Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday! Coffee's ready, the week's almost done. Quick one today, with two strong cash business-class deals to Asia, a points-buy promo that can make sense (if you do it with a plan), and a private hotel update for clients who like things handled quietly.
Here's what's inside today's post:
Two cash business-class deals to Asia worth a look (and what the onboard product is actually like)
Sale: IHG One Rewards points with a 100% bonus (when it's smart, and hotels that can be a great use)
A quiet hotel update (for clients who prefer things handled)
Two cash business-class deals to Asia worth a look (and what the onboard product is actually like)
A) Athens → Bangkok: Royal Jordanian Business Class for ~$1,650 (with a long outbound layover)
This one is a classic "price vs. inconvenience" trade.
Royal Jordanian business class cabin
What the deal is
ATH → AMM → BKK on Royal Jordanian, pricing from ~$1,550 – $1,800 depending on dates.
The big catch: the outbound requires an ~11-hour overnight-ish layover in Amman (16:10 – 03:10).
Baggage is generous: 2 × 30kg checked bags included.
What you'll fly (and the seat)
ATH → AMM is typically an Embraer 175/195 (1-2) or an A320-family aircraft (2-2).
AMM → BKK is a Boeing 787-8, with lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 layout.
My take on the product
The 2-2-2 layout is a little "old school" compared to the newest 1-2-1 suites you're seeing across Asia and the Middle East — but lie-flat is lie-flat, and for this price point it's still a very legit way to get to Bangkok in comfort.
The curious thing is that some flights show “Individual suite”, which means they should be using their brand new Business Class suites on the 787-9, that are as good as it gets!
Service/catering tends to lean "proper premium," and RJ usually does a solid job on the long-haul experience (especially for a smaller oneworld carrier).
How to make the layover less painful
Treat AMM as the "cost" of the cheap fare. If you can handle it, the value is excellent.
Consider whether you'd rather:
Stay airside and aim for a long lounge + nap situation, or
Enter Jordan for a few hours (if you're eligible / comfortable doing so) and then head back for the overnight stretch. (Just be realistic about the timing.)
Madrid → Jakarta: Saudia Business Class from ~$2,100
This one is interesting because Saudia's pricing to Southeast Asia can be surprisingly competitive.
Saudia 787 business class cabin
What the deal is
MAD → (Saudi hub) → CGK, pricing from ~$2,100
What the product is like
Saudia's long-haul business class is generally a modern lie-flat experience, and on the right aircraft it's genuinely comfortable.
The "headline" point with Saudia is still the same: no alcohol onboard (by policy). If champagne is part of your premium-cabin ritual, that matters. If you care more about a flat bed, a calm cabin, and arriving functional, it's easier to live with.
What I'd check before buying
Aircraft type on each segment (and whether it's consistent both ways). The first leg is usually operated by a Dreamliner, while the second leg is operated by a 777.
Layover length at the Saudi hub (Jeddah or Riyadh depending on routing) — some routings are smooth, some are a slog.
Seat selection + fare rules: make sure you understand change/refund conditions, and confirm baggage allowance on the ticket you're actually buying. You will get 2 × 32kg pieces, and free seat selection.
If you're positioning to Madrid: build buffer time. A "great fare" stops being great the moment a missed connection forces a last-minute re-buy.
Sale: IHG One Rewards points with a 100% bonus (when it's smart, and hotels that can be a great use)
IHG is currently running a points sale offering up to a 100% bonus, valid January 15 to February 5, 2026.
How to think about buying IHG points
Buying these points makes sense when you're doing it to "lock in" a specific redemption that beats the cash price — not as a hobby, because these sales happen very often.
A simple framework:
Worth it when…
You have specific dates you're ready to book now, and
Cash rates are ugly (peak season / big events), and
The points rate is reasonable for that night (IHG pricing is dynamic, so you'll see wide swings).
Not worth it when…
You're buying "just in case."
The hotel's cash rate is already fair — you'll usually do better saving the cash and keeping flexibility.
"Excellent" IHG hotels where bought points can actually shine (if you are able to find award space)
Because IHG award pricing is dynamic, I'm not going to pretend there's one fixed chart — but these are the kinds of properties where I regularly see points bookings make sense (especially when cash rates spike):
InterContinental Maldives (when cash rates go vertical, points can be the escape hatch)
InterContinental Bora Bora options (often painful in cash; occasionally reasonable in points)
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa (Cayman Islands) (a legit aspirational redemption when availability lines up)
InterContinental London Park Lane (London cash rates can get absurd; points can be a stabilizer)
Kimpton Fitzroy London (great "treat yourself" option that sometimes prices well in points)
InterContinental Paris Le Grand (when Paris is peaking, points can be a strong alternative)
A quiet hotel update (for clients who prefer things handled)
We've had a lot of repeat hotel requests lately — and it's made something very clear:
Some people don't just want "a hotel booking."
They want a stay that runs smoothly, quietly, and with someone actually paying attention to the details.
So we're rolling out a VIP tier for hotel bookings — available only to certain clients who've already booked through us and like to stay in top-tier hotels, and want that same high-touch support again.
What VIP means in practice:
Direct contact with me, Alex, or Dan (faster replies, fewer handoffs)
More personal shortlists based on your style
Proactive follow-ups when we're tracking upgrades, rate shifts, or special requests
Better coordination for celebrations, early arrivals, connecting rooms, and complex stays
If you've booked with us before, you'll start seeing more of these VIP notes going forward.
If you've got a trip coming up, just reply with city + dates + rough budget (or forward the rate you're looking at). We'll take it from there.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi