Dan reviews Aer Lingus, Qatar adds Philippine Airlines awards, and Avios are on sale

Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Monday!

Today's post is a very aviation-heavy one, which is always fun. We have Dan's latest long-haul business class review, a useful new Avios redemption option, and a Qatar Airways Avios sale that ties into that new opportunity quite nicely.

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

Dan's latest video is live, and this one is a very honest review of Aer Lingus business class from Dublin to Toronto.

And I have to say, I like this review. Not because the product is amazing. It is not. Not because everything goes perfectly. It definitely does not. But because it shows the real value of understanding points, airline products, and what you are really paying for.

Aer Lingus business class is a bit of a strange one.

The airline flies long-haul from Dublin to North America, and one of the biggest advantages of Dublin Airport is US preclearance, which lets you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger. That can be a huge time-saver. But this flight was to Toronto, so that particular benefit does not apply here.

Onboard, the A330 business class cabin has staggered seats in a weird configuration. Some are much better than others, and that is one of the big takeaways from the video. On the left side of the cabin, the odd-numbered window seats tend to be the better pick because they sit closer to the window and feel more protected from the aisle. The throne seats offer more storage and privacy when sitting upright, but they are not without their drawbacks either.

This is a good reminder that a seat map is not just a seat map. Choosing the wrong seat in a staggered cabin can completely change the experience.

The review also shows something we talk about a lot: business class does not automatically mean great service. Dan's experience on the ground and during boarding was not warm, smooth, or especially polished. There were seat changes (that would drive me crazy), limited explanations, and a general lack of personality in parts of the experience.

But the flight also had genuine positives. The catering was much better than expected. The special meal looked surprisingly well thought out, and the pre-arrival snack was much nicer than the usual airline afterthought.

So the review is not just "this airline is bad." It is more nuanced than that.

A mixed experience: underwhelming lounge, uneven service, an older business class seat, some good catering, free Wi-Fi, and a very good redemption price.

Dan paid around $628 per person one-way for a seven-hour transatlantic business class flight, combining a points strategy with a credit card benefit. Even without that extra angle, the flight can still be booked for under $800 one-way using what we teach in Points Master, and that’s cheeeeeeap.

That is the whole point of Points Master. Sometimes the goal is not to fly the world's best business class. Sometimes the goal is to fly seven hours across the Atlantic in a flat bed for a price that would make economy passengers very jealous.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has added the ability to redeem Avios for travel on Philippine Airlines, and these awards are bookable directly through Qatar Airways' website.

Philippine Airlines is not the most glamorous name in premium travel. But that does not mean it is not useful.

The airline has a very interesting network, especially if you are trying to reach the Philippines or Southeast Asia from North America or the Middle East. It operates long-haul flights from Manila to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, and other major markets, plus useful regional connectivity around Asia.

If you have ever tried to book business class between North America and Asia, you know how frustrating it can be. The best products often have limited space, unpredictable release patterns, high demand, or pricing that makes no sense. So when another airline becomes bookable online with a currency as easy to collect as Avios, that is worth paying attention to.

The new pricing appears to be roughly distance-based. Qatar does not publish a simple award chart for Philippine Airlines redemptions, but you can expect some good options and some kind of expensive ones as well.

Philippine Airlines does not belong to a major global alliance, so historically, redeeming miles for PAL flights has been scattered and inconsistent. Some partners have had awkward booking rules, phone-only requirements, or limited access. Being able to book directly online through Qatar Airways is a real improvement.

And Philippine Airlines itself is becoming more interesting. Its newer Airbus A350-1000 has a nice premium layout, including lie-flat business class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, premium economy, and economy. That is a much more appealing product than many people probably expect when they hear the name.

Not the most exciting award chart in the world. But a very practical new option for Asia travel.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club is currently selling Avios with up to a 50% bonus, and the promotion runs from May 18 through May 25, 2026.

At the highest bonus tier, you can buy Avios at around $15.30 per 1,000 points.

This is where the Philippine Airlines development becomes more interesting. If you can now redeem Qatar Airways Avios on Philippine Airlines, and Qatar is selling those Avios at a discount, there may be cases where buying Avios for a specific PAL redemption makes sense!

That said, this is not the best price we have ever seen on a Qatar Avios sale. So the key phrase is: for a specific redemption. Find the award space first, calculate the cost of buying the required Avios, add taxes and fees, and compare the total against the cash fare. That is how you avoid buying points blindly and ending up with a balance you cannot use well.

The other reason Qatar Avios are interesting beyond this sale is flexibility. Since Qatar uses Avios, you can often move points between Qatar Airways Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Finnair Plus, depending on account linking rules. That makes Avios one of the more flexible points currencies in travel.

That's it for today. Dan's new Aer Lingus review is a good reminder that not every business class product is glamorous, but a smart redemption can still make it completely worth booking. Qatar Avios can now be redeemed on Philippine Airlines, which adds a useful new option to any Asia travel strategy. And if you have a specific booking in mind, the current Avios sale might be worth a look.

More deals, news, and trip reviews coming your way on Wednesday.

Catch you in the clouds,

Tomi from Points Master