Flying Blue November deals, Iberia's new A350 to Bogotá for $2k, and inside Etihad's Abu Dhabi experience

Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Wednesday! Coffee's brewing, and I've got three things for you today that'll make you want to open a new tab and start plotting your next flight:

Flying Blue just dropped its November Promo Rewards, and this month's lineup is genuinely strong. You can now fly one-way in business class starting at 45,000 Flying Blue miles (normally 60,000) on several key transatlantic routes, or head south toward South America and Africa for 63,750 miles instead of 85,000.

From Europe, discounted destinations include:

North America:

South America & Africa:

Those are hefty cuts, especially the North America routes at 45k miles in business. If you factor in the moderate taxes and the ability to book either one way or round-trip, these can be excellent redemptions for anyone sitting on Flying Blue miles or transferable bank points.

Quick example: Paris → Toronto for 45k miles + ≈$200 in taxes is roughly equivalent to paying less than $1,000 cash one-way in business class, an exceptional value for a 7-hour transatlantic.

And remember, Flying Blue is one of the few programs that:

If you see a date and destination that fits, don't hesitate. Promo Rewards vanish quietly once city quotas sell out, and next month's deals may shift continents entirely.

Sweet-spot reminders (even outside this month's promos):

Here's a rare one: Iberia's new A350-1000 with business-class suites, with doors, privacy, and all, is running from Madrid (MAD) to Bogotá (BOG) for about $2,050 USD round-trip, and the deal is available on multiple dates well into 2026.

This isn't the older Iberia business cabin you might remember. The airline is now rolling out Adient Ascent suites, each with a closing door, 18.4″ HD screens, wireless charging, and direct aisle access for every seat. Think of it as a long-overdue modern refresh that brings Iberia up to the level of BA Club Suites or Delta One Suite.

If you're based elsewhere in Europe, positioning to Madrid on a low-cost hop (Vueling, Iberia Express, or Avios redemption) can make this an easy add-on to a Latin America trip.

Bonus idea: Bogotá's luxury scene is quietly strong: Four Seasons Casa Medina and Sofitel Victoria Regia are standouts, both bookable through us with perks like breakfast, $100 credit, and upgrade priority. Pair one of those with this fare, and you've got a full five-star itinerary for a fraction of typical cost.

Bottom line: $2,050 for a lie-flat suite with a door on a new-build A350 is a steal, especially for a 10-hour trans-Atlantic each way. Iberia may finally have built a business product worth detouring for.

Back in May, I flew Abu Dhabi (AUH) → Delhi (DEL) on Etihad business class, and it turned out to be one of those ground experiences that quietly remind you how well some airlines handle premium travel without shouting about it.

You don't enter a normal terminal. Etihad's Business and First Class check-in area sits in a separate wing just off the curb. As soon as I stepped out of the car, an attendant appeared, offered a warm welcome, and took our bags straight to the counter while we walked behind leisurely. No trolleys, no chaos, just a few quiet desks with staff who seem to have mastered the art of calm efficiency.

Check-in took all of three minutes. From there, a private security lane led directly toward duty-free. It felt like being in a smaller, quieter airport inside a larger one: no lines, no crowding, just space.

AUH's duty-free has expanded nicely, so I took a few minutes to browse (I always do, it's part of the ritual). Then came the highlight: the Etihad Business Class Lounge, which sprawls across multiple zones with a somewhat labyrinth-like layout. The main lounge sits on one level, and there's a totally separate dedicated First Class section upstairs, which you can't access unless you're flying first class, of course.

Depending on your gate, there are two direct boarding corridors connecting straight to aircraft, a rare luxury few lounges in the world still offer.

I was lucky: my Delhi flight boarded from one of those gates, so I walked from lounge sofa to airplane door without setting foot in the terminal again.

The lounge has different buffets and self-serve drinks spaced out across the zones. I ate a lot, and everything was excellent. Seating is plentiful, with quiet areas for working, larger tables for groups, and nap pods tucked in corners. The décor blends neutral tones with bronze accents, keeping it chic without bling.

I did ask about the barber service (I could definitely use a shave before flying…), but it turns out it was not available since there were no barbers on premise at the time, a bit of a shame as it would've been the perfect pre-flight touch.

When boarding was called, I walked directly through the lounge gate to the jet bridge. My aircraft was an A350-1000 fitted with Etihad's latest business suites, which comes in a 1-2-1 layout, sliding privacy doors, and a sleek aesthetic that balances function and comfort. It's not overly "wow," but it nails everything you actually need: space, quiet, and service that feels genuinely attentive.

Overall, the AUH experience reinforced why I like Etihad: it's premium without pretense, smooth where it matters, and somehow still under-appreciated compared to its flashier neighbors.

That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Friday.

Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi