News about travelling » Travel-Dealz.com https://travel-dealz.com/news/ Your daily Travel Bargains Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:08:28 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://travel-dealz.com/app/uploads/cropped-Travel-Dealz-Site-Icon-32x32.png News about travelling » Travel-Dealz.com https://travel-dealz.com/news/ 32 32 NCL Renames “More-at-Sea” Back to “Free-at-Sea” – All Changes at a Glance https://travel-dealz.com/news/ncl-free-at-sea/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/ncl-free-at-sea/#respond Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:08:26 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=100639

It’s only been a year since Norwegian Cruise Line renamed the well-known Free at Sea package to More at Sea – and now it’s being renamed again, this time to Even More Free at Sea. For short cruises up to 6 nights, the “old new” package actually gets cheaper, but prices are going up for longer cruises.

NCL will also no longer distinguish between inside/outside and balcony cabins in terms of speciality dining visits. In the new Free at Sea package, the number of included speciality restaurants only depends on the length of the cruise.

For the internet, there will now be a flat 150 free minutes for cruises of 2 nights or more. This benefits short cruises, but previously cruises of 11 nights or more came with 300 free minutes.

There are no changes for the shore excursion credit or included drinks – except that starting March 1, 2026, the second private island, Great Stirrup Cay, will also be excluded from the beverage packages.

The New Prices

For short cruises of 1 to 6 nights, prices for the new Free at Sea package actually drop significantly. On a 4-day trip (3 nights), you theoretically only pay €37 per night for the first and second person in a cabin. For cruises of 8 nights or more, it becomes slightly more expensive for the first and second guests.

But it becomes significantly more expensive for longer cruises for guests in the 3rd–8th berth in a cabin. Here, price increases go up to 23%.

Prices for the old More at Sea package vs. the new Free at Sea package in comparison:

Cruise durationMore at Sea
1st & 2nd guest
Free at Sea
1st & 2nd guests
%per nightMore at Sea
3rd-8th guest
Free at Sea
3rd-8th guest
%per night
1 night
2 days
€149 pp€99 pp-34%€99/night€89 pp€49 pp-45%€49/night
2 nights
3 days
€149 pp€149 pp0%€75/night€89 pp€99 pp+11%€50/night
3 nights
4 days
€199 pp€149 pp-25%€50/night€119 pp€99 pp-17%€33/night
4 nights
5 days
€249 pp€219 pp-12%€55/night€179 pp€159 pp-11%€40/night
5 nights
6 days
€249 pp€219 pp-12%€44/night€179 pp€159 pp-11%€32/night
6 nights
7 days
€279 pp€279 pp0%€47/night€209 pp€219 pp+5%€37/night
7 nights
8 days
€279 pp€279 pp0%€40/night€209 pp€219 pp+5%€32/night
8 nights
9 days
€349 pp€359 pp+3%€44/night€269 pp€279 pp+4%€35/night
9 nights
10 days
€349 pp€359 pp+3%€39/night€269 pp€279 pp+4%€31/night
10 nights
11 days
€399 pp€409 pp+3%€41/night€289 pp€329 pp+14%€33/night
11 nights
12 days
€399 pp€409 pp+3%€37/night€289 pp€329 pp+14%€30/night
12 nights
13 days
€449 pp€459 pp+2%€38/night€319 pp€379 pp+19%€32/night
13 nights
14 days
€449 pp€459 pp+2%€35/night€319 pp€379 pp+19%€29/night
14 nights
15 days
€499 pp€509 pp+2%€36/night€359 pp€429 pp.+19%€31/night
15 nights
16 days
€499 pp€509 pp+2%€34/night€359 pp€429 pp+19%€29/night
16 nights
17 days
€549 pp€569 pp+4%€36/night€409 pp€489 pp+20%€31/night
17 nights
18 days
€549 pp€569 pp+4%€33/night€409 pp€489 pp+20%€29/night
18 nights
19 days
€599 pp€619 pp+3%€34/night€459 pp.€529 pp+15%€29/night
19 nights
20 days
€599 pp€619 pp+3%€33/night€459 pp€529 pp+15%€28/night
20+ nights
21+ days
€649 pp€669 pp+3%€33/night€479 pp€589 pp+23%€29/night
Prices as of November 5, 2025

Speciality Dining Visits

With the new Free at Sea package, guests in inside and outside cabins benefit. But in a balcony cabin, you now have to make do with fewer included speciality restaurant visits.

Cruise durationFree at Sea
All cabins
More at Sea
Inside & outside cabins
More at Sea
Balcony cabin and superior
2 days
1 night
no meals1 meal1 meal
3 days
2 nights
1 meal1 meal1 meal
4 days
3 nights
1 meal1 meal2 meals
5 days
4 nights
1 meal1 meal2 meals
6 days
5 nights
2 meals1 meal2 meals
7 days
6 nights
2 meals1 meal3 meals
8 days
7 nights
3 meals2 meals4 meals
9 days
8 nights
3 meals2 meals4 meals
10 days
9 nights
4 meals2 meals4 meals
11 days
10 nights
4 meals2 meals4 meals
12+ days
11+ nights
4 meals3 meals5 meals

Free Internet Minutes

Going forward, cruises of at least 2 nights will always get a flat 150 free minutes. In the More at Sea package, there were still 300 free minutes for cruises of 11 nights or more. Unfortunately, this is still far from an unlimited rate.

Cruise durationFree at Sea
free minutes
More at Sea
free minutes
1–5 nights
2–6 days
150 minutes75 minutes
6–10 nights
7–11 days
150 minutes150 minutes
From 11 nights
10 days
150 minutes300 minutes

Conclusion

NCL wants to make the package more attractive for short cruises. Especially in the US market, the trend is currently toward short Caribbean and Mexico cruises of 3–6 nights, and these changes target exactly that. In Europe, however, NCL cruises are usually longer than a week, and therefore benefit much less from these changes.

The fact that NCL is throwing the More at Sea brand name overboard so quickly is surprising. More at Sea was supposed to highlight the additional benefits compared to Free at Sea. Presumably customers simply didn’t adopt the new name.

Looking to try out NCL? Here are our best NCL deals:

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Miles+Bonus: Aegean Increases Requirements to Keep Star Alliance Gold Status https://travel-dealz.com/news/miles-bonus-aegean-segments-increase/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/miles-bonus-aegean-segments-increase/#comments Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:47:55 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=100609

For many years, Aegean Airlines has offered one of the easiest paths to Star Alliance Gold status. Over time, the rules have been adjusted several times. But even now, the status with Miles+Bonus has still been comparatively easy to maintain – at least since the tightening of the rules in 2023, as long as you travelled to Greece once per year.

Now there is more bad news. The requirements to achieve and keep Star Alliance Gold status are once again being significantly increased. Until now, it was enough to take 4 flights with Aegean + earn 12,000 status miles per year to renew Gold status. In the future, you will need 12 flights with Aegean or Olympic Air and 18,000 status miles. So one trip to Greece per year won’t be enough anymore.

Aegean is also introducing a new Platinum status with even higher thresholds. At the same time, there are new benefits for Silver & Gold status, mainly related to seat selection.

New (and Old) Qualification Rules

The new rules take effect on November 5, 2026. So everyone can still benefit from the old rules at least once more. It’s not yet entirely clear whether November 5 refers to the actual upgrade date or the renewal date. But it’s likely the former – that’s also how it worked with the changes two years ago. The following table compares the old and new thresholds:

StatusRequirement until 04 Nov 2026Requirement from 05 Nov 2026
Blue → Silver2 flights with Aegean + 12,000 miles
or
35,000 miles
4 flights with Aegean + 12,000 miles
or
36,000 miles
or
16 flights with Aegean
Requalify Silver2 flights with Aegean + 8,000 miles
or
35,000 miles
4 flights with Aegean + 9,000 miles
or
36,000 miles
or
16 flights with Aegean
Silver → Gold4 flights with Aegean + 24,000 miles
or
70,000 miles
12 flights with Aegean + 24,000 miles
or
72,000 miles
or
32 flights with Aegean
Requalify Gold4 flights with Aegean + 12,000 miles
or
70,000 miles
12 flights with Aegean + 18,000 miles
or
72,000 miles
or
32 flights with Aegean
Flights with Olympic Air count as Aegean flights in this context.

