Modified American Flagship Dining concept launched

For years, American had Flagship First Dining, which are facilities inside select Flagship Lounges. The idea was that this offers an a la carte dining experience for those traveling in international or premium transcontinental first class.

American is currently in the process of eliminating “premium” first class — Boeing 777-300ERs are being reconfigured without first class, while Airbus A321XLRs (without first class) are replacing A321Ts. First class is no longer being sold on the wide bodies as of November 19, 2026, or on the narrow bodies as of March 28, 2027. So there has been a big question as to what American would do with these facilities in the future. Would they just close, or what? Well, it’s much better than that.

As of today (September 15, 2026), Flagship First Dining has simply become Flagship Dining, and the idea is that this is now open to all Flagship Business passengers traveling on qualifying long haul international, transcontinental, and Hawaii flights.

In other words, if you have access to a Flagship Lounge on account of your American business class ticket, you’re also eligible for Flagship Dining, on a space available basis. However, if you have Flagship Lounge access on account of elite status, or through traveling in a premium cabin on a partner airline, you wouldn’t have access to this facility.

American notes how guests interested in dining should check in with the host team inside the Flagship Lounge upon arrival. If a table is immediately available, guests will be seated at that time. If all tables are occupied, guests may be added to an electronic waitlist and will be notified when their table is ready. Tables will be offered on a first come, first served basis, and as I understand it, there’s no priority for first class passengers, Concierge Key members, etc.

So, where is Flagship Dining located?

• There’s Flagship Dining inside the Flagship Lounge Dallas (DFW), located near gate D23; it’s open daily from 12PM until 10PM, with last seating at 9:30PM
• There’s Flagship Dining inside the Flagship Lounge Miami (MIA), located near gate D30; it’s open daily from 12PM until 10:30PM, with last seating at 9:45PM
• The expectation is that Flagship Dining will open in the Flagship Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) in late 2026; that’s great news, as this facility has been closed for years
• In the interest of being thorough, there are no plans to introduce Flagship Dining in New York (JFK), as that airport continues to have the unique three-tiered lounge situation in partnership with British Airways, including the Greenwich Lounge, Soho Lounge, and Chelsea Lounge

I would expect that demand will greatly exceed supply, especially during peak hours. However, the same is true for the a la carte dining in United Polaris Lounges and (to a lesser extent) at some Delta One Lounges. This is really a great way for American to become more competitive with Delta and United. I’m really, really impressed, and this seems like a sincere effort to improve the premium experience.

American Flagship Dining offers four-course menus

Launching alongside the expanded dining facility access is an all-new four-course Flagship Dining menu. The airline promotes that “the seasonal offerings blend regional flavors, thoughtfully sourced ingredients and refined culinary techniques to create an elevated dining experience inspired by some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants.”

American is sharing some of the dishes that will be on offer, including a Texas pear and burrata salad…

…roasted purple cauliflower steak…

…mesquite-grilled beef filet…

…the Flagship Burger…

…a California artisan board…

…and churro bread pudding.

In addition to that, American is introducing a wine and chocolate pairing, featuring KHK Wines and K+M Extravirgin Chocolate. Chef Thomas Keller, who co-founded K+M Extravirgin Chocolate with Italian olive oil producer Armando Manni, curated the pairing.

Bottom line

American is today launching Flagship Dining, essentially a rebranding and repurposing of the Flagship First Dining facilities. This is being done because American is eliminating “premium” first class in the coming months.

This means American is now offering proper a la carte dining in its business class lounges, increasingly matching the competition. What an awesome change from American! You can find these facilities in Dallas and Miami, and as of later this year, in Los Angeles.

What do you make of the evolved Flagship Dining concept? If you visit a Flagship Dining facility, please report back with your experience (food quality, wait times, etc.)!

For Q4, you can earn 5x points on the first $1,500 spent on grocery stores, dining, and donations to Red Cross — be sure to register here between September 15 and December 14, 2026. Note that these same bonus categories are also valid for the Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer open to new applicants.

Why I love the Chase Freedom Flex Card

The Chase Freedom Flex Card is easily one of the best no annual fee cards out there, as it offers 5x points in rotating quarterly categories, for up to $1,500 of spending per quarter. Most people use this as a cashback card, meaning the 5x points really translates into 5% cashback in these categories.

The card has other bonus categories as well, as it offers 3x points (or 3% cash back) at drugstores and on dining.

The best part is that in conjunction with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (learn more), Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more), or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more), rewards earned on this card can be converted into premium Ultimate Rewards points, and be transferred to the Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners.

Since I value one Ultimate Rewards point at significantly more than one cent, that’s my preferred use of those points.

Chase Freedom Flex Q4 2026 bonus categories

For the fourth quarter of 2026, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent on grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), dining, and American Red Cross. As far as key dates go:

• You need to register between September 15 and December 14, 2026
• If you register, you can earn 5x points between October 1 and December 31, 2026

Let me of course emphasize that it’s still Q3, so assuming you’ve already registered (since registration is closed), you can continue to earn 5x points on the current categories, which include gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, and United Way donations, up to the cap of $1,500.

How to register your Chase Freedom Flex for 5x points

Registration is easy — just go to the registration page and enter your last name, billing zip code, and the last four digits on your card, and you’ll be registered.

My take on Q4 2026 5x points categories

Everyone has different spending patterns, so will have different takes on the quarterly bonus categories. I’m conflicted on the Q4 2026 bonus categories. On the plus side, I absolutely spend $1,500+ per quarter on food (between groceries and dining), so on the surface, I’ll have no issues maxing this out.

The issue is, these are both categories where other cards also consistently offer robust bonus categories, so the incremental rewards I’ll earn in Q4 will be fairly limited. That’s because it’s not like I’m usually earning 1x points on grocery stores and dining, but instead, I’m typically earning 4x points. But hey, I’ll still take it!

Lastly, while making a donation to Red Cross sounds nice, I don’t typically choose where to make a donation based on the number of points I can earn.

Bottom line

The Chase Freedom Flex is one of the best no annual fee cards out there, thanks largely to the ability to earn 5x points in rotating quarterly categories. With a new quarter being around the corner, Chase has opened registration for its Q4 2026 bonus categories, so be sure to register.

Between October 1 and December 31, it’s possible to earn 5x points on grocery stores, dining, and donations to Red Cross. These are some pretty well rounded bonus categories, and personally I’ll have no issues maxing these out. The only “catch” is that groceries and dining are categories where I already earn bonus points on other cards, so the incremental rewards will be fairly limited.

What do you make of the Q4 2026 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?

Earn 70% bonus on Chase to Marriott Bonvoy transfers

Between September 15 and October 15, 2026, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy with a 70% bonus.

What’s interesting here compared to previous similar promotions is that the bonus is being offered on Marriott’s end rather than Chase’s end. So while transfers from Chase to Marriott Bonvoy are generally instant, the 70% bonus will be awarded by Marriott Bonvoy within seven days of the transfer being completed.

Points ordinarily transfer at a 1,000:1,000 ratio, so with a 70% bonus, points transfer at a 1,000:1,700 ratio. You can take advantage of this offer an unlimited number of times.

It seems that we see a bonus like this at least a few times per year. When we do see a bonus, it’s generally in the range of 40-70%, so the 70% bonus is at the top end of that range.

Is this Chase to Marriott transfer bonus worth it?

Generally I only recommend moving points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy with a specific use in mind.

For what it’s worth, I value Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each, while I value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at ~1.7 cents each. So unless you’re getting well over two Bonvoy points per Ultimate Rewards point, you’re probably not really maximizing your points.

With a 70% bonus, you’re getting ~1.2 cents of value per Ultimate Rewards point, at least by my valuation. That’s not great, and certainly not how I’d prefer to redeem my points. Then again, that’s intended to be a conservative valuation, and it’s easy to get way more value out of points than that.

There are situations where you could get value with this transfer bonus, in terms of the hotel stay being worth more than the value of the points transferred. However, there are probably more efficient ways to acquire those points:

• Marriott Bonvoy often sells points at a discount, and acquiring them that way could be a better value, in my opinion
• Marriott has co-branded credit cards that could be better options for earning Bonvoy points

Keep in mind that nowadays Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, so there’s no maximum for the number of points hotels can charge for award stays. Nonetheless, there are still good uses of Bonvoy points.

Bottom line

For points transfers through October 15, 2026, it’s possible to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy with a 70% bonus. While the base points typically transfer instantly, it can take up to seven days for the bonus points to post.

I generally wouldn’t take advantage of this, at least without a specific redemption in mind. Marriott Bonvoy isn’t an efficient Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, and I’d argue that applies even with a 70% bonus. I’d give this offer a “pass,” unless you have a specific redemption you’re considering, and the math checks out.

What’s your take on this Chase transfer bonus to Marriott?

There are several opportunities to save miles on tickets in economy, premium economy, and business class. This month’s list has just been published, and it even includes a discount on premium economy tickets on the world’s longest flight. Let’s go over the details.

Book discounted Singapore Airlines awards

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program offers monthly Spontaneous Escapes deals, where there’s a list of flights that can be booked at a 30% discount when redeeming miles.

Presumably Singapore Airlines is primarily discounting flights that aren’t anticipated to be full, and where there’s a lot of award availability. This can be a really useful promotion. One major restriction to note is that Spontaneous Escapes awards can’t be changed or canceled once booked (they don’t follow standard KrisFlyer policies), so you’ll only want to ticket these if you’re positive you’re traveling.

KrisFlyer has just published its latest Spontaneous Escapes list, which has a fair number of destinations on it, all for travel on Singapore Airlines. This is valid for bookings through September 30, 2026, and for travel between October 1 and October 31, 2026.

I’d recommend checking out the full list, but just to give you a sense of some of the discounted awards that are available (pricing is one-way, and in some cases the sale only works in one direction of travel):

• Singapore to Bali, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Surabaya, is available for 15,400 miles in business class
• Singapore to Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Phuket, is available for 17,500 miles in business class
• Singapore to Hangzhou is available for 24,850 miles in business class
• Singapore to Ahmedabad, Beijing, Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, and Shanghai, is available for 31,500 miles in business class
• Singapore to Cairns is available for 50,400 miles in business class
• Singapore to New York is available for 59,150 miles in premium economy

The restrictions for taking advantage of the offers vary by destination. Some destinations are restricted to specific flight numbers, and others are restricted to specific dates, but there’s great value to be had across the board.

As you can see, this time around there’s a single premium cabin option to or from the United States, and that’s for premium economy on the world’s longest flight.

How to earn Singapore KrisFlyer miles

If you’re interested in booking one of these flights but don’t have KrisFlyer miles, the good news is that Singapore KrisFlyer is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou, so there are lots of easy ways to earn points that can be redeemed for these flights.

Singapore Airlines makes most premium cabin award space available exclusively to members of its own KrisFlyer program, so many of these are flights that you couldn’t book with partner airline miles. However, some partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, do have access to some long haul Singapore Airlines premium award space.

Bottom line

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer has published its latest Spontaneous Escapes promotion. With this new list, you can save on business class, premium economy, and economy award redemptions. There are some good deals to be had — for those in the United States, options are unfortunately pretty limited this time around, though.

Are there any KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes awards that you plan to take advantage of?

Qatar Airways backtracks on redemption restrictions

With the Qatar Airways Privilege Club changes we saw a couple of months back, Qatar Airways limited the ability to redeem Privilege Club Avios for other people.

With these changes, if you wanted to redeem Avios for others (even if they’re travel companions), you had to add them in your profile to “My List” or “Friends & Family.” Fair enough, except being able to do that required completing at least one of the two following qualifying activities:

• Accruing Avios to your account by crediting a flight to it, either for travel on Qatar Airways or a partner airline
• Having at least one eligible co-brand credit card accrual transaction

While different programs add different restrictions to redemptions, this was among the most extreme out there. I guess Qatar Airways has realized that, because the company has now quietly eliminated these restrictions.

If you go to Qatar Airways’ website and look at the rules associated with “My List” or “Friends & Family,” you’ll now only see one restriction listed for adding someone to your account. Specifically, it’s that your Privilege Club account must have been created at least 30 days prior. That’s it.

Also, in practice it appears to be possible to add people to these lists again if you don’t meet the previous eligibility requirements, so that’s a reflection of how things have clearly changed.

I’m happy Qatar Airways came to its senses

Of course airlines use their loyalty programs to strategically further certain goals. The most common reason we see airlines introduce a “list” requirement in order to redeem for others is to prevent fraud, given the huge underground market of rewards brokers.

However, Qatar Airways’ restrictions were a step too far, in my opinion. Look, I totally get how the airline would like everyone to open a co-branded credit card, or credit a flight to Privilege Club. However, there’s a point at which restrictions like this do more to damage business than help.

Ultimately Privilege Club presumably partners with some transferable points currencies because it sees financial upside to this arrangement, even for those who might not otherwise credit a flight to the program. After all, lots of people may move over points, and then not actually redeem for a long time, but Privilege Club still gets paid.

