The Daily Jolt
The Daily Jolt — Oct 27, 2026: ✈️ British Airways adds Colombo and Melbourne
Good morning. A quiet-looking Tuesday with a few real changes for anyone booking long-haul or planning cruises. Here's what moved.
In this issue
- British Airways adds Colombo, Melbourne and Rovaniemi for winter
- Delta One rebuilds its menu, starting at LAX
- Qatar Airways and WestJet link up across Canada
- MSC World Asia makes more dining free
- Holland America marks 80 years in Alaska
AIRLINES — British Airways adds Colombo, Melbourne and Rovaniemi
British Airways' Oct 26 winter release names Gatwick–Colombo (three a week, started Oct 23), Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur from Jan 9, and Gatwick–Rovaniemi for Dec 4 to Jan 4. It also adds extra Cairo flights and more Geneva capacity for ski season.
The release does not name the fourth new route and gives no Avios or award details, so check award space on ba.com before you plan around it.
The number: Melbourne returns from £1,110; Colombo returns from £524.
What to do: If Sri Lanka or Lapland is on your list, price both cash and Avios now. Details change, so as of Oct 27, 2026, confirm on mediacentre.britishairways.com before you book.
Read the full post: https://perkjolt.com/british-airways-winter-2026-colombo-melbourne-rovaniemi/
AIRLINES — Delta One gets a wagyu burger and a new wine list
Delta is rebuilding Delta One dining, wine and amenity kits on transoceanic flights from LAX this fall, with a network-wide rollout in 2027. Missoni amenity kits arrive on board Nov 3, and the A350-1000 suite debuts in early 2027.
The page does not state a publication date, so treat timing as approximate.
The number: 1,600+ wines evaluated to reach 13 selections.
What to do: Nothing to book yet. If you fly LAX long-haul, expect the changes first. As of Oct 27, 2026; confirm on news.delta.com.
Read the full post: https://perkjolt.com/delta-one-new-era-lax-wagyu-blantons-missoni/
AIRLINES — Qatar Airways and WestJet launch a codeshare
Qatar puts its code on WestJet flights via Toronto and Montreal to nine Canadian cities, and raises its own Canada service from 12 to 14 weekly flights from Oct 25. No start date or Privilege Club earning rules were published.
The number: 12 to 14 weekly flights.
What to do: Watch for earning details before you credit a WestJet flight to Privilege Club. As of Oct 27, 2026; confirm on qatarairways.com.
Read the full post: https://perkjolt.com/qatar-airways-westjet-codeshare/
CRUISES — MSC World Asia adds free food before its December debut
MSC's Oct 26 release names newly complimentary venues: the Aqua Food Market with five stalls, Buffet Grab & Go and Pan-Asian On-the-Go. The ship sails seven-night Mediterranean loops from Dec 4, 2026. No prices were published.
The number: 20 dining venues on board.
What to do: Compare what's included before you pay for a drink or dining package. As of Oct 27, 2026; confirm on mscpressarea.com.
Read the full post: https://perkjolt.com/msc-world-asia-complimentary-dining/
CRUISES — Holland America turns 80 in Alaska with five heritage tours
For 2027, Holland America lists five Alaska Heritage Tours at Juneau, Skagway (White Pass railroad), Denali, Anchorage and Whittier, plus a new eight-day Inside Passage sailing from Vancouver. Prices aren't listed.
The number: 80 years in Alaska, since 1947.
What to do: Alaska sells early; check dates and fares on hollandamerica.com as of Oct 27, 2026.
Read the full post: https://perkjolt.com/holland-america-alaska-heritage-tours-2027/
Quick hits
- Hotel Indigo signs a 90-room London–Kingston hotel for 2027: https://perkjolt.com/hotel-indigo-london-kingston-signing/
- IHG's Q3 update: global RevPAR up 5.3%: https://perkjolt.com/ihg-q3-trading-update-revpar-pipeline/
- Emirates flies Dubai–Cairo five times daily: https://perkjolt.com/emirates-cairo-40-years-five-daily/
- Aeromexico lists three new US cities, dates unconfirmed: https://perkjolt.com/aeromexico-new-us-routes-atlanta-new-york-salt-lake-city/
- Crowne Plaza Hyderabad airport hotel signed: https://perkjolt.com/crowne-plaza-hyderabad-airport-signing/
Feature: How to compare a cash fare and an Avios price in two minutes
Search the same dates for cash and for awards. Note the taxes and fees on the award, then divide the cash fare minus those fees by the points. If the result beats what you'd value the points at, pay cash and keep the points. Repeat for one nearby date before deciding.
From the library
Planning Tokyo? Our Tokyo guide is $4.99, with a free planner for your email: https://perkjolt.com/guides/tokyo/
P.S. Prices, dates and terms can change after we publish, so always confirm on the official page before you book or transfer points. Spot an error? Reply and we'll fix it.
Today’s stories on PerkJolt
- Air Canada’s App Wins Best Airline App: Features Worth Using on Your Next Trip
- British Airways Adds Colombo, Melbourne and Rovaniemi in Expanded Winter Schedule
- Crowne Plaza Debuts in Hyderabad: 250-Room Airport Hotel Signed for Q1 2031
- Delta One Gets a Wagyu Burger, Blanton’s Bourbon and Missoni Kits, Starting From LAX
- Emirates Marks 40 Years in Egypt With Five Daily Dubai-Cairo Flights
- Holiday Inn Raipur Signed for Naya Raipur: 156 Rooms, Scheduled for Q1 2031
- Holland America Marks 80 Years in Alaska With Five New Heritage Tours for 2027
- Hotel Indigo Heads to the Thames at Hampton Wick With a 90-Room London – Kingston Hotel in 2027
- IHG Q3: Global RevPAR Up 5.3%, Greater China Slips 3.3% as Pipeline Hits 2,426 Hotels
- MSC World Asia Adds Free Food Market, Grab-and-Go and Street-Food Bites Before December Debut
- Qatar Airways Launches Codeshare With WestJet Across Canada