- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Plane News Weekly
14 June 2026
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 funds my ongoing airport lounge "research." Thanks for your support!
Note: I'm not a financial advisor, just sharing my personal experiences and travel tips.
Welcome aboard this week's Plane News Weekly, your Sunday roundup of airline news, loyalty updates, route launches, flight deals and Plane Honest travel experiences.
This week got me thinking...
Is luxury travel becoming more expensive whilst simultaneously becoming more accessible?
I've just returned from Sardinia where I stayed at a supposedly five-star Hilton resort. I used Hilton Honors points to slash the cost of the stay from almost £2,000 to around £1,000 by buying points during a 50% bonus promotion.
Sounds great, right?
Well...
The airport transfer was €190 each way (an hour from the airport.)
Breakfast felt more like a rugby scrum than a luxury experience.
And unbelievably, the pool by the beach cost an extra €30 per day!
It reminded me of something I've been saying for years: Luxury isn't always luxury.
Review coming soon........
Let's get airborne.
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
Wizz Air Declares The Beginning Of The End For Airplane Mode
For decades flying meant one thing:You disappeared. Messages waited.
Emails sat unanswered. Family and friends couldn't reach you.
And if your football team was playing... tough luck.
Wizz Air has announced plans to introduce Starlink connectivity across its fleet from 2027, becoming the first European ultra-low-cost carrier to roll out SpaceX's high-speed satellite internet.
Passengers will be able to access reliable, low-latency internet throughout their journey.
Honestly?
This feels like the beginning of the end for airplane mode.
For years, onboard Wi-Fi was reserved for premium cabins and expensive tickets. Wizz Air is attempting to bring that technology to the ultra-low-cost market.
The countdown has officially begun.
British Airways Launches The Most Amazing Avios Flight Ever
British Airways and American Express have announced one of the most generous Avios redemptions we've seen. I've never seen British Airways do anything quite like this.
A special New York flight where every seat onboard is bookable entirely with Avios.
No taxes.
No surcharges.
No cash element.
Nothing.
Economy starts from just 25,000 Avios return.
The flights operate:
✈️ Heathrow to New York – 15 October 2026
✈️ New York to Heathrow – 18 October 2026
Passengers will also receive:
Exclusive event access at One Vanderbilt
Skyline views over Manhattan
Complimentary BLADE helicopter transfers for First Class passengers
Even better?
British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers can be used.
Two people could fly Club World for just 100,000 Avios and absolutely no cash payment.
That's an exceptional redemption.
Reward Flight Finder: How You Actually Use Your Avios
Right now you earn Avios easily. The hard part is actually finding the reward seats when you want to travel and that’s where most people give up.
That’s exactly why I use Reward Flight Finder.
You can start with the 7-day free trial, and if it works for you (no commitment, cancel anytime)
Etihad Guest Leaves American Express Membership Rewards
From 22 June, Etihad Guest will no longer be a direct Membership Rewards transfer partner.
While disappointing, there are still alternatives.
The strongest option is probably transferring Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue at 1:1 and booking Etihad flights via Flying Blue instead.
In many cases, the taxes and mileage costs are actually lower than booking directly through Etihad Guest.
Sometimes loyalty programme changes create new opportunities.
This might be one of them. Check out my Review of Etihad economy.
Avios Offer From JP Morgan
One of the best Avios promotions currently available is still running.
JP Morgan is offering: 10,000 Avios for investing £500 through a new investment account.
That's double the usual 5,000 Avios bonus.
The key requirement?
You must invest at least £500 in a qualifying investment product before 31 July and keep the investment in place until February 2027.
As always:
Your capital is at risk.
But if you were already planning to invest, this is a very easy Avios boost.
New Routes Taking Off
Riyadh Air Confirms Manchester Launch
Riyadh Air has confirmed flights between Riyadh and Manchester.
Services begin 23 July 2026 and will operate three times weekly.
The airline continues to expand aggressively ahead of its wider international rollout.
Manchester is quickly becoming one of the most interesting battlegrounds for long-haul airlines.
Riyadh Air is one of aviation's most talked-about new airlines. Here is Everything We Know About Riyadh Air
EgyptAir Returns To Birmingham
EgyptAir will launch flights between Cairo and Birmingham from 1 November 2026.
The route will operate three times per week.
Good news for travellers heading to Egypt and another positive development for Birmingham Airport.
I recently flew from Birmingham, an experience I never want to repeat!
Air Zimbabwe Eyes London Gatwick
Air Zimbabwe is planning a return to London.
Flights between Harare and Gatwick are expected to launch from 1 July 2026, with tickets expected to go on sale shortly.
If it happens, it will mark one of the more surprising route launches of the year.
British Airways Is Quietly Rebuilding Gatwick
British Airways has significantly reshaped its Gatwick operation over the last few years.
While routes such as Aruba, Cape Town, Las Vegas and New York JFK have disappeared, the airline continues to expand short-haul flying through BA Euroflyer.
If you're flying from Gatwick this summer and want to know:
Which routes operate
Which lounges are worth visiting
How Club Europe compares
Whether upgrades are worth it
ack’s Flight Club is currently FREE for 30 days!
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Economy, Premium & Business deals
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I use it and it’s one of the easiest ways to spot deals without doing the hard work yourself.
About Me
I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals and loyalty tips with a Plane Honest perspective.
I test lounges, review flights, and break down what’s actually worth your money, so you can fly smarter, spend less and make the most of your points.
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for exclusive flight deals, loyalty tips, and aviation updates every Sunday. Sign up here.
Final Boarding Call
This week perfectly sums up where aviation is heading.
On one side, airlines are investing billions into better technology, faster Wi-Fi and improved passenger experiences. On the other, travellers are facing rising costs, extra charges and increasingly complex loyalty programmes.
The winners will be the travellers who understand where the value still exists.
Sometimes that's using Avios.
Sometimes that's buying points strategically.
And sometimes it's realising that a "five-star" hotel isn't quite as luxurious as the brochure suggests.
Until next Sunday, keep collecting points, keep questioning "luxury" and never pay €190 for an airport transfer without checking alternatives first.
Mr Plane Guy Let's make travel better.
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