New Status Benefits

While the requirements are being tightened, there is at least some positive news. Aegean is expanding the status benefits for Silver and Gold members – also valid starting November 5, 2026:

  • Miles+Bonus Silver:
    • Free standard seat selection on Aegean & Olympic Air flights
    • 1,000 bonus award miles as a birthday gift each year
  • Miles+Bonus Gold:
    • Free standard seat selection on Aegean & Olympic Air flights
    • 50% discount on extra legroom seats
    • 2,000 bonus award miles as a birthday gift each year

A completely new Miles+Bonus Platinum status is also being introduced. You reach it with 72,000 status miles per year, including at least 32 flights with Aegean or Olympic Air. Hardly anyone is likely to achieve this. Still, here’s a look at the most important perks:

  • 30% mileage accrual bonus on Aegean & Olympic Air flights (instead of 20% for Gold)
  • Free seat selection on Aegean & Olympic Air flights (incl. Up Front & Extra Legroom)
  • 2 additional checked bags on every Aegean/Olympic Air flight (instead of 1 as Gold)
  • Aegean Business Lounge: Up to 8 guests allowed (instead of 1 guest). They need to be on the same booking
  • 3,000 bonus award miles as a birthday gift each year
  • Exclusive Platinum hotline
  • Ability to gift Gold status

Conclusion

The 2023 changes already caused major frustration. Until then, Star Alliance Gold status could be renewed relatively easily without ever setting foot on an Aegean aircraft. Then the requirements for that scenario were suddenly tripled, and it became almost mandatory to fly to or via Greece once a year.

Now, even that easy workaround is gone. One annual trip to Greece was not a major barrier for frequent flyers. But reaching 12 segments is much harder if you’re not island-hopping across Greece. For non-Greeks, Star Alliance Gold via Miles+Bonus is now basically a thing of the past.

Translated by Ditmar

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Qatar Airways: Seat Selection for Business Class Award Flights No Longer Free https://travel-dealz.com/news/qatar-airways-business-award-seat-fee/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/qatar-airways-business-award-seat-fee/#respond Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:45:17 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=100547

Among frequent flyer programs, one negative change seems to follow the next lately. Unfortunately, this now applies to Qatar Airways as well. Last year, the airline massively increased fuel surcharges for award flights, and now they’re cutting back on what used to be included services.

Effective immediately, Qatar Airways has removed free seat selection for Business Class award tickets. Anyone who wants to reserve a seat in advance before check-in will now have to pay around €100 per flight. For frequent flyers with Oneworld Sapphire & Emerald status, seat selection remains free.

This change was not officially announced by Qatar. It was first noticed by a Reddit user. According to the user, Qatar customer service gave this response:

As per the latest guidelines from the Loyalty team, passengers who upgrade to Business Class(U) using Avios or Qcredits, or those who book Business Class tickets under the U RBD, will no longer be eligible for complimentary seat selection. This change is part of an update to the seat selection policy and has been effective starting 03 November 2025.

As I have checked, this information was published internally. The policies are subject to change anytime without any prior notice.

Response from Qatar customer service according to Reddit user lurker3212

The change apparently came into effect on November 3. This can also be verified through a test booking on the Qatar Airways website. In the first step of the booking process, it still shows that seat reservation is included:

But in the next step, charges are applied as soon as you select a seat. For example, on Frankfurt – Doha, each seat costs €95.37:

We assume that the booking channel does not matter, because award flights booked via e.g. BA Club are also issued in the same booking class U.

For paid Business Class tickets, there has long been a Light fare that includes neither lounge access nor seat selection. It remains to be seen how long lounge access for award flights will continue to be included.

Translated by Ditmar

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China Extends Visa-Free Entry until December 2026 & Adds Sweden https://travel-dealz.com/news/china-extends-visa-free-entry/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/china-extends-visa-free-entry/#respond Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:36:40 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=100410

Since 2023, China has been increasingly opening up to international tourism. What began with visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries was gradually expanded. In the meantime, the country can now be visited for up to 30 days (instead of 14) without a visa, and almost all European states are included (but still not the UK).

Most recently, December 2025 was communicated as the current expiration date of the regulation. Now, visa-free entry has officially been extended until December 2026. The rule now also applies to Swedish citizens.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is quoted as follows:

China has decided to extend visa-free policy to France and other countries to December 31, 2026. China has added Sweden to the visa-free scheme effective from November 10, 2025 to December 31, 2026

Nao Ming, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China according to gov.cn

Even though only France is mentioned, it can be assumed that the regulation will be extended to all of the European countries that had visa-free access in 2025. A corresponding confirmation can be found via the state news agency Xinhua:

On the same day, the Chinese foreign ministry announced that China will extend its unilateral visa-exemption arrangements for more than 40 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, to Dec. 31, 2026. The current visa-free policy for nationals of some of these countries runs until Dec. 31, 2025 before the extension.

China Focus: China widens visa-free access in latest opening-up move | english.news.cn

Accordingly, digital arrival cards are also to be introduced from November 20. So it is finally no longer necessary to squeeze all countries visited in the past two years into a single line with a ballpoint pen. Filling out the online form will still remain voluntary, with paper forms still available. Until now, there had only been a trial run for selected airports.

Visa-free entry should now be available to nationals of the following countries:

  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahrain
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Chile
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Romania
  • Saudi-Arabia
  • Slovenia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • South Korea
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Uruguay

All offers to China

Have you held back from booking flights for 2026 until now? Then take a look at the following deals:

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SkyTeam Expands Lounge Access Before Domestic Flights to 70+ Locations – Delta SkyClubs Still Missing https://travel-dealz.com/news/skyteam-expands-domestic-lounge-access/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/skyteam-expands-domestic-lounge-access/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:35:08 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=98337

Until April 2025, it was a fixed rule that you need a business class ticket or international connection flight to access SkyTeam lounges before domestic journeys. It was a welcome surprise when members of the alliance changed that rule. Six months after the the initial 25 lounges opened their gates to SkyTeam Elite Plus status holders on domestic flights, the list has been expanded to more than seventy locations.

The document linked above shows all lounges, and can therefore be a little confusing. We have compiled a list that just includes affected airports, sorted by the hosting airline. New entries are printed bold.

Show the complete list of lounges
AirportCityOperator
CUUChihuahuaAeromexico
GDLGuadalajaraAeromexico
MEXMexico CityAeromexico
MIDMeridaAeromexico
MTYMonterreyAeromexico
TRCTorreonAeromexico
CDGParisAir France
ORYParisAir France
BODBordeauxAir France
GVAGenevaAir France
BOSBostonAir France
IADWashington D.C.Air France
JFKNew York CityAir France
SFOSan FranciscoAir France
LAXLos AngelesAir France
IAHHoustonAir France
IAHHoustonKLM
CGKJakartaGaruda Indonesia
DPSBaliGaruda Indonesia
NBONairobiKenya Airways
CJUJejuKorean Air
GMPSeoulKorean Air
HNLHonoluluKorean Air
JFKNew YorkKorean Air
PUSBusanKorean Air
CTUChengduChina Eastern
TFUChengduChina Eastern
HFEHefeiChina Eastern
KHNNanchangChina Eastern
KMGKunmingChina Eastern
LHWLanzhouChina Eastern
NGBNingboChina Eastern
NKGNanjingChina Eastern
PEKBeijingChina Eastern
PKXBeijingChina Eastern
PVGShanghaiChina Eastern
SHAShanghaiChina Eastern
TAOQingdaoChina Eastern
TNAJinanChina Eastern
TYNTaiyuanChina Eastern
WUHWuhanChina Eastern
WUXWuxiChina Eastern
XIYXi’AnChina Eastern
ARNStockholmSAS Scandinavian Airlines
CPHCopenhagenSAS Scandinavian Airlines
GOTGothenburgSAS Scandinavian Airlines
OSLOsloSAS Scandinavian Airlines
EWRNew York City / NewarkSAS Scandinavian Airlines
ORDChicagoSAS Scandinavian Airlines
JEDJeddahSaudia
RUHRiyadhSaudia
HANHanoiVietnam Airlines
SGNHo Chi Minh CityVietnam Airlines
FOCFuzhouXiamen Air
HGHHangzhouXiamen Air
JJNJinjiangXiamen Air
XMNXiamenXiamen Air

Most Changes in China, Mexico & South Korea

As you can easily see from the distribution of our list, status holders on domestic itineraries in China, South Korea and Mexico benefit most from the latest changes. With China Eastern and Xiamen Air, two Chinese airlines have opened almost all of their domestic lounges to frequent flyers. This is good news, not only because of China’s extensive domestic flight network. From personal experience, the domestic lounges are often more enjoyable than their international counterparts.

The other two airlines opening up lounges on a large scale are Korean Air and Aeromexico. On the world’s busiest route (Seoul to Jeju), SkyTeam Elite Plus members can now enjoy lounge access in each direction. Outside entire airlines changing lounge access rules, the addition of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is noteworthy. Due to slow ground transport, air travel is important to Vietnam, and lounge access on domestic routes was previously possible only in Hanoi.

Delta SkyClubs Still Missing From the List

The most glaring omission from the list remains Delta Air Lines, but American travellers on domestic itineraries are in a special situation anyway. In most cases, not even business class tickets grant lounge access. Other members like Saudia limit lounge access to their hubs. Carriers like Taiwan’s China Airlines are missing because they simply don’t operate domestic flights.

While most frequent flyers will benefit from these rules in one way or another, there are two notable exceptions. Delta SkyMiles tier holders are denied lounge access on any domestic itinerary in the US, to both Delta and SkyTeam partner lounges. If you gained your SkyTeam status through Aerolíneas Argentinas, you still can’t access any SkyTeam lounge before a domestic flight.

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Miles&More: Extra Qualifying Points for Flights to America, Canada and European Business Class in 2025 https://travel-dealz.com/news/milesmore-extra-points/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/milesmore-extra-points/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:52:00 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=deal&p=98049

Lufthansa‘s loyalty program Miles&More is currently aiming to help members regain their status or reach a new one by the end of the year. Last week, the program announced a stunning promotion to buy points via CO2 compensations. This week, an e-mail to Miles&More members detailed an opportunity to earn bonus points. Affected are all flights operated by Miles&More member airlines to Canada, the USA and European business class flights.

All departures before December 31, 2025, will be rewarded with the following points:

  • European Flights
    • Economy Class: 20 Points & Qualifying Points (no bonus)
    • Business Class: 60 Points & Qualifying Points (instead of 40)
  • Flights to the USA & Canada
    • Economy Class: 80 Points & Qualifying Points (instead of 60)
    • Premium Economy: 100 Points & Qualifying Points (instead of 80)
    • Business Class: 250 Points & Qualifying Points (instead of 200)
    • First Class: 400 Points & Qualifying Points (instead of 300)

The bonus applies to both new and existing bookings. The only conditions are that you registered your Miles&More number during booking (so switching it later might not work out) and that your flight is operated by one of the following airlines:

  • Air Dolomiti
  • Austrian Airlines
  • Brussels Airlines
  • Croatia Airlines
  • Discover Airlines
  • Eurowings
  • ITA Airways
  • LOT Polish Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • Lufthansa City Airlines
  • Luxair
  • Swiss

There is no need to sign up for a promotion, the points are credited automatically. If you are wondering how close you are getting to a status with the extra points, let us refresh your memory:

  • 650 Points & 325 Qualifying Points for the Frequent Traveller (= Star Alliance Silver)
  • 2,000 Points & 1,000 Qualifying Points to become Senator (=Star Alliance Gold)
  • 6,000 HON Circle Points to enter the HON Circle (can only be earned on Miles&More member Business or First Class tickets)

The promotion also applies to HON Circle points.

Bottom Line

The bonus points are a nice gift for people who have already bought tickets, or are planning on traveling anyway. We would not recommend buying tickets just because of the bonus, as the option to buy status points via Lufthansa’s CO2 compensation promotion is easier, most likely cheaper and less time-consuming.

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Icelandic Low-Cost Carrier PLAY Ceases Operations – All Flights Cancelled https://travel-dealz.com/news/play-ceases-operations/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/play-ceases-operations/#respond Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:41:00 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=97104

Once again, Iceland loses a budget airline. After Wow Air ceased operations in 2019, history is now repeating itself with PLAY Airlines. The carrier only operated its first flight in 2021 and even had former Wow Air managers on board.

It had already become clear over the summer that the airline was struggling. The concept of transporting passengers from Europe via Iceland to North America was officially abandoned at that time. Now everything has happened very quickly.

As stated on the company’s website, flight operations have been suspended with immediate effect. A look at Flightradar24 shows, however, that the airline was still flying passengers this morning, including to Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Consequences for Ticket Holders

Bankruptcy now seems unavoidable. Affected passengers theoretically have a right to rebooking, but they will have to file their claims with the insolvency administrator.

Anyone holding a ticket should instead try to get a refund through a credit card chargeback and then arrange an alternative flight themselves. Based on experience, this should work with all Visa and Mastercard credit cards, but not with American Express. More details here:

It is possible that other airlines, such as Icelandair, will offer rescue fares (discounted tickets for stranded passengers).

Translated by Ditmar

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Dreamliner with Allegris Cabin: Lufthansa Announces Routes from Frankfurt https://travel-dealz.com/news/allegris-dreamliner-launch/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/allegris-dreamliner-launch/#respond Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:04:16 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=95184

Since May 2024, Lufthansa has been flying with the new Allegris cabin. So far, it has only been available on the Airbus A350, serving numerous routes out of Munich. That is about to change. Lufthansa recently took delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner equipped with Allegris seats. This aircraft (without First Class) will be operated out of Frankfurt.

Today, Lufthansa announced additional routes on which the Allegris Dreamliners will be deployed this winter. However, there is one major limitation: due to ongoing certification issues, only 4 of the 28 Business Class seats will initially be available for booking.

Five Routes Announced from Frankfurt

Originally, the first aircraft was scheduled to fly from Frankfurt to Montreal. That plan has now changed, with Toronto becoming the first destination. Service will begin there in early October, with other routes to follow at the start of the winter schedule from late October:

  • Frankfurt – Toronto (October 9 to 24, 2025)
  • Frankfurt – Bogotá (from October 30, 2025)
  • Frankfurt – Rio de Janeiro (from October 31, 2025)
  • Frankfurt – Hyderabad (from November 2, 2025)
  • Frankfurt – Austin (from December 2, 2025)

The Majority of Business Seats are Currently Blocked

In theory, the Boeing 787-9 offers 287 seats, divided as follows:

  • 28 in Business Class
  • 28 in Premium Economy
  • 231 in Economy Class

However, most of the Business Class seats are still not certified. Only the four suites in the first row have received approval. This means Lufthansa can initially sell just four Business Class seats per flight. The seat map reflects this arrangement.

Some may wonder why Lufthansa is deploying the new aircraft now instead of waiting a few more months. The airline explains this on its website, citing crew training as the reason:

This is a strategic move: By introducing the Boeing 787-9 early – even with limited Business Class capacity – Lufthansa can train and certify a large number of cockpit crews on the new aircraft type.

Lufthansa Group for Business

According to Lufthansa, the airline expects to receive 10 Dreamliners with the Allegris cabin by the end of the year. By fall 2026, the fleet should number more than 20. At that point, the four-engine Airbus A340s will likely be retired.

Translated by Ditmar

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ITA & United Airlines Enable Mutual Lounge Access + Mileage Accrual https://travel-dealz.com/news/united-ita-partnership/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/united-ita-partnership/#respond Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:54:16 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=94856

The Alitalia successor ITA Airways left the SkyTeam alliance in spring 2025 and is expected to join the Star Alliance next year. A partnership with Miles&More already exists.

