- Mr Plane Guy
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Plane News Weekly
25 May 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, airport chaos, Avios drama and “luxury for less” travel hacks.
And honestly?
This week I discovered something horrifying…
Birmingham Airport before a bank holiday. I genuinely think I aged three years in under two hours.
Think:
Alton Towers-style security queues
overflowing toilets
gate chaos
lounges packed beyond capacity
and people fighting over prosecco before Malaga.
More on that trauma shortly…
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
British Airways Is Raising Avios Fees AGAIN
And honestly?
Nobody is surprised.
British Airways quietly emailed Executive Club members late on Friday announcing higher surcharges on reward flights from next week.
Some examples now include:
Heathrow → New York Club World: 176,000 Avios + nearly £500 in fees
Heathrow → Cape Town Economy: 66,000 Avios + £190 in fees
That New York example represents roughly a 25% increase in surcharges.
Which honestly raises the question:
At what point does a “reward” flight stop feeling rewarding?
This is EXACTLY why understanding Avios sweet spots and partner airlines matters more than ever now.
Useful New Avios Redemption: Philippine Airlines
One genuinely interesting loyalty update this week:
You can now redeem Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios directly on Philippine Airlines flights. You can simply book online using Qatar Airways Avios. With Avios transfer bonuses appearing regularly, this could quietly become a useful new redemption option.
Jack’s Flight Club is currently FREE for 30 days and these are EXACTLY the sort of routes they often flag early before fares spike!
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If you’re serious about finding flight deals, this is one I genuinely rate.
What you get:
Economy, Premium & Business deals
Error fares
Personalised alerts
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I use it and it’s one of the easiest ways to spot deals without doing the hard work yourself.
I Tried TWO Birmingham Airport Lounges… One Was Hell
I visited both:
the No1 Lounge
and Clubrooms Birmingham
And WOW the difference was noticeable.
The No1 Lounge was genuinely one of the most stressful airport lounges I’ve visited in years:
overcrowded
noisy
nowhere to sit
queueing for drinks
children treating the pancake machine like an arcade game
pure airport survival energy.
Meanwhile Clubrooms was definitely calmer and visually much more premium:
runway views
cocktails
table service
adult-focused atmosphere
much quieter overall
…but even THAT lounge still felt stretched beyond comfortable capacity.
Honestly?
Birmingham Airport lounges desperately need the upcoming Aspire and LUXE lounges to open soon.
Alaska Airlines Launches London Heathrow Flights
London is officially one nonstop flight closer to Seattle.
Alaska Airlines has officially launched its new daily nonstop route between Seattle and London Heathrow Airport using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Seattle is rapidly becoming a much more important transatlantic gateway, and Alaska Airlines continuing to expand internationally is genuinely interesting to watch.
Also: more competition across Heathrow long-haul routes is NEVER a bad thing.
Zanzibar Is Quietly Becoming One of the HOTTEST Luxury-For-Less Destinations
One route announcement I’m VERY excited about?
Air Tanzania planning direct flights between London Gatwick and Zanzibar.
And honestly? Zanzibar has quietly become one of the biggest “luxury for less” destinations in the world right now.
Think:
white sand beaches
turquoise water
rooftop cocktails in Stone Town
luxury resorts that somehow still cost less than many Mediterranean holidays
It’s giving: “Maldives energy on a slightly less terrifying budget.”
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
Big theme this week? People are becoming MUCH more selective about travel.
Not necessarily spending less. But spending smarter.
That means:
lounge access over stressful terminals
points over cash fares
quieter airports over chaotic ones
and experiences that actually improve travel rather than just looking good on Instagram.
And honestly?
That’s exactly where “luxury for less” lives now.
Same airport chaos.
Better snacks.
See you next Sunday.
Mr Plane Guy Let’s make travel better.
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