Flight Review: British Airways Boeing 787-10 Club World – LHR-ORD

After landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), I had a short window before my flight to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). I did not have a chance to visit any lounges at the airport and went straight to my departure gate for a pleasant flight home. Well, mostly enjoyable. The aircraft had inoperable Wi-Fi and that made for a long trip that I really needed to get some work done during.

thebulkheadseat.com

Marriott Bonvoy® Tests New Upgrade Waitlist Feature for Elite Members

Marriott Bonvoy® is experimenting with a new feature that could give elite members greater visibility into their chances of receiving a complimentary room upgrade before arriving at a hotel. The feature, currently being tested with a limited number of users, introduces an upgrade tracking system within the Marriott Bonvoy® app. Similar to the standby lists used by airlines, the tool displays a guest's ranking among those awaiting an upgraded room along with an estimate of how many upgrades the property expects to offer.

thebulkheadseat.com

2026 Weekly Review: October 10th

Greetings from Chicago! I returned yesterday after spending the week at World Summit AI in Amsterdam. This long weekend is a great time for me to catch up on some rest. In travel news this week, I share my thoughts on a British Airways flight, I check out the oneworld® Lounge, several airlines are adding Starlink, and more. Airlines American, KLM, and SWISS are adding Starlink while Delta is not, Icelandair is coming to St.

thebulkheadseat.com

Flight Review: British Airways Airbus A321neo Club Europe – AMS-LHR

Yesterday, I flew from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) before continuing on to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on British Airways. My original flight went mechanical, and the American Executive Platinum desk was able to easily get me a seat on this flight. Anthony's Take: The replacement flight went out on schedule and was a little late due to weather, but a nice hop across Europe.

thebulkheadseat.com

Planned Westin Hotel at Miami International Airport Canceled Over FAA Safety Concerns

Back in January 2024, I wrote about plans to build a new Westin at Miami International Airport (MIA). This was supposed to open this year, but plans have been abandoned after regulators raised concerns about the proposed building's impact on airport operations. The 451-room property would have provided travelers with convenient access to the airport's terminals. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the proposed 150-foot structure could interfere with radar coverage and potentially compromise aircraft safety.

thebulkheadseat.com

American Airlines to Equip Entire Mainline Fleet With Starlink Wi-Fi Beginning in 2027

Last week, I wrote about Delta Air Lines doubling down on not bringing Starlink to its planes and an ensuing exchange between Elon Musk and Ed Bastian. A lot of flyers got upset and both United and American took the opportunity to try to snag some of Delta's elite members through status matches. American went a step further and…

thebulkheadseat.com

Mission Accomplished: Centurion® Lounge and Delta Sky Club® Access Unlocked for 2027

The Delta Sky Clubs® and Centurion® Lounges by American Express have been super crowded over the past few years. Both Delta and American Express worked to thin the herd by limiting guest access to a set number of passes and taking away the ability to bring others with you without paying. This has helped some, but there are still long lines at many lounges…

thebulkheadseat.com

BermudAir Expands With New Flights to Belize, Turks & Caicos, and Bermuda

BermudAir is continuing to expand its network with new nonstop flights connecting Florida with Belize, Turks & Caicos, and Bermuda (along with several additional routes across North America). The airline is launching service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to/from Belize City's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks & Caicos. Both routes will operate 3x weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

thebulkheadseat.com

Lounge Review: oneworld® Lounge (AMS)

The oneworld® Alliance opened a dedicated lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) back in January 2024. The lounge looks funky and futuristic. I was happy to spend some time there today before my flight to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The lounge is also referred to as "Lounge No. 40" and it was easy to find it in the non-Schengen area between D and E Gates (on the 3rd floor).

thebulkheadseat.com

Huh: Southwest Airlines is Considering Boeing 787s for Long-Haul International Flights

Southwest Airlines could be preparing for a change even bigger than assigned seating: flying wide-body aircraft on long-haul international routes. The airline is reportedly considering the Boeing 787 for its first wide-body fleet with a potential deal involving dozens of aircraft. No final decision has been made and Southwest could also pursue leased or previously operated Boeing 787s if new aircraft cannot be delivered quickly enough.

thebulkheadseat.com

American Express is Opening Its Largest Lounge at Newark and Adding a Second in London

