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Mr Plane Guy Plane Blog,
Flight Reviews,
Airport Lounges
& Travel Hacks.

Welcome to Mr Plane Guy Plane Blog,
home of Plane Honest airline reviews, airport lounge guides, flight deals and real-world travel hacks.
Use the categories to explore lounge reviews, airline experiences, points and miles tips, and smart ways to travel better for less.


What Is Priority Pass? The Complete UK Guide to Airport Lounge Access (2026)
If you've ever walked past an airport lounge and wondered whether there was a way inside without flying Business Class, the answer is yes.
Priority Pass is the world's largest airport lounge membership programme, giving travellers access to over 1,800 airport lounges and travel experiences across more than 700 airports worldwide.
Unlike airline lounges, you don't need elite status, a Business Class ticket or a First Class boarding pass.
Whether you're flying easyJet to Mal

Mr Plane Guy


Best Carry-On Suitcase (UK 2026): LEVEL8 Carry-On Review
Finding the best carry-on suitcase isn’t just about size or brand. It’s about how it moves through an airport. After 15+ years working in aviation and travelling constantly, from long-haul flights I’ve used everything from budget cabin bags to premium suitcases.
Most look good online. Very few actually perform in real life.
In this review, I’ll break down exactly how the LEVEL8 20” carry-on performs across:
airline cabin bag rules (easyJet, Ryanair, BA)
real-world travel (air

Mr Plane Guy


Hilton Launches Huge 50,000 Point Bonus on the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card
If you've been looking for a travel debit card that rewards you beyond simply avoiding foreign transaction fees, Hilton has just launched its biggest UK welcome offer yet.
The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card is now offering up to 50,000 Hilton Honors points for new cardholders, alongside instant Gold status and the opportunity to earn Elite Qualifying Nights through everyday spending.
For anyone who regularly stays at Hilton hotels or is looking for one of the best travel deb

Mr Plane Guy


IHG Revolut Debit Card: Is the New IHG Rewards Debit Card Worth It?
For years, UK travellers wanting to earn IHG One Rewards points from everyday spending had limited options after the previous IHG credit cards disappeared from the market.
That's now changed.
IHG has partnered with Revolut to launch two new UK Visa debit cards, giving travellers another way to earn hotel rewards without relying on a traditional credit card.
Available as both a free Essential card and a paid Elite card, the new products combine Revolut's travel-friendly ban

Mr Plane Guy


Sawadee Phuket! Norse Launches Direct Flights from London Gatwick to Phuket, Thailand
If you've ever tried to book a flight to Phuket, you'll know it rarely starts with excitement.
It usually starts with compromise.
A connection in Doha. A layover in Dubai. Maybe a dash across Istanbul Airport trying not to miss your next flight whilst carrying a £6 bottle of water you panic-bought at the gate.
By the time you've finally arrived in Thailand, you've spent half a day in airports and forgotten what time zone you're in.
That's why this announcement caught my a

Mr Plane Guy


30% Transfer Bonus From American Express Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
For a limited time, American Express cardholders can boost their Virgin Atlantic Flying Club balance with a generous 30% transfer bonus.
Normally, American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.
However, during this promotion, every 1,000 Membership Rewards points transferred will become 1,300 Virgin Points.
If you've been planning a Virgin Atlantic reward flight, Upper Class upgrade, or simply want to build your Virgin Fl

Mr Plane Guy


Aspire Lounge Amsterdam Schiphol Review: Probably the Best Lounge at Schiphol for Priority Pass Holders
Flying from Amsterdam Airport? This Lounge Might Be the Best £24 You'll Spend
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of Europe's busiest airports.
That's fantastic when you're choosing destinations.
Less fantastic when you're trying to find a seat near your departure gate.
Thankfully, I found a much better solution.
After a short seven-minute virtual queue, I was sipping a Heineken, charging my phone and watching aircraft taxi across the airfield from one of the best-value ai

Mr Plane Guy


Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Airport Review
If you're looking for a Heathrow airport hotel, most travellers fall into one of two camps.
You either want:
The cheapest room possible before an early flight.
Or...
Something comfortable enough that your holiday starts the night before.
The Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Airport sits somewhere nicely in the middle.
It's more polished than a budget airport hotel.
More affordable than many of Heathrow's premium options and thanks to Hatton Cross Underground Station

Mr Plane Guy


British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge Review
British Airways calls this the Galleries Club South Lounge.
I call it: The Lounge That Time Forgot.
Tucked away inside Heathrow Terminal 5, somewhere between modern premium travel and a particularly ambitious Debenhams café, you'll find grey carpets, grey furniture, scrambled eggs and a giant plastic horse. Nothing says British Airways quite like a giant plastic horse. Add in the faint aroma of polyester, scrambled egg and aviation fuel drifting in from the ramp and you've

Mr Plane Guy


Newcastle Airport Lounge Review: Aspire Luxe & Suite Are So Good I Nearly Missed My Flight
Aspire Luxe and Suite Newcastle? This was different. The geordie welcome was warmer than some five-star hotels. The cocktail tasted like a summer holiday. The Caesar salad was genuinely excellent.
And somewhere between my second drink, chatting away to the brilliant lounge staff and watching Emirates passengers arrive for Dubai...
I glanced up at the flight information screen and realised I'd become a little too comfortable.

