Hello from Mumbai folks. I just got back into Mumbai after a long week at the CAPA Indian Aviation Summit. A lot of inputs coming from there in the coming days, so watch out for those. In the meanwhile, given I’ve been gone for two weeks in a row from Mumbai now, I’m still on the edge if I should make my way to the Aero India 2019 next week. Let me know if you know something interesting is happening there.

Top Stories

In the top stories this past week, we had one from our reader, who managed to get a free stay at a Taj Hotel, just for picking up a magazine. One of my most favourite planes of all times, the A380, well, is finally going to be closing out sales. Too bad it did not work out for Airbus to keep it going. And last, we try and solve the mystery about all of these IndiGo flights which are being cancelled left right and centre.

• Reader Success Story: Free stay at the Taj Hotel through a magazine subscription
• Breaking: Airbus A380 Shutdown in 2021
• Why are IndiGo airlines cancellations going on through March 2019?

News & Views

SpiceJet has claimed they are preparing to launch wifi on board their aircraft, although we could not validate this from other sources. Air India got another new CMD, yet again. Etihad, drowning under the weight of expansion, is now cutting down on its widebody orders.

• SpiceJet preparing for WiFi on board
• Musical Chairs: Ashwani Lohani is back as Air India CMD
• Etihad is massively cutting its widebody orders
• Arkia to launch Tel Aviv to Goa and Cochin in 2019
• Breaking: Airbus A380 Shutdown in 2021
• Why are IndiGo airlines cancellations going on through March 2019?

Cards & Rewards

American Express is going all out with more rewards for members this year. You can get rewards for all sorts of stuff such as International spends and now even Ola spends. In other news, Marriott Rewards is coming out with a new reward chart in a couple of weeks, and you should really steer your ship in the case of that dreamy redemption now if you plan to do something later this year. In addition, Hyatt is changing its chart too, and there is some good news for India there.

• 6X Membership Rewards on American Express International Spends
• American Express brings back Online Festival with many discounts
• Marriott Rewards new award chart on March 5. Book now!
• Marriott Free Night after two paid stays returns
• World of Hyatt Q1 2019 Promotion earns you up to 1500 points per night
• Good News for India in the 2019 Hyatt Award Chart changes

In other news, after a successful Mileage Mentor MasterClass in Mumbai last weekend (Roundup coming soon), we will be organising one in Delhi on March 16. The pre-booking is on, where people can pick up the first slots before we open it for the public to guarantee their space. The pre-booking token amount will be adjusted against the final booking amount. Get your spot here if you want to make it to the March 16 MasterClass. It is in Delhi this time, not Gurugram.