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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Welcome aboard this week's Plane News Weekly, your Sunday roundup of airline news, loyalty updates, route launches, flight deals and Plane Honest travel experiences. This week got me thinking... Is luxury travel becoming more expensive whilst simultaneously becoming more accessible? I've just returned from Sardinia where I stayed at a supposedly five-star Hilton resort. I used Hilton Honors points to slash the cost of the stay from almost £2,000 to around £1,000 by buying

Long-haul seat testing and emotionally expensive airport sandwiches. From Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines to Norse Atlantic, Emirates and Scoot… which premium economy airlines are genuinely worth paying for in 2026?

If you're flying British Airways from London Gatwick, things have changed significantly over the last few years. British Airways now operates a large short-haul network through BA Euroflyer, flies long-haul leisure routes to the Caribbean and North America, and is set to receive brand-new Boeing 787-10 aircraft with Club Suite from 2029. Whether you're flying in Euro Traveller, Club Europe or planning a long-haul holiday, here's everything you need to know about British Air

Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic have launched one of their biggest-ever points promotions, offering up to a 70% bonus when you buy Virgin Points. If you're planning a Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy redemption, dreaming of Upper Class, or simply need a few extra points to complete your next booking, this could be one of the cheapest opportunities to boost your balance this year. But should you buy Virgin Points? I've done the maths. (Ok ChatGPT did)

Welcome aboard this week's Plane News Weekly, your Sunday roundup of airline news, airport chaos, loyalty updates, flight deals and "luxury for less" travel hacks. This week got me thinking... Are we slowly witnessing the death of traditional short-haul Business Class? Because one airline has just unveiled a Premium Economy product that honestly looks better than some Business Class cabins I've flown in recently. Meanwhile British Airways has launched more Avios-Only flig