Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday! Coffee's ready, the week's almost done. Three things worth your time today: a surprisingly premium airline detour, another carrier betting on my favorite widebody, and a Miami hotel deal that's almost too good to ignore.
Here's what's inside today's post:
Dan's newest video: Air Astana — the best and the worst (in one trip)
Air Canada just ordered the A350-1000 (YESSS)
Deal of the week: St. Regis Bal Harbour — 4th night free (Miami, but quiet-luxury Miami)
Dan's newest video: Air Astana — the best and the worst (in one trip)
Dan just dropped a new review where he does something wonderfully unhinged: Dubai → Kazakhstan → Mumbai… instead of flying direct. Why? Because Air Astana has this cult following among frequent flyers — "underrated gem" status — and he finally found a fare that made the detour worth it.
The highlights (aka: why people love it):
A modernized 767 business class that looks shockingly fresh thanks to the mood lighting (it genuinely makes the whole cabin feel newer than it is).
A seriously impressive drinks list for a ~4-hour flight — plus welcome drinks with real local flavor (hello cherry juice).
Diesel amenity kit on a short flight… which is rare and honestly a flex.
Service cadence that's fast and consistent (crew passing through every ~20–30 minutes offering refills).
The reality check (aka: the "worst" part):
The service can be… cold. Not rude, just very minimal warmth or personalization.
Special meals aren't offered reliably on all routes (including a 4+ hour flight out of their hub), which is a dealbreaker if you have dietary restrictions.
And the transit experience in Almaty… yeah. Bus gates in -16°C is not the vibe, especially when the bus gets packed.
Still — Dan's takeaway is basically: for the price he paid, he'd do it again. It's premium where it counts, quirky where you least want it to be, and overall a fascinating airline to know.
(And yes — the ticket price he paid is wild. Worth watching just for that.)
Air Canada just ordered the A350-1000 (YESSS)
Remember on Wednesday we talked about EgyptAir getting A350-900s and how I was weirdly excited because I love this plane… but also nervous because EgyptAir can be all over the place product-wise?
Well: Air Canada just joined the "give me the A350-1000" club — and I'm pumped.
Air Canada A350-1000 rendering
Air Canada announced it will add eight A350-1000s, with the rights to purchase eight more, and deliveries starting in the second half of 2030. This is part of their long-haul growth + fleet modernization push, and they're also tying it to their next-gen onboard standard (connectivity, IFE, cabin consistency, etc.).
The -1000 is the longer, higher-capacity big brother of the A350-900 — and it's a beast: long range, quieter cabin, and the kind of efficiency airlines love.
Also, we have discussed a lot of A350s orders lately. Zooming out, the A350 program is doing very well. Airbus' own published figures show the A350 family sitting at 1,381 orders and 651 deliveries (with about 100 A350-1000s delivered as of today). In other words: airlines aren't just talking about this jet — they're putting it to work at scale.
I'll be watching closely to see what cabin Air Canada installs on these. If they nail the hard product + keep improving consistency, this could be a very big win for North America–to–everywhere flying.
Deal of the week: St. Regis Bal Harbour — 4th night free (Miami, but quiet-luxury Miami)
If you're thinking Miami at any point this year (or next), this one is worth flagging.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort has a partner offer running through Dec 23, 2026:
Stay 4 nights, pay for 3 (reflected as ~25% off per night), plus:
Upgrade at check-in (subject to availability)
Early check-in / late check-out (up to 4pm, subject to availability)
$100 resort credit per stay (not for room/taxes/resort fee)
Daily $120 breakfast credit (at Atlantikós or via in-room dining) (and higher for 2+ bedroom suites)
High-speed internet
Why I like this property for summer:
I travel to Miami a lot to be honest. Bal Harbour is the anti–South Beach. It's calmer, more polished, and perfect if you want beach time + great service without the chaos. You're also close to some of the best shopping in Miami, and you can still be in the middle of everything quickly if you want a night out.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
If you made it this far: you're my kind of person.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi