BA to allow phone and video calls on board
When I heard that BA had signed up for Starlink, one of my first thoughts was, I hope they don’t follow Qatar in allowing voice and video calls onboard. Air France also allows these calls, and I am sure more airlines will follow suit.
You would hope people know how to behave when this is allowed on board a plane, but judging by the number of people I see on planes playing videos at full volume with no headphones, I am not hopeful. I can only imagine what the Saturday morning flight to Palma will be like in summer with a planeload of passengers who have had a few beers at 6 am bellowing into their phones “I AM ON THE PLANE”. Or on a business-heavy flight on a Monday morning, where everyone will be on the phone for meetings and business calls.
I personally think it is a terrible idea that is bound to lead to conflict and confrontation on board when people don’t show consideration for others. BA’s first aircraft with Starlink launched in March on a B787, with all aircraft expected to be equipped with it in the next two years, including short-haul planes. Long-haul aircraft will be fitted with the new wi-fi first.
Passengers will be able to make voice and video calls on platforms like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams, as long as they use headphones and keep their voice low. Given that a lot of people can’t manage to do that currently with things such as social media, I think BA is opening a can of worms by assuming people will follow the guidance they have issued on their website:
- You’re making a call, keep your voice low and use headphones.
- Please always use headphones when watching or listening to content on your device.
- Please do not access anything offensive, or watch or download inappropriate content (please note some sites are blocked).
Starlink wi-fi will be free in every cabin on BA. It’s not limited to one device – you can connect on your phone, tablet, and laptop at the same time.
What do you think about allowing these calls onboard? Let us know in the comments below.
Nectar 10-20% bonus offer
I previously said that if you were planning to convert any Nectar points into Avios, you should wait, as an offer was on the way. IAG Loyalty, the organisation Avios, has teamed up with Nectar to offer customers bonus Avios or Nectar points this April.
Avios to Nectar conversions
From today, Nectar customers will now get up to 20% bonus Avios when converting their Nectar points, With the 20% bonus, you can exchange 400 Nectar points for 300 Avios, up from the standard conversion rate of 250 Avios.
The 20% bonus will be available to those who select auto-conversion – the method where Nectar points are automatically converted across to Avios each Monday – while customers who choose to transfer Nectar manually points into Avios will benefit from 10% bonus Avios. With this, 400 Nectar points will translate into 275 Avios from the standard 250 Avios.
Nectar to Avios conversions
For the first time, members of The British Airways Club who choose to convert their Avios into Nectar points will also enjoy a bonus, with up to 20% more Nectar points on conversions. Again, customers who select auto-conversion from Avios to Nectar points will enjoy a 20% bonus, meaning 400 Avios converts into 480 Nectar points, up from the standard rate of 400. For those looking to manually convert their Avios to Nectar points, a 10% bonus will apply, meaning 400 Avios converts to 440 Nectar points.
This limited-time offer will be available for all conversions up to and including 30 April 2026, and is only available to those based in the UK. There are also some limits – on manual conversions, the maximum bonus that can be received is 5,000 bonus Nectar points, and on automatic conversions, the maximum bonus that can be received is 10,000 bonus Nectar points. There is no maximum bonus limit on Nectar to Avios manual or automatic conversions.
To qualify for the 20% bonus on Automatic Opt-In (AOI) exchanges, customers must have linked their British Airways Club and Nectar accounts before 23:59 BST on 25 April 2026.
Alaska Airlines reveals its business class seats and service for London
Alaska Airlines is expanding its services to Europe next year with flights to London from Seattle starting on 21 May 2026. This will be their first venture into proper long-haul territory, and being part of Oneworld will offer a welcome alternative to BA or AA to the US West Coast. The initial offering sounds pretty impressive, and I look forward to trying it out. Wine, cheese and charcuterie before you even start the meal and an ice cream bar, sign me up! You can, of course, redeem your Avios for travel on Alaska through BA’s The Club or any of the other oneworld carrier loyalty programs.
Alaska Airlines today announced the debut of its all-new International Business Class, a premium long-haul experience launching this spring as the airline expands to Europe and Asia.
The airline’s new International Business Class on brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will offer:
- Fully lie-flat suites with privacy doors, direct aisle access and lounge-style seating that converts into a true flat bed.
- Modern cabin design featuring 18” HD entertainment screens, over 1500 movies and TV shows, noise-reducing headsets, personal power outlets and wireless charging.
- Elevated “restaurant-quality” dining delivers a multi-course meal which celebrates the flavours of the West Coast and the global destinations Alaska serves.
The experience begins with the welcome service featuring a cheese and charcuterie board — an interpretation of Alaska’s Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter — paired with an expanded selection of wines from the West Coast and regions in Europe, such as Stag’s Leap, including Roederer Champagne, handcrafted cocktails, West Coast craft beer, mineral water and freshly brewed Stumptown coffee.
The meal continues with an appetiser course followed by up to six entrée choices tailored to each route. Options may include roasted chicken with pasta carbonara on flights to Rome and Gochujang chicken with traditional banchan en route to Incheon. You can also select Alaska’s Chef’s (Tray) Table entrée, developed in partnership with Seattle chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, featuring his signature short rib sourced from Klingemann Farms.
Meals can be chosen in advance through Alaska’s pre-order feature in the airline’s app.
Then there will be Alaska’s new dessert cart, showcasing a customizable Salt & Straw sundae service alongside other desserts.
Prior to arrival, guests will be treated to a second lighter meal and drinks, which are destination-inspired, such as a classic full English breakfast on flights to London.
Premium bedding and travel amenity kits will include luxury bedding designed in collaboration with Filson. International Business Class amenities include a plush mattress pad, soft sleeping pillow, lumbar/lounging pillow and oversized duvet — plus a collectable travel amenity bag in two West Coast-inspired Filson colours, created exclusively for Alaska Airlines. Each kit includes premium Salt & Stone skincare products and other travel essentials. Guests will also receive a custom reusable water bottle developed in partnership with PATH Water.
Lounge access will be included across Alaska’s network of lounges and oneworld partner lounges worldwide.
Starlink is also scheduled to be installed on Alaska’s 787-9 Dreamliners this autumn. Starlink is already available on select aircraft across Alaska’s fleet, delivering gate-to-gate connectivity. Starting in May, if you are flying on any Starlink-enabled Alaska aircraft, you will need to sign in using your Atmos™ Rewards number to enjoy Starlink completely free.
Like this:
Like Loading…