My guess is that the program saw a decrease in points transfers and other activity, and that’s not good for those running the program. Executives want to be able to show continued growth, and these kinds of rules are counterproductive, for those purposes. So I’m happy to see they’ve learned from their mistakes.

Bottom line

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has backtracked on its extreme policy of restricting award redemptions for others to those who have credited a flight to the program, or have a co-branded credit card.

Obviously Privilege Club was hoping it would see a big increase in those activities because of that new policy, but I imagine that didn’t make up for reduction in other activity (points transfers, account sign-ups, etc.). I figured this policy would be dropped sooner or later…

What do you make of Privilege Club backtracking on this redemption restriction?

Philippine Airlines’ status match promotion details

The website statusmatch.com is partnering with Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles program to offer a status match promotion. Here are the details to be aware of:

• Philippine Airlines is matching to Mabuhay Miles Elite at a cost of $199, or to Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite at a cost of $349; if you’re eligible for a Premier Elite status match, you can still choose to only match to Elite, if you prefer (given the lower cost)
• The status match request should take just a minute to complete, though it can take up to five business days for the request to be approved
• There’s no published end date for this promotion, though it can be pulled at any time
• Matched status is valid through February 29, 2028, so that gets you the status for well over a year
• Status matches are available from dozens of frequent flyer programs around the world, and you can find the full list in the FAQs on the status match promo page
• The upgrade certificates typically offered with Premier Elite status aren’t given to those who earn status through a match

Is this Philippine Airlines status match worth it?

As it currently stands, Philippine Airlines isn’t part of a global alliance, and doesn’t have many airline partnerships with reciprocal elite perks. You can find Mabuhay Miles Elite perks here, and can find Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite perks here.

The elite perks are roughly what you’d expect, and not much to get excited about. We’re talking things like priority check-in and boarding, an additional baggage allowance, priority seating, etc. As mentioned above, Premier Elite ordinarily comes with upgrade certificates, but those aren’t offered as part of the status match.

So as things currently stand, this status match is only valuable if you’re a frequent flyer with the airline. However, as of some point in 2027, this could be a different story. Philippine Airlines will be joining the oneworld alliance in 2027, and at that point, status with the airline would also get you reciprocal oneworld elite perks.

Now, we don’t yet know when in 2027 it’ll happen, and it could be delayed. For that matter, we don’t know how status will map over. Even Premier Elite is actually quite easy to earn, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the current top tier only gets you oneworld Sapphire status, and not oneworld Emerald status.

If you get oneworld Sapphire status with a program other than American AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos Rewards, then you can receive access to American Admirals Clubs and American Flagship Lounges, even on entirely domestic itineraries. That would be a great opportunity.

So personally I’d hope that this status match promotion is still around when we have a better sense of the timing of Philippine Airlines joining the alliance. I suppose there would in theory be some overlap either way, given that status would be valid through early 2028. However, it’s also possible that Philippine Airlines’ entry into oneworld is delayed.

Bottom line

There’s a status match promotion with Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles. This costs $199-349, and allows you to unlock either of the program’s elite tiers. While this can be useful if you’re a frequent flyer with Philippine Airlines, the value is otherwise limited… for now.

However, Philippine Airlines is expected to join the oneworld alliance in 2027, at which time these tiers would map over to oneworld status. At that point, this could be a great way to get lounge access with oneworld, though for now, the timing is too much of a mystery.

Do you plan on taking advantage of this Philippine Airlines status match opportunity?

Delayed Condor flight misses Frankfurt Airport closure by seconds

On Friday, September 11, 2026, Condor flight DE1809 was scheduled to operate from Olbia (OLB) to Frankfurt (FRA). The flight was operated by an Airbus A320 with the registration code D-ASGE, and was scheduled to depart at 8:15PM and arrive at 10:15PM.

However, the flight was running way behind schedule, due to the inbound aircraft being delayed. The plane ended up taking off from Olbia at 10:39PM, over two hours behind schedule. This was definitely a race against the clock. Frankfurt Airport has a curfew of 11PM, though extensions of up to one hour can be granted, so the plane had an absolute latest landing time of 12AM.

Looking at historical data, the 633-mile journey ordinarily has a flight time of anywhere from 1hr24min to 1hr41min. So as you can tell, taking off 1hr21min before the final possible landing time sure is optimistic.

My guess is that the airline decided it made sense to transport passengers to Germany either way, even if it meant diverting to another airport, since it would be cheaper than canceling the flight altogether, having to cover hotel rooms for everyone, etc. (though with a diversion, EC261 compensation would have to be paid either way, just as a function of the timing).

Anyway, the plane actually made really good time. The plane was cleared to approach Frankfurt Airport’s runway 25C. The gear dropped, and the plane descended all the way down to 875 feet, and was a matter of seconds from landing… only to not be given landing clearance. Below was the plane’s position at 12AM.

As a result, the A320 had to divert to divert to Cologne (CGN), which is 85 miles away, and is one of the few major airports in Germany that allows 24/7 operations. The plane ultimately landed there around 25 minutes later, at 12:25AM.

Upon landing in Cologne, the airline sent passengers to Frankfurt by bus, a roughly two hour drive. So I imagine it was close to 4AM by the time passengers made it to their destination, given the need to collect bags, etc.

Should there be more flexibility with airport curfews?

When you see situations like this, you can’t help but wonder if curfews are actually serving their intended purpose. The intent of curfews is to avoid the noise of aircraft near airports, for the benefits of residents in the area.

You know what likely causes more noise than a plane landing at midnight? Well, a plane discontinuing its approach at a low altitude. So in the end, people in the area were subjected to more noise than they would’ve otherwise been, simply because that’s what the rules state. That says nothing of the increased emissions.

Logically, one would say that there should be a little flexibility… I mean, we’re talking about a matter of seconds here. But I also get that this is a slippery slope. An extension of one hour had already been offered, and that’s the point at which there’s just no flexibility.

The other consideration with these curfew stories is that airlines are generally really pushing their luck in the first place. The plane took off from Olbia with the hopes of having a shorter flight time than this exact flight has ever had, best I can tell. And that was already reliant on an extension of one hour. The airline has some responsibility here. No matter where you draw the line, there are always going to be situations where flights just barely miss the latest possible landing time, and various parties aren’t happy about it.

Bottom line

A Condor Airbus A320 flying from Olbia to Frankfurt had to divert after it missed Frankfurt’s curfew extension by a matter of seconds. The plane already had its gear out and was at an altitude of under 1,000 feet, but wasn’t given landing clearance due to barely missing the deadline. This triggered a diversion to Cologne, so that passengers could then be put on buses to Frankfurt, leading to a very long night.

Is this super frustrating, and does it seem unreasonable? I mean, yes. But at the same time, I feel like no matter how much leeway you give, airlines will always try to push their luck. After all, they had already been given an extension of one hour, and even with the math not really mathing, they still gave it a shot.

What do you make of this Condor diversion?

I was advised upon arrival late in the evening by the check in staff that the hotel did not have any rooms left with functional air conditioning and was told I could be walked to the Aloft next door instead. This was during NYC’s summer so it was quite hot — why would I accept a room without air conditioning? Had I accepted the room it would’ve been miserable, and that’s awful in NYC during the sweltering humid summer. I assumed this would lead to compensation for the Marriott Ultimate Reservation Guarantee, given that I am a Marriott Titanium.

Turns out later that I was refunded the 37,000 points and then charged the market rate of 52,000 points. Their “alternate” option was just having me cancel the original booking and making a new one that cost more — without telling me — next door.

I attempted to call Marriott customer service weekly for approximately seven weeks without resolution until the Case Resolution department got involved. Multiple times Marriott told me they attempted to contact the Sheraton but were unable to get ahold of the front desk or the manager because the phones weren’t working. Ultimately, they told me that because I accepted the alternative room at the Aloft (despite being charged more and not being told this at the time) that I was not eligible for the Ultimate Guarantee.

I was expecting the $200 and the 90,000 points as compensation for being walked. They provided me 20,000 points as compensation but told me I would not be honored the original 37,000 points reservation. All in all for all of this I only received 5,000 points as compensation, if you consider the difference in points. I thus told them I was upset about this resolution and would submit this to various travel blogs to highlight Marriott’s customer service.

Apparently it’s okay to say that the rooms we have aren’t functional so you can pay more and go next door for a more expensive room. What’s the point of even making a reservation then if someone can charge you a rack market rate which is usually more expensive? It goes to show that hotels within the franchise can skirt the rules and perhaps customer service is powerless to help.

I guess I should be grateful that I didn’t lose any money or points in this whole transaction, but it doesn’t sit right with me that a hotel can offer you to pay for a more expensive room when they don’t have functional rooms at their hotel, especially to elites. The amount of times I had to contact Marriott customer service without hearing back from them was also annoying — it seemed like they were hoping that I would give up to make the problem go away.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto improving

The Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto will temporarily be closing as of September 30, 2026. This is being done so the airline can undertake “the next phase of an expansion designed to create more space and an even better experience.” The expectation is that the existing space will reopen in December 2026, while the expanded space will be completed in early 2027.

During the temporarily closure, Signature Suite eligible guests will be able to visit the International Maple Leaf Lounge, and receive priority access via a dedicated queue. Air Canada will also offer a temporary pop-up at Gate E85 with grab-and-go food and beverage options. So if you have access to the International Maple Leaf Lounge, expect that’ll look pretty rough over the coming months.

The Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto opened in 2017, and I rank it as being among the best business class lounges in the world. It has strict entry requirements (only certain long haul business class fare types get access), as this is separate from the standard Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, so think of it almost like a great restaurant that business class passengers have access to.

The lounge is heavily focused on dining, with both a la carte options, as well as a buffet. I’m very excited to see how this space will be improved further. I know crowding has been an issue as Air Canada has grown its long haul network, so presumably expanding seating will be a primary motivation. But I’m curious what other new amenities we might see added.

The nice gesture Air Canada is offering guests

The Air Canada Signature Suite is great, so obviously it’s disappointing if you were looking forward to enjoying the facility on an upcoming trip, and now don’t get access. Admittedly that’s the issue with any sort of a lounge renovation — anything that’s good in the long run will be bad in the short term.

That’s why I think Air Canada deserves credit for the gesture it has for those who miss out on access. Passengers who have a Signature Suite eligible ticket during the closure will receive a guest pass for a future visit to the expanded Toronto Signature Suite. The pass will be issued once the expanded Toronto Signature Suite opens in early 2027, and will be valid through December 31, 2028.

The invitation will be valid in conjunction with any Air Canada flight departing to an international destination, in any class of service, and can be used by the customer or a guest.

That’s a lovely gesture, and I don’t recall an airline ever doing something like that for guests, so kudos. I imagine this shouldn’t lead to major crowding issues, both given that the current space is being expanded, plus given that the passes are valid for nearly two full years, so redemptions will be spread out.

Bottom line

The Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto will be undergoing an expansion and renovation, as it opened back in 2017. The lounge will be closing as of September 30, 2026, and is expected to reopen in December 2026, with the expansion opening in early 2027.

What’s good is that Air Canada will give eligible guests a pass to use the lounge in the future, which is at least a nice gesture. I’m excited to see what all is changing, as it’s about time I revisit this lounge!

What do you make of Air Canada’s Signature Suite Toronto plans?

Look, I came into my Starlux first class flight with low expectations, given that the hard product looks more like a “business class plus” seat, and I wondered if this would actually be a competitive product, since Starlux’s first class commercial strategy makes little sense.

But you know what? I’ve gotta say, I walked away from the experience impressed, and this flight greatly exceeded my expectations. Is it quirky, and does the hard product leave something to be desired? Yes. But the ground experience is phenomenal, the inflight service was exceptional, and the food and amenities were pretty great.

Let me share some initial thoughts, and then soon I’ll have a full review.

Starlux’s A350 first class seats are incredibly strange

Starlux’s A350 business class is excellent, as the airlines has the Collins Aerospace Elements seat, which I rank as being among the best business class seats in the world. But rather than having a fully separate first class cabin with a curtain, first class is instead just located in the first row, and on the surface, looks more like a “business class plus.”

Y’all know how skeptical I was of this product, but several elements exceeded my expectations.

In terms of spaciousness, I’d say the first class seat is probably comparable to British Airways’ 777 first class, so it’s not an amazing hard product, but it’s actually not uncompetitive either, in my opinion. The seat’s tech is excellent, from all the charging options you’d expect, to a huge 32″ 4K UHD.

The walls around the seat are also really so high that you don’t even realize the rest of the cabin is there. That might sound silly, but I was fully expecting to be bothered by light pollution and other things, but that didn’t at all end up being the case. You really feel like you have your own cocoon.

The other thing is that no one seems to actually ever book first class on Starlux, so I had the whole cabin to myself, meaning I could lounge in one seat, sleep in another seat, etc.

I was curious how the lavatory situation would work, since the forward lavatory is reserved for first class passengers, but I figured passengers would constantly be coming up to try and use it, given the lack of a curtain between the two classes of service.

Nope. I heard the crew clearly explain to business class passengers that lavatories are located behind the cabin. Only once did I see someone try to use the forward lavatory, and they were promptly directed to the rear lavatory. So that ended up being a non-issue.

