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

Like many of you, I’ve been watching developments in the Middle East closely. The region is home to some of the world’s largest global hubs, so when airspace closes, the ripple effect is immediate. Even if you’re not flying directly to Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, knock-on delays and aircraft repositioning can impact routes worldwide. As always, safety comes first but flexibility is key right now.

🚨 20% off Priority Pass Standard Plus ends 28 February.If you’re lounge-curious, now’s the moment. I’ve just flown from Gatwick twice in one week (Amsterdam and Brussels runs), which means I’m close to reviewing almost every lounge there! Emirates, you’re next. My latest visit: British Airways Lounge Gatwick South (2026): The Plane Honest Review and yes, I’ve got opinions Clubrooms Gatwick North still holds serious private-members-club energy.

This week I was dispatched to the tropical island of… Jersey. Yes, I really do get sent to some exotic locations from time to time. I flew over on British Airways, sorry, “Euroflyer”in Club Europe from Gatwick. Thanks to fog, we enjoyed a cute little two-hour delay at Gatwick. Naturally, this occurred just as the screens suddenly flashed gate closed while I was mid second pink gin fizz. I ran. I survived. I did not review the bathrooms. You probably won’t notice.

Indian carrier IndiGo has announced changes to its long-haul network, including pausing Copenhagen flights and reducing services to Manchester and London Heathrow. The airline says the move is designed to improve on-time performance and reduce passenger disruption, following ongoing challenges affecting its wide-body operations. In airline speak, that usually translates to one thing: fewer flights now, to avoid bigger problems later.

Speaking of upgrades… Seatfrog have been in touch and have sent over some exclusive money-off codes for you. I’ll be updating them inside my full review so you can see exactly how the app works and how to upgrade your train tickets to First Class for less. If you haven’t read it yet, start here:

Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your Sunday fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks. Confession time: Dry January didn’t quite survive take-off. Okay, maybe just two or three beers… which I’m calling a soft landing. In my defence, have you tried Eurostar’s own IPA onboard? Surprisingly decent. This week I’ve been working on a TikTok with SafetyWing travel insurance, and honestly, their Nomad cover has been a lifesaver. I live

It’s also great news that Heathrow has finally lifted liquid restrictions in hand luggage. The original 100ml rule dates back to 2006 after a foiled transatlantic terror plot, I remember flying into Heathrow from New York as Virgin crew the day it was introduced. Fast-forward to a few weeks ago and, thinking the rule had already changed, I turned up with an expensive Rituals reed diffuser in my hand luggage. As a travel blogger and aviation nerd, I should know better. Oh, the

January is about resetting and planning, and before we go any further, I just want to say this: over 30,000 of you read MrPlaneGuy.com last month. I’m genuinely touched and incredibly grateful it still blows my mind that so many of you choose to spend your time here.

Most travellers have a horror story about cramped seats, sore knees and a flight that felt twice as long as it should have. But which airline is actually the worst for legroom and which one quietly offers more space than you’d expect? A recent comparison by Which? reveals how much room you really get in economy class on popular UK and European airlines and the results may surprise YOU!

Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your Sunday fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks. It’s been a rough week for airline operations in the Netherlands. I live around 30 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol, and severe winter weather caught the airport off guard, triggering widespread disruption at one of Europe’s busiest hubs. It’s a clear reminder of how quickly performance issues at a major airport can ripple across the wider netw

Finnair eyes Melbourne, a major Avios win for Australia Jet2 loads winter routes from Gatwick Norse Atlantic reliability under the microscope Gatwick drop-off jumps to £10, how to avoid it Manchester Airport’s new hub is changing parking prices Flight deal of the week: Barbados return for £267

Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your Sunday fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks from the skies. This week like everyone else I have been running around buying things for Christmas, if you're still wondering what to get people then maybe you should get them a Priority Pass, who wouldn't love discounted airport lounge access all year round?

JetBlue has finally opened its first-ever airport lounge, BlueHouse at JFK Terminal 5. Designed to feel more like a New York apartment than a typical airport lounge, it’s a huge upgrade for JetBlue flyers who’ve been left lounge-less for years. I break down who gets access, what’s inside, and how it compares to Priority Pass lounges at JFK and whether it’s actually worth arriving early for.

Launched with big promises of cheaper fares, free seats and bundled travel insurance, Prime was supposed to be Ryanair’s answer to frequent flyer loyalty, without actually being loyal. But behind the scenes, the maths clearly wasn’t mathing. As of 28 November, Ryanair has confirmed that no new customers can join Prime, quietly ending one of the shortest-lived “loyalty” experiments in airline history. Existing members will keep their perks until their 12-month term expires, b

If you’re searching for flights to Barbados, dreaming of St Lucia holidays, or planning a winter Caribbean holiday, Virgin Atlantic has just dropped one of its biggest upgrades in years. Two new interline partnerships, plus boosted inter-island flying, now make it easier than ever to reach more islands, build a multi-stop itinerary, and enjoy the Caribbean the way it should be: smooth, sunshine-filled and stress-free. It’s exactly the kind of news I love for Plane Luxury

Manchester Airport has entered a new chapter as Terminal 1 begins its final shutdown, ending more than 60 years of service. With the last airlines now moved to the modernised Terminal 2, only Ryanair remains connected to Terminal 1 and even that setup is changing fast.

Virgin Atlantic has launched a new loyalty perk called High Five, and honestly…it’s a bit of a strategic wink from Sir Richard. From January 2026, if you’ve flown Virgin Atlantic in any five separate years between 2021 and 2025, you’ll get: 👉 12,000 Virgin Red points 👉 Plus 10% bonus points on all future flights (if you’re not already elite) And yes, this DOES include reward flights.

Jet2 Holidays Take Off from London Gatwick Big news for southern sun-seekers: Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have officially announced a brand-new base at London Gatwick, taking off from March 2026.It’s the airline’s 14th UK base a major move that gives millions of travellers across the South East even easier access to their award-winning package holidays. From the South Terminal, Jet2 will base five brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft (with another stationed overseas), flying to

From One Orange Plane to Europe’s Favourite Low-Cost Airline Thirty years ago today 10 November 1995 a single orange Boeing 737 took off from London Luton to Glasgow, and the world of air travel was never quite the same again. That first flight, captained by Fred Rivett, launched a revolution. easyJet made it possible for millions to “fly to Scotland for the price of a pair of jeans” just £29 one-way, a cheeky slogan that would go on to define an entire generation of trave

Frequent Flyer Briefing, Loyalty Offers & Points Loyalty programs continue to offer significant benefits for frequent travellers. You can earn 2,000 Virgin Flying Club points via the refer-a-friend program, a quick and easy way to boost your balance.