Now, a cooperation between ITA Airways and United Airlines has also been announced. Effective immediately, mutual mileage accrual is possible. In addition, ITA status customers may access United lounges on United flights, and vice versa.

Further benefits, such as free baggage and priority check-in, are expected to follow once ITA officially becomes a Star Alliance member (likely in 2026).

Mutual mileage accrual

When flying with ITA Airways, the following mileage credits apply starting yesterday (September 9), depending on booking class:

In addition to award miles, status miles (PQP) are also credited, which is rather unusual for a non-alliance partner. For tickets booked through United, the crediting of award and status miles is revenue-based as usual.

When flying with United, passengers can collect miles with ITA Volare. However, this is hardly worth mentioning since the program will be discontinued at the end of 2025, and it remains unclear what will happen with existing miles. Those interested in the accrual details can find the table on the ITA website.

Feel free to use our miles calculator to see how many miles you’d get for any route:

Lounge access

The following rules apply for lounge access:

  • ITA Volare members with Premium or Executive status can access United Clubs on United Airlines flights (location overview). One guest is also allowed.
  • United MileagePlus members with Gold, Platinum, 1K, or GS status may access ITA Airways lounges on all ITA flights (location overview). Presumably, one guest is allowed here as well.

More information is available in the ITA Airways FAQ or at United Airlines.

Source: LoyaltyLobby

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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Increases Prices of Award Flights by 5-20% https://travel-dealz.com/news/krisflyer-devaluation-2025/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/krisflyer-devaluation-2025/#respond Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:10:18 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=93092

The next frequent flyer program facing devaluation is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. While some Economy Class redemptions within Asia will become slightly cheaper, most other cabins will see increases of up to 20%. This marks the second KrisFlyer devaluation since 2022.

KrisFlyer has announced new redemption rates effective November 1, 2025. Additionally, Singapore Airlines will introduce dynamic award tickets and allow members to earn status credits from Kris+, the KrisFlyer Shop, and Pelago purchases.

Changes for Singapore Airlines Flights

The devaluation applies to all Singapore Airlines routes, which are divided into 13 award zones. Only Saver awards are shown here; Advantage awards were already unattractive before and remain so with higher prices.

Economy Class

Some short-haul flights within Asia and the Pacific will drop by around 5%, but long-haul routes (to/from Europe, the Middle East/Africa, and the U.S.) will increase.

RouteNew (miles)Old (miles)
Singapore ⇾ Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei8,0008,500
Singapore ⇾ Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos13,00013,500
Singapore ⇾ Southern China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan15,50016,500
Singapore ⇾ Northern China (Beijing, Shanghai)20,50021,500
Singapore ⇾ India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh19,00020,000
Singapore ⇾ Japan & South Korea25,50027,000
Singapore ⇾ Perth & Darwin20,50021,000
Singapore ⇾ Rest of Australia, New Zealand29,00030,500
Singapore ⇾ Africa, Middle East & Turkey32,00029,000
Singapore ⇾ Europe44,00042,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. West Coast44,00042,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. East Coast46,00044,000

Premium Economy

Every region served by Premium Economy will see increases, with the steepest hikes on Africa & Middle East routes (+20%).

RouteNewOld
Singapore ⇾ Southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan28,00026,500
Singapore ⇾ Northern China36,00034,500
Singapore ⇾ India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh36,00034,500
Singapore ⇾ Japan & South Korea39,00037,500
Singapore ⇾ Australia, New Zealand53,50051,000
Singapore ⇾ Africa, Middle East, Turkey51,50043,000
Singapore ⇾ Europe74,50071,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. West Coast79,00075,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. East Coast84,50080,500

Business Class

The most painful changes affect Business Class—the most popular redemption cabin. Increases range from +5% (Asia, Europe, U.S.) to +20% (Africa, Middle East).

RouteNewOld
Singapore ⇾ Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei22,00021,000
Singapore ⇾ Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.25,00024,000
Singapore ⇾ Southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan35,50034,000
Singapore ⇾ Northern China45,00043,000
Singapore ⇾ India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh45,00043,000
Singapore ⇾ Japan & South Korea54,50052,000
Singapore ⇾ Perth & Darwin42,50040,500
Singapore ⇾ Australia, New Zealand72,00068,500
Singapore ⇾ Africa, Middle East, Turkey68,00056,500
Singapore ⇾ Europe108,500103,500
Singapore ⇾ U.S. West Coast112,500107,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. East Coast117,000111,500

First Class / Suites

Singapore Airlines’ famous Suites—arguably the best First Class in the world—will also cost more. Increases are smaller here (+5–10%), though not all listed zones currently operate First Class service.

RouteNewOld
Singapore ⇾ Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei32,00030,500
Singapore ⇾ Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.38,00036,000
Singapore ⇾ Southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan47,50045,000
Singapore ⇾ Northern China61,50058,500
Singapore ⇾ India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh61,50058,500
Singapore ⇾ Japan & South Korea81,00077,000
Singapore ⇾ Perth & Darwin60,50057,500
Singapore ⇾ Australia, New Zealand98,00093,500
Singapore ⇾ Africa, Middle East, Turkey95,00086,500
Singapore ⇾ Europe148,000141,000
Singapore ⇾ U.S. West Coast154,000146,500
Singapore ⇾ U.S. East Coast156,000148,500

Changes for Partner Airlines

Unlike SQ flights (where some Economy awards got cheaper), all partner awards increase across every cabin.

  • Economy: ~+6%
  • Business & First: ~+10%

Economy (one-way)

  • Europe ⇾ North America: 63,000 (was 60,000)
  • Europe ⇾ South Africa: 40,500 (was 38,000)
  • Europe ⇾ Oceania: 51,000 (was 48,500)

Business (one-way)

  • Europe ⇾ North America: 122,500 (was 111,000)
  • Europe ⇾ South Africa: 68,000 (was 66,000)
  • Europe ⇾ Oceania: 98,000 (was 91,000)

First (one-way)

  • Europe ⇾ North America: 184,000 (was 167,000)
  • Europe ⇾ South Africa: 87,500 (was 82,500)
  • Europe ⇾ Oceania: 143,000 (was 130,000)

Additional Changes

Singapore Airlines has also announced the following changes:

New Award Type: Access Awards

Starting November 1, 2025, any available seat on SQ flights can be booked with miles under a dynamic pricing model (based on demand, load factor, seasonality). SQ emphasizes these awards will be in addition to Saver and Advantage, not a replacement.

Status Miles via Non-Flight Spend

From September 1, 2025, members can earn status miles via:

  • Kris+ (Dining & Shopping)
  • KrisShop purchases
  • Pelago experiences
  • Earning rates: 1 status mile per 1 SGD (KrisFlyer) / 1 per 3 SGD (PPS Club)

Conclusion

The KrisFlyer devaluation is painful but relatively moderate compared to some other programs. With a 2+ month notice, members still have time to book under the current chart.

Also, many routes are already poor value—meaning the real-world impact is less severe than with Avios or Miles&More devaluations.

Source: Singapore Airlines press release

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Atmos Rewards: Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Present Joint Loyalty Program (Revamped Mileage Plan) https://travel-dealz.com/news/atmos-rewards/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/atmos-rewards/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:44:00 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=92732

Last year, Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines. Soon after, they announced that Hawaiian plans to join the Oneworld Alliance, and that Alaska and Hawaiian would use a joint frequent flyer program. Now, the airlines have released the framework for their new program, including the name Atmos Rewards. While it follows the footsteps of Alaska Mileage Plan in many cases, it introduces a few notable changes.

Reaching the Oneworld Emerald status has now been made a bit more difficult, but there are a few positive changes for members flying on Hawaiian flights or those who wish to earn their miles using a credit card.

Option to Choose between Distance or Spend-Based Miles

In the past years, many programs have changed the way they credit status miles from a distance-based approach to a spend-based approach. Atmos Rewards has decided to take a different approach: Let the member decide. Once a year, you get the choice between earning 5 points for each dollar you spend (excl. taxes) or continuing to earn points the old way, based on the distance you fly. There’s actually even a third option: getting a flat 500 points per segment – though this is probably only a good choice for people who exclusively fly very short segments.

There seems to be one negative change, though. As the third option is getting 500 points per segment, it seems logical that the minimum credit of 500 points will be removed if you choose to continue earning points by distance. This could make it more difficult for some members to reach their status.

These choices only apply to flights with Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian. Flights with partner airlines, booked through partner websites, will continue to earn based on the distance, including the 500 minimum points per segment.

Same Ruby & Sapphire Status Qualification, Tougher Emerald Qualification

Now that we covered how to earn status points, let’s take a look at how many you’ll need for each status. Starting next year, these are the new status names and requirements:

  • MVP Atmos Silver (Oneworld Ruby): 20,000 status points
  • MVP Gold Atmos Gold (Sapphire): 40,000 status points
  • MVP Gold 75K Atmos Platinum (Emerald): 75,000 80,000 status points
  • MVP Gold 100K Atmos Titanium (Emerald): 100,000 135,000 status points

As you can see, the Silver and Gold status remains untouched. Gold 75K is now renamed to Platinum and requires 5,000 more miles. The biggest change comes to the 100K status, as Titanium now requires 35% more miles than before. However, the Titanium status also comes with a very interesting new perk:

New Free Same-Day Global Upgrades for Titanium Members

Members of US-based frequent flyer programs will be familiar with the concept of frequent flyers being upgraded on the day of the flight, if there’s an available seat in a higher travel class. However, all programs only do this on domestic flights. Atmos Titanium members, however, will now be eligible for upgrades on all routes, even on long-haul flights. The catch: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian have a relatively small long-haul network. Still, this is a very nice new perk for the program’s most loyal members.

Some of the most interesting routes for free upgrades

The perk is announced as “starting in Spring 2026”. It’s thus possible that some exclusions may be worked in until then, such as excluding basic economy tickets. This, however, is all speculation at this point.

Free Upgrades on Hawaiian Flights Within North America

While the free global upgrades are limited to Titanium members, all members are eligible for free upgrades on all Hawaiian Flights within North America. Of course, the lower your status, the less likely you are to end up in First Class. However, the chances of getting a seat with extra legroom will definitely be higher. These upgrades will be confirmed at least 48 hours before departure, unless you booked a Saver fare (then it’s 2 hours – and unlikely).

Basically, this perk was already there for Alaska Airlines flights and has been extended to Hawaiian flights. While they’re not exactly life-changing on small island hopper flights within Hawaii, they can mean quite a relief for your legs on Hawaiian’s flights to the continental USA:

Communities for Members

The program is also introducing a new concept, called communities. Members can subscribe to one of 6 communities to receive offers and perks that suit them best:

For Europeans, the “Global Locals” community seems like a wise choice, though we currently have absolutely no idea what exactly these communities will offer. Members can switch communities once every 365 days and have to actively join one.

Earn Uncapped Status Points with Atmos Credit Cards

Alaska Airlines also used this rebranding opportunity to roll out new credit cards. We won’t get into much detail as it’s not available to our European readers, but basically, from next year, you can earn unlimited status points by spending money with an Atmos credit card, earning a status point for every $1-3 spent, depending on the credit card you select. There are three different cards: Ascent Visa Signature for $95/year, Summit Visa Infinite for $395/year, and a business card for $70 per business and $25 per card. They offer different benefits, ranging from free checked bags to waived partner booking fees and lounge passes.

The End of HawaiianMiles

While Mileage Plan gets to live on through Atmos Rewards, HawaiianMiles will cease to exist on October 1, 2025. If you have a HawaiianMiles account, make sure to link it with Atmos Rewards before September 25, through this link. Miles will be converted at a 1:1 ratio.

Conclusion

Alaska Airlines made many changes to its programs at the beginning of this year, especially to the number of miles you’ll earn on flights with partner airlines. Those changes made the program rather unattractive to Europeans. Now they’re changing their program again, extending benefits to Hawaiian flights and giving a unique global upgrade perk to its most loyal members. However, reaching a status seems to be as difficult as before for Europeans. Thus, Atmos may be a pretty good program for people living on the US West Coast, but for Europeans, it remains a niche program.

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Vietnam Extends Visa-Free Entry to 12 More European Countries (e.g. Belgium, Netherlands, Poland & More) https://travel-dealz.com/news/vietnam-extends-visa-free-entry/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/vietnam-extends-visa-free-entry/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:05:15 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=91783

Vietnam is currently gaining among popularity among international travellers. The country’s beautiful beaches, low prices and flavourful cuisine make it a favourite among our editors and readers alike. There are good news for those who were interested in going, but wanted to avoid the hassle of getting a visa. Starting August 15, 2025, members of twelve European countries can enter the country without additional measures for 45 days after arriving at the airport.

Passport holders of these twelve countries will enjoy visa-free entry:

  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Switzerland 

These are joining Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus on the list of European countries who were already granted visa-free entry to the South-East Asian country. The exemption rule is set to last at least three years, with visa-free entry ending in August 2028 for citizens of Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

We currently offer the following deals to Vietnam:

Information & Tips for Vietnam

Vietnam offers a mix of vibrant cities, historic landmarks, and natural beauty—popular sights include Ha Long Bay, the old town of Hoi An, the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi’s colonial architecture. The official currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND), and while prices are generally low compared to Western standards, tourist hotspots can be more expensive. Expect a tropical climate with hot, humid summers and a rainy season that varies by region—so packing accordingly is key.

Vietnam’s transport infrastructure is mixed—within cities, getting around is relatively easy thanks to widespread motorbike taxis and ride-hailing apps, though traffic can be chaotic and sidewalks crowded. Public buses exist but are often confusing for tourists. Between cities, options include budget airlines, trains, and long-distance buses; while not always fast or punctual, they are generally affordable and accessible with some planning.

 

→ All Dealz for Vietnam

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Points Transfer between SAS EuroBonus & Scandic Friends Now Possible https://travel-dealz.com/news/eurobonus-scandic-points-transfer/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/eurobonus-scandic-points-transfer/#respond Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:31:09 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=91826

SAS Scandinavian Airlines and the hotel chain Scandic entered into a partnership last year designed to benefit customers of both companies. The cooperation bore its first fruit at the end of April when a status match was announced: members holding frequent flyer status with SAS now receive perks when staying at Scandic hotels, and vice versa.

At that time, it was also announced that starting in June, members would be able to transfer bonus points between the two programs. That deadline passed without further news—but now, it’s finally here. From now on, points can be transferred between the two programs. The exchange rate is:

1 EuroBonus point = 2 Scandic points

You can initiate the transfer via the following link:

Important

After transferring, the points are valid for a maximum of 12 months. If they previously had a later expiration date, their validity will be shortened. Therefore, you should only transfer points if you plan to use them right away.

Redeeming Scandic Points

Thanks to the exchange rate, the transfer could be worthwhile for EuroBonus frequent flyers who’ve accumulated a lot of points. Free nights at Scandic theoretically start at 10,000 points (= 5,000 EuroBonus points) per night.

As the redemption chart shows, there are very few options for 10,000 Scandic points, but more at 15,000 or 20,000. In addition, there are regular time-limited discount promotions.

Free nights are also subject to availability quotas. While there is theoretically a Scandic Go (without breakfast) in Stockholm for 10,000 points, we were unable to find any availability in sample searches. You can check availability by selecting the corresponding filter in the hotel search:

In Luleå (northern Sweden), there are at least a few dates at the advertised price:

Redeeming Eurobonus Points

For those who’ve accumulated their fair share of Scandic points, a transfer to Eurobonus can also make sense. Flights within Scandinavia (including remote destinations like Svalbard and the Faroe Islands) start at 5,000 Eurobonus points (= 10,000 Scandic points) and business class flights to North America start at 50,000 Eurobonus points (= 100,000 Scandic points).

Here’s an overview of the best Eurobonus sweet spots:

Source: Flyertalk

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Air Canada Aeroplan Introduces Revenue-Based Award Miles & Changes Status Qualification from 2026 https://travel-dealz.com/news/air-canada-aeroplan-revenue-based/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/air-canada-aeroplan-revenue-based/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:50:24 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=91186

Air Canada Aeroplan isn’t a frequent flyer program we at Travel-Dealz report on very often—and that’s not likely to change. The program has announced significant changes, making it even less attractive for readers based in Europe.

