A new video, a decent Aeromexico deal, and a very good Qantas sweet spot

Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week, today's edition is a mix of product thoughts, a cash fare that could make sense for the right person, and a very solid award opportunity.

Here's what's inside today's post:

Dan's latest video is on Air New Zealand's new business class, and I have to say I was expecting something different from this airline. This is clearly a better product than their old business class. That part is not really debatable. The old seat had become one of those products people tolerated rather than liked. It was outdated, exposed, and never felt especially premium. So yes, the new seat is a step forward.

The problem is that a step forward is not the same thing as a leading product.

That is where the disappointment starts to creep in. When an airline like Air New Zealand launches a brand new flagship business class in 2026, expectations are naturally high. This is not a carrier people think of as lazy or irrelevant. It has a reputation for creativity, for trying new things, and for doing some parts of the travel experience very well. So when the new seat still looks too exposed, still feels too compromised, and still does not really compete with the best seats out there, the reaction will be harsher than it would be for a more average airline. But hey, there is a very good explanation for that, and you will understand it on the video.

Dan's main criticism is privacy, and I agree with him. The cabin looks clean and modern, the screen is large, and the seat has much better storage than before. But it still feels too open for a modern premium product. You can tell Air New Zealand improved the seat. You just cannot tell that it fully understood what people now expect from a new business class in 2026.

The one area where I see things slightly differently is the herringbone layout itself. Dan does not like herringbone seats because you face outward and see too much of the cabin. I agree with that. They feel less private. But even before he said it in the video, I kept thinking there is still one real advantage to that layout when it comes to sleeping: your head is away from the aisle. I would much rather sleep with my head tucked away and my feet closer to the aisle than the other way around. So yes, given the choice, I would always pick keeping my head away from the aisle.

But even with that point in its favor, I still cannot understand how Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand kept their old herringbone seats around for so long. And let's be honest, there is something fundamentally unpleasant about looking across the cabin and seeing a neat row of other people's feet. That is not a premium visual.

There are some pretty good things here too, like the bedding and the soft product. So this is not a story of an airline getting everything wrong. It is more a story of an airline getting a lot of details right while still missing the main point. And the main point is the seat.

That is why the review feels slightly disappointing rather than damning. It does not sound like a bad flight. It sounds like a decent one that should have been much better. In a way, that is the hardest kind of review for an airline, because it means the carrier did enough to show what it was trying to do, but not enough to make the result feel convincing.

Dan's video is worth watching. Not because Air New Zealand's new business class is a disaster, but because it is a useful example of how an airline can spend a lot of money, improve a product, and still end up somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Let’s go with a great cash deal! There are round-trip business class fares from Madrid to Costa Rica on Aeromexico, connecting in Mexico City, for about $1,800 USD. It is not one of those glamorous fares where the airline itself is half the attraction and is not a bucket-list product. But hey, it is clearly a nice way of crossing the Atlantic and enjoying a good, relaxing holiday!

Aeromexico business class is not the best, for sure, but it is not bad either! You know what I say, everything depends on the price tag. On the long-haul segment from Madrid to Mexico City, you are getting a proper flat bed on the 787. These flights are covered by both 787-8s and 787-9s. The latter offers a much better experience, with a 1-2-1 layout, while the former offers a 2-2-2 layout, so keep that in mind when booking. Either way, that is a comfortable way to cross the Atlantic. The onward segment to Costa Rica is much less impressive, but by then the hardest part of the journey is already behind you.

And Costa Rica is a wonderful destination. So much nature, so much variety, and genuinely beautiful hotels. Remember, we can help you get booked with perks and benefits at no extra cost, so if Costa Rica is on your list, just send your request (I can also give you a personalized itinerary and some recommendations 😉)

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Now to the points angle, which is always my favorite part.

This one is mostly for readers in Asia and Australia, who I know sometimes feel like there are not enough good redemption options between the two regions. And honestly, I get it. It can be frustrating. But right now I am seeing some nice award space on Qantas from Tokyo Haneda to Sydney, mostly for August and September, and I thought it was worth sharing.

It checks a lot of boxes. Long nonstop route, reliable airline, reasonable taxes, and a fair price through the right program. Through Atmos Rewards, business class comes in at 60,000 miles plus about $68 one way. For just over ten hours in the air, that feels like a good deal to me.

The flights operate on an Airbus A330 with Qantas' Business class in a staggered 1-2-1 layout, so every seat has direct aisle access and a fully flat bed. Nothing revolutionary, but very solid for this length of flight. One small tip: seats in even rows sit a bit closer to the window, which gives you a slightly more private feel if that matters to you.

Qantas is not going to blow anyone away with this product. But sometimes that is not the point. But here you are getting from Tokyo to Sydney nonstop, in a flat bed, without spending a crazy number of miles or getting hit with heavy taxes on top. When all of that lines up at once, it is worth talking about.

That's it for today. More deals, news, and trip reviews coming your way on Friday.

Catch you in the clouds, 

Tomi from Points Master