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Lufthansa Gives Long-Haul Service an Upgrade Across All Cabins
Lufthansa has launched a new premium onboard service across all long-haul flights, including aircraft with and without Allegris. This follows the First Class changes made back in March.
The concept is called FOX (Future Onboard Experience), and all onboard service elements and processes have been redesigned. The main elements are personalisation, comfort, and Signature Moments.
Changes in Business Class include:
- New menus by chef Johann Lafer with options including smoothies, French toast and omelettes
- Choose your breakfast the evening before
- A “Sky Selection” second meal, where you can order items when you like on long-haul flights, such as currywurst, macarons, and tapas bowls.
- New tableware
- A new coffee and cake service (e.g. layered torte, cheesecake and fruit cake)
In Premium Economy, you can now enjoy:
- A choice of three hot main courses with warm bread, pastries or cake
- More drinks rounds
- A new digestif service
- Slippers
- A Business Class-style appetiser
There are some very positive changes in Economy too, including:
- An amenity kit with a sleep mask and earplugs
- A larger drinks selection
- Three hot meals if the flight is more than 10 hours
- new tableware, cutlery, trays and printed menus
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, says:
“Lufthansa is celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark this special occasion, we are redefining the service on board our long-haul flights. Our goal is clear: We want to be the number one premium airline in Europe. To achieve this, we are investing over 70 million euros this year alone in the new premium service across all classes for our guests. These enormous financial investments during challenging times demonstrate how sustainably and resolutely we are renewing and transforming Lufthansa. I thank the entire team for their tremendous efforts over the past two years, and I am proud of what our customers can enjoy on board with us.”
The new concept has been well researched, with passenger and crew feedback gathered across more than 110 test flights. It’s fantastic to see an airline investing in improving service rather than taking things away, particularly when so many recent changes across the industry have been about cutting costs.
No Virgin Flights to Dubai And Seattle This Winter
Virgin Atlantic is removing Dubai and Seattle from its winter 2026/27 schedule due to changes in customer demand.
Dubai flights were expected to resume at the end of October, but this seasonal route will no longer operate this winter. Flights are unlikely to return until at least Winter 2027, provided safety assessments are passed, and demand is there.
The Seattle route will not run during the winter season from 25th October, but it’s planned to resume on 27th March 2027.
This certainly wasn’t expected, but it does make sense. Alaska Airlines is launching a daily Seattle-Heathrow route from 21st May 2026, Delta already operate daily flights, and BA runs a year-round service with up to 10 flights per week in winter.
If your flight has been cancelled, you will be contacted with rebooking and refund options. You can also read the schedule change policy for more info.
More South Africa Flights Added
Also in response to changing demand, Virgin has announced an increase in capacity to South Africa for the winter 2026-2027 season.
Extra flights will be added to Johannesburg and Cape Town. From 25th October 2026 until 27th March 2027, Virgin will operate up to 10 weekly flights to Johannesburg and 11 to Cape Town.
Cash fares to Cape Town in Upper range from £2,933 to £5,151, and to Johannesburg from £3,231 to £5,420.
IHG Summer Promotion: Bonus Points Every 2-4 Nights – You Choose
IHG has brought back its popular ‘Pick Your Points’ promotion for stays between 20th May and 31st August.
You can choose between earning:
- 2,000 bonus points every 2 nights
- 8,000 bonus points every 4 nights
To get the bonus points, you’ll have to register via the IHG promotions page and pick one of the options before your first qualifying stay. Once selected, you can’t change your choice.
You’ll get much better value from the 8,000 points option (double the points) at 2,000 points per night vs 1,000, but if you are certain you’ll stay for less than 3 nights before 31st August, make sure you pick the 2-night option so you can still earn some bonus points.
There is no cap on the number of nights, so you could effectively earn up to 208,000 points if you were at an IHG property every single night of the promo, or more realistically, 32,000 points for a 16-night stay.
You must book direct with IHG, and Points and Cash/Reward Night bookings are excluded. You must also spend at least $30 per night on your stay.
The offer works out better as a value at cheaper properties. For example, the cheapest UK option is usually the Nui Loom Manchester night at around £43 per night. You would earn 8,000 points for spending just £172 on a 4-night stay, which is nearly 4x the base points you would earn.
This is a very useful promotion if you have some stays planned and running throughout the summer; there’s plenty of time to make the most of it.
