Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week. Today's theme is simple: the gap between "premium done right" and "premium in name only" is getting wider.
On one side, you've got airlines investing in the stuff that actually changes your day-to-day travel experience: fast, reliable connectivity, and next-gen premium cabins that feel genuinely competitive (not just a new fabric color and a press release).
On the other side, you've got airlines still treating basics like Wi-Fi as a luxury add-on — and rolling out "upgrades" that don't really move the needle, while fares keep creeping up.
And that's why today's three topics fit together so well:
Lufthansa Group going all-in on Starlink (finally pushing Europe toward the "always-on" era)
Delta doubling down on widebodies + suites (a real signal about where premium demand is going)
Dan's latest NYC hotel review as a reminder that price and branding don't automatically equal value — you still have to know what you're actually getting
Lufthansa Group goes all-in on Starlink Wi-Fi (850+ aircraft)
Lufthansa Group just announced a big move: free onboard Wi-Fi powered by Starlink across its short- and medium-haul fleets, covering more than 850 aircraft.
Lufthansa Group
Starlink is the real "step change" in aviation connectivity right now. It's not just "better Wi-Fi." It's the difference between "maybe your iMessage sends" and "I can actually work and stream."
Lufthansa Group is signaling something important: connectivity is now a core part of the product, not a paid extra.
And yes… I still can't believe how different airlines' strategies are here. Some are racing into the Starlink era, while other carriers (including major long-haul players) still have inconsistent Wi-Fi coverage or none at all on certain fleets/routes. It's 2026 — we shouldn't be having this conversation.
What's being announced (in plain English)
From what's been reported so far, the plan is to introduce free, Starlink-powered internet onboard and scale it across Lufthansa Group's short/medium-haul aircraft.
(As always: rollout details matter — "free Wi-Fi" sometimes starts as free messaging, or free access for members, or free at certain tiers. We'll watch the fine print as it goes live.)
What this means for travelers
Here are the practical takeaways:
European connections get less painful. If you're connecting through FRA/MUC/ZRH/VIE/BRU, you often have tight turns, gate changes, and long travel days. Reliable Wi-Fi turns that into usable time.
The "hub airline" advantage grows. When Wi-Fi is consistently good, you're more likely to pick the airline where you can stay connected and productive during the short-haul segments that make up half your trip.
Premium experience isn't just the seat anymore. A lot of airlines are improving business class hard product, but let's face it, there is not much more room for improvement for the actual seats nowadays, with products like ANA The Room, Qsuites, and many reverse herringbone products that fully work as a charm. Unless airlines are willing to give more space for seats (which of course they won't, and they shouldn't because that would mean more expensive tickets for us mortals), the day-to-day difference often comes down to the soft product, which we see many airlines trying to upgrade. Wi-Fi access is a part of that, so after all, asking: Does the internet work? Can I coordinate plans? Can I handle life while in the air? This is a good upgrade to the soft product.
If Lufthansa executes well here, this is a strong "quality of life" upgrade across a huge network.
Delta: new widebodies + a fresh round of premium cabin upgrades
Delta dropped two pieces of news:
They're adding Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners (with options for more), which helps modernize the long-haul fleet over the next decade.
They've also revealed details around new Delta One suites for upcoming A350-1000s, continuing their trend of investing heavily in the premium cabin experience.
Delta 787 rendering
Delta ordering 787-10: why it matters
Delta confirmed it will add 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft, and the announcement also referenced options for additional aircraft.
Even if you don't care about plane geek stuff, this matters because:
The 787 family is generally associated with better cabin comfort (pressurization/altitude, humidity) compared to older widebodies.
New planes often mean more consistent product over time — fewer "surprise aircraft swaps" into older interiors.
Fleet modernization tends to support network growth, new routes, and improved reliability (over the long run).
Delta's A350-1000: new Delta One suites
Delta's new suite announcements for the A350-1000 are aimed at pushing the "premium Delta" story even further – more privacy, more structure, and more consistency in the Delta One experience.
A couple of traveler-focused takeaways:
If you care about Delta One specifically, it's another sign Delta is not standing still while other carriers upgrade around them.
The bigger win is when these upgrades roll out at scale and become predictable (you know what you're buying, not what you might get).
I'll say this too: Delta has been one of the best airlines in the U.S. at understanding that premium isn't only about a lie-flat seat — it's about the whole journey: lounges, consistency, service, and making the product feel "considered."
Bonus detail for aviation nerds:
Delta may be installing VantageNOVA seats on A350-1000s. VantageNOVA only debuted in 2024, and it still hasn't flown with any airline yet. Thompson Aero has hinted they already have a launch customer, but they haven't said who — and reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if Delta is the one they're talking about.
Thompson Aero VantageNOVA seats
Dan's latest hotel review: Times Square EDITION (NYC) — a reality check on "value"
Dan's newest hotel review is a fun one because it's not the usual "this is one of the most expensive hotels in the city" angle.
Instead, the whole story is basically:
After a brutal stay elsewhere, we tried the Times Square EDITION to see if it could be a surprisingly good-value NYC option… and it landed in that frustrating middle zone: nice room, great location, but not a slam dunk.
Basically, this hotel is a good option to fit your travels if you are heading to New York City and don't want to spend all your savings on a one-night stay!
The good
First impressions were strong: modern, clean, no gross carpet situation (NYC hotel veterans know why that matters).
The room felt "international" in a good way — more like a newer Asian/Middle East luxury property than a typical U.S. hotel.
The view factor was real: Times Square is chaos, but it's also iconic, and having that perspective from above is a vibe.
Booking via a luxury advisor program (Marriott STARS style perks) can stack meaningful value:
Daily breakfast for two
Property credit (often $100)
Potential upgrade / early check-in / late check-out (availability-based)
This is exactly why I keep saying: if you're already paying these rates, you should at least try to attach perks to it.
The "eh" parts (and why they matter)
Value scored average. The hotel wasn't "bad," but it also wasn't one of those rare NYC wins where you feel like you hacked the system.
Dining was a bit underwhelming, which is almost funny in New York City — but it does matter when you're counting on hotel credits to subsidize your stay.
Service consistency: one standout interaction, but the overall experience felt more "fine" than "wow."
Breakfast was à la carte only (no buffet), which some people won't care about… but a lot of travelers do.
My practical takeaway for you
If you're considering this hotel (or any "luxury-ish" NYC property), here's the simple filter:
If your priority is location + modern room + cleanliness, this will totally work.
If your priority is full luxury experience (amazing breakfast, memorable service, standout food), NYC hotels often disappoint unless you go very high-end — and even then, it's not guaranteed.
If you can attach perks at the same price, do it. In cities like NYC, perks can be the difference between "overpriced" and "acceptable."
And if you watch Dan's video, you'll see the exact vibe: not a hate-watch, not a hype piece — just an honest "this is what it is."
Quick wrap
Big picture: more and more airlines are treating Wi-Fi like a product feature (not a paid extra), and Delta is continuing the slow march toward a more consistent premium long-haul experience. Meanwhile, hotels in cities like NYC remind us that "luxury" doesn't always equal "good value" — perks and expectations management matter.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Friday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi