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Another new lounge opens at Manchester Airport
Manchester is quickly improving the lounge situation with another new opening after July’s premium Executive by Escape lounge opening in T2. Aspire, Swissport International’s airport hospitality brand, has opened its new lounge at Manchester Airport. The lounge is Aspire’s third at Manchester Airport, and follows recent openings in Liverpool and Birmingham.
The new lounge is centrally located in Terminal 2 of the airport with 300 seats available for passengers. The lounge offers various spaces, including booth seating, a dedicated dining area serving hot and cold dishes, areas for families and small groups to socialise, and private work booths alongside a dedicated work zone for those needing privacy or a quiet place to catch up on emails. The lounge is decorated in a way to give a sense of calm with a nod to the host city with wall finishings and artwork that are reminiscent of Manchester’s industrial heritage
“Our latest opening, at the UK’s third busiest airport, provides guests with our world-class, award-winning hospitality and is designed to reflect our almost 40 years of experience in partnership with Manchester airport. The opening of the Manchester lounge comes at an exciting time for Aspire in the UK and Ireland, following a successful lounge opening in Liverpool and the introduction of our Luxe & Suite products at Birmingham,” said James Millett, Director of Lounges UK&I and Global Customer Innovation at Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality.
“We’re delighted that Aspire’s third lounge at Manchester Airport is now open. The opening highlights the increasing demand for high-quality pre-flight hospitality, both in the UK&I and globally. The space brings the very best in design, amenities and hospitality that ensures we offer our guests’ a pre-flight experience that allows them to wait wonderfully ahead of their departure,” said David Collyer, Global Senior Vice President of Aspire Pre‑Flight Hospitality.
For pre-bookings, prices start at £46.99 for adults and £31.99 for children aged 2-11.
Etihad reveals new A330 business class and further improvements
Etihad Airways is going all-in on premium travel with the debut of its new “Beyond Borders” experience at the Arabian Travel Market. The airline’s massive $20 billion investment, which includes a $1 billion fleet retrofit program, is focused on redesigning its cabins, lounges, and ground services to create a seamless, high-end experience from check-in to touchdown.
The crown jewel is Etihad’s upcoming Airbus A330 fleet, set to enter service in September 2027. Designed for high-demand regional and medium-haul routes across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, 15 of these widebody aircraft will roll out over five years.
Inside the New A330 Cabin
Etihad is defying the industry trend of removing first class by doubling down on it instead. The airline will be bringing an ultra-luxury three-cabin configuration to shorter routes:
- First Class (4 Suites): An intimate sanctuary featuring sliding privacy doors, companion dining space, 32-inch screens, wireless charging, and a personal powder station stocked with premium amenities.
- Business Class (24 Seats): Forward-facing, fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, sliding privacy doors, and 17.3-inch screens.
- Economy Class (252 Seats): Features Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrests, 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens, and a dedicated Extra Legroom section offering 32 seats with an additional four inches of pitch.
The New “Sand to Superstructure” Aesthetic
The rollout also features a brand-new, Abu Dhabi-inspired design language called “sand to superstructure” with light, serene interiors with genuine perforated leather, custom pattern sconce lighting, and clever details like seat numbers projected directly onto the floor.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Beyond Borders is becoming visible in the moments that matter most to our guests. It is showcased in the aircraft they fly, the cabins they enjoy, the lounges they explore and the service that connects every part of the journey.
“The A321LR showed what is possible when we challenge the expected model of narrowbody flying. We brought First and fully lie-flat Business to a single-aisle aircraft and guests have responded strongly to the experience it offers, actively choosing to fly on the aircraft.
“Now we are taking the next step. At ATM, our new A330 brings Beyond Borders to life with an all-new cabin experience, while we are extending the Beyond Borders look and feel to our A321LR as we create greater consistency across the Etihad journey.
“We are also doubling down on First, bringing an exceptional First experience to our new A330 and increasing the number of First seats across our fleet over the coming years.
“Beyond Borders goes beyond the aircraft and the seat. It is about the entire journey – our cabins, lounges, food, wellbeing, connectivity and the way we look after our guests. Over the coming months, we will continue to reveal how Beyond Borders is shaping the future Etihad experience, both on the ground and in the air.”
New IHG 100% buy bonus
The latest IHG One Rewards 100% bonus points sale is now on (feels like a permanent promotion at this point!) and runs until 5 October 2026.
This is the best bonus they have ever offered, so it is pretty safe to buy if you need to top up. Standard members can usually buy a maximum of 200,000 points before the bonus (resulting in 400,000 total points). However, for the duration of the promotion, it is raised to 300,000, giving a total of 600,000 including the bonus. This would cost $3000. If you have already bought points this year, that amount will be deducted from the 300,000. For example, if a member had previously purchased 50,000 points in 2026, then the member could only purchase up to a maximum of 250,000 points during the offer period
You must purchase a minimum of 5,000 to trigger the 100% bonus.
The points will be credited to your account within 72 hours of completion. These point sales are usually targeted, so some members may receive a lower bonus (e.g., 60% or 80%) or no bonus at all.
Buying points without a clear redemption plan is not recommended due to potential future devaluations. However, this sale can save you a significant amount of money if you use it immediately for luxury hotel bookings (such as InterContinental or Kimpton properties) where cash rates are exceptionally high.
