u/Playful-Amphibian714

Hi all, looking for a quick reality check on my transit timeline.

• Flight lands: 11:30 AM at LHR (Terminal T2)
• Eurostar departs: 3:00 PM from St Pancras International, next one is at 6 pm - reaches Ams at 11:30 pm
• Total time: 3.5 hours

The Variables:

• I have Fast Track for passport control.
• I will have checked luggage to collect.
• I'm traveling on a Friday
• Regular Eurostar ticket (so gates close 30 minutes before departure at 2:30 PM). Or must I do Eurostar Premier)

I know the Eurostar security and border checks require you to be there at least 45–75 mins early, meaning I realistically need to be at St Pancras by 2:00 PM to be safe.

Would Eurostar premium be possible?

Is it doable if I take the Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express? Thanks in advance!

Is it just me, or do Londoners completely take their geographical and airport luck for granted?
You can literally wake up on a Friday, decide you want to spend the weekend in Spain, Italy, or Germany, and grab a Ryanair or easyJet flight for less than the price of a night out. The fact that people living in London can casually jet off to a different European country every single weekend on dirt-cheap flights is wild compared to what the rest of the world has to pay just to get to the continent.
The price irony is hilarious too. Getting from London to Paris is often significantly cheaper than getting there from Amsterdam—even though Amsterdam is geographically much closer and connected directly by mainland rail.
If you live in London and aren't abusing those cheap weekend getaways, you are seriously missing out.

Hey everyone, I’m currently holding the Axis Horizon and some basic Axis Rewards cards. Up until now, I’ve mostly just used my points for shopping, but I want to start using them for international flight and hotel bookings.

With the massive Axis devaluation this month (RIP Atlas/Horizon transfer ratios and the removal of Accor/Marriott), I feel like I'm stuck with points that are losing value by the day. Since Axis Atlas is no longer the powerhouse it was, what is everyone switching to for travel?

I want to: Earn points specifically for international travel (flights/hotels), not just shopping/vouchers.

What I'm considering:

1. HDFC Infinia / Diners Club Black: Are these still the gold standard for travel edge/smartbuy?

2. Amex Platinum Travel: Is the 40k point milestone worth it for Marriott transfers? Have people used the trifecta?

3. HSBC TravelOne: Seeing some talk about this being a good Atlas alternative, but Hopper seems like a big headache(?).

4. *SBI Aurum / Yes Marquee:* Any hidden gems here?

Would love to hear from anyone who has already jumped ship from Axis. Which card is giving the best "bang for buck" for international redemptions in 2026?