Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Friday! Hope you had a great New Year and we're starting 2026 big. Today's email is a mix of useful + entertaining: a points deal you can act on right now, a new Flying Blue subscription  (with some pros/cons you should know), Dan's latest hotel review in New York that's… brutal, and a hotel promo that's basically free value if you have any IHG stays coming up.

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

Flying Blue releases Promo Rewards on the 1st of every month, and this month's key details are:

This isn't a blanket discount on everything. Promo Rewards are route-specific, inventory is limited, and you generally need to be flexible on dates. But when they line up with a trip you already want to take, they can be fantastic value.

From what's been published for January, the standout is long-haul economy pricing from Europe to several destinations starting at 18,750 miles one-way (that's the discounted level) on Air France and KLM, and some Business Class long-haul flights starting at 45,000 miles one way.

You're also seeing some short/medium-haul European discounts (including some business class deals within Europe), depending on which city pairs you're targeting.

If you're new to Flying Blue searches, here's the easiest flow:

Also important: Flying Blue pricing is dynamic, so even within the promo list, some days will be better than others.

Promo Rewards aren't "use it and lose it." In general, Flying Blue awards can be changed or canceled for a fee (commonly €70), plus any difference in miles if you change to a more expensive date.

(That's still a very reasonable safety net if you're booking far ahead.)

Flying Blue also introduced a paid subscription called Flying Blue Extra 2 months ago, with two tiers:

The program position is basically: "Pay and we'll boost what you earn and give you extra perks." According to Flying Blue, benefits can include things like additional miles and XP on Air France/KLM flights, plus certain "exclusive" offers (and the exact perks vary by tier).

According to published benefit tables and program coverage, here's what's included:

Included in BOTH Essential + Extended:

Extended adds on top:

Also worth noting: multiple sources describe "Extra-exclusive Promo Rewards" that are only visible to subscribers in some months.

Some outlets are reporting that additional Promo Rewards pricing (including some premium cabin deals) is available specifically to Flying Blue Extra subscribers. For example, deals like business class to certain cities have been listed as "Extra-exclusive."

Here are some examples of these “Extra-exclusive” rewards:

For most people, paying €379 - €699/year is not a no-brainer. But it might make sense if you're in this bucket:

If you're more of an "I fly them once or twice a year" traveler, you're usually better off staying flexible and using the classic levers:

Okay… this one is pure entertainment, but also a very real lesson in hotel value.

Dan and Oskar checked into the JW Marriott Essex House on Central Park South expecting an exclusive, "classic New York" luxury vibe.

Instead, the room tour turned into a live reaction of:

…and at one point they literally did a dust test on camera because the room looked that neglected.

The wild part: this was the cheapest room they could book at the time, and it ran $760 for one night. The room itself wasn't the main issue (NYC rooms are often small — we all accept that). The issue was basic cleanliness and upkeep, which shouldn't be negotiable at any price point, let alone at that level.

Then comes the classic NYC gut punch: the hotel's food situation. One restaurant. Room service that feels like it was designed for a business traveler who eats beige meals out of obligation.

And the cherry on top: a $42 avocado toast.

They ended up scoring the hotel 48/100, which they said is their lowest hotel score ever — mainly because of value. It's the perfect reminder that:

If you're planning New York this year, please take this as your sign to be picky. There are so many hotels where the money goes further — and even more importantly, where you won't spend your first 15 minutes wondering if you need to sanitize the remote with fire.

If you have any paid IHG stays coming up, this is the easiest win in today's email:

IHG's global promo for early 2026 is:

This is perfect if you're doing:

Once you hit that second stay, every stay after is earning at the boosted rate through the end of March — and those extra points add up fast if you're paying cash.

That's it for today. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.

Catch you in the clouds, 

Tomi