News and notes from around the interweb:

• On the latest Miles to Go podcast I discuss lifetime elite programs at airlines and hotels, where they’ve been and where they’re going. Which are the best ones? Is lifetime status worth chasing?

• The 20 airlines with the most aircraft on order

• IHG is sending out Royal Ambassador status challenges, with as low a requirement as spending $1000 at Intercontinental or Kimpton hotels by the end of the year. The status’ guaranteed early check-in and free drinks from the minibar are standout benefits.

• The lengths airlines go to reduce weight and save fuel like thinner paper for inflight magazines.

  

• Dave Feldman questions the value of blockchain in loyalty. I think any analysis needs to start with what is the technology good for? what does it do? and then realize that it can help with instantaneous settlement of transactions (a lot less expensive to reconcile accounts, while doing so much more frequently) and creating trust through transparency.

  There are use cases for blockchain in loyalty — just not universalizing loyalty currency so you can spend your points at low value everywhere.

• With no notice, one of the worst airline frequent flyer programs in the world — Air New Zealand’s Airpoints — moves to a distance-based chart from a zone-based one for partner awards without any notice. Long haul premium cabin awards get much more expensive.

  

• TAP will go flat on long range narrowbodies:

  💺TAP Air Portugal has revealed that their new Airbus #A321LR jets will have lie flat seats in their premium cabin. pic.twitter.com/gp5kWyYFt9

  — AirlineGeeks (@AirlineGeeks) November 8, 2018