PLANE NEWS WEEKLY
November 2026
Singapore Airlines' New Business Class Disaster? Plus 50% Off Avios!
Welcome aboard. Hello, plane people! What a week in the world of travel! I headed to World Travel Market in London, and it was absolutely amazing. It's one of the biggest events in the travel industry, bringing airlines, hotels and tourism brands together from around the world.
Naturally, I made a beeline for the airline products.
Saudia was one of the highlights, unveiling its stunning new Premium Economy cabin. The seats look fantastic, with a rather clever new headrest design that reminded me of Emirates. It's great to see airlines putting more thought into the experience between Economy and Business Class.
I also got to check out the onboard product from Malaysia Airlines, and WOW. Some seriously impressive touches. It's an airline I think more travellers should be paying attention to, and I'll be sharing more soon.
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
Singapore Airlines: Has its new Business Class lost the plot?
Now, here's something that's really got the aviation world talking. Singapore Airlines has unveiled its next-generation Business Class, due to start flying in the second half of 2027, and the reaction has been rather mixed and I can see why.
For an airline synonymous with elegance, sophistication and world-class service, its new cabin looks like something you'd expect from Lufthansa. Or perhaps even its budget sister airline, Scoot.
Cold grey upholstery, bright yellow accents and a design that feels more like an ultra-luxury German sports car than the refined Singapore Airlines we've come to know and love.
And here's the interesting part: the seat was actually designed by BMW Designworks and manufactured by German company Recaro. Suddenly, it all makes sense.
There's no denying the technology looks impressive, with sliding privacy doors and some clever features. Where's the signature Singapore Airlines elegance?
The new First Class looks sophisticated and beautifully considered. Business Class, meanwhile, feels like it belongs to an entirely different airline. For a brand that has spent decades cultivating an image of understated luxury, this could become something of a PR headache.
What do you think? Has Singapore Airlines gone too far with the new design, or is this exactly what modern Business Class should look like?
BUY AVIOS WITH UP TO 50% OFF
Offer ends 16 November 2026
This is a rather good one.
Finnair is currently offering up to 50% off Avios purchases, depending on how many you buy.
5,000–19,000 Avios: 30% off
20,000–49,000 Avios: 35% off
50,000–84,000 Avios: 40% off
85,000–200,000 Avios: 50% off
There's also a 10% tier-point bonus.
And here's the clever bit.
Finnair uses Avios, just like British Airways, and you can link your accounts to transfer Avios between the two programmes.
That means you could potentially buy discounted Avios through Finnair and use them towards British Airways reward flights.
Plane Tip: Don't buy thousands of Avios simply because they're on sale. Find the reward flight you want FIRST, check availability and calculate whether buying the points actually saves you money.
And here's another tip: watch those foreign-exchange fees! If you're paying in euros or another foreign currency, consider using a debit or credit card with favourable overseas transaction charges. The Hilton Honors debit cards are worth comparing, particularly if you're also collecting Hilton points.
The standard Hilton Honors Debit Card charges 0.99% on foreign-currency transactions, while the Plus version charges 0.5%. A genuinely fee-free card may still work out cheaper, so do the maths before paying.
You'll need to have joined Finnair Plus before 30 October 2026 and have at least 50 Avios in your account to qualify.
GET UP TO 50,000 HILTON HONORS POINTS WITH A DEBIT CARD
Limited-time offer ends 14 December 2026
Now this is an interesting one for anyone who loves collecting hotel points.
The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card is currently offering new eligible cardholders up to 50,000 bonus Hilton Honors Points, plus 10 Elite Qualifying Nights.
Here's how the offer works:
Earn 10,000 bonus points after your first eligible transaction of £1 or more.
Earn another 40,000 points after spending £2,500 equivalent in eligible foreign-currency transactions within six months.
Get 10 additional Elite Qualifying Nights when you meet that foreign-currency spending requirement.
Receive Hilton Honors Gold status when your card is activated.
And it's a debit card, not a credit card.
The card links to your existing UK bank account, so there's no need to open another current account.
The catch? The Hilton Honors Plus card costs £150 per year and has a 0.5% foreign-exchange fee.
There's also a standard version costing £60 annually, offering Silver status and 5,000 welcome points after £1,000 of eligible foreign-currency spending within 12 months.
Plane Verdict: If you regularly spend in foreign currencies and stay at Hilton hotels, the Plus card could be worth investigating. But don't spend £2,500 simply to earn the bonus, and remember to factor in the annual fee.
Check which transactions qualify before relying on a purchase of airline points to meet the spending requirement.
Jack’s Flight Club: Thirty Days Free
If all this winter-sun talk has you opening flight-search tabs, Jack’s Flight Club is another option for spotting deals without spending your evening refreshing fares.
The offer gives you thirty days free, followed by £48 a year unless cancelled. Check the joining terms before signing up.
I use it for flight-deal inspiration, including Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class opportunities. Availability and prices can move quickly, so compare the fare conditions before booking.
VIRGIN RED: COLLECT POINTS TOWARDS YOUR NEXT FLIGHT
If you're not already collecting Virgin Points, here's an opportunity worth exploring.
Virgin Red allows you to earn points from everyday spending with participating brands and use them for rewards, including flights with Virgin Atlantic.
There's currently a referral promotion available, with rewards for eligible new members who join and complete the required qualifying activity.
And if you've been dreaming of flying across the Atlantic, Virgin Atlantic advertises selected Saver reward flights from just 6,000 Virgin Points one-way, plus taxes, fees and charges.
Plane Honest Tip: Always check the cash element of a reward flight. A low points price doesn't automatically mean a bargain, especially once additional charges are included.
Referral disclosure: I may receive Virgin Points if you sign up and meet the qualifying conditions. Check the reward and terms shown on the referral page.
QATAR AIRWAYS: BUSINESS CLASS FOR 25% FEWER AVIOS
Reported booking deadline: 14 November 2026
Now THIS is the sort of deal I love. Qatar Airways has been promoting selected Privilege Deals offering 25% off Avios reward bookings on eligible routes.
Selected destinations have included Kuala Lumpur, Manila and other cities across its network and depending on the aircraft and route, you might even get to experience the fabulous Qsuite.
Plane Honest Tip: Remember that Avios aren't just for British Airways. You can also use them with Qatar Airways, potentially opening up some excellent Business Class opportunities.
Check the live promotion, eligible routes, travel dates and reward availability before booking. Not every Qatar flight qualifies.
BRITISH AIRWAYS: SUMMER HOLIDAY FLIGHTS FROM 28,000 AVIOS + £5 RETURN
Fancy Majorca or Crete next summer?
British Airways has released special Avios-only flights departing Heathrow on 14 August 2027 and returning on 21 August.
Majorca
Economy from 28,000 Avios + £5 return
Business from 49,000 Avios + £40 return
Crete
Economy from 33,500 Avios + £5 return
Business from 60,000 Avios + £40 return
The brilliant thing about these special flights is that every seat is initially released for Avios bookings.
That can mean far more reward availability than on a typical busy summer route.
Plane Tip: Always compare the cash price before spending your Avios. Just because a reward flight is available doesn't necessarily mean it's good value. Seats are limited and subject to availability.
About Me
I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals, loyalty tips and airport lounge investigations with a Plane Honest perspective.
I review the experience, question the headline and look for ways to help you fly better without spending more than you need to.
THAT'S YOUR PLANE NEWS FOR THIS WEEK
From controversial new Business Class seats to half-price Avios and generous hotel loyalty bonuses, there's plenty happening in the travel world.
For me, the Finnair Avios sale is particularly interesting if you've already got a reward flight in mind.
And that Hilton debit card welcome offer is certainly worth a closer look for frequent travellers who regularly spend overseas.
As always, my goal is simple: helping you collect points smarter, find better flight deals and enjoy a little luxury for less.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next week.
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for the next round of routes, lounges, points and Plane
Mr Plane Guy
Let's fly better.
P.S. Know somebody who loves travelling but hates paying full price? Forward them Plane News Weekly. They might thank you when they're sitting in Business Class!
Offers and advertised prices checked 9 November 2026. Promotions are subject to eligibility, availability and terms. Points values vary. Some links may be referral or affiliate links.
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