DM me and I’ll give you a simple step by step (including my referral link to the biggest bonuses so we both get extra miles!).
Over and out 🫡
