Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week. Today's newsletter is all about three interesting topics: the explanation of an Aeroplan "distance band" that unlocks great value, a fresh SAS cash deal from Spain to Seoul, and a quick update on Starlux's A350-1000 (plus why their "First Class" pricing still makes me raise an eyebrow).
Here's what's inside today's post:
The Aeroplan distance band that unlocks ~13-hour flights for 80K (Asia ⇄ Europe)
Seoul deal: SAS Business Class from Spain in late 2026 (and it's very real)
Starlux received its first A350-1000 (and their "First Class" decision still confuses me)
The Aeroplan distance band that unlocks ~13-hour flights for 80K (Asia ⇄ Europe)
If you've been around Points Master for a bit, you know we're obsessed with repeatable value — not one-off unicorn awards.
One of my favorite examples is Aeroplan's Atlantic ↔ Pacific partner award chart. In plain English: Europe ⇄ Asia on partner airlines, priced by distance.
Here's the band I keep coming back to:
5,001–7,000 miles (Atlantic ↔ Pacific) Business Class (partner): 80,000 Aeroplan points one-way
That distance range covers a bunch of "super long" nonstop(ish) flights — the kind that routinely price $3,000 – $6,000 in cash depending on season, departure city, and demand.
You can fly Singapore Airlines on the outbound…
Why I love this sweet spot
1) It's long-haul comfort for a fixed point price. Those 12 – 13 hour flights are exactly where lie-flat makes a difference. 80K one-way for business is a number you can plan around.
2) It gives you "airport flexibility." Cash fares often force you into "one perfect airport on one perfect day." With points, you can get creative:
Fly into one gateway (say, Singapore), and out of another (say, Bangkok) on the way back.
Build the trip around award space, not just geography. (This is how I've been planning my trips for the last 3 years)
3) Stopovers are the cheat code. Aeroplan lets you add a stopover on a one-way for +5,000 points (up to 45 days), which gives incredible value if you want to split a trip into two adventures.
This means you can do something like:
Europe → Singapore (stopover) → Manila
Return from Manila → Bangkok (stopover) → Europe
…and you're not locked into a single "in/out" city the way cash tickets often make you.
… and return on Thai Airways from BKK
This is one of those "once you see it, you can't unsee it" award chart moves.
Seoul deal: SAS Business Class from Spain in late 2026 (and it's very real)
On Monday we shared a SAS deal… and I kept digging.
There's a Scandinavian Airlines business class fare from Spain to Seoul floating around for $1,780 (and yes, there's real availability).
SAS A350 looks cool
A few highlights:
The deal is available not only from mainland Spain — it can price well from places like Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, plus the Balearic Islands, and it's often cheapest from the Canary Islands.
Routing is Spain → Copenhagen → Seoul.
Dates include October–December 2026 (with other periods also showing).
What's the onboard experience?
Let's separate the two legs:
Short leg (Spain → CPH): usually a narrowbody in typical European "business class" (think: economy seat with the middle blocked, upgraded service). This is the positioning leg.
Long leg (CPH → ICN): SAS typically uses the Airbus A350-900 on this route.
Their A350 business cabin is widely liked because it uses the Thompson Vantage XL seat — a comfortable, roomy 1-2-1 layout (no gimmicks needed) that converts into a fully flat bed (listed as 78").
This product looks sleek
If you're Europe-based (or can position to Spain cheaply), $1,780 to Korea in business is the kind of fare that's worth building a trip around.
Daily News for Curious Minds
Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 4 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight. Subscribe to 1440 today.
Starlux received its first A350-1000 (and their "First Class" decision still confuses me)
Starlux just took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, and it's a big milestone for a carrier that's been building a serious premium reputation fast.
Starlux first A350-1000
A few nerdy-but-useful details:
Their A350-1000s are expected in a four-cabin, 350-seat setup: 4 First, 40 Business, 36 Premium Economy, 270 Economy.
The good news: Starlux business class itself is widely considered excellent (they use the Collins Aerospace Element seat, which I personally rank among the best).
The thing that I can't get out of my mind is their First Class. The "First Class" product is… complicated. It's essentially the same unusual setup they already have: very high pricing, but the hard product feels closer to a "business class plus" concept — and there's not even a full separation between First and Business. They basically charge astronomical prices for a product that doesn’t meet many of the usual first class standards…
Dan reviewed Starlux recently, and you can watch to decide for yourself: the airline is doing a lot right — I just can't personally justify "true First Class money" for something that doesn't feel like a true First Class cabin.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Friday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi