- Mr Plane Guy
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
This Week's Plane News
14 December 2025
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Plane GEEK
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced lattes at the airport). Thanks for your support! Note: I’m also not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
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 I popped to Brussels to check out the Christmas Markets, and omg the light show at Grand Place was so cute! Have you been to a Christmas Market yet? Where is your favourite?
Christmas Market Spotlight:
Christmas Market season is in full glühwein swing, now is the time to plan and jet off on a festive European trips check out my Christmas Market guides. Full details of Christmas Market dates for 2025, amazing deals, reviews and guides.
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for exclusive flight deals, loyalty tips, and aviation updates every Sunday. Sign up here.
Boarding Announcements, New Routes & Airline Updates
✨ Confirmed / Reported New Routes this week
Centrum Air, 2× weekly Tashkent ↔ Manchester
Alaska Airlines
Daily-Seattle (SEA) ↔ London Heathrow (LHR) (starts May 2026)
Aer Lingus
4× weekly- Pittsburgh (PIT) ↔ Dublin (DUB), launching May 25 2026
I can't believe this deal, BTW I don't get any commission for this, just some Amex points! Just to put this deal into context I flew this year from Dublin to Doha with Qatar in Business Class Q Suite for 40000 Points!
Important: This isn’t financial advice. Credit cards are subject to status, terms and conditions, and affordability checks. Please consider your own financial situation before applying.
American Express has quietly dropped one of the biggest referral bonuses I’ve ever seen on the Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card:
If you use my referral link:
You’ll earn: 45000 Membership Rewards Points (usually 22000!) when they get approved and spend £5000 in 6 months.
That’s enough for:
A return to Europe,
A one-way long-haul in Premium,
Or a big chunk towards a Business Class Avios upgrade.
Offer ends 13 January 2026. Very limited and genuinely one of the best Amex Gold boosts in years.
Plane Tip: Don’t waste those gate-wait minutes Audible for Travel turns every layover into a first-class story time, and right now you can start listening for just 99p. Get the trial here.
JetBlue Finally Has a Lounge, BlueHouse Opens at JFK Terminal 5
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.
Pre-Flight, Lounge & Airport Experience
New Aspire Lounge Opens at Copenhagen Airport
Aspire Executive Lounges has opened a new lounge at Copenhagen Airport, bringing its signature luxury style to Denmark for the first time. Located near the A Gates, it features Scandinavian design, locally inspired food and two access tiers, the Aspire Executive Lounge and the more premium Suite by Aspire with table service and champagne on arrival. Copenhagen is such a great city break check out my guide to 24 Hours in Copenhagen: Your Ultimate Travel Guide and also My Hotel Review of City Hub Copenhagen.
Edinburgh Airport Lounge Update: Plaza Premium Is Now the Turkish Airlines Lounge
The former Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport has officially reopened as the Turkish Airlines Lounge Edinburgh Turkish Airlines’ first branded lounge in Europe outside Turkey. While Plaza Premium still manages the space, it’s now fully rebranded and part of the Star Alliance lounge network.
The good news? Priority Pass is still accepted, alongside DragonPass, making this one of the most flexible lounge options at EDI. Food has also had a noticeable upgrade, with a Turkish-inspired buffet including lentil soup, menemen and a fully halal offering. I did manage to visit this lounge when it was branded Plaza Premium Lounge, Check out the full review here.
Frequent Flyer Briefing, Loyalty Offers & Points
Want to Land 2000 Virgin Points in 2 minutes?
Sign up with my affiliate link and get a 2000 Virgin Points welcome bonus! (Very limited time offer be quick!)
Avios Tip of the Week:
Now you can collect and spend Avios at PizzaExpress
Dine in to get more with every slice. Spend from 1000 Avios for £5 off or collect 3 Avios per £1 spent.
Reward Flight Finder
If you’re serious about using Avios properly, this is one of the tools you need.
Reward Flight Finder shows you up to 355 days of British Airways reward availability on one simple page no more obsessively refreshing the BA site at midnight.
✅ Set instant Seat Alerts so you’re first to grab BA reward seats
✅ Use the Worldwide Map to see where your Avios can take you
✅ Choose from Bronze (free), Silver or Gold
✅ 7-day free trial on all paid plans
Once you’ve got the Avios, find seats before they vanish with Reward Flight Finder or grab Jack’s Flight Club for £1 and bag ridiculous flight deals when cash beats points.
Takeoff, Travel Deals & Flight Opportunities
This Week's FLIGHT DEAL OF THE WEEK
Cape Verde from £140 to £160 Return!
of course subject to availability
To
Sal (SID)
From
London Gatwick (LGW) - £160
Manchester (MAN) - £141
Flight Details
TRAVEL DATES
February-March
AIRLINE
easyJet
STANDARD FARE
From £300 (non-stop)
BAGS & FEES
Personal item only. Full-size cabin bag upgrade is £58 rtn. Checked bag upgrade starts at £88 rtn.
Plane Talk, Insider Insight & Reader Engagement
Have a lounge or route you’d like reviewed? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram, your question might feature in next week’s edition!
Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes travel updates and real-time airline news from my journeys.
I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals, and loyalty tips with a plane honest perspective and loyalty tips each week.
I test lounges, try new routes, and offer practical travel hacks so you can fly smarter, save money, and make the most of your points.
✈️ Plane Extras Express
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🍸 Lounge Access Start your journey with a prosecco instead of a queue.
Get 30% off Priority Pass membership and relax in 1800+ lounges worldwide.
🌍 Travel Insurance Cover every trip for less with Coverwise (by AXA) annual European cover from £10.20.
Thank you for choosing to read Plane News by, Mr Plane Guy.
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Plane News This Week, 14 December 2025.
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