- Mr Plane Guy
- Jul 26
- 4 min read
Plane News Weekly
26 July 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!
Welcome back to another edition of Plane News Weekly, your Sunday (sometime Monday) roundup of airline news, airport lounges, loyalty updates, travel deals and everything happening in the world of aviation.
It's been a quieter week on the aviation front, but I've still managed to visit two new airport lounges, almost board the wrong flight, and Gatwick Airport has found itself making headlines for a rather unusual reason...
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
Gatwick Airport Left Without Running Water
One of the UK's busiest airports made the headlines today after a water outage affected both terminals, leaving toilets unable to flush and many cafés and bars unable to serve drinks. Thankfully, flights continued operating, but it shows how quickly airport operations can be disrupted.
It actually reminded me of my time working at Gatwick. On one particularly chaotic day, the airport's departure board system failed. Flights appeared to be departing from completely the wrong gates, passengers were running across the terminal, and it genuinely felt like a scene from The Purge. It's amazing how quickly an airport can descend into organised chaos.
👉 Travelling through Gatwick soon? If you end up delayed, here's my guide to the best airport lounges at Gatwick, including which ones are actually worth paying for.
I Finally Tried Manchester Airport's Executive Lounge
This week I finally visited Manchester Airport's brand-new Executive Lounge.
The food was genuinely good.
The views were fantastic.
But for £61, I wasn't expecting loud dance music, frozen fruit and constant announcements every few minutes.
It's a good lounge...
I'm just not convinced it feels particularly "Executive".
Dublin Nearly Didn't Go to Plan...
For someone who spends most of his life in airports...
...I nearly boarded the wrong flight.
After a leisurely lunch in the Executive Lounge, I confidently wandered to the gate for the 12:15 Dublin flight, only to discover, after everyone had boarded, that I wasn't actually booked on it. I even took this snap from the lounge, thinking "oh lovely" a retro Aer Lingus plane for my flight. Wrong!
Mine was the 12:40 from the B Gates. Cue a power walk across Manchester Airport after two glasses of champagne, a Manchester IPA and perhaps one too many Lancashire baps.
Travel expert? Occasionally.
New Route: Heathrow to the Maldives
Luxury airline beOnd has announced a brand-new route linking London Heathrow with Malé in the Maldives, via Saudi Arabia's Red Sea destination.
Flights begin in December 2026 and add another interesting premium option for anyone planning a luxury getaway.
It's definitely an airline I'll be keeping an eye on.
Final Week for 10,000 Avios
If you've been thinking about opening a J.P. Morgan Personal Investing account, this is your final reminder.
New customers can still collect 10,000 Avios when investing £500 or more, but the offer ends this week.
Plane Points Tip of the Week: Earn Up to 15,000 Avios Just for Switching Broadband
If your broadband contract is coming to an end, don't renew it without checking the Avios eStore first.
Uswitch Broadband is currently offering up to 15,000 Avios when you switch through the Avios shopping portal.
Here's what you can earn:
Broadband + TV (£50+ per month): 15,000 Avios
Broadband (£50+): 10,000 Avios
Lower-priced broadband packages can still earn between 4,000 and 8,000 Avios, depending on your monthly contract value.
For many people, that's enough Avios for a European Reward Flight Saver or a substantial boost towards a long-haul redemption.
Plane Honest Tip: If you're switching broadband anyway, it's one of those easy opportunities to collect thousands of Avios for something you were already planning to do. Just remember to start your journey through the Avios eStore and avoid using voucher codes that aren't listed there, as they could invalidate your reward.
Coming Soon...
This week I've published:
✅ Manchester Airport Executive Lounge Review
✅ Phoenix Lounge Dublin Review
I was also hoping to bring you a Helsinki lounge review...
Unfortunately, every time I checked the flight price it seemed to jump by another €100! Rather than overpay, I've decided to wait until August and hopefully grab a more sensible fare.
Sometimes the best travel hack is simply knowing when not to book.
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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.
Plane Question of the Week
What's the strangest disruption you've ever experienced at an airport?
Today's Gatwick water outage has to be one of the more unusual ones...
I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.
FINAL BOARDING CALL
Not every week brings huge airline announcements.
Sometimes it's a reminder that airports are unpredictable places. Whether it's a water outage at Gatwick or me nearly boarding the wrong flight to Dublin, travel always seems to have a way of keeping us on our toes.
Until next Sunday...
Keep collecting points. Keep discovering airport lounges. Keep travelling smarter.
Mr Plane Guy
Let's make travel better.
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