If you’ve ever flown from Luton, you’ll know the drill: early alarms, low-cost airlines, long queues, and a terminal that doesn’t forgive poor planning. When your flight’s at 6am with easyJet, Wizz Air or Ryanair, the last thing you want is to be circling for parking or overpaying at the barrier.

Right now, American Express Gold cardholders can get a massive £125 statement credit when they purchase an annual easyJet Plus membership. That turns a £249 membership into a real-world cost of just £124. That’s not a cheap-flight hack. That’s a premium flying upgrade at economy airline pricing.

Parking at UK airports has become the hidden upgrade fee of modern travel. A week’s parking at Heathrow or Manchester can now cost more than a return flight to Spain and that’s before you’ve even reached security.