Also, the business class service is performed from the galley behind the cabin, so there’s virtually no light or foot traffic in the forward galley. Speaking of cabin lighting, I feel like lighting in the entire cabin was adjusted based on where I was in the service, which was sort of funny. For example, cabin lights were turned off the second I finished my meal.

So yeah, in terms of hard product I’d say this is probably slightly below average, but it wasn’t as much of a disadvantage as I was expecting.

Starlux’s first class soft product is very competitive

I have to say, the Starlux first class soft product was really spectacular. I had two flight attendants, Birdy and Lori, exclusively taking care of me, and the service was flawless. Like, every time I’d be served something they’d both come out, and it was so perfectly orchestrated. They were personable, and had great attention to detail.

Starlux first class is unlike any other first class product I’ve flown in the sense that guests aren’t typically offered a menu onboard (though there is a very extensive drink list). You just make a selection from a variety of options before your flight, and then they cater that exactly to your preferences.

I know that might sound undesirable, but it worked really well, and the food quality was really good. I also appreciate that from a food waste perspective — that’s better than loading one of each option, only to have most of it go to waste.

I’ll have more details in my full review, but below are some pictures of my main meal…

When it comes to drinks, Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 was the champagne on offer, though I also really enjoyed the wine selection beyond that, including some options from Taiwan.

There were so many cute touches to the service, from a mini suitcase hard-shell overnight bag from FPM Milan, to a box of Aesop products and a face mask, to pajamas from Huntsman, to a Loro Piana blanket, to a diffuser placed next to the bed with turndown service.

Starlux’s first class ground experience is great

I think what Starlux really nails is the ground experience. After Air France, I’d argue that Starlux has the most consistently excellent first class ground experience of any airline in the world, in terms of the consistency with which you’re looked after.

I’ve already covered how Starlux first class passengers get access to PS LAX, the airport’s private terminal. That’s not even the only airport where Starlux sends first class passengers to a private terminal.

Then upon arrival, I was picked up at my gate and driven in a golf cart to the (very strange) first class lounge. By the way, Starlux might have the coolest first class luggage situation in the world. When your bag is checked, it’s literally placed inside a huge, hard-shelled case, which has all kinds of first class branding on it, and then it’s loaded separately, brought out first, etc.

As much as we (myself included) love to rave about the gimmicks of first class, like double beds and inflight showers, the truth is that an excellent ground experience is worth a lot. Ultimately premium travel is supposed to be about a seamless end-to-end experience, and that’s something Starlux nails.

Bottom line

I’m not suggesting Starlux has the world’s best first class. However, I came into my flight with very low expectations, and they were greatly exceeded in terms of the soft product. The hard product is definitely quirky and I wish it were a fully separate cabin, but it was better than expected in practice, as I almost didn’t realize there was a whole cabin behind me.

But the soft product, from the ground service, to the food, to the amenities, and in particular the flight attendants, were all very good.

I’m still processing everything, but I think all-in-all, this might just make it toward the bottom of my list of the world’s 10 best first class products… or at least would rank slightly behind that.

What’s your take on Starlux’s A350 first class?

airBaltic files for Chapter 11, continues operating as usual

airBaltic has today announced that it’s voluntarily filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States, in order to restructure its financial obligation while continuing operations. The company is expecting to emerge from Chapter 11 by around June 2027, so it’s anticipated to be a pretty speedy process.

The airline emphasizes that all flights are operating as scheduled, tickets and reservations remain valid, and passengers can continue to book and travel with the airline as usual. Furthermore, refunds, gift cards, and credits related to baggage or service claims, continue to be handled in line with existing policies. Passengers with upcoming travel do not need to take any action.

airBaltic has secured a commitment of EUR 350 million in new debtor-in-possession financing to provide liquidity and support operations during the Chapter 11 process. Here’s how Andrejs Martinovs, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of airBaltic, describes this:

“We have carefully assessed the restructuring options available to the company, with one priority in focus – to give airBaltic the best possible basis to continue operating and to build a sustainable financial structure. Under court supervision and with protection from creditor claims, this process provides a clear framework and timetable for reaching agreements with creditors, including aircraft lessors and other stakeholders.”

“At the same time, it allows the company to continue operating. That is the central priority set for the airBaltic Management Board – to keep flying and to maintain Latvia’s connectivity. This process will of course require strict financial discipline, and the company will have to meet a number of important conditions along the way. Our aim is to complete the process with a financially stronger airBaltic and a substantially reduced level of obligations that the company can sustainably manage over the long term. We have a strong management team and experienced advisers with hands-on experience of implementing Chapter 11 processes. airBaltic is on the right track.” 

airBaltic is in a rough spot, but definitely has a future

airBaltic has historically been an incredibly well run airline. The CEO used to be Martin Gauss, but he was fired (which I found to be an odd decision), and he’s now CEO of Gulf Air. airBaltic operates an all-Airbus A220 fleet, and the airline had huge growth plans, and intended to acquire 100 of these aircraft.

For a long time, the idea was as follows:

• Latvia has convenient geography for connections in Northern Europe, as well as to Russia, etc.
• Latvia is part of the European Union, but airBaltic has a major cost advantage, given that Latvia is a bit cheaper than some other countries in the EU, so there was merit to the airline wet leasing its aircraft to other airlines

However, as you’d expect, the situation has evolved over time. With Russian airspace closed to airlines from the European Union, that has massively limited airBaltic’s potential route network, and particularly has limited the number of connecting itineraries the airline can sell. If the current conflict with Russia didn’t apply, it would be a totally different story at airBaltic.

While airBaltic continues have a robust wet leasing business, the issue is that most airlines looking to lease planes only need them in summer, and not winter, given that it’s when demand is highest. In early 2025, Lufthansa Group even bought a small stake in airBaltic, in part because of how much it values the wet lease agreements for subsidiaries like Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, etc.

But the issue is that summer-only wet leases need to be able to cover costs not just for summer, but also winter, since it’s not like airBaltic has anywhere to profitably fly those excess planes in winter.

What has really caused issues for airBaltic in recent times is the increase in fuel costs. Not only have fuel costs increases been particularly bad in Northern Europe, but it’s also tough to be a full service(ish) airline that exclusively has a regional network, given how robust ultra low cost carrier competition is in the region.

So weeks ago we learned about the carrier’s turnaround plan, which is what’s being pursued as part of this reorganization and Chapter 11 filing:

• airBaltic currently has a fleet of 54 Airbus A220-300s, and was planning on growing that fleet to 100 planes; however, the airline now plans to shrink instead, decreasing its fleet to just 36 planes by the end of 2026, before eventually increasing the fleet to around 40 planes by 2031
• The airline plans to largely maintain its scheduled capacity (since the airline does a lot of leasing out of aircraft — more on that below); available seat kilometers are expected to decline from 9.6 billion in 2026 to 8.7 billion in 2027, before gradually increasing to 10.5 billion by 2031
• airBaltic will continue to have a network heavily focused on Latvia, but rather than pursuing broad expansion, the airline will focus on deepening its presence in existing markets by increasing frequencies where demand and profitability are strongest
• airBaltic largely leasing out its aircraft to other airlines under a wet lease model (particularly Lufthansa Group carriers), but the airline plans to increasingly focus on year-round deployment with this strategy, to mitigate the seasonal issue

Bottom line

Latvian airline airBaltic has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, as the company is obviously looking to get out of some of its debt and shrink. For now it should be business as usual, and airBaltic is expected to continue operating.

The company has secured financing to get through this process, and expects to emerge in well under a year, by June 2027. Given what we’ve known about airBaltic’s plans to restructure, it’s not surprising to see the airline also file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

What do you make of airBaltic filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection?

Starlink coming to Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul

Korean Air, alongside Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul, plan to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi to their entire fleets. While the announcement came last year, there was quite the gap between that and the first plane being fitted with the service.

That brings us to the positive news, as Korean Air will be “turning on” Starlink for the first time as of September 15, 2026, with plans for all Korean Air and ex-Asiana planes to have the service by the end of 2027 (the Asiana brand will disappear as of December 2026).

The service is initially debuting on four wide body aircraft — specifically, three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER. These planes will be deployed on medium and long haul routes across the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, as well as on key short haul routes.

Starlink is known for its high speed, low latency broadband internet, and the service will be offered gate to gate. Starlink Wi-Fi will allow for live streaming, productivity similar to on the ground (with high upload and download speeds), gaming, e-commerce, and more. If you ask me, it’s a passenger experience game changer.

As is the case with many airlines, voice and video calls are being restricted to “maintain cabin comfort” (which I’d consider to be good news). The airline notes how it’s the first carrier in East Asia to offer Starlink.

Here’s how a Korean Air spokesperson describes the Starlink rollout:

“Connectivity is an essential part of the travel experience, and with Starlink, our customers will stay connected with fast and seamless internet. As Korea’s flag carrier and a leading global airline, we are committed to upgrading our services and infrastructure to deliver an elevated passenger journey as we strive to become the world’s most loved airline.”

This is massively good news for Korean Air passengers

South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, yet until 2023, Korean Air didn’t have inflight Wi-Fi on any aircraft. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the service progressively introduced on some planes, but it’s still only available on a small percentage of the fleet.

So to see Korean Air go from no Wi-Fi at all, to Starlink Wi-Fi, is a hugely positive development. When Emirates announced it would introduce Starlink Wi-Fi just weeks before Korean Air did, I said at the time that it was the most positive Starlink announcement to date from a large international airline, since the carrier is going from the painfully slow OnAir system, to Starlink. However, Korean Air has Emirates beat, since the airline has no Wi-Fi at all on a vast majority of its planes.

For those curious about why Korean Air didn’t even start to introduce Wi-Fi until a few years ago, there’s an interesting answer. Back in 2016, Korean Air’s Senior Innovation Technology Officer was asked how content and entertainment expectations change for people when they travel, and here’s how that was answered:

“I believe that passengers have similar expectations for in-flight and on-ground content and connectivity options. For example, in Korea, the wireless infrastructure is so advanced (significantly faster than the US average) that in-flight Internet services based on existing commercial satellite technology would be disappointing to them. That is a primary reason why Korean Air has not implemented in-flight Internet.”

The explanation was essentially that Korean Air didn’t offer inflight Wi-Fi because the speeds would’ve been too disappointing to Koreans, who are otherwise used to cutting edge technology. Fortunately with Starlink, that’s no longer the case.

Bottom line

Korean Air, along with Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul, plan to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi throughout their fleets. The service will be made available on four wide body Korean Air aircraft as of September 15, 2026, and is expected to be installed across the Korean Air and ex-Asiana fleets by the end of 2027.

It’s amazing to think that just three years ago, Korean Air didn’t have Wi-Fi on any planes, and even now, most aircraft still don’t have Wi-Fi. So to go from no Wi-Fi to Starlink Wi-Fi will be great news for passengers.

What do you make of Korean Air’s Starlink announcement?

Etihad A330neo first & business class details

Etihad has revealed how it plans to configure its upcoming Airbus A330neos. The planes will feature a total of 290 seats, including four first class seats, 24 business class seats, and 252 economy class seats.

In both first class and business class, the airline will be using the Thompson Aero Vantage XL platform, which is a popular staggered configuration, particularly on the A330neo. This is the same product you’ll see on the A330neos operated by carriers like Delta, ITA Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. You can expect the seats to have the latest tech, as well as privacy doors.

This is a logical seat for the airline to select, both given general constraints with new seating types on the A330neo (due to the smaller cabin width compared to planes like the A350), as well as due to the challenges with getting new types of seats certified.

Perhaps what’s most interesting is that there will be one row of first class at the front of the cabin, which will be separated from business class with a partial partition. In terms of hard product, think of this as being more of a “business class plus,” taking advantage of the additional space at the bulkhead, given that the other seats rely on the space to the side of the seat in front to maximize real estate (it’s where the footwell is located).

I’d say this is a solid but expected product. It’s not about to win any awards, but then again, I can’t imagine any A330 product would.

Etihad’s evolving first class strategy is interesting

Going back several years, Etihad had nearly eliminated first class. The airline had first class on a handful of Boeing 787-9s, and also on its small fleet of Airbus A380s (though those were grounded for a while). Management at the airline has evolved on the concept of first class over time, and the current plan is to introduce it on a majority of the fleet.

For example, we’ve seen Etihad install first class on its new Airbus A321LRs. What’s interesting is that the airline is basically just offering a “business class plus” hard product, but is marketing it as first class. That would rub me the wrong way, except for one important detail — Etihad actually prices first class based on the type of plane booked.

So a first class flight on the A321LR will typically cost materially less than a first class flight on the A380. That’s a concept I actually appreciate, given how thoughtfully it’s being done. For example, on the A321LRs, Etihad’s soft product is phenomenal, like on other planes (and arguably even better, given that there are just two seats, so service is more attentive).

I imagine the idea on the A330neo is the same. While other airlines focus on “business class plus,” Etihad is simply marketing it as something else, but is doing so by bundling a variety of services. Etihad will be one of only two airlines to offer first class on the A330neo, with the other being… Air Côte d’Ivoire!

Bottom line

In 2027, Etihad will start taking delivery of Airbus A330-900neos, which will be used for medium haul growth. The airline has now revealed that these planes will have Vantage XL seats in business class, which is the most common A330neo premium products out there.

Perhaps the interesting detail is that the airline will also have a row of first class. This follows the model the airline has been using on the A321LR, where the front row seats (which are more like “business class plus”) are also marketed as first class.

What do you make of Etihad’s new A330neo premium cabin plans?

Whenever I make an online purchase, I always check to see which shopping portal has the best bonus. Along those lines, there’s one promotion on online purchases right now that I think is worth being aware of.

Earn bonus airline miles on Apple purchases

Apple is a retailer that generally doesn’t discount much, though at the moment there are some opportunities to earn bonus miles for these purchases. This promotion is available for a limited time, so you’ll want to act fast.

Today (Monday, September 14, 2026), you can earn bonus miles for Apple purchases. This time around you can earn 3.5-4x bonus miles per dollar spent:

• Earn up to 4x bonus points with Alaska Atmos Rewards Shopping
• Earn up to 3.5x bonus miles with American AAdvantage eShopping
• Earn up to 3.5x bonus miles with Delta SkyMiles Shopping
• Earn up to 4x bonus miles with United MileagePlus Shopping

Of these bonus options, I think the best value is with Alaska Atmos Rewards and American AAdvantage, given that those are the two most valuable currencies among the four.

One thing I should also mention is that separate from the above, Air France-KLM Flying Blue has an excellent portal for earning bonus miles on Apple purchases. What also makes it unique is the lack of product exclusions, unlike the above portals of Alaska Atmos Rewards, American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and United MileagePlus. So that’s something worth keeping in mind if you’re buying a product that isn’t otherwise eligible for rewards.

What Apple purchases qualify for bonus miles?

If you do take advantage of the opportunity to earn bonus miles on Apple purchases, note the following products and spending are excluded:

• Apple Watch Series 12
• Apple Watch Ultra 4
• iPhone Duo
• iPhone 18 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iPhone 17e
• iPhone 17
• iPhone Air
• AirPods 5
• Mac Studio
• Mac Mini
• MacBook Neo
• Studio Display
• Studio Display XDR
• Apple Vision Pro
• All Apple Vision Pro Accessories
• Apple Pro Display XDR
• Apple Developer Programs
• AppleCare+
• Orders purchased from government or veteran and military stores
• Apple sells and ships products to end-user customers only; you may not purchase for resale
• Shipping, handling and taxes
• Purchases made with coupon or discount codes not found on this site
• Purchases of gift cards, gift certificates or cash equivalents
• Purchases made with gift cards, gift certificates or cash equivalents
• Purchases made for resale and bulk orders

Furthermore, rewards are subject to lifetime rewards limits, as follows:

Your rewards are subject to lifetime limits of: (a) six (6) units per model in each of the following product categories: iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, Vision, Apple TV, and HomePod; (b) thirty-two (32) units of each of the following: AirTag 1-pack and AirTag accessories; (c) eight (8) AirTag 4-pack; and (d) ten (10) units of each of the following: AirPods and other eligible accessories. The lifetime limit applies to any purchase you make from the Apple Store website and app. Rewards will not be issued once you exceed the lifetime limit for a product.

Bottom line

At the moment it’s possible to earn 3.5-4x airline miles on Apple purchases. We see an elevated bonus through shopping portals for Apple purchases an average of once per month. This is a worthwhile opportunity if you have any eligible purchases to make.

Anyone plan to take advantage of this Apple shopping portal bonus?

“I don’t need some pilot telling me how to do my job”

This incident happened this morning (Sunday, September 13, 2026), and involves American flight AA1428, operating from Atlanta to Philadelphia (PHL). The flight was operated by an Airbus A319 with the registration code N812AW.

So, what happened? Well, the American plane was cleared to line up and wait on runway 27R, shortly after the Delta Boeing 757 ahead of it was cleared for takeoff. Moments later, the tower controller cleared the American plane to take off. That’s when the issues started.

At that point, the American pilot requested a little more separation due to wake turbulence. So the tower controller told American to cancel their takeoff clearance and vacate the runway, and instead had a Frontier plane taxi onto the runway.

The controller then told the American pilot that “next time you need more than standard separation you need to notify us prior to taking the runway.” Initially the pilot just acknowledged that — I assume that was the first officer, because moments later, the other pilot (presumably the captain) chimed in.

He told the controller “yeah, just for your information, we do not carry your separation manuals in our flight deck, so you cleared us for takeoff behind a 757 with winds calm with 27 after his rotation, I don’t think that’s a proper separation for wake turbulence.” The controller responded “there is no wake turbulence separation, man.”

Then the American pilot said “let us fly the airplane, you guys can do your job,” and the controller gave the American pilot a phone number for a possible pilot deviation.

The Frontier plane that had been cleared for takeoff then started complimenting the air traffic controller on what a great job he was doing. The controller of course loved that, and said “I appreciate it, I’ve been doing it for 26 years, I don’t need some pilot telling me how to do my job.”

Neither side is fully right or wrong in this situation

I don’t know exactly what American’s pilot manual says about separation between an Airbus A319 and Boeing 757 when it comes to wake turbulence, though I tend to trust pilots to fly “their” plane, so if they say they need more separation, I think that’s fair. Admittedly pilots should also let air traffic controllers know in advance if there’s anything unusual they need, given the volume of traffic controllers deal with.

In other words, pilots are responsible for their planes, and air traffic controllers are responsible for the flow of traffic. Fair enough, right?

So where does that leave us with this situation? As I see it:

• The American plane presumably needed another 20-30 seconds, so the controller was being petty and wanted to prove a point by canceling takeoff clearance, having them taxi off the runway, etc., since it didn’t save anyone time in the end
• It’s one thing if the controller gave the pilot a number to call to discuss this further, but the controller claimed this was a possible pilot deviation, which is absurd
• That Frontier pilot is such a brown-noser, talking about how much this controller “rocks”

This just seems like an unnecessary escalation. It’s hard to pick a side here in terms of manners — the air traffic controller was being pettier in terms of canceling takeoff clearance, while the pilot’s comment about how he should be allowed to fly the plane probably wasn’t the kindest, and rubbed the controller the wrong way.

Bottom line

An American Airlines pilot and an Atlanta air traffic controller had a disagreement over takeoff clearance. The American A319 was cleared for takeoff, but the pilot wanted a little more separation for wake turbulence. The controller claimed that wasn’t necessary, but the pilot said he was in charge of his plane. The controller didn’t like that, and it went downhill from there. But perhaps the oddest part in all of this is the Frontier pilot… oy.

What do you make of this Atlanta ATC interaction?

Eurowings flight diverts to Toulouse, then Cologne

aeroTELEGRAPH reports on an incident that happened on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, involving Eurowings flight EW9503, scheduled to operate the 896-mile flight from Ibiza (IBZ) to Dusseldorf (DUS). The Airbus A320 with the registration code D-ABZN was scheduled to depart at 6:10PM and arrive at 8:35PM.

The plane took off a bit behind schedule, at 7:35PM, and then started its journey north. However, shortly after takeoff, it was somehow discovered that a piece of luggage had been loaded onto the plane that didn’t actually belong to a passenger. As a Lufthansa Group spokesperson described this, it was “due to a loading error.”

Ever since the Pan Am Lockerbie crash in 1988, it has been a common practice that luggage has to match passengers onboard. Under EU regulations, “if the passenger concerned is not on board the aircraft, the checked baggage assigned to their boarding pass shall be considered unaccompanied,” and can’t be transported.

So the airline then “immediately arranged for a landing at the nearest airport for safety reasons,” which was Toulouse (TLS), in this case. The plane landed there 1hr2min after it departed, at 8:37PM local time.

At that point, a safety inspection had to be carried out on the aircraft, which took a long time. Finally at 11:20PM, nearly three hours later, the plane was once again able to take off for Germany.

However, at this point there was another problem — Dusseldorf’s airport has a curfew, and that had been missed at this point. As a result, the plane instead flew to Cologne (CGN), which has 24/7 operations. The plane landed there 1hr33min later, at 12:53AM.

The airline then arranged ground transportation to Dusseldorf for all 156 passengers, so I imagine they finally arrived at their intended destination somewhere around 3-4AM. Ouch.

The rules are the rules, what are you gonna do?

There’s no indication that there was any ill intent with the extra bag being loaded, and it seems like this was truly an error. Mistakes happen, especially when you consider the volume of flights that operate around the globe on a daily basis.

On the surface, it seems sort of ridiculous to divert once you’re already airborne, given what a logistical pain this ended up being. At the same time, the rules are the rules, so it’s not like anyone had much of a choice here. A bag being carried without a matching passenger violates regulations, and if it’s discovered, a diversion to the nearest practical airport is the only option.

What exacerbated the issues here was that this was an already delayed evening flight, so the curfew in Dusseldorf turned this from a pretty big inconvenience to a huge inconvenience. Obviously I feel bad for the passengers, though I also feel bad for the crew, since this was outside their control, and I imagine they probably had to deal with some pretty frustrated passengers.

Bottom line

A Eurowings flight diverted twice after an extra bag was accidentally loaded onto the plane. Regulations require that bags match passengers, so this was discovered once airborne, and prompted a diversion to the nearest airport. A security check was then carried out on the aircraft, before it could continue its journey.

However, at this point it was too late at night, so Dusseldorf’s curfew had kicked in, meaning the flight had to divert to Cologne, with passengers then being sent on buses to their destination. Passengers landed in Cologne over four hours after they were supposed to land in Dusseldorf, so when all was said and done, I imagine they were delayed by well over six hours in reaching their intended destination.

What do you make of this Eurowings double diversion?

I’ve written about PS in the past. While the concept launched at LAX, it has since expanded to Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), and Miami (MIA), and the intent is that passengers on commercial flights can skip the main part of the airport altogether, and relax in a private terminal lounge, clear security at a dedicated TSA checkpoint, and then be driven straight to their plane.

While I’ll have a full review soon, in this post I’d like to share some initial thoughts. Goodness, what a nice experience this was! For what it’s worth, if you were to outright purchase access to The Salon at PS LAX (the experience I had), it would cost $1,295 per person per visit. So I very much appreciated having this included with my ticket (Starlux is the only airline at LAX that sends its first class passengers here at no extra cost).

The PS LAX experience is fun, offers amazing food & drinks

With my Starlux first class ticket, I had access to The Salon at PS LAX, which is essentially a communal lounge, where you can hang out prior to your flight. It’s completely disconnected from the rest of the terminal, and is located on the other side of the airport, near the FBOs and cargo facility.

The Salon is nice, but it’s nothing huge. It just consists of one large room with a wall in the middle, and there are basically four seating areas, along with some high-top seating. During my late night visit, there were at most three other people there, and at the end, I was the only guest (note that there’s also The Private Suites at PS LAX, where guests have private suites separate from this area, so I don’t know how many people were using that, if anyone).

The idea is that you can arrive up to three hours before departure, and then enjoy a selection of complimentary food and drinks, which are really stellar. The traditional “welcome” is some caviar and champagne. Ummm, okay, I could get used to this (but will try not to!).

Beyond that, I decided to order the signature PS Martini (yes, the olives are indeed stuffed with caviar).

When it comes to food, I ordered the grilled corn salad, with cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, corn vinaigrette, pickled sweet peppers, and cilantro.

Then I ordered the branzino, with potato and leek vichyssoise, heirloom bean salad, salsa verde, and pickled carrots.

The food was phenomenal, and absolutely restaurant quality. It’s worth noting that you can also order food to go, in case you’d rather eat on your flight.

Then when it’s time to depart, you’re escorted through a private TSA checkpoint…

…and then you’re put in a car, and get a ride across the airport to your flight. PS LAX is located on the south side of the airport, so it’s around a 10-minute drive to most terminals, if not more. If you’re an aviation geek, that makes for some great plane spotting… how cool!

We then pulled up to the Starlux A350, and I was brought up the elevator to the terminal level, where I was met by a Starlux employee, and was the first to board.

I have to admit that this was an incredibly seamless and luxurious way to depart. Furthermore, every PS employee was super friendly. The facility is very well staffed, and I can’t imagine how many people it takes to keep everything running.

This is more about a great experience than saving time

I’m impressed by the way that PS has grown its network over the years, as the concept seems to be working. When the concept first launched, there was only The Private Suites, as the focus was on offering a private experience for high profile people who want to minimize their time in public and in terminals (while still flying commercial).

Then the brand launched The Salon, which almost seems to be the opposite concept. It’s intended to be social, presumably in part a way to network with other people willing to drop that much on a pre-flight experience (perhaps reflecting overall trends in ultra-luxury travel). Not only does it come at a lower price point, but it also targets a different kind of consumer. I think it’s really smart the company went in that direction.

