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British Airways reinstates B777s to Madrid
Flying a long haul aircraft on a short haul route is a fun way to try out business class seats without the expense and helps make a short haul trip more fun. Up until a couple of years ago BA used to fly long haul aircraft to Madrid and has often used this route for training on new aircraft types. Since then the only real options have been Finnair, which uses long-haul aircraft equipped with their latest business class seats to Helsinki, or Iberia, which has used a range of long haul aircraft to Madrid. As a result of the changes, Iberia will use less long haul aircraft to Madrid over the summer.
Next summer, BA will be reinstating its B777 flights to Madrid starting from 29 March 2026 for the summer season until the end of October. So if you are about to drop status and want to give the lounges a last whirl, this could be a fun trip. Madrid is one of my favourite cities in Europe. It’s less flashy than Barcelona, and a beautiful city to visit with less tourists.
The B777-200s will be a mix of old Club World seats and the Club Suites, so make sure you check the seats if you want to experience the new seats and are flexible on dates. If you search using Google Flights it will show “Individual Suite” under the flight details for Club Suites. Prices are not cheap at around £450 return for business class in April. Using Avios may be a better deal if you can find availability. At the moment it looks like there is plenty of availability to Madrid, but book by 15 December to beat the price rises.
The flights that feature the B777 are as follows:
BA460 London Heathrow to Madrid – departs 12.20 and arrives at 15.50
BA461 Madrid to London Heathrow – departs at 17.30 and arrives at 18.55
Redeem Hilton points for cruises
Hilton and Explora Journeys – the privately owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group – announce an exclusive collaboration featuring Hilton Honors Adventures, an extension of Hilton’s loyalty program focused on adventure-driven travel.
By summer 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to book, earn, and redeem their Points to sail aboard Explora Journeys voyages. At the moment, we do not know what the rates of earning or redeeming Hilton points will be. However, to celebrate the announcement of Hilton’s partnership with Explora, Hilton Honors members can participate in a limited-time preview offer until 7 June 2026.
While Hilton Honors members can choose from all Explora Journeys’ global itineraries, a curated collection of 16 Journeys has been highlighted for the preview offer, with exclusive savings applied to these Journeys.
Anna Nash, president, Explora Journeys, said, “This partnership unites two brands committed to thoughtful travel, meaningful connection, and deep discovery. At Explora Journeys, we believe in giving our guests the time and space to slow down, choose intentionally, and feel truly in tune with their surroundings; this is what we call ‘The Ocean State of Mind’. Together, we’re offering Hilton Honors members a stay at sea that blends the freedom of the ocean with the warmth of genuine hospitality. Our goal is simple: to create moments that are effortless, personal, and crafted with care, always guided by our commitment to the wellbeing of our guests.”
Hilton Honors Adventures will also include Hilton’s partnership with premier outdoor hospitality provider AutoCamp.
By summer 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to earn and redeem Points and enjoy exclusive on-board benefits on Explora cruises. Destinations include:
- The Mediterranean – Sunlit islands, charming villages, historic ports and hidden coves.
- Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland & North America’s East Coast – Majestic fjords, dramatic northern landscapes and culturally rich coastal cities.
- The Caribbean & Central America – Island rhythm, turquoise seas and the iconic Panama Canal.
- The Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula – Ancient cultures and contemporary elegance along storied desert shores.
- Alaska, Canada & The Pacific Coast – Glacier-carved fjords, pristine wilderness and vibrant coastal towns.
- Asia – Dynamic cities, tranquil islands and rich traditions, with immersive Japan sailings from 2027.
Before you can earn and redeem Hilton Honors Points on Explora Journeys sailings in 2026, members can book Journeys until 7 June 2026 with exclusive benefits, including:
- 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points reward per suite.
- Up to $/€400 Journey Experience Credits (JEC) on 16 curated Hilton x Explora Journeys itineraries, and $/€200 credit on all other Explora Journeys voyages. These credits can be redeemed for onboard experiences, including fine dining, wine tastings, Destination Experiences, spa treatments, curated shopping, and suite upgrades.
- An exclusive in-suite welcome gift.
Learn more about Hilton’s luxury ocean travel partnership with Explora Journeys and explore itineraries at hilton.com/explora.
Hilton $150 room credit offer
Hilton has a good offer for its luxury hotels with a $150 or equivalent hotel credit when you stay at any Waldorf Astoria, LXR, Conrad or Signia by Hilton hotel or resort. Another option would be to use a Hilton Impressario agent which gives you access to $100 a night in most places as well as other perks such as upgrades and breakfast.
Hotel credits are earned per room, per stay. For each completed night, a US$150 hotel credit will be awarded for properties in the US, a £100 credit will be awarded for properties in the United Kingdom, and a €150 credit will be awarded for properties in Europe. Credit will be applied to the guest’s bill at the time of checkout.
For properties outside of the U.S, UK and Europe, the prevailing exchange rate equivalent of $150 in local currency (as determined by the property) will be given. The credit can’t be used on room charges or taxes but can be applies to items such as spa services and restaurants. Each hotel will decide what the credit can be redeemed against.
