24 MAY 2026 news
Korean-Asiana Merger Completion: The December 17, 2026 Brand Sunset
On December 17, 2026, Asiana exits Star Alliance and Korean Air absorbs the brand, fleet, and slots. December 1 is the hard deadline for Star Alliance awards.
Tag · 8 pieces
Skyteam
Every piece on the journal carrying the skyteam tag, most recent first.
18 MAY 2026 airlines
Aeromexico Business Class on the 787-9 — A 2026 Review
I flew AM1 MEX-MAD seat 2A on XA-ADL and AM57 NRT-MEX on XA-ADD. Here's how Aeromexico Clase Premier on the 787-9 holds up against Delta One JV in 2026.
12 MAY 2026 airlines
KLM World Business Class on the 787-9 — A 2026 Review
KLM World Business Class on the 787-9 — Safran Cirrus NG seats, the Delft Blue house tradition, the Schiphol direct-routing strategy, and the SkyTeam transatlantic JV with Delta that quietly anchors the long-haul network.
12 APR 2026 loyalty
Flying Blue 2026 — A Program Teardown
We worked through Air France-KLM Flying Blue in 2026 — dynamic pricing, the Promo Awards cadence, the XP ladder to Ultimate, the Saudia partnership, and the six US transferable currencies that all sit at 1:1. From our own balance, no comped points.
09 APR 2026 airlines
China Airlines Business Class on the A350-900 — A 2026 Review
I flew CI11 TPE-LAX in seat 4A on B-18906, a Song Dynasty-themed A350-900 with the Collins Super Diamond reverse-herringbone cabin. Taiwan's flag carrier on the Pacific flagship — this is the 2026 reassessment.
08 MAR 2026 airlines
Vietnam Airlines Business Class on the A350-900 — A 2026 Review
I flew VN98 SGN-SFO in seat 3K on VN-A893, an A350-900 in the carrier's newer Saffran Cirrus III configuration. Vietnam Airlines' only US route and the long-haul flagship — this is the 2026 reassessment.
14 FEB 2026 lounges
Air France La Première CDG 2E — A 2026 Review
Three visits to the Air France La Première salon at Paris CDG Terminal 2E in late 2025 and the first weeks of 2026 — the chauffeur, the Ducasse kitchen, the Biologique Recherche spa, the Cellier, and the Porsche tarmac transfer before the February 2 renovation begins.
19 JAN 2026 airlines
Saudia Business Class on the 787-9 — A 2026 Review
Saudia's 787-9 Business Class is a Vision 2030 calling card — a dry-cabin Collins Super Diamond suite, prayer-direction display, and a SkyTeam routing that still gets surprisingly little attention in the Western premium press.