Hey {{first name | reader}},
Seatbelt sign’s off and the espresso’s on: today’s issue may help you plan smarter for your next European trip. Here’s what we’re covering:
• United adds four new Europe routes for Summer 2026 (and why this helps trip planning)
• Delta’s A350-1000: new Delta One suites are coming (evolution, not a revolution)
• European airlines, ranked (Dan’s new video)
United adds four new Europe routes for Summer 2026 (and why this helps trip planning)
United will add nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) to Split (Croatia), Bari (Italy), Glasgow (Scotland), and Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in summer 2026. The first flights begin around late April and early May, with initial frequencies ranging from three times weekly to daily, depending on the route. As loaded so far: Split starts April 30 (3x weekly), Bari starts May 1 (4x weekly), Glasgow starts May 8 (daily), and Santiago de Compostela toward late May (3x weekly). United plans to be the only U.S. airline with nonstops to all four of these cities when service begins.
Aircraft matter for comfort and seats. Early schedules show Boeing 767-300ER on Split and Bari, and 737 MAX 8 on Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela. That means lie-flat business class to Split and Bari (typical 767 United Polaris layout), and a newer narrow-body with standard short-haul-style business, which will be sold as premium economy to Glasgow and Santiago. Timetables can still change, but this is the plan as filed.
Not-so-bad: United 737 MAX 8 “Premium Economy”
Why this is useful: these cities are excellent gateways that cut a connection. Split drops you right into the Dalmatian Coast for islands like Hvar and Brač. Bari puts you in Puglia without detouring via Rome or Milan. Glasgow is an easy jump-off for the Highlands and the islands. Santiago de Compostela provides direct access to Galicia, and it’s a significant development locally, marking the city’s first U.S. nonstop flight. For award hunting, two timing windows usually work best: when schedules first load (many seats are dropped then), and again close to departure if the cabin isn’t full. If you’re not based near Newark, look for a single protected connection into EWR that lines up with the transatlantic departure.
United 767-300ER Business Class seats
Bottom line: if your summer 2026 plans include the Adriatic, Puglia, Scotland, or Galicia, these routes remove one connection and may open more award options than the classic big-hub pairings. Keep an eye on schedules and aircraft assignments as we get closer to April-May 2026.
Delta’s A350-1000: new Delta One suites are coming (evolution, not a revolution)
Delta has 20 Airbus A350-1000s on order. Deliveries are slated to start as early as 2026, with the first passenger service widely expected around 2027. Alongside the jet, Delta plans to introduce a new Delta One business-class suite. Multiple industry reports point to a Thompson VantageNOVA–style layout, but Delta hasn’t officially unveiled the seat yet. Think of it as a modern herringbone with direct aisle access at every seat and a door for privacy, refined storage, and better knee/foot space—an update that fits what many top carriers have been adopting.
Thompson VantageNOVA Seats
How it compares to what you know: the current Delta One Suite already has a door and a fully flat bed, so this isn’t a wild leap forward so much as a clean, newer version that should feel roomier in key areas and more polished overall. Early chatter also suggests the A350-1000 will carry a larger number of Delta One seats than Delta’s A350-900, making the jet a premium-heavy flagship once it enters service.
Expect the A350-1000 to show up first on Delta’s highest-profile long-haul routes from major hubs (think ATL/JFK/DTW/MSP/LAX/SEA) as deliveries arrive.. Until Delta shows the final product and loads the first schedules, treat specifics as provisional. For now, the key takeaways are the 2026 - 2027 timeframe, an all-suites business cabin with doors, and a seat that looks like a thoughtful evolution rather than a total redesign. If you’re collecting points for a Delta One long-haul in 2027, this is the aircraft to watch.
Thompson VantageNOVA Seats
European airlines, ranked (Dan’s new video)
Reader favorite time: rankings. Dan just dropped a new video sizing up European airlines from worst to best, not as clickbait, but as a practical guide to help you choose smarter itineraries for 2026 Europe trips.
What you’ll get in a nutshell
Clear criteria you can actually use: hard product (seat & layout), soft product (service, food, consistency), on-time performance feel, fleet/route usefulness for typical U.S.–Europe trips, lounges, and fees that sneak up at checkout.
Where rankings matter most: long-haul business cabins with true lie-flats, reliable premium economy on secondary routes, and short-haul connections that won’t tank your day with tight turns or nickel-and-diming.
Who surprises: a few legacy giants don’t top the list once you weigh seat consistency and fees; some smaller carriers punch above their weight on product polish and operations.
How to apply it: planning a multi-city summer? Use the top-tier picks for your overnight long-haul, then slot decent short-haul connectors for the daylight hops. If you’re chasing points, cross-check the winners with your alliance/miles so you’re not forcing a bad product just for accrual.
Why does this help with trip planning
Our inbox fills every spring with “Which airline should I book?” This roundup gives you a bias-free shortcut: choose a solid long-haul seat first, then build around schedules and price.
That’s it for today. Hope you have a great week!
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi