- Mr Plane Guy
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
Plane News Weekly
19 July 2026
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Note: I'm not a financial adviser. I'm simply sharing my own travel experiences, loyalty tips and the deals I genuinely use.
Welcome back to another edition of Plane News Weekly, your Sunday roundup of airline news, airport lounges, loyalty updates, travel deals and everything happening in the world of aviation.
This has been one of those weeks where aviation completely took over my life... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Next week I'm flying to Manchester, Dublin and Helsinki, with plenty of new airport lounge, airline and hotel reviews coming to the blog. I'm also finally making progress on something many of you have asked about... more on that soon! So many super exciting meetings this week! If you're not already following me on Instagram, I'll be sharing plenty of behind-the-scenes airport life throughout the week.👉 Follow the Journey on Instagram
But before I disappear into airport lounges and airline seats again, here's everything that happened in aviation this week...
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
British Airways Fans Left Furious After Avios Party Flight Chaos
Thousands of Avios collectors were left frustrated after the much-hyped British Airways and American Express anniversary reward flight descended into complete IT chaos. The booking page crashed just before tickets were released, while another hidden booking link remained live, allowing some people to secure seats even without registering first. It certainly wasn't BA or Avios' finest hour.
👉 What Is an Avios Point Worth? British Airways Avios Value in 2026
British Airways American Express Just Got Worse
One of the UK's favourite travel credit cards is losing much of its appeal. From 7 October 2026, the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card will earn 1.25 Avios per £1 instead of 1.5 Avios, and the generous 3 Avios per £1 on British Airways and British Airways Holidays purchases disappears completely. The Companion Voucher survives unchanged, but many frequent flyers are now likely to hit the voucher spending target before moving their everyday spending to another rewards card.
The good news: From 1 April 2027, British Airways is making it easier to earn Tier Points from card spending. You'll still earn 1 Tier Point for every £10 of qualifying spend, but the annual cap increases from 2,500 to 3,000 Tier Points, and Tier Points will be awarded continuously as you spend instead of only when you reach spending milestones.
It may also prompt many collectors to rethink which rewards card deserves their everyday spending.
Ithink the BA Amex changes could push many frequent travellers towards Barclaycard Avios Plus unless American Express responds with a stronger welcome bonus.
Barclaycard Avios Plus: Offers an earn rate of 1.5 Avios per £1, a £120 annual fee, and an annual upgrade voucher after spending £10,000 in a membership year.
Current American Express offer:
💳 Check your eligibility the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card
Apply Here → Here is the link.
The New Priority Pass+ App Is Finally Arriving
Priority Pass is rolling out its biggest app upgrade yet. The new Priority Pass+ app introduces lounge pre-booking, trip planning, easier membership management and improved security, making it much easier to book lounges, plan trips and manage your membership before you've even reached the airport.
With access to over 1,900 airport lounges and travel experiences worldwide, it's a welcome upgrade for frequent travellers.
Plane Honest Verdict: Great app update from Priority Pass. Lounge pre-booking is something members have wanted for years.
Flying Blue Launches an 80% Bonus on Purchased Miles
If you're planning an Air France or KLM redemption, now could be one of the cheapest opportunities this year to top up your Flying Blue balance. Flying Blue is currently offering an 80% bonus when buying miles, dramatically reducing the cost if you're already close to booking a reward flight.
This could represent excellent value if you're planning a Business Class redemption, but as always, never buy miles unless you've already found availability.
My Plane Points Tip of the Week: H&M Could Get You to New York
H&M is currently running a huge online sale, but here's something many people don't realise...
If you're a new customer, you can currently earn up to 11 Virgin Points for every £1 spent when you shop through the Virgin Red shopping portal.
Spend around £364 and you'll earn roughly 4,000 Virgin Points.
Then sign up to Virgin Red through my link and you'll receive another 2,000 Virgin Points, giving you the 6,000 points needed for a Virgin Atlantic reward flight from London to New York (taxes and fees still apply).
It's one of the easiest examples of how everyday shopping can become reward flights.
Aer Lingus Cuts 500 Jobs... But Finally Adds Premium Economy
Aer Lingus has announced one of its biggest restructures in years, cutting around 500 jobs and reducing several North American routes including Las Vegas, Denver and Minneapolis. However, there is some positive news, with the airline finally planning to introduce Premium Economy across much of its Airbus A330 fleet from 2027. For UK travellers connecting through Dublin, it'll be interesting to see how this changes Aer Lingus' position against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
👉 Martello Lounge: The Hidden Gem Airport Lounge of Dublin Airport
Wizz Air Pulls Gatwick–Istanbul... But Pegasus Steps In
Wizz Air has confirmed it will end flights between London Gatwick and Istanbul this October, continuing the airline's recent network reshuffle.
The good news?
Pegasus Airlines now operates daily flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), giving travellers another affordable option and connections to more than 160 destinations across its network.
I'll actually be flying the new Pegasus route soon, so expect a full review, along with hotel and destination coverage from Istanbul and Cappadocia. Flypgs.com
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☕ Hidden Gem: Airport Hotels Don't Have to Cost £200+
One of my favourite travel hacks is using Hilton Honors points for airport hotels before an early morning flight. I recently redeemed 40,000 Hilton Honors points for a free night at the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow, saving almost £200.
The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card currently comes with up to 50,000 bonus Hilton Honors points, instant Gold status, complimentary breakfast at many Hilton hotels, room upgrades where available, and Hilton's 5th Night Free benefit on eligible reward stays.
Did you enjoy this week's roundup? Forward it to a fellow plane geek who loves finding better ways to travel.
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
Which airline loyalty programme gives you the best value right now?
Avios?
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?
Flying Blue?
Hilton Honors?
Something else?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
FINAL BOARDING CALL
This week reminded me just how quickly the world of travel changes.
We've seen major credit card changes, new technology from Priority Pass, another excellent miles promotion, huge changes at Aer Lingus and yet another shake-up to flights between London and Istanbul.
If you're collecting points, travelling regularly or simply trying to get more value from every trip, there's never been a better time to stay informed. Here's whats coming next week,
All New Manchester Airport lounge review
🇫🇮 Helsinki Lounge Review
🍀 New Dublin airport lounge review
Until next Sunday...
Keep collecting points. Keep discovering airport lounges. Keep travelling smarter.
Mr Plane Guy
Let's make travel better.
