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In the past week, we gave you a first look inside the brand-new Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam and shared a bunch of news for Chase cardholders: you can win up to 5.5 million points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can invest your
Here's what other news popped up this week that may have gotten lost in all this breaking news. Here's what to know.
Some Capital One
If you have the Capital One Quicksilver Cash
In addition to earning 1.5% cash back on every purchase, select cardholders will now earn 3% cash back on gas and 3% cash back on groceries.
A Capital One spokesperson told us this:
“We have notified some Capital One Quicksilver and QuicksilverOne cardholders that their cards will be upgraded with enhanced rewards. Customers who were notified will earn unlimited 3% cash back rewards at grocery stores and gas stations, in addition to the unlimited 1.5% cash back they earn on all other purchases. Some of these cardholders were also notified that their cards will transition to the Discover Network. Any cardholder notified of a change who wishes to discuss their account can contact us for support.”
It's not clear who exactly will enjoy this new earning potential, but hopefully it will roll out to all cardholders in the future. Those who can currently unlock bonus earnings at gas stations and grocery stores are very lucky.
- Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
- 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5% cash back on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Several Airlines Debut New Business Class
There are two new business class products on the way.
First, Flydubai announced that it will retrofit its Boeing 737 MAX fleet with lie-flat seats, replacing the existing recliner seats. It's also taking delivery of 11 new 737 MAX aircraft this year, pushing its total fleet to more than 100 aircraft. The 737-9 MAX has 16 business class seats, compared with 10 on the 737-8 MAX. In addition, overhead bins on these aircraft will be replaced, expanding baggage capacity from four standard-sized bags to six.
Not many 737 MAX aircraft offer lie-flat seats, so this is a win for frequent Flydubai travelers.
In addition, Etihad unveiled its new first, business, and economy class products on its A330neo planes. The first planes with the new cabins will enter service in September 2027, and 15 A330s will join the fleet over the next five years. There will be four first suites at the front of the aircraft, with a closing door, a 32-inch screen, dedicated compartments and personal stowage, and a personal powder station with premium amenities.
The business class cabin will feature 24 lie-flat seats, each with direct aisle access and sliding doors. Customers will enjoy a 17.3-inch screen, a large table, and more. Finally, the economy cabin will feature 252 seats with fixed-wing headrests, 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens, and more. You'll also have the option to book one of 32 extra legroom seats that offer four inches of extra pitch.
Related: How To Book the Etihad Apartment With Miles
Several Airlines Announce New Lounges
In more Etihad news, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier announced plans to fully renovate its London Heathrow (LHR) lounge with a “new Beyond Borders design language.” According to the press release, the “new design language draws on the concept ‘from sand to superstructure’ and will increasingly connect Etihad’s aircraft, lounges and wider guest journey.”
The lounge is expected to open in the summer of 2027. However, this is just the first step in a larger lounge expansion plan. We don't know the exact plans or timeline, but we do know Etihad wants to develop more lounges worldwide for its premium passengers. Each lounge will have dedicated spaces for business and first class passengers, plus private suites for guests traveling in The Residence.
In addition, Air France has announced plans for a brand-new lounge in New York Kennedy (JFK) as it transitions all flights to Terminal One. The lounge will be roughly 29,000 square feet and will offer seating for more than 400 guests, including La Première and business class customers, Flying Blue Elite Plus members, and eligible travelers flying with KLM and SkyTeam partner airlines, with an exclusive space for Flying Blue Ultimate members.
The two-story lounge will make you feel like you're already in France — you'll enjoy cuisine inspired by French gastronomy and can choose from a variety of French wines and champagnes at the bar.
Finally, Star Alliance announced it would open its seventh Star Alliance Lounge in Seoul (ICN). This is great news for Star Alliance elite members, as Seoul-based Asiana Airlines is leaving the Star Alliance on December 16, 2026. The lounge will take over the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1.
New Lufthansa Status Match for Malaysia Airlines Elites
This one probably won't apply to most people, but if you happen to hold elite status with Malaysia Airlines Enrich, you can now status match to Lufthansa Miles&More:
- Enrich Silver: Frequent Traveller
- Enrich Gold and Platinum: Senator
The status match is free, and once it's approved, you'll enjoy status through February 28, 2027. If you want to keep your status until February 28, 2028, you can complete a challenge:
- Fly two segments by December 31, 2026, to keep Frequent Traveller
- Fly six segments by December 31, 2026, to keep Senator.
All Lufthansa Group airlines and co-issuing Miles&More airline partners (Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, and Luxair) qualify for the challenge.
Related: Shortcuts to Elite Status with Airline Status Match, Fast Track
Priority Pass Expansion
Priority Pass is getting new benefits, but before you get too excited, you'll need to pay for them.
The most exciting is the opportunity to book fast track security access through the Priority Pass app. It's currently available at 28 airports, but will expand to more than 170 fast-track lanes in more than 130 airports worldwide. Priority Pass wants to be a one-stop shop for travel services and has also added airport parking and luggage storage.
In addition, Priority Pass is rolling out the new Priority Pass+ app. Not all Priority Pass members have access just yet, as it's migrating accounts that get membership through a credit card one issuer at a time. However, the new app is supposed to make it easier to activate and manage your memberships, share visit entitlements with additional cardholders, and more. Down the line, the app will use AI to suggest the best lounge and travel experiences based on history and real-time location.
Finally, Priority Pass is growing. The press release mentioned that the Collinson Group, the parent company of Priority Pass, has invested £500 million over five years, “significantly expanding the group’s lounge network.” Hopefully this helps combat overcrowding, which has plagued Priority Pass lounges over the past few years.
American Airlines
Condor is adding American Airlines as an interline partner. This means American Airlines passengers can connect in Frankfurt and Munich and continue their journey throughout Europe (or beyond), while Condor passengers will connect through gateways in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
However, this is just an interline partnership, so you won't enjoy reciprocal elite benefits or be able to use your
Bottom Line
We've made it through another week. Fortunately, as we've seen in this week's news roundup, we have a lot to look forward to. New and expanded lounges, new business class products, and new cardholder earning rates all make travel more exciting.
Don't forget to read the travel news roundups from the past few weeks for any other news you might've missed:
- Week of September 12: Go to Gate Without a Ticket, Avianca’s New Business Class, and More
- Week of September 5: New Emirates Premium Economy, United's Upgraded App, Aeroplan Sweepstakes, and More
- Week of August 29: Targeted Status Match, New Lounge and Routes, 1 Million Point Sweepstakes, and More
- Week of August 22: New European Business Class, Instant Elite Status Opportunity, and More
- Week of August 17: Fake Wi-Fi Leads to Loyalty Account Lockdowns, New Entrant to Airline Lounges, and More
