New LATAM suites, a useful LifeMiles sale, and Dan's Four Seasons Singapore review

Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Friday.

Today's edition is a good mix of airline product news, a loyalty angle that can still be useful if used carefully, and a new hotel review from Dan that is worth watching if Singapore is on your radar.

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

This product announcements got me very excited, since I was expecting it.

LATAM has revealed the business class it plans to install on its future Airbus A321XLRs, and this looks very good. These aircraft, due from 2027, will feature Thompson Aero VantageSOLO seats in a 1-1 layout, with direct aisle access for every passenger. The A321XLRs will have more than 170 seats overall, and these jets will be the first in Latin America to have seatback entertainment screens on a narrowbody.

What I like most here is not just the seat itself. It is what this aircraft can do for the region.

The A321XLR gives airlines the ability to fly thinner long-haul or medium-long-haul routes with a much more efficient aircraft than a widebody. That is important in South America, where there are many city pairs that look appealing on paper but are harder to keep full with a bigger aircraft year-round. A smaller plane with a proper premium cabin can make those routes much more realistic.

One example I keep thinking about is Córdoba to Miami. It is a route I fly often via connections, and it is exactly the kind of market where an aircraft like this could make sense. There have been nonstop options in the past, and the challenge is often not demand in general, but keeping the economics right year-round, which is why they keep coming and going. A smaller long-range narrowbody can help with that.

As for the seat, I think LATAM chose well. The Thompson VantageSOLO product is, in my view, one of the best options for these aircraft. Yes, the seats are a bit narrow, and that will matter for some travelers. But I like the privacy, and I really like being positioned away from the aisle. On narrowbody aircraft, privacy matters even more for me because everything feels tighter by default.

If you want a better idea of what these seats look like in real life, go watch Dan's review of American's A321XLR. That gives you a very good sense of the general layout and why this is such a compelling configuration for long-range flying without the cost and complexity of a widebody.

So yes, I am very positive on this. Now the big question is what routes LATAM does with it.

Avianca LifeMiles is currently selling miles with up to a 160% bonus, with the promo running through April 28, 2026. The top tier brings the acquisition cost down to roughly 12.7 USD per 1000 points.

LifeMiles program remains very useful, even if dealing with it can sometimes test your patience. It gives you access to Star Alliance awards, and it often keeps taxes and fees lower than competing programs. That makes it a practical currency for booking airlines like Lufthansa, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, United, and ANA without getting crushed by surcharges. That is a big part of why people keep coming back to it.

That said, this is not a promo where I would tell people to buy speculatively just because there is a big number in the headline. The bonus is not the best we have seen, and they run a lot of sales per year.

LifeMiles can be excellent when you have a real use case. It is much less fun when plans change. Customer service can be painful, and cancellations often turn into the kind of phone call you would not wish on yourself unless the redemption is worth the trouble.

Here is how I see it:

Use LifeMiles with intention, not emotion. That is always the right approach with this program.

Dan and Oskar’s latest review is up, and it is very interesting to watch.

Four Seasons Singapore ends up with a 77/100 score, which is a good result, but not one that puts it in the top tier of hotels covered so far. The big positives were the room, the bathroom, the gym, the overall upkeep, and the fact that it is one of the more affordable Four Seasons properties in the world. They paid $450 for the night, with a typical range of $380 to $510 and a yearly average around $430. Add the perks you get by booking through us and that is amazing value.

What I found most interesting is where the hotel fell short.

Dan and Oskar liked the room a lot, gave the bathroom a 9/10, and thought the value was decent. But they were not especially impressed by the arrival experience, found the service less warm and proactive than you would expect from a brand like this, and were pretty critical of the dining. 

It is not a bad hotel, far from it. But it does not get a free pass just because it says Four Seasons on the door. The final takeaway is clear: a lovely stay and a very respectable score, but probably not the best all-around package in Singapore when compared against nearby competition.

So if you are considering Singapore and want the full breakdown, go watch the video. It is a good one, and especially useful if you care about the difference between a very good luxury hotel and one that feels truly special.

Although overall the guys enjoyed their stay and the score reflects a genuinely good property, if you are looking for a more well rounded and luxurious experience, we would personally point you toward Mandarin Oriental Singapore. It is a step above in terms of the overall feel, the service, and the kind of stay you walk away still thinking about a week later. If Singapore is a special trip for you, that is where we would send you.

And as always, if you want to book MO Singapore or any hotel around the world with added perks at no extra cost, just send your request. Breakfast, credits, upgrades and VIP status. All the good stuff, none of the hours spent comparing rates at midnight. 

That's it for today. More deals, news, and trip reviews coming your way on Monday. Enjoy your weekend! I found weekends to be the best time to plan trips. 😉

Catch you in the clouds, 

Tomi from Points Master