NEWS & OFFERS: Virgin follows BA & allows calls as Starlink plans revealed, Earn Avios on Uber Eats, and Amex drops Lufthansa lounges

Virgin follows BA & allows calls as Starlink plans revealed

Virgin Atlantic has announced an accelerated rollout of Starlink, as it introduces free, high-speed WiFi across its entire fleet.

Virgin Atlantic will begin introducing Starlink wi-fi on its Airbus A350 fleet from May 2026, with all A350s to be connected by early summer. This is good news as you will then know that your A350 flight should definitely have wi-fi by the time we hit the peak summer period. The first customer flight is slated for early May on the VS153 from London Heathrow to New York, JFK. The programme will then extend across the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330neo to reach full fleet coverage anticipated in 2027. 

Virgin Atlantic became the first UK airline to commit to free, fleet-wide Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity last summer. By using the world’s most advanced satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet access around the world, including the most isolated areas. This makes it ideal for a reliable, fast service on aircraft. Starlink will be offered entirely free of charge for Flying Club members, so make sure all your travel party are members before your flight, as it is free to join.

The new service aims to create a ‘home away from home’ Wi-Fi experience in the sky, by allowing customers to connect from the moment they board the aircraft.

Virgin say that they will allow “brief audio calls, while keeping the cabin comfortable and relaxed for everyone.” This is slightly better than BA as it suggest that video calls will not be allowed which may help reduce the nuisance factor. However, how the crew are told to define “brief” and how it will be policed to make sure people are not shouting into their phone with the whole conversation blasting out at full volume on speaker phone in the middle of the night remains to be seen. I’d be interested to know if airlines did research to see if people actually want to allow calls on board. If you ask people, ” Would you like to be able to make calls? ” versus ” Would you like other people to be able to make calls, I suspect the results may be quite different. Certainly, the overwhelming consensus by TLFL readers is that they dread the implementation of voice and video calls onboard.

Customers will also be able to utilise multiple devices simultaneously, including smartphones, laptops and tablets.

Juha Jaervinen, Chief Customer Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented;

“We were the first UK airline to announce free, fleet-wide Starlink Wi-Fi, and from May, we’re starting to deliver it for our customers. As the rollout gathers pace, we plan to deliver 100% Starlink connectivity across our fleet in 2027, as part of our focus on creating a brilliantly connected experience. 

“Together with Starlink, we’re setting a new standard for connectivity in the skies, with fast, free, high-speed WiFi available from the moment customers step onboard. It’s all part of creating a truly connected, ‘home away from home’ experience, giving customers the freedom to use their time onboard exactly as they choose, whether that’s staying close to work, to plans, or to the people who matter most.” 

Earn Avios on Uber Eats

Uber Eats customers in the UK will soon be able to turn their takeaway orders into Avios, thanks to an expanded partnership with IAG Loyalty.

You have been able to collect Avios on Uber Rides for a while, and since these usually post the same day, it’s a great way to top up quickly without buying Avios.  Uber and IAG Loyalty have now announced that British Airways Club members will soon be able to collect Avios when they order via the Uber Eats app as well.  

The phased roll-out starts for many customers from today. Over the next few weeks, all British Airways Club members based in the UK will be eligible to collect 1 Avios for every £1 spent on any Uber Eats order over £25 (excluding any fees or promotions). 

This expansion means Uber customers can now boost their Avios balances across more of the Uber brands – whether they are travelling by car, train, or ordering from their favourite local restaurant – helping travellers reach their next destination sooner.

How it works:

Members simply need to link their British Airways Club account with their Uber Eats account by entering their details in the settings section of the Uber Eats app. Once linked, Avios will automatically appear in each member’s account when they order on Uber Eats, without needing to click through avios.com each time they order. If you have already linked your Uber and British Airways Club accounts to collect Avios on rides, you will not be required to re-link for the new partnership.

Merve Basci, UK General Manager for Uber Eats, said: “We’re thrilled that Uber Eats customers can now benefit from Avios points with every purchase, so our customers can plan more culinary adventures to further inspire their taste buds. We know Uber is a one-stop shop for eating, travel and daily life, and allowing our community to earn rewards on their favourite meals is a natural next step.”

Rob McDonald, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Loyalty, said: “Since the launch of our partnership with Uber, the feedback has been really positive, as members enjoy a new way to collect Avios in everyday spending. Therefore, the expansion to Uber Eats was a logical next step for us, as we help turn customers’ takeaways into take-offs, and provide a complimentary side of rewards with the next meal.”

American Express Platinum drops Lufthansa lounge access