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Virgin announces extra flights
If you are looking for reward seats, the airline has just announced more flights to Dubai and Cape Town, alongside its return to Cancun, Mexico.
Dubai gets upgraded with 50% more seats this winter
Virgin Atlantic is delivering its strongest ever winter schedule to Dubai, with a 50% increase in seat capacity year on year. Due to a 72% surge in demand compared to 2024, the airline has introduced the Airbus A350, the largest in the airline’s fleet, bringing the newer Upper Class Suite along with the airline’s signature inflight social space, The Booth.
Cancun comeback
As previously announced, Virgin Atlantic is returning to Cancun after a six-year hiatus. Starting in October, the airline will offer the only direct flights from London Heathrow on its Boeing 787-9.
Cape Town flights increase with 15% more seats and an increased season length
Virgin Atlantic is increasing capacity to Cape Town by nearly 15% this winter. With a 38% increase in bookings compared to 2024, the airline is also extending the season, which begins in October and runs through until April.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said:
“As more of our customers seek out winter sun and unforgettable experiences, we’re focused on giving them more of what they love. Our expanded flying to Dubai and Cape Town, alongside our return to Cancun, reflects strong demand for premium leisure travel, as we whisk our customers to their next adventure. Whether it’s glamour in the Gulf, culture and coastlines in South Africa or the vibrant energy of Mexico, Virgin Atlantic is here to make every journey feel special, from take-off to touchdown.”
New Oneworld option US-UK
If you want to fly to the US directly from the UK using Avios, BA and AA are pretty much the only options. Soon, there will be another option, as Alaska Airlines announces that flights from Seattle to London and Reykjavik are scheduled to begin in Spring 2026. The exact date and schedule have not been confirmed yet.
Alaska will offer daily, year-round service to London on their B787-9 aircraft, featuring 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats in Business Class.
The daily flight will offer connections onto Alaska’s network from its hub in Seattle, which could be handy for connecting to Hawaii, depending on the timing.
The new 787-9s will also feature a new livery, debuting in January. By spring, all Dreamliners in their fleet are scheduled to showcase the new design.
Spend Avios on Apple
Avios has launched a new option to spend your Avios on actual products. This is not a new concept, as many airlines already do this and have done for many years. Generally, these are a poor use of miles, but if you have a small amount that you won’t use for some reason, this is one of the options to consider using them.
The website is advertised on the Avios app, but I could not see any mention of it on the main website. The new shopping website is now live.
Currently, you can only purchase Apple products, but I am sure that will change over time. The only way to see how much you can save is to sign in, add something to your basket, and then go to checkout. Then, it will display the options. The maximum seems to be around 25% off the product with Avios. Here are some of the options available:
- 38,420 Avios (Save £228.20)
- 30,740 Avios (Save £182.60)
- 23,045 Avios (Save £136.90)
- 15,370 Avios (Save £91.30)
- 7,675 Avios (Save £45.60)
- 5,050 Avios (Save £30)
- 255 Avios (Save £1.50)
The good news is that on cheaper products, you could use up a small amount of Avios rather than lose them. The bad news is that for most people, it is not a great value compared to spending it on redemption flights. However, a lot depends on how you spend your Avios on flights, such as using a companion voucher, flying at peak times, how many Avios you use versus cash, etc.
If you use Avios to part-pay for flights versus reward flights, then it is an easy comparison, and actually buying Apple is often better value than part-paying for flights.
At the lower levels, prices are similar, but when you are talking about large amounts of Avios, there is a big difference.
Part Pay with Avios for flights: £129 off for 32,250 Avios
Part Pay for Apple products: £182.60 off for 30,740 Avios
The final thing to take into account is the price charged by Apple, as this is often higher than other outlets for the same product. You get 2 Avios per £1 for Apple purchases on the cash paid after the Avios discount, but if you find a store with a better Avios earn rate, this could also affect your decision on whether to use your Avios to offset your purchase.
You can find the new website here.
