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

TUI has finally launched a loyalty programme in the UK and yes, it is free to join. The TUI Smiles Rewards Club lets you collect Smiles when you book eligible TUI holidays, flights, hotels, cruises and experiences. Collect enough and you can move through three membership levels, unlocking offers, games, travel treats and faster customer service along the way.

The SkyTeam Elite Plus Hack: How Hilton Gold Could Unlock Airline Lounge Access By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Airport Lounge Addict Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy or sign up, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Status-match offers can change or disappear quickly, so always check the current eligibility, fees and terms before applying. Here's a travel hack I wasn't expecting to find. What if your ho

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 23 September 2026. And honestly? If you already collect Virgin Points, this is a pretty easy win.

If you've been searching for Virgin Flying Club, you've come to the right place. Officially known as Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club, it's one of the UK's best airline loyalty programmes, helping members earn Virgin Points through flights, everyday spending and travel partners before redeeming them for reward flights, upgrades and unforgettable trips. After spending 15 years working for Virgin Atlantic, I've seen the airline from both sides of the cabin door. Since leaving, I

I think Hilton Honors might actually be one of the easiest hotel loyalty programmes for ordinary travellers to get value from. With more than 9,000 hotels worldwide, no blackout dates on reward stays and the flexibility to mix points and cash, it's much more accessible than I first imagined.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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)

A couple of years ago, Hotels.com took one of the simplest loyalty schemes in travel… and completely overcomplicated it. They rolled everything into One Key, tried to merge multiple brands together, and in the process made it worse for pretty much everyone. Less value. Less clarity. Less reason to use it. Now? They’ve reversed it and I’ll be honest, I didn’t think they would.

For years, easyJet avoided traditional airline loyalty schemes. No points. No status cards. No complicated mileage maths. No airport lounge obsession. But that’s officially changing. easyJet has now confirmed it plans to launch a brand-new loyalty programme in 2027… and honestly? I’m kind of fascinated by this. Because unlike some airlines desperately trying to create loyal customers, easyJet already has them.

Priority Pass has revealed its best airport lounges in the world for 2026, and as someone who spends far too much time judging lounge pastries, prosecco temperature and whether the ambience is giving airport chaos or pre flight luxury , I obviously had to take a look. The Priority Pass Excellence Awards are based on more than 700,000 member ratings and reviews. Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport has been named the best Priority Pass lounge in Europe, while No1 Lounge at Je

Qatar Airways QSuites is regularly ranked as one of the BEST business class experiences in the world. Private suites.Sliding doors.Lie-flat beds.Restaurant-style dining.And on some aircraft… even double beds in the middle seats. Honestly? It’s closer to first class than most business class products. The problem? Cash fares can easily cost: £3,000 £4,000 sometimes MUCH more But using Avios, you can sometimes fly the EXACT same Qatar Airways QSuite experience for far less than

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

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