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

Plane News: Aer Lingus has paused sales of all transatlantic flights from Manchester Airport a move that strongly suggests the end of its UK-based long-haul operations.

When you think of the best long-haul airlines for 2026, names like Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates probably spring to mind. TUI? Probably not. Yet according to new passenger and performance data analysed by MoneySuperMarket, the UK holiday airline TUI has quietly beaten several full-service global carriers, a result that made me stop, blink, and double-check the numbers.

The Smartest Travel Gift for 2026, This Is How You Fly Virgin Upper Class for Less Most gifts are forgotten by February. This one turns into boarding passes, lounge access, and Champagne at 35,000 feet. Right now, Virgin Atlantic is running one of the most powerful Flying Club offers of the year: up to a 70% bonus when you buy Virgin Points, available until 31 December 2025. Used properly, this isn’t speculative points collecting, it’s a direct route into real reward flight

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

If you’ve ever wished your everyday travel could earn enough Virgin Points to get you closer to upgrades, Premium cabins or even Upper Class… this is your week. Right now, Virgin Red has dropped one of its strongest bonuses of the entire year:TRIPLE Virgin Points on any train ticket booked through Virgin Trains Ticketing until 30 November 2025.

🍽️ Thinking of Booking Virgin Atlantic? Here’s Exactly What Food You’ll Get in Economy, Premium & Upper Class (2025 Update) If you’re comparing airlines for your next trip, especially Virgin Atlantic vs British Airways, Premium vs Economy, or simply wondering “What food do you get on Virgin Atlantic?” the airline has just launched a brand-new menu across all cabins. Virgin has refreshed its menu across Economy, Premium and Upper Class for winter 2025/26 and there are some

Flying home from New York JFK to London Heathrow soon? Before you queue up for your Pret flat white and gate seat, here’s a travel secret most people don’t know, you can use your Priority Pass to access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK. Yes, that Clubhouse. The one usually reserved for Upper Class flyers and Virgin Gold members, with the mood lighting, cocktails, and à la carte dining that feels more “Soho House” than “airport lounge.”

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.

Pack your patience! The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has already caused over 1,000 flight cancellations and 5,000 delays at major airports like JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta. The FAA warns cuts could rise to 4–10% if it continues and yes, it’s starting to affect some transatlantic flights from Europe too.

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.

Virgin Atlantic is finally heading to Thailand and it’s about time. From 18 October 2026, the airline will launch direct flights from London Heathrow to Phuket, operating three times a week. The route marks Virgin’s first ever direct link to Thailand and a major step into Asia’s booming premium leisure market.

From sunrise walks across Brooklyn Bridge to cosmos in Meatpacking district, New York is still the one city that never loses its magic (or its queues). From helicopter rides over Manhattan to late-night milkshakes at Black Tap, New York never stops it just changes attitude. Here are my Top 10 Things to Do in New York, from skyline icons to hidden gems and a few Plane Tips to make your trip smoother, smarter, and way more stylish.

Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy cabin used to be the trailblazer, the distruptor to the industy with the BEST premium economy in the business. Proper glassware, purple mood lighting, an after dinner tipple, wonderwall lots of snack items to help yourself too, bottles of water, lovely hot towels from dedicated cabin crew and that famous Virgin flair. So, has it still got the magic, or has the sparkle faded a little? I recently flew Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy on the A

If you’ve been sitting on Tesco Clubcard points, now’s the time to make them work harder.Virgin Atlantic and Tesco Clubcard have brought back their auto-exchange bonus, and it’s one of the easiest ways to earn a quick 5,000 Virgin Points. Sign up to auto-exchange your Clubcard points into Virgin Points for the first time by 19 October, and you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus on top of your usual conversion.

United Airlines will operate a new 737 MAX service from Newark to Glasgow, providing another transatlantic option for UK travellers. This route adds capacity and flexibility for passengers looking to fly between the US and Scotland. Frequent flyers will benefit from additional miles and loyalty opportunities. The new service highlights the growing range of UK-US flights available in 2025.

Virgin Red is Virgin Group’s lifestyle rewards program that links with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Both use Virgin Points. You can earn Virgin Points from flights, Tesco Clubcard, credit cards, online shopping, transfer partners, and even quirky Virgin experiences. Virgin Points can be redeemed for Virgin reward flights, seat upgrades, hotels, cruises, and even once-in-a-lifetime splurges like Richard Branson’s Necker Island. Virgin Points never expire, so you can stash t

Virgin Red are back with another cracking referral offer, and this one’s honestly too good not to share. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 2,000 Virgin Points once you earn your first points which is more than enough for a cinema ticket, or to kick-start saving for flights, train travel, hotel stays, or a weekend away. All thanks to yours truly.

Let’s be real airplane food has a bit of a reputation, and not always a good one. But which airlines are nailing it when it comes to in-flight meals, snacks, and drinks? A new survey from YouGov: Self-serve has revealed the best and worst airline food experiences, and some of the results might surprise you!

I’ve had the pleasure of flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class a few times, and let me tell you it never disappoints. From the moment you arriv

Let’s talk about travel must-haves: a solid itinerary, comfy walking shoes, and yes an Apple AirTag for your luggage.