Mr Plane Guy


London City Airport Will Finally Get Its First Airport Lounge
According to the airport, guests will enter through a luxury five-star hotel-style reception area before stepping into a carefully designed lounge space overlooking the runway.
One feature that immediately stands out is the focus on workspace.
While many airport lounges simply offer a few desks tucked into a corner, the new lounge will include dedicated working areas and private booths designed specifically for business travellers.

Mr Plane Guy


Emirates Is Giving Passengers a Free Luxury Hotel in Dubai (Summer 2026)
If you've ever wanted to try an Emirates stopover in Dubai, this might be one of the best travel deals of the summer.
For a limited time, Emirates is offering passengers a complimentary stay at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, one of the city's best-known luxury hotels.
The offer is available on eligible Emirates bookings made between 22 June and 12 July 2026.
Even better? Economy Class passengers qualify too.

Mr Plane Guy


Are the Plaza Premium Lounges at Heathrow Worth a Pre-Flight Visit?
f you've flown through Heathrow recently, chances are you've spotted a Plaza Premium Lounge. Located at Heathrow in:
Terminal 2.
Terminal 4.
Terminal 5.
Even an arrivals lounge at Terminal 3.
But here's the real question: Are the Plaza Premium Lounges at Heathrow actually worth visiting, or are they just expensive waiting rooms with free coffee?
Over the last couple of years I've visited Plaza Premium lounges across Heathrow and around the world. I've sampled the food,

Mr Plane Guy


Plane News Weekly
Flights are still expensive. Airport sandwiches still require a small mortgage. But look at what's happening. London to Zanzibar is finally getting direct flights.
Phuket is becoming easier to reach. Bangkok is returning to Manchester.
And after decades of rumours, delays and aviation daydreams, direct London to Sydney flights are finally starting to feel real.

Mr Plane Guy


Cheap Flights 2027: The New Routes Worth Booking Before Everyone Else
Airlines are already loading routes for 2027 and some of the best launch fares often disappear long before departure.
Whether you're planning Phuket, Zanzibar, Reykjavik or one of the exciting new routes launching next year, it's worth checking prices now and setting fare alerts early.
Use the flight search tool below to compare prices across hundreds of airlines and travel agents.

Mr Plane Guy


Priority Pass Membership Cost: The Best Travel Upgrade or Just Another Subscription?
After using Priority Pass at Heathrow, Gatwick, Amsterdam, Dublin, Vienna, Rome, Doha, Dubai, Tanzania, Sydney, Singapore, Berlin, Gdansk and beyond ( you get access to 1800 worldwide!) here's exactly what it costs, which membership makes the most sense and whether it's actually worth paying for.

Mr Plane Guy


The Plane Guide to BA Reward Flights
Avios are easy to earn. Using them properly is the part most people struggle with.
This is the Plane Guide to BA Reward Flights: a realistic, no-hype breakdown of how Avios reward flights actually work, how many seats British Airways guarantees, when they’re released, and why they seem to vanish.

Mr Plane Guy


easyJet Launches New ‘Drop Everything’ Flights Tool for Last Minute Cheap Flights
easyJet Launches New ‘Drop Everything’ Flights Tool for Last Minute Cheap Flights
Ever found yourself with a surprise long weekend, a cancelled plan, or simply staring out of the window thinking:
"I could be in Barcelona by tonight..."
Well, easyJet may have just launched the perfect tool for you.
The airline has unveiled a new feature called Drop Everything, designed to help travellers find and book last minute flights departing within the next 48 hours.
Available throu

Mr Plane Guy


New Aspire Lounge Coming to Manchester Airport Terminal 2, Manchester Airport Just Keeps Giving!
f you've flown through Manchester Airport recently, you'll know things are changing fast.
First came the huge Terminal 2 transformation. Then new restaurants, expanded security areas and upgraded lounges.
Now Manchester Airport is getting another brand-new airport lounge and honestly, it sounds pretty impressive.

Mr Plane Guy


Best Heathrow Terminal 2 Lounges Ranked (2026)
Let’s be honest. Heathrow Terminal 2 is probably NOT the terminal most people get excited about.
It doesn’t have the glamour of Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at Terminal 3. It doesn’t have British Airways First lounges at Terminal 5.
But honestly?
Terminal 2 quietly has some of the BEST and most underrated airport lounges at Heathrow.

Mr Plane Guy
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