Episode
SkyNest Could Beat Business Class, Virgin Gets Worse & Spirit Is In Trouble
- Published
- Apr 21, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1599
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mtm-travel-the-fun-side-of-points-travel-251388/episodes/skynest-could-beat-business-class-virgin-gets-worse-spirit-is-in-trouble/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/mtm-travel-the-fun-side-of-points-travel-251388/skynest-could-beat-business-class-virgin-gets-worse-spirit-is-in-trouble.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Get $200 back after your first payment of $500 with Melio (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/go/melio/ Higher award fees, less lounge access, and one pretty wild new way to sleep on a plane. In this episode of MTM Travel, Shawn and Mark talk through Air New Zealand's new SkyNest bunk beds, Virgin Atlantic's uglier award surcharges, American cutting more basic economy benefits, Spirit's possible liquidation, and United tightening access to Polaris lounges. What we cover: Shawn's Minneapolis meetup recap and Hyatt Centric stay The Fairmont Bermuda / Accor points reimbursement follow-up Air New Zealand's SkyNest bunk beds and whether they beat business class for sleep Virgin Atlantic's higher award fees and why the value keeps slipping American removing more elite perks from basic economy Spirit's possible liquidation and what it could mean for fares United restricting Polaris lounge access for many Star Alliance partners Links: Free newsletter Track your travel credit cards for free with Travel Freely Miles to Memories Facebook group Diamond Patreon and Gold Membership MTM Travel podcast Miles to Memories website Fairmont follow up - https://milestomemories.com/fairmont-hamilton-princess-billing-error/ Skynest - https://milestomemories.com/air-new-zealand-skynest-economy-beds/ Virgin hikes - https://milestomemories.com/virgin-atlantic-just-hiked-award-fees-again/ AA basic economy changes - https://milestomemories.com/american-removes-elite-benefits-in-basic-economy/ United Polaris access changes - https://milestomemories.com/united-restricts-polaris-lounge-access-for-star-alliance-partners/ Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 4:54 Fairmont Bermuda and the Accor points refund mess 8:47 Air New Zealand's SkyNest bunk beds 13:30 Virgin Atlantic award fees jump a…