Now, a few thoughts:

• While I absolutely don’t want to drop this amount to use PS on every trip, I think the price is actually fair given the experience offered; the overhead is massive, the facility is well staffed, the amount of coordination with airlines is huge, the food and drinks are great, etc.
• I wouldn’t view this facility as saving any time; for international flights you have to arrive at PS LAX two hours early, and you could easily arrive at the airport that long before departure and make your flight with plenty of time to spare, especially if you have TSA PreCheck
• Ultimately you do this either to splurge for a special occasion, for the seamlessness of not having to worry about anything, or because money simply isn’t an object, and you want the best experience possible

What I find funny is that so much of the narrative around PS is established by influencer-types who get invited for free, but the most common claims I see from them don’t actually reflect reality. Not because it’s not a good experience, but because they’re focusing on the wrong thing.

PS MIA recently opened, and there was this one comped influencer who “reviewed” the experience and raved about how much time it saved her, because she was leaving the airport within one hour of the arrival of her international flight. Oy.

Even with a checked bag and Miami’s typically horrid baggage claim waits, I’m usually home within an hour of my international flight landing in Miami. I’m not sure that really makes the point she thinks it does.

Bottom line

I’ve been wanting to check out The Salon experience at PS, and I’m delighted that my Starlux first class ticket included that at LAX, since this would otherwise retail for $1,295. What an incredible ground experience this was, with great food and drinks, friendly staff, and a truly seamless experience from start to finish.

I wouldn’t expect to save much time (if any) by using PS, but you definitely save hassle, and it turns what most people consider to be the most stressful aspect of the travel experience into the most relaxing.

What do you make of PS LAX, and its overall value proposition?

Of Chase’s excellent collection of Ink business cards — including the Cash, Preferred, and Unlimited — the Ink Cash is the card with the biggest bonus categories, and which can potentially earn you huge amounts of Ultimate Rewards points.

Much like with the Chase Ink Unlimited, there’s a trick to maximizing the rewards you earn on this card, though. The “Cash” part of the card’s name can be deceiving, since you’ll get the most value out of the card by not choosing to earn cash as your reward.

Link: Learn more about the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card with 100,000 points ($1,000 cash back)

Chase Ink Business Cash Card overview & basics

There are so many great reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Cash, from the fact that it has no annual fee, to its excellent welcome bonus, to the valuable purchase protection it offers. While some credit cards are straightforward, the Chase Ink Cash requires you to know what you’re doing. But if you do know what you’re doing, this card will prove hugely useful.

Below is a quick rundown of the basics of the Chase Ink Cash, and then I’ll get into more detail below.

Chase Ink Cash welcome bonus: $1,000 or 100,000 points

At the moment, the Chase Ink Business Cash is offering a limited time welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points (or $1,000 cash back) when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening. This is the best welcome bonus we’ve ever seen on this card, and I also consider this to be the best welcome bonus offered by any no annual fee card out there. Note that this is a last chance for the offer, as the 100K bonus is expected to be pulled at 9AM EDT on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

On the surface this is a cash back card, meaning that the 100,000 points are worth $1,000 cash back. However, you can potentially convert these rewards into “full” Ultimate Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each, so to me that bonus is worth $1,700. Yes, on a no annual fee card. That’s incredible.

Chase Ink Cash no annual fee & free employee cards

The Ink Business Cash has no annual fee. Getting a no annual fee card that’s super rewarding is rare, especially when you consider the value of the welcome bonus. This is a card that you can keep long term, and it won’t cost you anything. There’s also no fee for adding employee cards, and you can even control their purchases with individual spending limits.

I’d argue that this is one of the two most compelling no annual fee business cards, along with The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), which offers 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year (and 1x points after that).

Chase Ink Cash rewards: up to 5% cash back or 5x points

What really sets the Chase Ink Business Cash apart is the incredible points earning rates that the card offers. The Chase Ink Cash offers 2-5% cash back (or 2-5x points) in select bonus categories:

• The Ink Business Cash Card offers 5% cash back (or 5x points) on the first $25,000 of combined purchases per cardmember year on office supply stores, internet, cable TV, mobile phones, and landlines
• The Ink Business Cash Card offers 2% cash back (or 2x points) on the first $25,000 of combined purchases per cardmember year on restaurants and gas stations
• The Ink Business Cash Card offers 1% cash back (or 1x points) on all other purchases

Those are potentially some really awesome bonus categories — there are plenty of businesses that spend a lot on things like internet, cable TV, mobile phones, office supplies, etc.

Specific to the bonus category on office supplies, I think it’s worth mentioning just how useful that can be, as office supply stores sell things like gift cards, tech accessories, and more. Below I’ll get into more details on how you can earn either cash back or points with the Chase Ink Cash.

If nothing else, earning 5x points on your cell phone and cable bill is huge, in my opinion. However, I should note that some may prefer the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (learn more), which offers 3x points on your cell phone bill, but also offers a great cell phone protection plan.

Chase Ink Cash cardmember year definition

There’s an annual cap on Chase Ink Cash bonus categories, of $25,000 of combined purchases in the 5% and 2% categories.

For those of you not familiar with the cardmember year term, this is different than a calendar year. That means the Chase Ink Cash bonus cap resets on your account anniversary, which is 12 months from when you opened your card.

Chase Ink Cash 3% foreign transaction fees

While the Chase Ink Cash Card is a top notch card for purchases within the United States, the card does have 3% foreign transaction fees, so I don’t recommend using this card for purchases abroad. If you’re looking for a similar card with no foreign transaction fees, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

How to maximize the value of Chase Ink Cash rewards

The Chase Ink Business Cash is marketed as offering cash back, and that cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposit, gift cards, and more.

As you can see, the card offers anywhere from 1-5% cash back, depending on the category that you’re spending money in. Earning 5% cash back on purchases is excellent, while earning 1% cash back isn’t nearly as exciting.

That’s potentially valuable in the categories in which the card offers bonus points, since 2-5% cash back on a no annual fee card is solid. However, for base spending you’re only earning a return of 1%, which isn’t terribly competitive.

But if you value points similarly to how I do, there’s a way to increase the value of all of your rewards by 25-70%. This makes the bonus categories offered by the Chase Ink Cash particularly exceptional.

How to convert cash into Ultimate Rewards points

The Chase Ink Business Cash is marketed as being a cash back card, though in reality, the card earns points. As mentioned above, you can earn 1-5x points per dollar spent, and then you can ordinarily redeem each point for one cent cash back. That’s how Chase arrived at the valuation of 1-5% cash back with this card.

Fortunately there’s a trick to greatly increasing the value of your Chase Ink Cash rewards. If you have the Ink Business Cash in conjunction with another card that earns “premium” Ultimate Rewards points, then you can do significantly better. These cards include the following:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (learn more)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more)
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (learn more)
• Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more)

If you have the Chase Ink Cash in conjunction with one of those cards, suddenly your points are much more valuable, and can be redeemed as follows through Chase Travel℠:

• If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, points can be redeemed for up to 1.75 cents each toward a travel purchase with Points Boost
• If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, points can be redeemed for up to 2.5 cents each toward a travel purchase with Points Boost

That increases the value of your rewards significantly, and you can potentially get even more value out of your points by transferring them to one of the Ultimate Rewards airline or hotel partners, which include the below.

I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, so that, to me, increases the value of the points earned on this card by 70%. Transferring points between Chase cards is easy and can be done online.

Chase Ink Business Cash card benefits

The Chase Ink Business Cash offers an incredible welcome bonus and generous rewards structure, especially for a no annual fee card. On top of that, there are some other perks that are potentially quite valuable.

Chase Ink Cash rental car coverage

The Ink Cash offers primary collision damage waiver coverage for rentals of most types of vehicles in most countries, except where it is prohibited by law, by individual merchants, or is in violation of the territory terms of the rental agreement. There aren’t many no annual fee cards offering rental car coverage, so I think that’s pretty remarkable.

This is valid when renting globally for business purposes, and you just have to decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card.

Prior to renting, you should check with the benefits administrator (call the number on the back of your card) to verify your coverage. Keep in mind, you’re only eligible for coverage when renting for business purposes. For personal rentals, look to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (learn more) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more).

Chase Ink Cash travel & purchase protection benefits

In addition to rental car coverage, the Ink Cash offers other benefits, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Purchase protection for up to 120 days against damage or theft; coverage is available for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
• Extended warranty protection, for up to a year on eligible purchases; this is available when you purchase an item with a US manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less
• Zero liability protection, to safeguard your account against unauthorized charges

You’ll want to read the cardmember agreement for exact terms, but this has the potential to be extremely valuable for purchases as well. It’s one of those perks you don’t think of much when you don’t need it, but when you do, it can save you a lot of money.

Chase Ink Cash card eligibility & how to get approved

Every credit card comes with its own eligibility terms, and if you look at the offer terms for the Ink Business Cash, you’ll see the following rules:

The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee. We may also consider factors pertinent to your business in determining your bonus eligibility.

If you want to be approved for a Chase Ink card, there are some general restrictions to be aware of:

• The Ink Cash is subjected to Chase’s “5/24 rule,” meaning you typically won’t be approved for the card if you’ve opened five or more new card accounts in the past 24 months (many business card applications don’t count toward that limit); that being said, there are increasingly data points that this is no longer enforced
• You may not be eligible for the Ink Cash bonus if you have another no annual fee Chase business card, like the Ink Unlimited; however, you are eligible if you have any other Chase business card, including the Ink Preferred
• You can apply for this card if you have a corporation or a sole proprietorship; many people don’t realize that a sole proprietorship makes you eligible for a business card
• While there’s no hard limit to how many Chase credit cards you can have, there is often a limit to how much total credit Chase will extend you
• Generally, I recommend only applying for one Chase business card every 30 days at most

Is the Chase Ink Business Cash right for you?

The Chase Ink Business Cash is one of the most rewarding business credit cards out there. The key is that I wouldn’t recommend using this as your primary business credit card for everyday spending. Rather use this as a complement to your overall card portfolio.

The 5x points categories on the Chase Ink Cash are really spectacular, so use those as much as possible. In conjunction with Ultimate Rewards, I value the 5x points at a return of 8.5%.

The other thing that’s amazing about the Chase Ink Business Cash is the welcome bonus — earning $1,000 cash back or 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points for a no annual fee card is simply incredible.

Comparing the Ink Cash & Ink Unlimited

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (learn more) is Chase’s other lucrative no annual fee business card. You’re typically only eligible for the welcome offer on one card or the other, so understandably, many people may be deciding between the two products.

The truth is that there are lots of similarities between the two cards — they have both no annual fee, both offer rental car coverage, etc. The question of which card makes the most sense comes down to your spending patterns. The Chase Ink Cash is more lucrative if you spend a lot in the bonus categories, while the Chase Ink Unlimited is more lucrative if you don’t spend much in the bonus categories.

You can find an in-depth comparison of the two no annual fee Chase Ink cards here. Below is a chart comparing some of the main aspects of the two cards.

Complement the Ink Cash with other Chase cards

In many ways the best complements to the Ink Business Cash are two other Chase business cards that can earn points — the Ink Business Preferred and Sapphire Reserve Business, and you can also earn the welcome bonuses on all of those cards:

• The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (learn more) has a $95 annual fee, and offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent each cardmember year on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more) has a $795 annual fee, and offers 4x points on direct airfare and hotel purchases, 3x points on select advertising purchases, and up to thousands of dollars in credits annually, plus lounge access

I should mention that while the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card (learn more) can be very lucrative as well, this is purely a cash back card, and there’s no way to convert those rewards into Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Ink Business Cash Card FAQs

Bottom line

The Chase Ink Business Cash is an incredible business credit card. It has no annual fee, some phenomenal bonus categories, valuable perks like rental car protection, and a fantastic limited time welcome bonus of 100,000 points. If you’re eligible for the card then I’d highly recommend applying, especially if you spend a lot in the bonus categories that the card offers.

On top of that, being able to earn 2-5x points on a card that complements other Ultimate Rewards cards is an excellent opportunity. Add in the fact that the card offers great benefits, and this is a no annual fee card you’ll want to keep long term.

If you’re looking for a card that’s really well-rounded for your everyday business spending, consider the Chase Ink Business Unlimited, which offers 1.5x points on all purchases. Lastly, the Chase Ink Business Preferred is one of the most well-rounded business credit cards out there, in my opinion.

If you have the Chase Ink Business Cash, what has your experience been with the card?

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees).

The thing is, there’s such massive variance in terms of quality when it comes to airline and hotel coffee, so I think it’s a fun topic to address every so often. Let me note upfront that I don’t claim to be an expert on coffee, and I suspect a lot of people will strongly disagree with my preferences, and they’re every bit as right as I am (or maybe even more right).

Still, I’ll share what makes me happy with airline and hotel coffee, and then I’m curious to hear what OMAAT readers think, or if you even care about coffee when traveling.

For me, coffee is ritualistic

In my life, the importance of coffee goes way beyond caffeine — drinking coffee is ritualistic.

When I’m at home, my most productive hour is the very first one, where I’m sitting at my desk with a cup of coffee next to me. There’s just something about the experience that I look forward to every day. Often it’s the little things in life that make us happy, and my morning coffee ritual is one of those things.

Is it logical? Probably not. But it’s one of those little joys in life, and something I care about way more than I should.

Coffee is even more important when traveling

My morning coffee makes me so happy at home, but in my opinion it’s even more important when traveling.

First of all, to me there’s all the more need for coffee when on the road and jetlagged. I’m a very early riser no matter where in the world I am, so the value of that first cup of coffee is all the greater when it’s 4-5AM in a new environment.

Second of all, it can often be tough to be productive when on the road, and like I said above, coffee is ritualistic to me. Having a cup of coffee next to me somehow puts me in the mindset to be productive.

Whether I’m waking up in a hotel or am waking up on a plane, I look forward to that first cup of coffee. Yeah, it really is that important to me… maybe this blog should actually be called One Cup at a Time?

A little bit of coffee effort goes a long way

That gets me to the main point of this post. I’ve long argued that hospitality happens at the margins. Often it’s the little things that stand out to me most about a hotel stay or flight, or that I remember long after I’ve returned home.

For me coffee is one of those things. If an airline or hotel has a really great coffee experience, that’s very likely going to be one of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the airline or hotel.

More concretely, what impresses me?

What I look for in hotel coffee

For me hotel coffee is about ease of having access to it, and quality. The first thing I love is when hotels make it easy to get coffee early in the morning.

I’m not opposed to using in-room coffee machines, but the problem is that:

• Often the machines aren’t cleaned very well, and/or don’t work properly
• Sometimes the pods aren’t refilled correctly during a stay, so you run out (and you might not notice until you want your first cup)
• The quality of the coffee varies significantly; Nespresso is pretty good, while some other hotels use much lower end machines and pods
• Sometimes there’s no milk or creamer option, and this drives me nuts, because a large percentage of people don’t drink their coffee black, and this seems like such an easy, missed opportunity

For me the ideal setup is complimentary coffee in the lobby for early risers (and ideally actually for early risers — we’re not talking coffee starting at 7AM). There’s a lot of inconsistency here, but in my experience, Four Seasons is the only major hotel group that does this consistently.

As an alternative, I’ll seek out an airport hotel that has some sort of proper coffee shop in the lobby, especially if it has extended hours. Several Heathrow hotels have this, for example, and I sure do appreciate it. The Le Meridien Cairo Airport also deserves credit for having a coffee shop with barista coffee 24/7… too bad I won’t get to stay there again.

Then of course there’s coffee quality. I’m always disappointed when I stay at a nice luxury hotel, only to find out that their coffee and espresso-based drinks aren’t great. C’mon now!

I’m very happy at breakfast when espresso-based drinks are made by a barista rather than a machine. At a “true” luxury hotel I sort of expect that it will be made by a barista, while at a non-luxury hotel I don’t expect it, but am delighted when it happens.

A nicely presented smooth cappuccino makes my day.

Conversely, a bitter and watery one makes me… bitter.

Also, while it’s not ideal, I do appreciate club lounges when it comes to easy coffee access. While they usually “only” have machines with bleh coffee, at least you have easy and free access to it all hours of the day, which is better than nothing.

Fogo Island Inn is one of my favorite hotels in the world, and one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of the property is the daybreak basket (okay, the truth is that the amazing people are the first thing that comes to mind, but this is a close second).

Every morning the hotel places a basket in front of your door with a pot of coffee, freshly squeezed juice, and warm scones. How much can this really cost the hotel to do? Maybe a couple of bucks. But it literally rocks my world, and leaves a lasting impression. When I’m having dinner at Fogo Island Inn I’m already thinking about the daybreak basket. Heck, I’m thinking back longingly on this right now, and I haven’t visited in years.

The Four Seasons Boston is probably the best hotel in the United States when it comes to coffee. The hotel has a complimentary coffee shop in the lobby for hotel guests, where you can enjoy anything from a cold brew to a barista-made cappuccino.

I also appreciate luxury hotels that offer complimentary coffee or tea delivered to your room. For example, this is a standard for St. Regis, though policies vary — some properties only offer it to suite guests, some only offer it once a day in the mornings, etc. I just wish they were a bit more consistent with when it’s offered, and also communicated it more proactively.

What I look for in airline coffee

For me, airline coffee is about quality, variety, and presentation. Let’s be honest, in general the drip coffee on airlines isn’t going to be good, given that they’re using water from the plane’s tanks, and they’re often not using great beans.

I am happy when airlines have espresso based drinks. Of course they’re not all created equal. ANA’s first class cappuccinos? They are watery as could be.

Qatar Airways cappuccinos, on the other hand, are quite good.

I also appreciate when effort is put into presentation. I love the silver tray on which Etihad serves coffee in first class. Do I need half a dozen sweets every time I order a coffee? I most definitely don’t. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy them. 😉

I even appreciate when airlines have unique mugs. I love Japan Airlines’ coffee mugs, and I may even have one or two of them at home…

But beyond espresso and cappuccino, I like when airlines have other options as well. Emirates used to have french press coffee on many routes, though that’s no longer offered due to lack of demand (I think people largely just didn’t know it was being offered).

I love that Austrian Airlines has an amazing coffee menu that’s a focal point of the business class service (then again, this is more of a dessert than an actual coffee).

I love that that EVA Air has iced coffee in business class.

Heck, I love that in JetBlue’s Mint business class, you can even have an iced cappuccino with oat milk.

While I get that iced coffee and cold brew is more of an American thing, personally I wish we’d see more airlines offer this, or at least put more effort into non-alcoholic drinks. United is the only one of the “big four” US carriers to serve cold brew consistently (complimentary in premium cabins, or for purchase in economy). I wish we’d see more airlines follow United’s lead.

And I guess an espresso martini on Emirates at the bar is one way to get your caffeine as well. 😉

Also, I love when an airport lounge has barista made drinks, whether we’re talking about a Qantas Lounge or Alaska Lounge.

I generally expect barista made drinks in first class lounges, while I’m delighted when I get one in a business class lounge. But some things also just puzzle me.

For example, they’ll serve me $100+ per bottle champagne in the Chelsea Lounge New York, but then coffee will just be from a crappy machine.

Bottom line

Thanks for indulging me and letting me share my coffee preferences here at One Cup at a Time. I realize I care about this more than most, but I can’t state enough how memorable a good coffee experience is to me, whether on a plane or in a hotel.

Thanks to the airlines and hotels that go the extra mile to keep us caffeinated. And to those that don’t, it’s never too late to up your game. 😉

To fellow coffee lovers — what do you like and what do you dislike when it comes to airline and hotel coffee?

Qantas has a “smart casual dress code” for lounges

Generally speaking, airlines don’t have dress codes when it comes to lounge access. The most common policy is that as long as you’re not violating the airline’s overall dress code, you can also access lounges. Most airlines basically just require you to wear clothes and cover your privates, so that doesn’t set the bar very high.

However, Qantas is an exception. The airline has a dress code specifically for its Qantas Clubs, as well as select Qantas Business Lounges. Here’s how the airline describes its “smart casual” dress code:

To ensure an enjoyable experience when you’re visiting our Qantas domestic lounges, we ask that you follow our smart casual dress code.

These guidelines are intended to create an environment everyone can enjoy, so please be mindful of your choice of clothing and footwear when visiting Qantas Clubs and Business Lounges in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

In keeping with this, we ask you wear smart casual clothing and shoes when entering one of our lounges in Australia or overseas.

The airline has a list of the types of things that can’t be worn in lounges, including tank tops, beachwear, sleepwear (including uggs), rubber thongs, and more.

One interesting wrinkle is that the lounge terms state that “individual lounge managers will have discretion to administer these standards as they reasonably deem appropriate in the circumstances.”

This dress code is once again making the news, as a passenger was denied lounge access for wearing ugg slippers. The woman claimed she has visited around five lounges in the past month wearing the same slippers, and didn’t have any issues until now.

She said the lounge was quite busy, and because she didn’t fit the “business” look, the staff made a “beeline for her.” She argued that if there is a dress code, it needs to be enforced everywhere. “They’ve got outside soles on them. It’s an airport. I just don’t understand.”

My take on Qantas’ controversial lounge dress code

Obviously people tend to be divided on what one should wear when flying. Personally I’m opposed to these kinds of dress codes, and find them to be silly:

• Ultimately an airport lounge isn’t some exclusive social club, but it’s a place to sit in comfort, and grab a drink and snack before a flight
• Many people are traveling on long haul flights and dress for comfort; heck, Qantas even gives out pajamas on long haul flights, so why is there a need to dress up on your layover in the lounge?
• I just don’t care what other people wear at airports, as long as it’s not inappropriate or offensive

I totally get people who like to “dress the part” when flying in premium cabins, and I think that’s great. I just think that standard shouldn’t necessarily be applied to others.

Let me be clear — I’m not advocating for people to wear the above articles of clothing, and I agree that people could maybe put a little more effort into their appearance when traveling. But at the same time, I simply don’t care, because my experience is in no way impacted by what others choose to wear.

But hey, Qantas runs its own lounges, it has the right to make its own rules, and that’s perfectly fine.

Bottom line

Qantas is one of the few airlines to have a dress code for some its lounges, as the airline asks passengers to dress in smart casual clothes. Every so often this makes headlines when passengers are frustrated over their lounge denial.

I do find it interesting how Qantas is one of the only airlines to have such a policy. In theory I can appreciate where the airline is coming from, but I’m also pretty “libertarian” when it comes to airport dress codes. I think everyone should wear what they want, as long as it’s not actively offensive.

What’s your take on Qantas’ lounge dress code?

Some of these are major, some of them are minor, and this list is by no means comprehensive, but it’s many of the things that come to mind. I’ll share mine below (in no particular order), and then I’d love to hear how they compare to those of OMAAT readers.

Bathrooms without privacy

I know some hotels like to be “hip,” but I just don’t get how that sometimes extends to bathroom design. All too often, we see bathrooms that are basically designed for peep shows. Sometimes there’s a glass shield between the bedroom and bathroom with no option to get full privacy, and other times the toilet is separated from the rest of the bathroom by a non-frosted glass shield.

Is a little privacy in the bathroom too much to ask for? And don’t even get me started on bathtubs in bedrooms…

Decorative pillows & other bedding

I’m a germaphobe, though I’m pretty good at being selective about it, or else I’d probably never enjoy staying at hotels again. While I can get over most things in hotel rooms, decorative pillows and blankets is one thing I struggle with.

They’re obviously not cleaned between each use, and I feel like most guests either use them or throw them on the floor. I find that kind of disgusting, and wish that I could simply request to not have these in rooms.

Showers with weak water pressure

I can appreciate how many hotels are trying to be more environmentally conscious (or cut costs, or both). However, I wish that water pressure wasn’t one of the areas where they’re looking to save. It ends up just taking me a lot longer to shower, and I’m not sure how that’s in anyone’s best interest.

Showers that are complicated, poorly designed

Separate from poor water pressure, there are a couple of other things that frustrate me about hotel showers.

For one, I feel like hotel showers have become increasingly complicated to use over the years, and it makes no sense to me. It should be possible to turn on the shower and control the temperature without getting wet first. Furthermore, it should be obvious which handles and buttons control the water flow, temperature, etc.

Along similar lines, I don’t like showers that aren’t fully enclosed, and/or where water easily splashes into the rest of the bathroom. You shouldn’t have to flood the whole bathroom in order to take a shower. Like, I’m trying to get clean, not recreate Noah’s Ark.

Gyms that aren’t 24/7

I like to go to the gym, and I also keep a very strange schedule, especially when traveling. Along those lines, I’m always frustrated when hotels have gyms that aren’t 24/7. Okay, I understand that at hotels that somehow use a third-party health complex for their guest.

But I’m also surprised by how sometimes hotels with standard gyms still have limited hours. If you’re not going to have a 24/7 gym, at least open it at a reasonable hour. For example, I recently stayed at a hotel where the gym only opened at 8AM, which I found to be incredibly late. Go figure there was then a mad rush to use the gym at that hour.

A poor coffee setup

I probably care more about coffee than the average person. Of course I absolutely love when a hotel has a coffee shop and/or barista made coffee. However, that’s not something I expect from most non-luxury hotels. I’ll settle for just a decent in-room coffee machine, or coffee in the lobby in the early hours of the morning.

It irks me when a hotel doesn’t have a decent in-room coffee setup, and also doesn’t have a good opportunity to get coffee in the lobby in the early morning hours.

Destination, resort, and urban fees

I think this frustrates just about everyone, but destination and resort fees are obviously incredibly annoying. Hotels have historically had these in order to have drip pricing and to limit the amount of the room rate they have to pay a commission on to online travel agencies. But it’s also super annoying to be charged $10-100 per day for what ultimately amounts to very little.

Scripted, artificial customer service

There’s professional service, and then there’s cookie cutter, over the top, artificial service. I’m talking about when front desk agents seem like they’re reading off a script, and try to add your name to every sentence, to make it sound like they’re providing good service. Personally I far prefer genuine service with a smile. You don’t have to use my name or terms like “my privilege.”

