Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Monday! Fresh week, fresh coffee, and three travel gems to kick things off:
Cash deal: Madrid → Rio in business class (~$1,900 round-trip)
Riyadh Air launches London flights (what to expect from their business class)
Avios sale through Finnair (but there are better ways to buy)
Cash deal: Madrid → Rio in business for ~$1,900 round-trip
Here's the deal: Madrid (MAD) → Rio de Janeiro (GIG) round-trip in business class for about $1,900 USD. That's solid value for a transatlantic round-trip that usually prices closer to $3,000–$4,500.
The products:
Outbound (Iberia A330 business class): 1-2-1 layout with lie-flat seats and direct aisle access. Dan actually reviewed this exact product recently, and it's better than you'd expect based on what people say about Iberia: comfortable seats, clean cabin design, solid service, and good Spanish wine. If you want to see the full walkthrough, check out his video.
Return (LATAM 787 Dreamliner business class): LATAM's newer Thompson Vantage-style business in a 1-2-1 layout. This includes private pods, fully flat beds, a quieter cabin, and better views thanks to the massive Dreamliner windows. LATAM's catering out of Brazil is usually strong too.
LATAM 787 business class seat
How to book: Search the dates on Google Flights and book directly with Iberia or LATAM. Fares are dynamic, so if you see this price and the dates work, grab it.
When this makes sense: If you're planning Brazil for late 2025 or early 2026 and want a confirmed seat without hunting for award space, this is a strong cash fare. Points redemptions to South America can be hit-or-miss depending on the program, so sometimes paying ~$1,900 and saving your points for another trip is the smarter move.
Quick question: What do you think of cash business class deals like this?
What do you think of cash business class deals like this?
Riyadh Air launches London flights: what to expect
Saudi Arabia's new airline, Riyadh Air, just launched its first commercial route: Riyadh (RUH) ↔ London Heathrow (LHR). This is a big deal since it's part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan to turn Riyadh into a global aviation hub and compete directly with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad.
Who's running it: Tony Douglas, the former Etihad CEO, is leading the airline. That tells you they're serious about building a premium product from day one.
The business class: Riyadh Air's Boeing 787-9s feature custom Collins Aerospace business class suites in a 1-2-1 layout with sliding doors. Here's what we know about the product:
Direct aisle access at every seat
Sliding doors for privacy
4K entertainment screens with Bluetooth pairing
Wireless charging built in
Modern, clean design (think new-airline energy)
The soft product, including service, food, amenities, is still being rolled out, but early reports suggest they'll feature local Saudi luxury brands onboard. If the service matches the hardware, this could be a genuinely strong product.
Why this matters for points travelers:
Riyadh Air hasn't announced loyalty program partnerships yet, but a SkyTeam alliance tie-up is widely expected (Saudia, Saudi Arabia's other carrier, is already in SkyTeam). If that happens, Riyadh could become a useful hub for award bookings between Europe, Asia, and eventually North America, especially if they price competitively to grab market share early.
Bottom line: New aircraft, serious funding, and bold ambition. Riyadh Air is shaping up to be one of the most interesting new airlines to watch in 2025-2026. We'll keep tabs on route launches and loyalty program news.
Avios sale through Finnair (up to 40% bonus)
Finnair Plus is running a sale with up to 40% bonus on purchased Avios through November 2, 2025.
The math: At the top tier, you’re paying about USD 14.70 per 1,000 Avios, which isn’t bad if you’re topping off for a specific award.
Why it matters: Finnair Avios transfer freely to British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, so you can use them for things like:
Qatar Airways Qsuites to Asia or the Middle East
Iberia business class to South America
British Airways short-haul hops across Europe
JAL business class on select routes
If you’ve already found award space, this can be a smart way to lock in a premium seat at a fraction of cash prices. For example, Iberia business class from Madrid to Buenos Aires for ~60,000 Avios one-way would cost you around $880 in bought points + taxes, often half of the paid fare.
When it makes sense: You have a specific redemption in mind, availability is there, and the total cost (points + taxes) beats cash. Buying “just in case” isn’t wise in this case since the price is not the best, but buying with a plan can be.
And yes, inside the Points Master Program, we cover ways to build Avios balances even cheaper, but for most travelers, this Finnair sale is an easy, above-board way to top up right now without overcomplicating things.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Wednesday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi