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Global Entry Event Announced for London
If you have conditional Global Entry approval with no US trips planned in the near future, this one’s for you. US Customs and Border Protection will be hosting an enrolment event in London from Monday, 11th May to Friday, 15th May 2026.
To book your interview, log in to your TTP account, select ‘Schedule Interview‘, then search for ‘London Global Entry Event FY 2026‘ and choose your slot.
These events are one of the easiest ways to get approved without relying on airport interview slots. You must be conditionally approved before you can book an interview (80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks). If your application is still showing as pending, you’ll need to wait until that stage before booking.
Appointments are limited, and these events are often highly oversubscribed. If you don’t manage to get one, it’s still worth checking regularly as cancellations may open up extra slots.
If you’re unsure about Global Entry, it costs $120, approval lasts five years, and it also includes TSA PreCheck. You’ll need a background check, then an interview at an enrollment centre.
Once you’re approved, you can skip the main immigration queues and use automated kiosks instead, which are far less hassle. If you travel to the US semi-often, it’s well worth looking into.
ITA Switches to Miles & More on 1st April: Have You Done These Things?
ITA’s Volare loyalty programme will close on 30th March 2026. From 1st April, ITA will switch to Miles & More and officially join Star Alliance.
Whether Volare is your loyalty programme of choice, or you still have a points balance, there are a few things you’ll need to do.
Firstly, you will not be automatically enrolled in Miles & More. You’ll have to register. There’s still an ongoing free status match from ITA-Lufthansa if you haven’t already applied, and status will be valid until February 2027:
- Club Plus = Frequent Traveller
- Club Premium, Club Executive and Club Executive = Senator
Secondly, if you have a Volare points balance, there’s a range of things you can do with your points, but they will not be transferred to Miles & More.
Until 30th March 2026, you can still use points for Award Ticket and Cash&Points bookings, but flights must depart within 12 months. You can also opt to spend points on partner products/services or donate them.
From 1st April to 30th June 2026, you can convert points into a Volare gift card and 50,000 points = a €100 voucher. You must spend the voucher by 30th June 2026, and the trip must be completed within 12 months.
If you have Volare points, I would not leave this until the last minute. The best option is to book a redemption now to avoid your points losing value.
Singapore Airlines Announces More Gatwick Flights This Summer
The Singapore Airlines flights from Gatwick have been very popular since they were first launched less than two years ago. This summer, there will be some additional flights, including:
- 31st March to 2nd July: An extra flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- 3rd July to 29th August: Double daily
- 1st September to 24th October: Reverts to an extra flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Times will be as follows
| Route | Flight | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIN-LGW (existing service) | SQ312 | 23:55 | 06:55 (+1) |
| LGW-SIN (existing service) | SQ309 | 10:00 | 06:25 (+1) |
| SIN-LGW | SQ314 | 02:30 | 09:30 |
| LGW-SIN | SQ313 | 12:20 | 08:40 (+1) |
Singapore Airlines already operates four daily flights from Heathrow and five weekly from Manchester. These extra services will take Singapore Airlines to 43 direct flights per week and 47 during peak summer.
The additional flights will also be operated on an Airbus A350-900, which has 187 Economy, 24 Premium Economy and 42 Business seats.
First is only available on flights from Heathrow. Flying Business from Gatwick or with KrisFlyer Elite Gold (Star Alliance Gold), you’ll be able to access the No 1 Lounge at North Terminal.
These flights are great for onward connections via Singapore Changi. It’s a popular route for destinations such as Thailand, Bali and Australia, with the UK-to-Sydney route taking as little as 21 hours 40 minutes.