American Express is planning new Centurion® Lounges for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) along with major expansions in Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The centerpiece will be a new 30,000-plus-square-foot Centurion® Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Scheduled to open in 2027 in Terminal A, the two-story facility will become the largest Centurion® Lounge in the network.

thebulkheadseat.com

More Than 100 Passengers Line Up for Delta Sky Club® at New York LaGuardia Airport

Airport lounges are supposed to provide an escape from crowded terminals. At New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) yesterday, passengers encountered another crowd just trying to get inside the Delta Sky Club®. On Wednesday, more than 100 travelers were reportedly waiting outside the Delta Sky Club® in Terminal C (review here) with the line stretching well beyond the entrance and toward the terminal's interfaith chapel.

thebulkheadseat.com

KLM Is Bringing Free Starlink Wi-Fi to Long-Haul Flights

It seems like every airline is rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi (aside from Delta Air Lines, which has caused lots of drama). KLM is the latest to bring free high-speed internet to its long-haul network with connectivity scheduled to begin rolling out in mid-2027. The service will be available across all cabin classes on equipped intercontinental aircraft and will be introduced gradually across the fleet.

thebulkheadseat.com

KLM Celebrates 107th Anniversary With New Delft Blue House

KLM marked its 107th anniversary this week by adding another miniature to one of aviation's most recognizable traditions (and one of my favorite collectibles when flying). I have a whole shelf of these at home and look to add more. The airline unveiled Delft Blue house No. 107, modeled after Wijnhoeve De Kleine Schorre in Dreischor, Zeeland. The Dutch winery has a particularly close connection with KLM as it has supplied wine served in the airline's World Business Class for more than two decades.

thebulkheadseat.com

Air France Is Launching Nonstop Flights to Nashville and San Diego Next Summer

Air France is adding two new nonstop routes connecting Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and both Nashville International Airport (BNA) and San Diego International Airport (SAN) next summer. Both routes will run 3x weekly and launch on May 14th and 17th, respectively. The French carrier will use Airbus A350-900 aircraft on both routes. These offer 34 Business, 24 Premium Economy, and 266 Economy Class seats.

thebulkheadseat.com

American Airlines is Bringing Back Economy Meal Preorders

American Airlines is giving Economy Class passengers another way to make sure their preferred food is available onboard by bringing back advance ordering for buy-on-board items. The airline will begin testing its new Reserved Buy on Board program on flights between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Customers will begin receiving invitations to place orders on October 13th, with the first eligible flights departing October 20th.

thebulkheadseat.com

Icelandair Adds Its 16th US Destination: St. Louis

Icelandair is adding St. Louis to its growing North American network with a new nonstop route to Iceland beginning next spring. This will be the Icelandic carrier's 16th US destination.  The airline will launch 4x weekly service between Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) on May 14th (using Boeing 737 MAX aircraft). The new route will give St.

thebulkheadseat.com

British Airways is Adding a Huge Lounge at London Heathrow Airport and Refreshing Others

British Airways is planning a major overhaul of its lounge experience at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). This includes an entirely new facility at Terminal 5's C Gates. Scheduled to open by the end of 2028, the new Terminal 5 lounge will be one of the largest lounge projects British Airways has undertaken. Passengers will have views across the airfield and terminal, along with separate areas for dining, working, relaxing, and showering before a flight.

thebulkheadseat.com

Southwest Airlines Launches ChatGPT Plugin to Help Travelers Find Flights

Southwest Airlines is bringing flight shopping directly into ChatGPT through a new partnership with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The airline launched its new Southwest plugin on October 6th to allow travelers to use ChatGPT to discover destinations and search for Southwest flight options. Southwest says it is the first US airline to introduce this type of plugin in ChatGPT.

thebulkheadseat.com

Delta Airbus A350 Collides With Air Canada Boeing 777 at LAX

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 and an Air Canada Boeing 777-233LR have been involved in a ground collision at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Early images circulating from the scene appear to show the wingtip of the Delta Airbus A350 making contact with the horizontal stabilizer of the Air Canada Boeing 777. The incident occurred while the aircraft were on the ground today.

