It’s been a season of change here at The Alviator, mainly as I’m trying to get into the air travel space full-time. I’ve started writing specific guides on miles and points, and I’m also trying to start a miles and points business here in the UK, to help people earn transferrable miles and increase UK take-up of great-value airline rewards programmes.
It’s been a month or so since I’ve been on the ground, and I’ve planned some exciting travel for the next couple of months, so wanted to share what I’d be reviewing (God willing). Of course I’m hoping to be able to add to these reviews, though here’s what I have planned so far.
Loganair ERJ-145 to Londonderry
The first airline product I’ll be reviewing soon won’t get me particularly far away from home. Specifically, I’ll be trying out Loganair’s ERJ-145 from London Heathrow to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Why? I remember flying Loganair’s ATR 42 from Heathrow to Dundee, Scotland last year, and I enjoyed the experience. I remember being quite resolute about wanting to try and review Loganair’s ERJ-145 as well at the time. Well, after learning that Loganair flat-prices all of its flights at 6,500 Avios, I figured it would be a good time to give them another go, especially since this would be my first time in Northern Ireland.
Loganair’s value proposition isn’t in their pricing – neither £100 nor 6,500 Avios for a one-hour flight within the UK is a great deal. Mainly, Loganair has lots of unique destinations within Scotland and Northern Ireland, including the Shetland and Orkney Islands. I couldn’t figure out a way I could visit either within my budget this year, though I’d still love to showcase the experience you’ll get when flying the sole airline that serves these destinations.
I flew Loganair’s ATR-42 last year out of Heathrow, and want to fly the airline again
I couldn’t quite justify redeeming Avios for a roundtrip in and out of Londonderry, so I’ll be taking the bus to Belfast and taking Ryanair home from there (I’m looking to re-review Ryanair generally, though I’m hoping to do it on a non-UK/CTA flight).
At Heathrow, I’m planning to review the Plaza Premium lounge, as well as the brand new No1 Lounge that opened earlier this year.
Air Europa’s 737 Economy Class
Some of you will remember me trying to redeem 1,400 Avios for Iberia economy class between Alicante and Madrid. When I gave up trying, I ended up booking an Air Europa ticket between those two destinations. I’ve never flown Air Europa before, so am curious to see what the onboard experience is like.
I’m keen to try a new European airline
While this isn’t new, I’m also going to be flying British Airways’ Club Europe out of Gatwick. Why Club Europe? Well, I haven’t reviewed British Airways’ Galleries lounge at Gatwick Airport, and figured I’d invest in the opportunity to do so once. I imagine this might be my last time flying British Airways’ Club Europe in the near future, unless I’m connecting, or it works out extremely well to spend the day at Heathrow T3’s Oneworld lounges.
British Airways’ A320 Club Europe
China Eastern’s A350 Premium Economy, A330 Economy Class
From Madrid, I’ll be flying China Eastern’s premium economy class from Madrid to Shanghai to Shenzhen. I’ve written enough about premium economy products on Chinese airlines, and chose to take advantage of an extremely affordable one-way fare on China Eastern.
This will be my first ever longhaul flight on a Chinese carrier, and it’s also been 10 years since I’ve last flown with China Eastern. I’ve heard much better things about Chinese carriers post-COVID compared to pre-COVID, so I’m keen to see for myself.
I’m excited to fly China Eastern’s A350 premium economy
In Shanghai I’ve got the AmEx Platinum card, so will be able to check out some of China Eastern’s lounges, despite being in economy.
I’ll be meeting my parents in Shenzhen, and I’ll be spending a few days home (I’m also trying to see whether I can grab a high speed rail seat with a flat bed, though my parents don’t seem to think it’s the best use of money for a 14-minute train journey…)
Cathay Pacific’s refreshed regional business class (fingers crossed)
In September I flew an aircraft outfitted with Cathay Pacific’s refreshed regional business class, though I was in economy. I then proceeded to fly the same aircraft type in regional business class, though got on an aircraft that hadn’t been refurbished yet.
So, when positioning from Hong Kong to Shanghai, I’m hoping to be on one of the new Cathay Pacific A330s with the refreshed regional business class product, just so I can review it. The actual hard product is the same, though there have been a few tech upgrades, including the introduction of a USB-C port.
I’m hoping to get a flight with Cathay Pacific’s refreshed regional business class product
I’m also going to re-review all of Hong Kong Airport’s Cathay Pacific lounges, as I wasn’t able to last time I passed through.
Finnair A350 Premium Economy
From Shanghai, I’ll be flying Finnair’s A350 premium economy from Shanghai to Helsinki to London (I flew out of Shanghai to take advantage of a cheap fare). I know that Finnair has had to cut back on its premium economy soft product, though it’s still known to have one of the best hard products in the industry. Jason reviewed Finnair premium economy last year, though I’m keen to check the product out myself.
My Helsinki to London leg will also be on an A350, where I’ve also booked myself into a premium economy seat (it’s sold as an “Economy Comfort” seat on those flights).
I’ll be flying Finnair premium economy
While I’m in Helsinki, I’ll check out the Plaza Premium lounge, since I won’t have access to Finnair’s own business class lounge this time round. I’m sad that I won’t be able to spend longer in Helsinki (I’ve now done two layovers in Helsinki without seeing the city), though timings didn’t work out – I’ll be back someday!
British Airways’ A350 Premium Economy
While I remember having a good experience when I last flew British Airways’ premium economy, realistically it’s been almost six years since I’ve last flown it. Jason has reviewed British Airways’ 787 premium economy in the meantime, though neither of us have flown the newer seat featured on some of their A350s and 777s. I’ll be flying this product back to Hong Kong, where I’ll be spending Christmas.
I’m excited to fly British Airways longhaul, though their seat selection pricing is absurd – picking a window seat costs £92 (HK$939). At this point I might as well just book another trip…
I’ll be flying British Airways A350 premium economy
Greater Bay Airlines 737 MAX Economy Class
While I flew Greater Bay Airlines last year, the airline will be debuting their 737 MAXs near the Christmas period. Unfortunately prices are still far too high at the moment for me to swing a flight in their new Premium cabin, though I’ll ask to check it out after a flight in their economy class cabin.
I’ll be looking at buy-up options on the day of departure, as I’d love to check out their Premium cabin (if only their pricing wasn’t so prohibitive). I’ll be flying this from Hong Kong to Tokyo Narita.
I’ll be walking past Greater Bay Airlines’ 737 MAX Premium cabin (though won’t be flying it – they haven’t released pictures of their economy cabin yet)
Japan Airlines’ new A350 Premium Economy Class
Positioning to Tokyo might seem quite random, though I booked that flight for a reason. Specifically, I found an AAdvantage reward ticket from Tokyo Haneda to Paris to London, with the Tokyo Haneda to Paris segment being in Japan Airlines’ new A350 premium economy. I’m very excited about this – I’m trying to find the world’s best premium economy class product, and I feel like Japan Airlines might be a contender, mainly because of their industry-leading hard product. I crowned Qantas premium economy as the world’s best last month, and I’m curious to see if Japan Airlines will beat it.
I’m curious to see if Japan Airlines will dethrone Qantas as my new favourite premium economy class
Other airlines I’ve got my eye on
While the above is all the travel that I have booked for the winter season so far, I’ve also got my eye on a few other cabin products that I’d love to review:
- In terms of European premium economy products, LOT, Austrian, and ITA Airways are most on my radar
- I’m actively seeking chances to review Japan Airlines’ A350 business class, or ANA’s 777 premium economy/business class
- I’d love to review Oman Air business class, either with a cheap ex-Cairo fare, or using an AAdvantage redemption between Europe and Asia
- I’d love to review Gulf Air business class as well – I’ve seen some great ex-Cairo fares
- SriLankan Airlines has the most Oneworld award space in business class, and I’d love to fly them
- I’d love to review Singapore Airlines’ premium economy class, as I’ve never flown them longhaul (though I have flown them between Hong Kong and Singapore) – I’m seeing some affordable fares out of Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shanghai, and I could even upgrade the intra-Asia leg to business class
- In terms of low-cost carriers, I’d love to check out Volotea or Pegasus Airlines, which are the two biggest European low-cost carriers I haven’t tried yet
I’d love to review Singapore Airlines’ premium economy class
Conclusion
While there’s now a variety of content being posted on The Alviator, I certainly haven’t fallen out of love with reviewing airline products on cheap cabin fare as well as miles and points redemption opportunities. I’m excited to share these experiences with you as they come!
What airline reviews would you like to see next?
