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British Airways is facing serious backlash from frequent flyers and if you’re a British Airways frequent flyer, this one matters. Over the past few days, reports have emerged of random loyalty status extensions being handed out… while others, including long-term loyal members, have lost their British Airways Silver or British Airways Gold status completely. And here’s the real issue: 👉 Those who lost status also lost lounge access, priority perks, and key travel benefits

If you collect Virgin Red points, fly with Virgin Atlantic or simply like getting more value from your supermarket shopping, this is one of the best Virgin Points offers I’ve seen in a while. Right now, Tesco Clubcard members can get 30% extra Virgin Points when manually converting Tesco Clubcard vouchers into Virgin Points before 30th June 2026. And honestly? If you already collect Virgin Points, this is a pretty easy win.

Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your Sunday fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks. This week I fell straight down an aviation rabbit hole. I watched an old BBC documentary on British Airways cabin crew training from 1987… and it instantly took me back to my own training days. The drills, the discipline, the intensity, it’s amazing how much has changed… and how much really hasn’t

If you’re collecting points with Virgin Red or flying with Virgin Atlantic, this is one of the fastest ways to boost your balance right now and in 2026, the current offer is strong.

Virgin Red has just partnered with Marks & Spencer through its revamped Sparks loyalty programme, promising more rewards from the things you already do. Sounds great, right? Well… yes and no.

If you’re flying from Gatwick North Terminal, the Hampton by Hilton is easily one of the most convenient and best-value airport hotels you can book. ✅ Direct terminal access (no shuttle needed) ✅ Breakfast from 4am (continental) + full hot breakfast from 6am ✅ Hilton Honors perks (huge upside with status) ✅ Ideal for early departures

This one flew slightly under the radar… but it shouldn’t have. Hilton has just partnered with YOTEL and it’s launching a brand new concept called Select by Hilton. At first glance, it sounds like another hotel brand announcement. It’s not. Because this one directly impacts how you earn and use plane points and miles especially if you’re collecting Hilton Honors points.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Heathrow: updated… But Still Stuck in Its Own Era?

Why This Card Is Different (And Why It Matters) Most travel cards help you avoid fees abroad. This one does that… but also helps you: Earn Hilton points on everyday spending Unlock elite hotel status And now, even earn elite nights without staying in hotels And the best part? 👉 You don’t need a credit card 👉 You don’t need to preload money It simply links to your existing UK bank account and works like your normal debit card, just far more rewarding.

British Airways Is Returning to Melbourne Out of nowhere, British Airways has announced it’s bringing back flights to Melbourne for the first time since 2006. Not Sydney. Not another US route. Melbourne. And not just a token flight a daily service from London Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur launching January 2027. If you’re into long-haul travel, Avios, or just love a new route announcement, this is a big one.

This is… interesting. In a move that feels very “budget airline villain origin story”, easyJet has launched a targeted offer aimed directly at British Airways Executive Club members. If you hold BA Bronze, Silver or Gold status, you can now get: 51% off easyJet Plus membership Dropping the price from £249 → £122 Under the campaign: “No more tiers anymore”

If you think earning British Airways Avios means flying more or opening another credit card… this one might surprise you. London landlords, this is niche, but potentially big. Foxtons is offering up to 30,000 Avios per property when you link your British Airways Club account inside My Foxtons. Yes. From an estate agent. That’s potentially a European Club Europe return, just for choosing the right letting or sales instruction. If you’re new to Avios or want the full break

If you’re collecting British Airways Avios and flying through duty free Heathrow, this is one of the easiest “stacking” tricks most travellers completely miss. British Airways quietly partnered with Club Avolta in late 2025, and most travellers still don’t realise it exists. Club Avolta (formerly Dufry / Red by Dufry) is the loyalty programme behind World Duty Free and it now partners with British Airways and Iberia to let you earn and redeem Avios when shopping airside. It

You Deserve a Reward, Not a Headache Let’s be honest. Collecting Avios is the fun part. Spending them? That’s where the stress kicks in. Trying to find British Airways reward flights on BA.com can feel like a full-time job: Searching date by date Cabin by cabin Route by route Watching seats appear… then disappear It’s slow. It’s frustrating and it’s why so many people sit on huge Avios balances they never use. That’s exactly why tools like Reward Flight Fin

If you’ve ever googled “how much are Avios points worth” or “avios points value”, here’s the Plane Honest answer: Most people use ~1p per Avios as a sensible baseline Your real value depends on what you’d actually pay in cash The best redemptions usually come from: peak cash prices + premium cabins + vouchers + good availability

British Airways has just confirmed some big news for frequent flyers: the bonus tier points offer first launched in December 2024 is now permanent. And the best bit? From 25 November 2025 you’ll earn these extra tier points automatically no more opting in. If you fly BA for work, or you’re planning a long-overdue holiday, these changes make it meaningfully easier to climb the British Airways Club tiers and unlock benefits like lounge access, priority security, extra baggage

This one slipped out quietly, but it’s a meaningful change if you collect Avios and occasionally fly Vueling. Vueling, IAG’s Barcelona-based low-cost carrier and sister airline to British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, has confirmed changes to its Vueling Club loyalty programme. The headline change? For many travellers, Avios won’t be earned at all at least not straight away.

If you collect Avios points or you’re trying to build a balance fast for a specific trip, this is one of the strongest short-term plays British Airways has offered in a while. For a limited time, British Airways Club members can boost Avios by up to 500%, at a cost as low as 0.92p per Avios. Used correctly, this can materially change what you can book with British Airways Avios in 2026. Used badly, you’ll overpay. Here’s how it actually works.

If you’re looking for easy ways to earn British Airways Avios points without stepping on a plane, this is a genuinely useful new partnership, especially if you live in London or have a trip planned. Avios has launched a new earning partner with TodayTix, the popular West End theatre ticket app and website.

Emirates Skywards has quietly dropped one of its most useful UK-focused updates in a long time and if you collect Plane Points & Miles, this one’s genuinely worth paying attention to. Emirates’ loyalty programme has officially partnered with Jet2.com, the UK’s favourite leisure airline, meaning you can now redeem Emirates Skywards Miles on Jet2 flights to more than 75 destinations across Europe and beyond. Yes, thats Jet2 beach holidays, city breaks, ski trips… now payable