I’ll take a friendly and genuine person at a Holiday Inn Express calling me “hun” over a Ritz-Carlton front desk agent who tries to fit my last name into every sentence.

Hotels trying to avoid providing elite perks

I think this is something that just about any elite member with a hotel loyalty program will agree with. We’re all loyal to hotel groups in exchange for certain perks, and it’s really frustrating when hotels go out of their way to be as stingy as possible.

To be clear, I don’t expect every hotel to be overly generous, and I also recognize that there are a lot of elite members, and therefore there’s lots of competition for upgrades. But sometimes you’ll see hotels that go out of their way to not provide perks, whether it’s late check-out, a half decent breakfast, or any sort of a room upgrade.

You don’t want to feel like you have to fight to get what you should be entitled to. For me, I tend to vote with my wallet, and avoid these hotels altogether. I’d rather go to a brand where I don’t expect anything.

In-room TVs automatically being turned on

This is minor, but you know how most hotels have the in-room TV turned on when you first enter the room, with some sort of music or advertisement? I always immediately turn that off. I guess these are largely ads promoting the loyalty program or something else, which is why they’re on, but I do find it to be unnecessary.

I will admit that there are some situations where this is well done, for luxury hotel groups with brand videos that show nice scenery, have soothing music, etc. But for most hotel groups, it’s not that well done.

Room amenities that aren’t properly checked

While housekeeping for the most part does a good job with cleaning rooms, I can’t say the same about checking that room amenities are working correctly. It’s way too common to walk into a hotel room and find that not all the lights work, that the wireless phone doesn’t work, that the alarm clock is set for a wake-up call, etc. This should be (almost) as important as cleanliness.

Beds with square pillows

I’m a side sleeper, and when sleeping, I always like to “spoon” something. When traveling alone, that’s usually (well, always) a pillow. Unfortunately some hotels seem to have square (or nearly square) pillows, which I find to be less than ideal. So personally I appreciate pillows that are long, so that you can “cuddle” them pretty easily. I also just find the longer pillows to be more comfortable for my head, since I’ll sometimes turn around in the middle of the night.

Lack of power outlets by the bed

Regardless of the standard of hotel you’re staying at, you’d expect that nowadays you’ll have conveniently located outlets in just about all rooms. This includes multiple outlets by the bed, as well as multiple outlets by the desk. Despite that, even in 2026, I’m surprised by how often I find myself in hotel rooms with no conveniently located outlets.

Complicated, hidden light switches

Separate from the outlet situation, I’m always frustrated when the light switches in rooms are complicated to use. If you ask me, there should be a single master switch accessible from the bed, which turns off all lights. It should also be obvious which switches control which lights.

I’ve had situations where I’ve had to call the service line to ask how to turn off certain light switches, because it was that complicated.

Rooms without desks or desk-like setups

In recent years we’ve seen a trend whereby many hotels have eliminated traditional desks. I guess some older hotel executives have decided that young people don’t work, and don’t need a comfortable place from which to be productive.

Fortunately this is a trend that’s starting to lose some steam, in my experience. Regardless, I find it less than ideal when a hotel room doesn’t have a desk (or desk-like setup), and doesn’t have a comfortable chair as well. A hard chair or stool and a vanity of sorts isn’t a substitute for a workstation.

Lack of comfortable, functional furniture in room

This is tangentially related to my desk point above, but separate. Assuming you’re staying in a decently sized room, there should be furniture that’s both comfortable and functional. It seems like some hotels just don’t actually put thought into guests wanting somewhere to sit in the room, beyond the bed.

While I appreciate when there’s a desk, I’m also fine with some sort of a multi-functional chair and table setup, where you can work, dine, etc. But I’m frustrated when there’s just a cuck chair in the corner, and nothing else (nothing against cuck chairs, but that shouldn’t be the extent of the furniture!).

Bottom line

We’re all looking for different things from our hotel stays, so it’s understandable that not everyone has the same preferences. The above are some of my biggest hotel pet peeves. I’m sure there are plenty of others, but the above are the ones that first come to mind, including some pretty minor ones. I’m curious to see how these compare to what other people notice.

What are your top hotel peeves?

It’s something a reader asked me about, so I figure it makes for an interesting post, as I realize I’ve never covered this before. That’s not to say that I have all the answers, though!

British Airways’ “Corporate Individual Value” score concept

While the British Airways Club program has several membership tiers — Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Guest List, Premier, etc. — the way that customers are ranked goes way beyond that. Specifically, each member of the British Airways Club program has a “Corporate Individual Value” — abbreviated CIV — which crew members can look up.

This absolutely exists, though British Airways crews are also prohibited from telling customers their scores. So don’t be surprised if you ask about this and they deny it’s a thing, or just change the topic.

So, how exactly does the scoring work? Given that none of this is even publicly acknowledged, we have to go off of a lot of secondhand information, and on top of that, there’s also the chance that the program has changed somewhat over time.

The last report on this from Head for Points suggests the scoring is on a 0-105 point scale, roughly as follows:

• British Airways Club Blue members have a score of 0-5
• British Airways Club Bronze members have a score of 6-13
• British Airways Club Silver members have a score of 14-35
• British Airways Club Gold members have a score of 36-96
• British Airways Club Gold Guest List members and key decision makers have a score of 97-100
• British Airways Premier members have a score of 105

How does the relative ranking within each of these tiers works? Like, why do you need a range of 60 points for British Airways Club Gold members? Your guess is as good as mine! Presumably this factors in various metrics that are important to the company.

My take on British Airways’ customer rating system

On the surface, it’s really common for airlines to rate passengers in a variety of ways. I mean, every time you’re on an upgrade list, there’s an order in which customers are prioritized — elite tier, whether they have a certain credit card, how much they’ve spent year to date and over their lifetime, etc.

So I imagine the concept with British Airways is similar, and this system with a lot of points is intended to prioritize customers in the event of operational upgrades, irregular operations, etc. That’s all fair enough, because you expect there’s some tiebreaker within each elite tier.

What I find puzzling, though, is the extent to which this data is directly made available to frontline employees. Like, do British Airways flight attendants say “welcome aboard” to Gold members with a score of 40, and say “you are most welcome onboard” if they have a score of 60? It just seems like giving frontline employees more information than is useful or necessary.

If this is about operational upgrades or prioritizing who gets their first choice of meal, you’d think this data would just be processed on the back-end, and then some sort of a prioritized list would show, no?

Anyway, there are obviously just as many questions as answers here, and I’m curious what the real story is as to how the numbers are assigned, and what frontline employees are actually supposed to do with them.

Bottom line

British Airways secretly rates members of its loyalty program, giving them a “Corporate Individual Value.” Your status tier decides which “band” you fall in, while some unknown metrics determine where you fall within that range. It’s weird how the ranges seemingly get much bigger the higher the elite tier, until you get above Gold, when they’re very small again.

While the concept of ranking customers on various lists is nothing new, having a dedicated score that flight attendants can see is something you won’t find at many airlines.

What do you make of British Airways’ CIV score concept?

While I had flown SWISS’ Boeing 777-300ER first class before, I was looking forward to this flight, since the A350 is the first plane to feature the new SWISS Senses cabins. Since SWISS is in Lufthansa Group, this is essentially the same concept as Lufthansa Allegris first class, except with SWISS finishes and service.

All-in-all, I had a very good flight, and this experience makes my list of the world’s best first class airlines. I also lucked out in being able to assign the double suite in the center, which really gives you an unreal amount of personal space. Beyond that, the flight had friendly service, nice amenities, and good food, though I’m not sure there’s a whole lot that really has a “wow” factor, given how competitive first class is nowadays.

How I booked my SWISS first class ticket

There aren’t many ways to redeem miles for SWISS first class. First class award availability on the airline is only available through the Miles & More frequent flyer program, and it’s reserved for higher tier elite members, including Senator and HON Circle members. So I booked using Miles & More miles, as a friend who is a Senator member kindly helped me out with the booking.

While SWISS doesn’t explicitly block first class awards on planes with its new first class, the much smaller cabin (three seats vs. eight seats) does mean that availability is harder to come by. It’s not just that space is limited, but the search process isn’t easy either, since it’s not bookable online. That means the only way to inquire about award availability is to call Miles & More. In my research, I’m pretty sure I spoke to half the population of South Africa.

Based on my experience, it appears that first class awards on the A350 are generally only made available in the days leading up to departure, assuming the load is light. In my case, availability opened up three days before departure, and the cost was 110,000 Miles & More miles plus $1,128 in taxes and carrier imposed surcharges. Obviously those surcharges are really rough, but hey, I wanted to review the new product, so this was the best option.

For what it’s worth, I booked the following flight:

8/01 LX54 Zurich to Boston departing 1:00PM arriving 3:10PM

At the time that I booked, the first class cabin was totally empty.

The new Lufthansa and SWISS first class have the unique “Suite Plus” concept, whereby the middle seat can technically accommodate up to two people. Nowadays the airline lets any first class passenger assign that suite at no extra cost, so of course I had to pick it.

SWISS first class lounge & boarding

Part of the joy of flying SWISS first class is the ground experience, as the airline has two excellent first class lounges — there’s the SWISS First Lounge Terminal A and SWISS First Lounge Terminal E, both of which I just reviewed, and I rank them as being among the best in the world.

My flight was departing from gate E26, with boarding scheduled for 12:20PM, 40 minutes before departure.

I headed to the gate a bit early to check things out, and it was rather busy, as it seems like the flight was oversold in lower cabins. Some sort of a cash upgrade “specialist” (who I guess just goes to gates and tries to sell upgrades) came to the gate, and tried several times to sell upgrades.

There didn’t seem to be much interest, so eventually they just started processing operational upgrades. And with that, I went from having the first class cabin to myself, to the two other first class seats being occupied as well.

Boarding ended up being delayed a bit, because we were waiting for some connecting passengers and there was no point in starting boarding early. So it ended up starting at 12:40PM, 20 minutes behind schedule.

SWISS A350 first class cabin & seats

I boarded the SWISS A350 through the second door on the left, where I was greeted by the crew, and pointed toward first class. It doesn’t bother me one bit, but it’s interesting how there’s no offer to be escorted to the seat on SWISS, which is usually something that top airlines do in first class.

Getting to first class first required walking through the forward SWISS Senses A350 business class cabin, an experience that I’ve reviewed before.

The two standard seats in first class are 1A and 1K, which are the two window seats. The idea is that the standard suites are pretty typical first class suites with privacy doors (or more like privacy partitions, as they’re pretty flimsy).

Each of the two first class suites is 35″ wide, and converts into a 79″ flat bed, with a 32″ 4K UHD display. Seats have ottomans, plus plenty of charging (USB-A, USB-C, AC power, and wireless). Below you can see seat 1A, which shares the aisle with the center suite, so it’s the less private of the suites, and would be my last choice in the cabin.

The most private suite, meanwhile, is seat 1K, since it has the right aisle all to itself. It’s otherwise identical to seat 1A.

For those curious, below is the view from seat 1K, as you’re basically just looking at the wall of the center suite.

Beyond the two standard suites, there’s the double suite in the center. The idea is that this can accommodate up to two people, though a solo traveler can also reserve this at no extra cost (and yes, there would be an extra cost to take a second person).

As a solo traveler, this is an amazing product, and it’s quite an impressive sight. However, if I were traveling with someone, I’d be less jazzed about this. You see, while the standard suites are 35″ wide, the double suite is 49″ wide, so it’s not even 50% wider.

Initially Lufthansa and SWISS tried to charge two full first class fares for people to sit here, and that was just a ridiculous ripoff. But the current setup — where any first class passengers can assign it at no extra cost — is quite nice!

Let’s take a closer look at the seat. The roughly 49″ double suite is basically made up of two seats that are each a little over 24″ wide, and they can be controlled independently. That’s not to say that you’ll necessarily find the same features on both sides, though.

Along the interior side of the suite is a small enclosed storage compartment, which also has several charging options, and next to that is a wireless charging pad.

The primary tray table folds out from the far side of the suite, and it’s massive. The catch, however, is that there’s only one tray table for both seats to share, so if you were traveling as a pair, you’d want to dine across from one another.

Meanwhile by the aisle there’s a small tray that’s big enough for placing a couple of drinks, but not much more.

You’ll also find some more USB-A and USB-C charging right by the aisle.

The aisle side of the seat also has a panel with all the seat pre-sets, if you want to recline the seat, put it upright, etc.

Speaking of controlling seat functions, there’s a tablet on each side of the seat, and that can be used to control mood lighting, seat positions, and even the entertainment.

One thing that absolutely delighted me about SWISS first class is that there was an air nozzle on each side of the suite. Interestingly, Lufthansa Allegris doesn’t have that (at least as far as I can remember), so that’s a big plus for SWISS… yay!

The double suite has a 43″ entertainment screen, so that’s impressive, as it’s one of the largest TVs you’ll find on any airline.

Underneath that is the ottoman, which can also be opened to expose the seat’s primary storage space, given that there are no overhead bins in the cabin.

There’s also a wardrobe to the side of the seat, though it’s not terribly deep, so don’t expect to store more than a couple of jackets there.

All-in-all, the SWISS Senses first class hard product is excellent, and ranks among the best out there. Admittedly there’s a difference between the single suites and the double suite, so getting the double suite really takes the experience to the next level.

SWISS A350 first class entertainment & Wi-Fi

When it comes to entertainment, being able to enjoy programming on a 43″ 4K UHD display is of course a treat. That being said, actually browsing the entertainment selection isn’t necessarily so easy. Best I could tell, this had to be done on the tablet, which makes it hard to go through a large number of options.

Nonetheless, the entertainment selection was solid, with a good number of movies, TV shows, games, and music, to choose from. I couldn’t really get a good picture of the selection, since the tablet only displays so many titles at once.

SWISS also has bluetooth audio, so you can pair your own headphones with the entertainment system.

While SWISS A350s will eventually offer free Starlink Wi-Fi, that’s not yet available. For now, there’s a paid service provided by Panasonic.

As far as Wi-Fi pricing goes, the general options were either a free messaging pass, 25 CHF (31 USD) for four hours of Wi-Fi, or 35 CHF (43 USD) for Wi-Fi for the entire flight.

However, first class passengers do receive free Wi-Fi, with no data caps, and the ability to switch between devices.

Wi-Fi on this flight was on the slow side, more so than usual, so I’m not sure what was going on. I suppose there were just more people than usual connecting to the system?

SWISS first class amenities

When it comes to amenities, waiting at each seat upon boarding was a light pillow and blanket. These were more decorative and for lounging around, while there’s a proper turndown service, with more substantial bedding, when it’s time to sleep.

There was also an amenity kit waiting at my seat, which consisted of a large, leather binder of sorts. The concept here is interesting. Rather than having a very well stocked amenity, it only has the basics, and then the crew comes around with a basket, where you can select as many things as you’d like. Here’s what my “setup” looked like after I took several products from the basket.

It’s worth noting that SWISS has Sisley products in first class — very nice!

There were also some well padded slippers at the seat, which were super comfy.

Pajamas were also offered after takeoff, and were from Zimmerli. They’re fairly nice, though I don’t find them to be particularly soft, and I also wish there were a bit more airline branding on them.

Accompanying the pajamas was a tote bag, I guess intended to make it easy to carry stuff to the lavatory when changing.

There were also headphones, which sucked, quite frankly. These seem like really low quality headphones for first class. Then again, with bluetooth audio, that’s not a huge deal.

Once settled in, the lovely crew came by to welcome me onboard, familiarize me with the seat, and offer me a pre-departure drink. I went with a glass of champagne, and was offered some water and a warm towel to go along with that.

SWISS has historically offered an amuse bouche in first class to accompany the pre-departure drink, though in this case it was just warm breadsticks. That’s better than nothing, but seems like a downgrade over the old concept.

The crew also offered me the menu and drink list for the flight, with the explanation that I could eat whenever I wanted, thanks to a dine on demand concept.

SWISS A350 departure from Zurich

At 1:05PM the captain was on the PA to announce that we were waiting for a few more connecting passengers before we could depart, and that once airborne, our flight time would be 7hr30min. Sure enough, a couple dozen people showed up minutes later, and at 1:20PM, the main cabin door closed.

We left with a full load in first class, with the other two passengers being operational upgrades. The guy seated across from me spent an inordinate amount of time complaining to the crew about how much he didn’t like the suite, and how it was enclosed and not open. I’m sure someone in business class would’ve been happy to swap with him!

I didn’t have any view from my center suite, and SWISS doesn’t even have a tail camera on its A350s, so I don’t have any pictures from the taxi. However, we pushed back at 1:25PM, and that’s when the safety video was screened.

We then taxied at 1:30PM, and were cleared for takeoff at 1:40PM, from runway 28, the airport’s shortest runway. We had a bit of turbulence on the climb out, so the seatbelt sign stayed on for around 20 minutes. Once off, the crew sprung into action to perform the service.

SWISS first class menu & meal service

Once the seatbelt sign was turned off, it was lunch time, SWISS first class edition! Let me say upfront that the main meal service was at a very leisurely pace, and lasted a few hours. However, that’s not at all an issue on a daytime flight, and it wasn’t because the crew was slow. They just didn’t rush things, and there were a lot of courses.

You can find the SWISS first class menu below.

You can find the SWISS first class drink list below.

Service began with a colorful amuse bouche trio. I ordered a glass of Pommery Cuvee Louise Millesime 2008 Parcelles to go along with that, which I enjoyed immensely (the bottle is also pretty!).

Next up, it was time for the starter, so my tray table was set. I love SWISS’ salt and pepper mills, as they’re the nicest offered by any airline, in my opinion.

The starters were all displayed on a trolley. SWISS doesn’t typically serve caviar in first class, but instead, filet of balik salmon is the “signature” appetizer, and there were several other choices to go along with that. Of them, I selected the artichokes alla Siciliana, with lemon and cream cheese mousse, fried capers, and lemon gremolata.

Next it was time for the soup, a chilled smoked bell pepper soup with tomatoes and goat cheese praline.

That was followed by a summer salad with roasted broccolini, strawberries, radish, and puffed buckwheat, with strawberry vinaigrette

That was followed by a sorbet palate cleanser. To be honest, I was already full at this point, but c’mon, I have a job to do, and I can’t let y’all down. 😉

Of the four main course choices, I selected the black cod with pepper, saffron beurre blanc, beluga lentils, zucchini, pepper drops, and basil oil.

After that, the crew insisted I have some cheese, so I asked for a plate with a little of each.

I was so full that there was no way I could order dessert, so I called it quits. It was obviously a huge meal, and the quality was very good across the board.

SWISS A350 first class lavatories

After the meal I checked out the lavatory. SWISS has one first class lavatory on the A350, located at the front of the cabin, right by the cockpit. The lavatory is a great size, and has nice finishes.

The lavatory also had some products from Sisley, including hand cream and body lotion.

SWISS A350 first class bed

After the meal, I asked the crew to prepare the bed so that I could get a little nap in. In terms of size, this double suite is possibly the most insane first class bed in the sky. However, I found it odd that unlike when I flew Lufthansa Allegris first class in this same product, SWISS only had bedding for one of the two seats.

That’s of course not a big deal — it’s not like I paid for the second seat — but you’d think they’d spend the extra few bucks on the bedding for the true “wow” factor. It was still a great bed, but it wasn’t as good as if it were the full double bed.

Once settled in, I closed my privacy door, which goes floor-to-ceiling, so the only privacy “gaps” are the two holes that act as handles for the door.

I also couldn’t help but turn on the mood lighting, and play around with that for a second. While I’m incredibly fortunate to fly premium cabins so much, there are some “pinch me” moments, and being in a suite like this was definitely one of them.

I ended up falling asleep around 3.5 hours after takeoff, as we were over the middle of the Atlantic…

…and I woke up around two hours later, as we were off the coast of Canada, with around two hours remaining to Boston.

SWISS first class snack service

Upon waking up, I asked for a cup of tea, which was nicely presented.

Before I knew it, we were just over an hour from landing in Boston, and it was “final call” for dining. Obviously I was anything but hungry at this point, but y’all expect a lot from me, so I did my job. 😉 You can find the SWISS first class snack menu below.

I don’t eat pork, or else I would’ve totally ordered the “bastardo” hot dog, definitely one of the odder things you’ll find on a first class menu.

Of the choices, I ordered the salmon with nut crust, saffron hollandaise, purple cauliflower, and root vegetables. I realize I ended up eating fish for both of my meals on this flight, so I should’ve probably worked backward and selected something else for my first meal. Either way, it was excellent.

For dessert, I had fresh fruit with some caramel cream, which was delicious.

Lastly, I finished off the meal with an espresso, and was given a chocolate bar to go along with that (which I took home).

SWISS first class crew & service

Service in SWISS first class was excellent. There were two ladies working the cabin, with one being assigned the galley, and the other working the aisle. They were both super friendly — they were seasoned professionals, and also really personable.

It’s interesting that for both of them, this was actually their first time working the SWISS Senses A350, so they did a great job, especially given the learning curve with a new product. So I have nothing but good things to say about the service on this flight.

The cabin manager was also professional, and greeted each first class passenger upon boarding, and solicited feedback before landing.

SWISS A350 arrival in Boston

At 2:25PM the first officer was on the PA to announce that we were entering US airspace, and would be landing in around 40 minutes. Around 15 minutes later we started our descent, and 15 minutes after that, the seatbelt sign was turned on.

We had a pretty direct approach to Boston, though had to fly out past the airport, and then turn back toward the north, as we were landing on runway 4R. We touched down at 3:10PM, and from there had a 10 minute taxi to our arrival gate, where we pulled in at 3:20PM, 10 minutes behind schedule.

I quickly cleared immigration thanks to Global Entry, and then grabbed a Delta flight down to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), to make it back home, marking the end of this trip. Thanks for following along, but worry not, there’s more coming soon!

Bottom line

I finally had the chance to check SWISS Senses A350 first class off my list, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity. Ultimately this product is very similar to Lufthansa Allegris A350 first class, so I largely knew what to expect.

I loved the double suite, the crew was great, and the food was tasty and plentiful. As I see it, SWISS first class is very good across the board, but by first class standards, there’s nothing that particularly stands out. That’s perfectly fine — the airline isn’t competing to be the best in the world, and it has a hub in a very lucrative market.

What’s your take on SWISS’ A350 first class?

On the points & travel front, this week Hyatt broke up with American and hooked up with Delta, Iberia opened a beautiful new lounge for oneworld Emerald members, Avianca unveiled a new long haul business class experience, Marriott launched its new global promotion, Star Alliance announced plans to open a lounge at Incheon Airport, and more.

With that out of the way, here’s a recap of this week on the blog:

Link: Learn about the best credit cards for Alaska Atmos Rewards

Atmos Rewards Summit Card limited time welcome bonus

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card is currently offering a limited time welcome bonus that consists of 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award. To qualify, you need to spend $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Personally, I value Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents each. I’d consider this offer to be worth 105,000 points, so to me that’s a staggering value of $1,575. I should mention that while this is a limited time welcome offer that will soon be pulled, the best-ever offer that we’ve seen on this card has been for 100,000 points, plus the Global Companion Award. However, it’s anyone’s guess if/when that returns.

Even if you’re not convinced on the long term value proposition of the card, I absolutely think it’s worth giving a try, given all the uses of Atmos Rewards points.

Atmos Rewards Summit Card eligibility requirements

If you’re interested in applying for the Atmos Rewards Summit Card, the good news is that the application restrictions are pretty limited. Specifically, you are eligible for this card if you have any of the other Atmos Rewards cards, whether personal or business.

Personally, I find Bank of America to be one of the most straightforward and easier card issuers to get approvals from, though that’s anecdotal, and I’ve had good luck with these cards.

Read my guide to getting approved for Atmos Rewards cards.

Why the Atmos Rewards Summit Card is worth it

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card has a $395 annual fee, though it has to be one of the most interesting and rewarding airline credit cards we’ve ever seen. As I see it, here are the main reasons to consider getting this card, beyond the welcome bonus:

• A lucrative rewards structure, including 3x points on all foreign purchases, plus 3x points on dining
• The fastest pathway to Atmos Rewards elite status — receive an anniversary boost of 10,000 status points, plus earn one status point for every $2 spent
• The ability to earn Global Companion Awards — an anniversary 25,000-point Global Companion Award just for having the card, plus a 100,000-point Global Companion Award for spending $60,000 on the card per anniversary year
• Up to eight Alaska Lounge passes and up to eight Alaska inflight Wi-Fi passes per year, in the form of two of each pass per quarter
• A first checked bag free and 20% savings on inflight purchases on Alaska & Hawaiian flights
• Preferred boarding on Alaska flights
• Waived fees, including waived $20 partner award booking fees, and waived same day change fees on Alaska flights
• Upgrade priority on Alaska & Hawaiian flights, so that comes in handy for anyone with elite status
• The ability to share points with up to 10 other members at no cost (and vice versa)
• Primary rental car coverage, plus valuable travel protection for delayed flights, lost bags, and more

Read a detailed review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card.

Atmos Rewards Summit Card eligibility rules FAQs

Bottom line

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card currently has a limited time welcome offer that can earn you 80,000 Atmos Rewards bonus points, and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award. However, this offer is expected to end soon, so if this does interest you, I’d recommend applying. It’s possible we’ll see a bonus of up to 100,000 Atmos Rewards points again at some point in the future, though it’s anyone’s guess when.

This card is worth getting for the offer alone, given the huge value for travel on partner airlines, even if it’s “just” for domestic flights on American. But I think the card also offers good long term value, from the annual Global Companion Award, to all the other perks. For that matter, there’s an argument to be made for spending on the card to earn oneworld status.

This is a card that I and everyone else in my family have, so I would seriously recommend considering it, if you haven’t applied already.

Anyone plan to pick up the Atmos Rewards Summit Card with this great offer?