These changes will apply to all flights from January 1, 2026. From then on, award miles for all flights with Air Canada will be awarded based on the ticket price, not flight distance. At the same time, the system for earning status is changing, with much higher spending requirements on Air Canada.

Up to 84% Fewer Award Miles for Air Canada Tickets (Revenue-Based)

Currently, mileage earning for Air Canada flights depends on the distance flown and the fare class. Between 10% (for domestic Basic Economy) and 150% (for Business Class) of the flight distance is credited as miles.

In the future, the number of miles earned will be based solely on the ticket price. As a rule, there will be 1 mile per CA$1 (~€1) of base fare. With Aeroplan status, you’ll earn more—between 2 and 6 award miles per CA$. In other words, it makes no difference whether you’re flying from Frankfurt to Toronto or from Toronto to Halifax—if the ticket costs the same, the miles earned will be the same. More details are available on Air Canada’s website.

This applies to all flights operated by Air Canada, regardless of which airline issued the ticket. It also applies to flights on Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Copa, and United, if ticketed by Air Canada. For all other Star Alliance flights, no changes (yet).

Here are three examples of Air Canada flights, based on current round-trip fares:

  • Example 1: Frankfurt – Vancouver in Economy Basic (€535, incl. €165 taxes):
    • Previously: 2,505 miles (10,020 mi × 0.25)
    • New – No status: 593 miles (593 CA$ × 1)
    • New – Aeroplan 25K: 1,186 miles (593 CA$ × 2)
    • New – Aeroplan 50K: 2,372 miles (593 CA$ × 4)
    • New – Aeroplan SE¹: 3,558 miles (593 CA$ × 6)

¹ Aeroplan SE = Aeroplan Super Elite (highest status)

  • Example 2: Frankfurt – Vancouver in Economy Standard (670€, incl. 165€ taxes):
    • Previously: 5,010 miles (10,020 mi × 0.5)
    • New – No status: 809 miles (809 CA$ × 1)
    • New – Aeroplan 25K: 1,618 miles (809 CA$ × 2)
    • New – Aeroplan 50K: 3,236 miles (809 CA$ × 4)
    • New – Aeroplan SE: 4,854 miles (809 CA$ × 6)
  • Example 3: Frankfurt – Toronto – New York in Business Lowest (2,199€, incl. 196€ taxes):
    • Previously: 12,857 miles (8,578 mi × 1.5)
    • New – No status: 3,373 miles (3,373 CA$ × 1)
    • New – Aeroplan 25K: 6,746 miles (3,373 CA$ × 2)
    • New – Aeroplan 50K: 13,492 miles (3,373 CA$ × 4)
    • New – Aeroplan SE: 20,238 miles (3,373 CA$ × 6)

For European members who often fly long distances on relatively cheap tickets, this new system is clearly a disadvantage. Only those with Aeroplan 50K status (equivalent to Star Alliance Gold) or higher might earn miles similar to before. But earning that status is also about to get harder:

New System for Earning Frequent Flyer Status

Currently, Aeroplan status qualification is quite complex. It requires a certain number of segments (SQS) or distance-based miles (SQM), plus a minimum spend on Air Canada flights (SQD). Depending on the status, this ranges from CA$3,000 (~€1,848) to CA$20,000 (~€12,322). Only the 25K status can be earned without flying.

Going forward, the system will be completely overhauled. The only thing that matters will be Status Qualifying Credits (SQC). You’ll need:

  • Aeroplan 25K: 25,000 SQC
  • Aeroplan 35K: 35,000 SQC
  • Aeroplan 50K: 50,000 SQC (= Star Alliance Gold)
  • Aeroplan 75K: 75,000 SQC
  • Aeroplan Super Elite: 125,000 SQC

Ways to earn SQC include:

  • Air Canada Economy Basic: 0 SQC
  • Air Canada Economy Standard & higher: 2 SQC per CA$
  • Air Canada Economy Flex & Business: 4 SQC per CA$
  • Star Alliance flights: 1 SQC per 5 award miles²
  • Air Canada Vacations bookings: 1 SQC per CA$
  • Shopping partners (Uber, Marriott, etc.): 1 SQC per 5 award miles²
  • Aeroplan credit card: 1,000 SQC per CA$5,000 in spend²

² capped at 25,000 SQC per calendar year

Just like for award miles, only the base fare in Canadian dollars counts, excluding “real” taxes. Fuel surcharges do count toward the fare. The table from Air Canada provides more details on how SQCs are awarded depending on the ticketing airline.

SQC from Air Canada, Star Alliance & Partners

Source: Air Canada

As mentioned, you can earn a maximum of 25,000 SQC per year from Star Alliance partners. But even that is difficult. A round-trip Frankfurt–San Francisco on United in Business Class would yield 17,000 miles = 3,400 SQC.

To reach Aeroplan 50K (Star Alliance Gold), you’d need:

  • 7 United Business Class round-trips to San Francisco
    and
  • Air Canada tickets worth CA$12,500 (= ~€7,800) or CA$6,250, depending on fare class
    (Economy Basic tickets are completely excluded)

Flying with Star Alliance is no longer worthwhile

If you fly only with Air Canada, you’d need to spend CA$12,500 (~€7,701) to CA$25,000 (~€15,402) (Basic fares excluded). That might be achievable for a business traveller flying in Business Class, but for leisure travellers, it’s nearly impossible.

Previously, just 3 United Business round-trips to San Francisco and CA$6,000 (~€3,697) in spend with Air Canada sufficed. And even that wasn’t easy. Other options like Uber rides or credit card spending are hardly relevant for Europeans. So, earning meaningful status from Europe is becoming virtually impossible.

Conclusion

From a European perspective, Aeroplan was once a relatively attractive program for earning and redeeming miles. But now, with strict spending requirements on Air Canada, frequent flyer status is hardly worth pursuing.

Going forward, it will become even harder—almost impossible—for Europeans to achieve any meaningful status. And that, in turn, negatively impacts the number of award miles earned on Air Canada. Without status, you’ll only get about 1.6 miles per euro spent, which is lower than almost any other program.

For members in Canada or the U.S. who can earn miles through credit cards, Uber, shopping, etc., the new system may still have some appeal. But for Europeans, Aeroplan is effectively dead from 2026 onward. United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage, and Delta SkyMiles have all taken similar steps in recent years—but none quite as drastic as this.

Translated by Ditmar

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Swiss Senses: Flights with the New Cabin Now Bookable (to Boston from January 2026) https://travel-dealz.com/news/swiss-senses-debut/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/swiss-senses-debut/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2025 11:02:20 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=90311

After a rocky start, things have quieted down around Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin. Lufthansa now operates ten aircraft with the new cabin and is steadily expanding the route network.

In 2023, Swiss also announced plans to install the same seats as Lufthansa. While Lufthansa calls its product “Allegris,” Swiss has branded it as Swiss Senses. The original launch was planned for 2025, but there’s now an update: the official market launch will take place in January 2026 on the Zurich–Boston route, and flights are already bookable.

The first Airbus A350 with the new cabin is expected to be delivered to Swiss in October 2025, so it’s quite possible that the aircraft may operate some scheduled flights before the official launch.

First Bookable Flights from January 2026

According to communication with sales partners, the Airbus A350 with the Swiss Senses cabin will be deployed starting January 1, 2026. However, the Swiss website only lists this information for select dates, first appearing on January 2. In January, the A350 is expected to operate on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

However, there is no guarantee of the new cabin. Customers are not entitled to rebooking if there is a last-minute aircraft change.

The Airbus A350 will have the following seating configuration:

  • 3.5 First Class seats
  • 45 Business Class seats
  • 38 Premium Economy seats
  • 156 Economy seats

This layout is significantly more premium-heavy than Lufthansa’s configuration, which features 38 Business, 24 Premium Economy, and 201 Economy seats. The seat types themselves are expected to be the same, just in different colours. Like Lufthansa, Swiss will offer five different seat categories in Business Class, most of which will require a surcharge.

