• ✈️ United Airlines: Four ultra-premium 787-9s with new Polaris Studios arriving in next few weeks

• ✈️ Air Canada: Launches North America's only nonstop to Sapporo starting winter 2026-2027

• 💳 Flying Blue Card: Bank of America makes elite status easier with reduced spending thresholds

• 🚨 Winter Storm Alert: Major airlines issue waivers ahead of weekend travel disruptions

I nearly did a double-take when I saw United's announcement yesterday. Remember when we first covered their stunning new United Elevate cabins back in May 2025? Well, the wait is almost over - and it's happening faster than anyone expected.

The airline just confirmed it's taking delivery of four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners featuring the swankiest interiors in its fleet in the next few weeks. We're talking Polaris Studios in business class, expanded premium economy, and an ultra-premium configuration that signals United isn't playing around anymore.

Which airline is launching North America's only nonstop flight to Sapporo, Japan?

🇨🇦 Air Canada🇺🇸 United Airlines🇺🇸 Alaska Airlines🇺🇸 American Airlines

The answer is chillin' near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling. 👇

United executives confirmed Wednesday that four new Boeing 787-9s are arriving within weeks - each sporting the carrier's United Elevate interior that was unveiled last spring.

This isn't just a refresh. It's a complete reimagining of what flying United long-haul could look like.

The star of the show? Polaris Studios - a brand-new business class seat that represents United's nicest premium product to date. These aren't the existing Polaris seats you might have experienced. Think more privacy, better finishes, and a design that finally competes with what Delta and international carriers have been offering.

The aircraft feature an ultra-premium configuration, meaning United is betting big on high-revenue passengers. More lie-flat seats up front, expanded premium economy in the middle, and fewer seats overall compared to their existing 787-9s.

Here's where it gets interesting for points collectors: These premium-heavy configurations mean more award availability in business class compared to routes operated by older aircraft. When United deploys these new 787-9s on routes to Europe and Asia, you'll have better odds of snagging those 77,000-point one-way awards to Frankfurt or Tokyo.

United hasn't released specific routes yet, but based on delivery timelines, expect to see these planes operating by early March 2026. The airline typically deploys new premium products on high-demand international routes first - think Newark to London, San Francisco to Tokyo, or Chicago to Frankfurt.

Pro tip: Use Award Travel Finder to search for MileagePlus award availability once these planes enter service. You can filter by aircraft type to specifically hunt for 787-9 flights, increasing your chances of scoring the new product.

For all our United coverage, including aircraft updates and route launches, check out our dedicated page.

Speaking of exciting route news, Air Canada just announced something I've personally been waiting for: seasonal service between Vancouver and Sapporo starting winter 2026-2027.

This is huge for anyone planning a ski trip to Japan's powder capital or exploring Hokkaido's winter wonderland.

Air Canada will operate three flights weekly between Vancouver (YVR) and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport (CTS) during the winter 2026-2027 season. This makes it the only nonstop option from anywhere in North America to reach Sapporo.

Currently, getting to Sapporo from the U.S. or Canada requires connecting through Tokyo, Seoul, or another Asian hub. This new route shaves hours off your journey and gets you to those ski slopes that much faster.

The timing couldn't be better because Air Canada Aeroplan points can be purchased right now with a 30% discount at 1.91¢ per point through January 24, 2026 - that's this Friday.

If you're planning a winter Japan trip next year, this could be worth considering. Aeroplan award flights to Japan typically run 75,000-90,000 points in economy or 120,000-140,000 in business class during peak season. With the current discount, you'd pay roughly $1,433 to buy enough points for business class - competitive with cash fares on this route.

The purchase discount ends in two days, so if Sapporo skiing is on your radar, run the numbers fast.

Bank of America just rolled out some welcome changes to the Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit card that make it significantly easier to earn elite status through spending.

The new version of the card launched this week with improved benefits and - here's the kicker - a limited-time welcome bonus that's actually worth considering.

The card now offers reduced spending thresholds to qualify for Flying Blue elite status. Previously, reaching Silver status required significantly more annual spending. The new structure makes it more achievable for casual travelers who focus their spending on the card.

This matters because Flying Blue Silver and Gold status unlock valuable perks when flying Air France, KLM, Delta (as a SkyTeam partner), and other alliance carriers - including priority boarding, extra baggage, and lounge access at higher tiers.

Here's something interesting that caught my attention: The card earns 3x points on foreign purchases with no foreign transaction fees.

That's a competitive rate for international spending, especially when you consider Flying Blue points can be transferred to other SkyTeam partners or redeemed on Delta flights. For anyone traveling to Europe regularly or spending in foreign currencies online, this is a solid earning rate.

The card carries a $95 annual fee, but the combination of easier elite status qualification and enhanced foreign spending makes it worth a look for SkyTeam loyalists.

If you're flying this weekend, pay attention: forecasters are predicting what could be the biggest winter storm of the season so far, with major impacts expected from Texas and Oklahoma through the East Coast.

AccuWeather warned Wednesday of "widespread, severe impacts" from an Arctic blast expected to snarl travel late this week and well into the weekend. Accumulating snow and ice could affect major hubs from Dallas to Chicago to the Northeast corridor.

Multiple airlines have already issued travel waivers, allowing passengers to rebook without change fees. If you have flights scheduled between Friday and Sunday, check your airline's website now - most waivers let you change to alternative dates without penalty if your original flight hasn't been cancelled yet.

Pro tip: Before heading to the airport, check estimated wait times using Flight Queue to see real-time security and passport control delays. Winter weather often creates unexpected bottlenecks even before flights start cancelling.

This is also when premium credit card travel insurance can prove its worth. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve include trip delay and cancellation coverage - but you need to have paid for the trip with that card to qualify.

The answer is 🇨🇦 Air Canada! Starting winter 2026-2027, Air Canada will operate the only nonstop flights between North America and Sapporo, connecting Vancouver to Japan's ski capital three times weekly. It's a game-changer for anyone planning a Hokkaido powder trip.

Are you more excited about United's new Polaris Studios business class or Air Canada's direct Sapporo route? Hit reply and let me know - I read every response and love hearing what trips you're planning!

That's all for today - see you tomorrow with more miles, points, and travel opportunities!

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs: