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American Airlines’ new suites on more Heathrow flights
AA’s older seats are still a lot better than BA’s yin and yang in my opinion, but AA’s latest seats offer more privacy with a door and better technology. Like several other airlines, these aircraft also offer a larger suite at the front of the cabin, although on AA it comes with extra perks such as caviar.
| Departure airport | Arrival airport | Service notes |
| Chicago (ORD) | London (LHR) | All flights starting July 5 |
| DFW | LHR | One daily service (AA78 and AA79) Oct. 26-Jan. 5 expanding to two daily services from Dec. 3-Jan. 5 (adding AA20 and AA21) |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | LHR | Daily service Oct. 25-Jan. 5 |
The new aircraft have 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats which you can read more about here.
London is one of the most in-demand cities for premium travel, and American is the largest U.S. airline flying to LHR. This winter, American will offer up to 1,500 daily premium seats to LHR.
As previously announced, all of American’s flights between ORD and LHR will operate with the newly designed 787-9 aircraft this summer. Now, American is announcing an enhancement on this route as Flagship Suite® seats will be available on all future flights through winter and beyond. And, through the December holiday season, all flights between PHL and LHR will see the same enhancement.
Later this summer, American will further enhance the Flagship® Business class experience on all widebody flights to East Asia, the Middle East, India, Australia and New Zealand with the introduction of pajamas and mattress pads, in addition to the slippers, dual-sided pillows and duvet that are already offered.
You can check that your route will operate with the newly designed Boeing 787-9 aircraft by looking for the “78P” designator on aa.com when buying your flight.
Hilton to Open Tenth Curio Collection by Hilton in London
Hilton has announced the signing of The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton, as part of a franchise agreement with leading real estate developer and operator, Dominus. Curio Collection hotels are generally individual 4 star hotels which offer most of the benefits of Hilton Honors apart from lounges.
Expected to open in early 2026, the hotel is set to be the tenth property to open under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand in the UK. You can read reviews of many Hilton properties in our Hotel Reviews section. The portfolio of Curio Collection by Hilton hotels, each with its own one-of-a-kind story, includes Lost Property St Paul’s London; The Trafalgar St. James London; The Caledonian Edinburgh, and The Fellows House Cambridge.
Nick Smart, vice president, development, UK, Ireland and the Nordics, Hilton, said, “Curio Collection by Hilton’s continued expansion in the UK is a testament to the popularity and commercial success of our forward-thinking lifestyle brand. We’re delighted to partner with Dominus on another exciting hotel project, which will undoubtedly become a popular addition to our portfolio, offering guests an elegant but unexpected retreat that encapsulates London’s heritage, while reflecting the vibrancy of a city which was recognised as the world’s top destination for 2025.”
The former office building that will be the hotel is on Great Tower Street in the heart of London’s main financial district, known as the Square Mile, which is convenient for business travellers. With the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral within easy walking distance, and eight key London underground stations in close proximity, the hotel will also be great for leisure travellers. I often find that hotels near the City can be a bargain at weekends so it is always worth a look if you don’t mind a few more minutes on the tube or plan to explore the area.
Named after the famous bowler hat, the hotel features 237 guest rooms, including 10 suites with views of London’s iconic landmarks, and interiors crafted with contemporary flair and a quirky charm.
The hotel will also feature an all-day dining restaurant, coffee house and bar named Rycrofte’s, inspired by Sir John Rycrofte, Sergeant of the Larder to Henry VII and Henry VIII. This space will serve British cuisine overlooking St Dunstan in the East Church Garden, a historic churchyard in the heart of the City. Other amenities include a 24-hour state of the art gym, meeting rooms and private dining.
The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton joins an existing portfolio of hotels managed by Dominus, which includes Lost Property St. Paul’s London, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton Bath City and Hampton by Hilton London City.
Bonus Avios with American Express on Avios Hotels – 15 Avios per £1 spent
I recently tried Avios Hotels for the first time and found the prices similar to those on Expedia, but not exactly the same. The Avios post up to 31 days after your stay and as of day 28 there is no sign of them so far.
So are they worth using? The platform uses Expedia, so you will get a similar experience to using Expedia usually. However, as I mentioned, you need to weigh up the prices. The first step is to determine how many Avios you would receive and then consider the price to purchase them. If it would be cheaper or the same to buy them, then it is not worth using Avios hotels. I would book directly with the hotel or chain. You also need to weigh the cost of not receiving your loyalty benefits and points if you usually stay in a particular chain to earn them. The price of paying for breakfast every day could outweigh getting the Avios.
The offer is for the usual 10 Avios per £1 for booking through avios.com. Then you also get an additional 5 Avios per £1 for spending with your British Airways BA Premium Plus card (not sure if it is available on the free one). You need to register in the usual way in the card offers section and book by 21 July 2025 to get the extra 5 Avios per £1. You will also get the usual points for spending on the BA Amex as well.
2 comments
We completed a hotel stay in Turin on 26 May, which was booked with cash through avios.com in Feb 2025. The avios posted on 26 Jun in full.
Good to know, Toby.
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