thebulkheadseat.com

American Airlines Is Building Its Largest Admirals Club® in Charlotte

American Airlines announced today that Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) will one day have the largest Admirals Club® in its network. The new lounge will eventually encompass more than 40,000 square feet on the mezzanine level overlooking the airport's central atrium. Construction is expected to begin this year. The massive Admirals Club® is part of a broader upgrade to American's premium facilities in Charlotte.

thebulkheadseat.com

The United States is Getting Rid of Passport Stamps for Most Arriving Travelers

One of the most familiar parts of international travel for many is disappearing at US borders. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is ending the routine practice of placing admission stamps in passports when travelers enter the United States. With Global Entry it has been years since I have had a US passport stamp and it was always other countries' stamps that I found fun.

thebulkheadseat.com

Marriott Is Adding Eight Hotels Across the Netherlands

I'm in flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and had the Netherlands on my mind. Apparently, so did Marriott as it just signed a new agreement with Townhouse Hotels that will add eight properties and more than 700 rooms to its portfolio. The deal will introduce Series by Marriott™ to the Netherlands with six hotels across Amsterdam, The Hague, Maastricht, and Breda.

thebulkheadseat.com

United Polaris® Lounge: The Buffet Isn’t What It Used to Be and Feels Like Golden Corral

For years the food served in flight for passengers in United Airline's most premium cabin: Polaris® (Business Class) has been awful. One saving grace has been the Polaris® Lounges found in most of United's hubs. Denver International Airport (DEN) is the only one without a premium lounge currently, but there are plans for one in the future. Before boarding a flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), I had just enough time to grab some food from the buffet.

thebulkheadseat.com

Delta and LATAM Mark Four Years of Their Joint Venture With More Growth Ahead

Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines are celebrating four years of their joint venture. This partnership that has significantly expanded travel options between North and South America. Since launching in 2022, the airlines have operated approximately 83,000 flights, offered more than 20 million seats, and transported nearly 17.4 million passengers through the partnership. Planned capacity for 2026 is 31% higher than in 2023.

thebulkheadseat.com

Southwest Wants You to Turn Your Notifications Into Free Rapid Rewards Points

Southwest Airlines is launching a new campaign encouraging travelers to disconnect from their daily routines and some customers can turn their phone notifications into Rapid Rewards points in the process. The airline's new "Enter Airplane Mode" campaign is built around the idea that constant emails, notifications, meetings, and packed schedules are contributing to burnout. A Southwest-sponsored survey found that 76% of respondents said they were experiencing burnout while 68% viewed taking a trip as one way to regain control of their time.

thebulkheadseat.com

American Passenger Complains Seatmate Took Off His Shirt and Manspread Into Her Seat

An American Airlines passenger is raising questions about how carriers handle situations when one traveler takes up a significant portion of another passenger's seat. In a social media post, the woman said she had paid extra to upgrade her seat but found herself seated beside a man she estimated weighed more than 300 pounds. She alleged that he extended into her seat, repeatedly made physical contact with her, and removed his shirt.

thebulkheadseat.com

SWISS Begins Rolling Out Free Starlink Wi-Fi

SWISS has begun introducing Starlink internet across its fleet and is promising faster and more reliable connectivity from the gate through arrival. The first aircraft equipped with the new system is an Airbus A320neo. It entered scheduled service on September 28th and operated flight LX 1852 from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Thessaloniki Airport "Makedonia" (SKG). Starlink access will be complimentary in every cabin for Miles & More members and passengers using a Travel ID.

thebulkheadseat.com

Woman Who Refused to Give Up Her Window Seat to a Child Is Now Suing

A Brazilian airline passenger who became an unexpected social media sensation after refusing to surrender her window seat to a young child is now taking legal action over the incident and its aftermath. Jeniffer Castro, then 29, was traveling on a GOL Airlines flight from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) to Belo Horizonte/Confins-Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF) on December 4, 2024, when she was asked to move from a window seat she had reportedly paid to select in advance.

thebulkheadseat.com

2026 Weekly Review: October 2nd

Greetings from Chicago! I was in San Francisco for a few days this week and leave for Amsterdam on Monday. In travel news this week, I found a United meal I actually like (spoiler, United didn't cater it), I reviewed a few hotels, Alaska announced a huge new lounge, and more. Airlines Icelandair learned that passengers don't want amenity kits, Alaska announced some big changes in flight and with its loyalty program, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest added routes, and more this week in airline news.

thebulkheadseat.com