At launch, the usual surcharges for most seat types will be waived:

No Extra Charges for Most Seats During Launch Phase

Normally, as with Allegris, only Classic Seats (aisle seats with limited or no window access) in Business Class are free to select. Senator and HON Circle Members enjoy access to a wider seat selection.

During the introductory period, Privacy Seats (window seats) and Extra Long Bed Seats (aisle seats with ~20 cm longer beds) will also be free of charge. Only Throne Seats (extra space seats) and Business Class Suites at the bulkhead will still incur a surcharge.

Swiss Senses A350 Fenstersitz Privacy Seat
This window seat would usually require a surcharge, but not during the launch phase (© Swiss)

Pricing and Award Tickets

As mentioned, flights are now bookable on Swiss.com and Lufthansa.com. Prices are steep. Round-trip Business Class tickets currently cost:

At least these prices aren’t higher than similar Lufthansa Group alternatives (e.g., via Munich). However, First Class prices have doubled with the new Swiss Senses cabin and now exceed €10,000.

Business Class can also be booked using Miles&More miles, which offers slightly better value. Some example one-way redemption rates:

  • Spain–Boston: 36,826 miles + ~€503
  • UK-Boston: 37,782 miles + ~£762 (~€865)
  • Germany–Boston: 51,622 miles + ~€574
  • Switzerland–Boston: 51,622 miles + ~CHF 498 (~€535)

For Senator and HON Circle Members, the Companion Award also applies, offering a 50% discount on the mileage portion for a second passenger (surcharges remain unchanged).

Translated and edited by Ditmar

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On Domestic Flights: Chinese Authorities Ban Almost All Power Banks https://travel-dealz.com/news/china-bans-powerbanks-domestic/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/china-bans-powerbanks-domestic/#respond Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:11:00 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=87151

Smartphones have become daily companions nowadays. This applies not only in everyday life but also when travelling. And since a charged battery is particularly important for navigation to the airport, mobile boarding passes, etc., many of us carry a power bank – a portable battery that can charge a smartphone on the go.

However, anyone planning to travel through China in the near future needs to be careful. Since June 28, 2025, a new regulation (translation) has come into effect regarding the carrying of portable batteries in hand luggage. According to this regulation, power banks are only permitted if they have a 3C certification. This stands for China Compulsory Certification and is essentially China’s equivalent of the European CE label.

The regulation states:

A few days ago, in order to effectively protect the safety of aviation operation, the CAA issued an urgent notice, since 28 June, passengers are prohibited from carrying rechargeable power banks without 3C marking, unclear 3C marking, or recalled models or batches on domestic flights.

Civil Aviation Administration of China, translated with DeepL

This is now causing problems. That’s because this certification has only existed since 2023 and is hardly found on any products sold here. In other words, there is a very high chance that your power bank will be confiscated when travelling through China. For example, on Reddit, there is a photo showing piles of power banks that were seized at security checks.

From my own experience, Chinese security has always examined my power bank very carefully in the past. Usually, they checked that the battery capacity did not exceed 100 Wh. In the future, they will likely scrutinise equally closely to check for the CCC logo.

Is my power bank allowed?

At the moment, the chances of buying a power bank with the required certification here are apparently very slim. The logo looks like this and would need to be engraved or printed somewhere on the power bank:

CCC Logo China
3C logo

On my Baseus power bank, which I bought brand new in June 2025, I could not find the logo. Its capacity of just under 37 Wh would not be an issue, but no logo = no carrying it on the plane:

Powerbank Zertifizierungen

Officially, the rule only applies to domestic flights within China. However, it is conceivable that Chinese security may also refuse to allow it on international departures. Carrying power banks in checked luggage is also prohibited.

Translated by Ditmar

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ANA Unveils “The Room FX” Business Class for Its Boeing 787 Fleet – Seats Don’t Recline https://travel-dealz.com/news/ana-unveils-the-room-fx/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/ana-unveils-the-room-fx/#respond Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:13:54 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=85537

Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways (ANA) used the big stage of the 2025 Paris Air Show to unveil its newest business class product, called The Room FX. It’s a variation of the airline’s popular THE Room business class, that is deployed on 10 of its 13 Boeing 777-300ER. The new version will be installed across their internationally used Boeing 787-9, marking a significant upgrade over their current product on these planes.

The airline advertises the product to be the “largest seat on a mid-size aircraft”, giving passengers more space than any other seat on a Boeing 767, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, A340 or A350. Unsurprisingly, the configuration comes on a (now industry standard) 1-2-1 seating pattern, providing direct aisle access for all guest. Rather unusual for new business class products, about half of the seats will be facing backwards.

While the concept of backwards facing business class seats is not new, many airlines stopped using the design technique in the latest version of their premium cabins. However, both the original THE Room and Qatar Airways’ QSuite, probably the industry-leading products, use the same configuration.

Each seat is equipped with a sliding door, providing passengers with roughly 2m x 1m private space each. When fully extended, the bed measures 1.94 meters in length and 69cm in width.

Seats Do Not Recline

A major difference to ANA’s 777 The Room variant is that the seats in the Boeing 787 will not recline in different angles. It is reduced to two settings: upright or lie-flat. There is only one airline to recently deploy seats like that on their aeroplanes, and it is Finnair. The Oneworld member use a similar configuration on its Airbus A350 and A330 long-haul fleet and has garnered mixed reviews.

Passengers preferring to chill in a lounging position for a couple of minutes during a twelve-hour flight, will be out of luck. While it’s not set in stone that travellers in ANA’s 787 will face the same problem – having to compromise in terms of comfort is not something I want to do when spending quadruple digits on a ticket.

The renderings advertise three different positions: Either upright, a couch mode with a deployed leg rest – or fully flat.

Large Screen and Storage Space

In another rendering, ANA shows a storage space directly besides the 24-inch HD flat screen monitor, with USB-A, USB-C and international power outlets. This is a well-designed solution that should improve working with notebooks. Instead of dragging the charging cable over your shoulder or getting your feet tangled up, you have a straight connection in front of you. This also minimizes the risk of unintentionally disconnecting every time you move an inch.

ANA 789 The Room FX Business Class iv
© ANA / Acumen DA

The design is the same that is used on ANA’s Boeing 777 fleet, bringing the airline’s existing products closer together.

No Information About Rollout or Deployment

While ANA seems mighty proud of its new business class product (and it does look good), the airline shared basically no information about when or where to expect it. It will be deployed gradually over the Boeing 787-9 fleet in 2026. ANA operates a total of 44 aircraft of this type, though parts of the fleet are exclusively used for domestic travel and won’t receive the new premium cabin. Their 8 Boeing 787-10 and 34 Boeing 787-8 (some of which sport a domestic configuration, too) won’t receive the update, either. It’s also unclear which origins (although it will most likely be Haneda or Narita) and destination will be the first to be blessed with The Room FX service.

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Bottom Line

ANA announced its new The Room FX business class, with nice renderings and little else. The most contentious point of the new seat is that the backrest doesn’t gradually recline, possibly reducing options to relax. That being said, the new cabin design looks like a significant upgrade over the current product on the Boeing 787-9.

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Another Avios Devaluation: Iberia Award Tickets up to 19% More Expensive https://travel-dealz.com/news/second-avios-devaluation-may2025/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/second-avios-devaluation-may2025/#comments Wed, 28 May 2025 11:20:17 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=83137

The rapid devaluation of frequent flyer miles has become a constant trend over the past three years. At least some programs like Miles&More announce devaluations in advance – even if the threat of legal action was necessary to get to that point.

The International Airlines Group, consisting of Iberia, British Airways and others, are not fans of such (forced) transparency. On the contrary, award prices have been adjusted overnight and without prior notice, once again. This time, flights operated by Iberia – one of the best Sweet Spots for Avios redemptions – are affected. Avios prices for business class flights are almost 20% more expensive.

The changes are effective immediately for all bookings made via Iberia Plus or the British Airways Executive Club.

Price Comparison – Old vs. New Award Chart

Unitl a couple of days ago, Iberia had an award chart table on its website, free to see for everybody. Currently, such a table is nowhere to be found. But when searching for flights, all prices are higher than before. For business and premium economy awards, all Avios prices are higher. Just like before, prices are categorized in peak season and off-peak season prices. You can find a calendar here.

Off-Peak Business Class Prices

These are fares for a oneway business class ticket from Madrid. You’d have to add taxes & surcharges (roughly €100) when booking.

ZoneDistanceExampleAvios (old)Avios (new)Increase
1up to 650 miMAD – TLS9,0009,750+ 8%
2651 – 1,150 miMAD – FRA15,00016,500+ 10%
31,151 – 2,000 miMAD – CPH20,00022,000+ 10%
42,001 – 3,000 miMAD – TLV21,25023,000+ 8%
53,001 – 4,000 miMAD – NYC34,00040,500+ 19%
64,001 – 5,500 miMAD – DFW42,50050,500+ 19%
75,501 – 6,500 miMAD – SCL51,00060,500+ 19%
86,501 – 7,000 miMAD – NRT59,50070,500+ 18%

Peak Season Business Class Prices

These are fares for a oneway business class ticket from Madrid. You’d have to add taxes & surcharges (roughly €100) when booking.

ZoneDistanceExampleAvios (old)Avios (new)Increase
1up to 650 miMAD – TLS10,00011,500+ 15%
2651 – 1,150 miMAD – FRA16,50018.250+ 11%
31,151 – 2,000 miMAD – CPH22,00024,000+ 9%
42,001 – 3,000 miMAD – TLV31.25031,000– 1%
53,001 – 4,000 miMAD – NYC50,00059,000+ 18%
64,001 – 5,500 miMAD – DFW62,50074,000+ 18%
75,501 – 6,500 miMAD – SCL75,00088,500+ 18%
86,501 – 7,000 miMAD – NRT87,500103,500+ 18%

Economy Class awards actually got a little cheaper. However, the price decrease comes days after Iberia Plus abolished free checked bags and cancellation options for economy awards. If you book via the British Airways Club, you can benefit from decreased prices and still check a bag for free.

On the other hand, Premium Economy award prices increased just as much as business class prices. For example, tickets to New York increased from 25,500 to 29,500 Avios during the off-peak period (+16%).

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Bottom Line

Until the price increase, Iberia non-stops from Madrid were one of the best ways to redeem Avios. Especially if you booked a cash ticket to Madrid as a feeder. After the devaluation, at least off-peak are still reasonable – given that you find availabilities.

However, it is distinctly unreasonable to devalue Avios several times each year, without any prior warnings or press releases. This is especially frustrating for tenured members that have a lot of Avios in their account – which can be redeemed for less time and time again. It gets even more ridiculous in the light of offers like Avios subscriptions – where you purchase Avios a year in advance. Only to see the value decrease instantly after buying them. With measures like this, IAG is basically begging to get sued.

Translated by Felix

Thanks to our sources, FlyerTalk and LoyaltyLobby!

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Miles&More Mileage Pooling is Back https://travel-dealz.com/news/milesandmore-mileage-pooling-comeback/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/milesandmore-mileage-pooling-comeback/#respond Tue, 27 May 2025 09:47:34 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=83050

In 2018 Lufthansa’s (and other airlines’) joint loyalty program Miles&More started offering an option that makes most frequent flyer programs more attractive: Opening a Mileage Pool. Up to two adults and five children could bundle their miles and book award flights, accessing available award miles from both parties. In February 2024, Lufthansa deactivated the option – the official reason being technical difficulties.

Said “difficulties” are seemingly fixed. Opening up a new Pool is possible once again. That by itself is good news – but: opening a new pool takes seven days to process before you can use it. That would mean the earliest possible date to use it is June 2nd. Exactly on that day, preparations for Miles&More’s major devaluation refurbishment begins – making it impossible to book award flights with the old pricing. What a striking coincidence.

Warning

Lufthansa’s website is currently experiencing some difficulties: If a new pool is opened, your current mileage account temporarily plummets to zero, making it impossible to book flights online. If you want to get rid of your miles before the incoming changes on June 2, we strongly recommend postponing opening a new pool until you have spent your miles.

How to Open A Mileage Pool

If you open the Mileage Pooling subsection on Miles&More’s website from most countries, you will be greeted by the following statement.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to install a new Mileage Pool until further notice. We ask for your understanding.

Mileage Pooling | Miles&More

However, this is not entirely accurate. Last weekend, Matteo from the Italian travel blog The Flight Club reported that opening up pools is possible again – if your country is set to Italy. In order to do that, you simply need to scroll to the very bottom of the site and switch the country setting.

Miles More Change Language
Scroll to the bottom and switch your country.

This does not refer to your nationality or residency – it works independently of your registered address or physical location. Select Italy as your country on the next screen and refresh the Mileage Pool page.

Miles More Change Language II
Setting the country to Italy will enable you to open a new Mileage Pool.

The statement about technical difficulties will disappear. Instead, you will be able to open a new Mileage Poll under this link.

Miles More Mileage Pooling

You can invite another person by entering their name and Miles&More service card number. The other person has to accept the invitation (which may require their country settings to be changed, too) – and you have to wait seven days until your miles are pooled.

As soon as the pool is activated, both adults can access the joint miles. The miles are kept on separate accounts, but can be spent by both parties. Miles that will expire the earliest will automatically be spent first.

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Bottom Line

Miles&More Mileage Pooling is back – that by itself is great news. Sadly, it is heavily dampened by the circumstances. It’s most likely not a coincidence that Lufthansa re-introduced the feature days before devaluing its award chart. And only making it possible by using a backdoor.

Thanks to our sources, TheFlightClub.it & Vielfliegertreff

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SAS and Singapore Airlines Offer Reciprocal Status Benefits for Frequent Flyers https://travel-dealz.com/news/sas-singapore-airlines-reciprocal-benefits/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed https://travel-dealz.com/news/sas-singapore-airlines-reciprocal-benefits/#respond Thu, 22 May 2025 11:42:05 +0000 https://travel-dealz.com/?post_type=news&p=82674

In September 2024, SAS Scandinavian left the Star Alliance and joined SkyTeam. Even before this transition, the Scandinavian airline had already announced that its partnership with Singapore Airlines would continue.

Initially, the cooperation only included reciprocal earning of frequent flyer miles. Now, there is more good news in the form of reciprocal status benefits. SAS EuroBonus frequent flyers now receive benefits such as lounge access and additional baggage allowance when flying with Singapore Airlines. Similarly, Singapore KrisFlyer status members enjoy comparable perks when flying with SAS.

Benefits for EuroBonus Members on Singapore Airlines

EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members enjoy the following benefits when travelling with Singapore Airlines:

  • Access to SilverKris Lounges in BKK, BNE, HKG, LHR, MNL, PER, ICN, SIN, SYD, TPE (including 1 guest)
  • 20 kg additional checked baggage
  • Priority check-in
  • Priority baggage handling
  • Earning of status and award points (see mileage chart)
  • Priority boarding (currently “paused”)

Note on Lounge Access:

Lounge access is also available when flying with SAS, which could be of interest for departures from London, Bangkok, and Seoul (a new route starting in September 2025). Additionally, the SilverKris Lounges in Singapore are specifically mentioned. Typically, even Star Alliance Gold members are only granted access to the less exclusive KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. It’s therefore possible this is an error.

At these airports, you can enter Singapore Airlines lounges with SAS status

Benefits for KrisFlyer Members Flying with SAS

Frequent flyers with Singapore Airlines holding KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS Club, or Solitaire PPS Club status receive the following benefits when travelling with SAS:

  • Access to SAS Business Lounges in CPH, OSL, ARN, GOT, ORD, EWR (guest policy unclear)
  • Additional baggage allowance:
    • 23 kg in Economy Class
    • 23 kg in Business Class within Europe
    • 32 kg on long-haul Business Class flights
  • Priority check-in
  • Earning of status and award miles (see mileage calculator)
Airports with SAS lounges worldwide

Translated by Ditmar

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