Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Monday!

Today we have a very nice mix: useful award space, the latest Riyadh Air update, and a points sale that can be interesting if you know exactly what you want to book. And a full 787 comparison as well 😎

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

Last week I shared an alert about Vietnam Airlines business class award space to India. Today we have another route worth knowing about, especially for anyone traveling between Southeast Asia and Australia.

I am seeing good availability from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney. Duration is around 8 hours 30 minutes. Availability varies between 1 and 2 seats on most dates, though I have also seen dates with 3 seats open.

Vietnam Airlines is not always the first airline people think of for premium cabin awards, but that is exactly why I like checking the less obvious options. On routes like this, it offers a proper lie-flat business class product. Not the flashiest business class in Asia, but for an overnight 8.5-hour flight to Australia, a flat bed is exactly what you want.

This is also useful if you are building a larger Asia or Australia trip. You could use points to get to Vietnam, spend a few days in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, then continue to Sydney in business class. Or do the reverse and use Vietnam as a stopover on the way to Southeast Asia.

A few programs that can book Vietnam Airlines partner awards:

Flying Blue is usually the easiest starting point because Vietnam Airlines is a SkyTeam partner and Flying Blue miles are easy to earn through transferable bank points. Virgin can also work, though the price is higher. Delta may show space too, but those points are generally harder to acquire.

As always, check multiple programs before transferring anything. Same seat, same flight, different program, very different price. That is basically the whole game.

Now for something I am very excited to follow.

Riyadh Air tickets are finally on sale to the public, and the airline has revealed its first six routes.

This is fun because it is not every day we get to watch a brand-new global airline launch from scratch. Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia's new carrier, based in Riyadh, and it has very ambitious plans. Boeing 787-9s, a new brand identity, and a very polished onboard experience promised from day one.

The airline has already been operating the Riyadh to London route in a limited way for employees and related groups as part of what it called its "Pathway to Perfect" launch strategy. Now the real public launch is starting.

The first routes open to the public:

The seat maps are now published, with a special Business Elite product in the first row, which is essentially Riyadh Air's version of a business class plus concept.

I think this is one of the most interesting airline launches in years. A new premium airline entering a region already dominated by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Saudia, and Turkish Airlines nearby? That is a very competitive neighborhood.

The big question is whether Riyadh Air can build a product that feels genuinely distinctive. Pretty cabins are one thing. Real operational consistency is another. But for aviation fans, this is exactly the kind of story worth following closely.

Alaska Atmos Rewards is selling points again, with up to a 90% bonus on purchased points. The promotion runs from June 3 to July 5, 2026.

The tiered structure looks like this:

At the 90% tier, the price comes out to around $19.80 per 1,000 points.

This is not the best price Alaska has ever offered. We have seen 100% bonuses before, and at $19.80 per 1,000 points, Alaska miles are on the more expensive end of the spectrum compared to other programs. So you really need a plan before buying.

That said, Alaska has a very unique partner mix. Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Starlux, Condor, and Fiji Airways are all bookable. The program also allows stopovers on one-way awards, which can be very powerful and is one of the features that makes Alaska more interesting than just asking "how many points does this flight cost?"

I would only buy right now if:

Speculative buying at this price is a recipe for points you cannot use well. But if the redemption is right, this sale can be a good opportunity.

That's it for today. Vietnam Airlines has useful business class space from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney, Riyadh Air is finally selling tickets to the public, and Alaska Atmos points are on sale at around $19.80 per 1,000 points.

More deals, news, and trip ideas coming your way on Wednesday.

Catch you in the clouds, 

Tomi from Points Master