5 Aviation Experiences I’m Most Excited To Book in 2026

When you spend decades mastering points and miles, your aviation bucket list becomes long.

Even as someone who doesn’t love to fly (but loves to travel), I’ve seen my aviation bucket list grow more complex and longer as the years pass. In fact, it’s extra special because I don’t particularly enjoy flying.

Flying (well, mainly turbulence) makes me anxious, so if I can fly on a nicer airline or in a higher class of service, everything seems much less stressful. And if I can enjoy specific aviation experiences, it outweighs the turbulent, anxiety-inducing flights or long-hauls in economy, where I’m crammed into an uncomfortably tiny seat.

Here’s what’s sitting at the top of my aviation bucket list for 2026 (and beyond).

1. Fly Japan Airlines Premium Economy

Japan Airlines took first place among premium economy airline seats in the 2024 Skytrax World’s Best Airline awards and second place in 2025, bumped down only by Virgin Atlantic. Although JAL’s premium economy seats vary by aircraft, they appear to be superior to domestic business class on many U.S. airlines.

The premium economy seats on the airline’s A350 have legrests that extend to 90 degrees, a 42-inch pitch (compared to 34-inch for the economy seats), and 16-inch IFE screens. The seats also have privacy dividers and a fixed shell, so I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone reclining into my knees.

Additionally, premium economy passengers receive lounge access, an added perk.

The caveat? I want to fly this cabin on JAL’s new A350, and affordable award flights on the A350 from U.S. cities are still limited as Japan Airlines rolls out its fleet of A350 aircraft.

Currently, I can only find one-way availability from various U.S. cities to Haneda (HND) for 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles in premium economy on the 787-9 or the 777-300ER, which still feature nice, though less enticing, premium economy cabins. I’m struggling to find availability for the A350, but I’ll keep searching and hopefully be able to make this goal a reality in 2026.

2. Master Avianca’s Lifemiles Program and Its Sweet Spots

While I’ve only flown Avianca twice and don’t have immediate plans to do so in the future, I’m taking a closer look at the Lifemiles loyalty program in 2026.

You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Avianca Lifemiles from Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. Avianca is also a Star Alliance partner, which means you can use Lifemiles for flights on many other partner airlines.

Better yet, Lifemiles doesn’t pass along the high fuel surcharges that many other carriers impose, so you can save cash by redeeming Lifemiles to book partner awards that normally have high additional charges.

For example, even after some recent devaluations, I could fly from the U.S. to Zurich (ZRH) or Geneva (GVA) on SWISS in business class, including taxes and fees. Meanwhile, surcharges when booking via SWISS could be nearly $2,000 if booking via SWISS or other partners.

Lifemiles also occasionally offers decent Buy Miles promotions, allowing me to bulk up my Lifemiles balance. The program also offers occasional transfer bonuses from credit card partners, making award flights more affordable.

3. Fly the Hello Kitty Jet on EVA Air

I’m definitely not a massive Sanrio fan, but I think flying the Hello Kitty Jet, operated by EVA Air, would be a fun way to cruise the skies, especially if I end up in economy class.

I would love to fly on this plane with my son, who I think would enjoy the Hello Kitty-themed goodie bags, food, and other fun surprises, such as themed boarding passes, luggage tags, and even themed bathrooms with Hello Kitty toilet paper — I’ll take anything to make a minuscule airport bathroom moment slightly more exciting.

The Hello Kitty Jet is a 3-cabin Boeing 777-300ER that often flies between Chicago (ORD) and Taipei (TPE), a 15-hour and 50-minute flight (it also operates other intra-Asia routes). I found a flight for $656 in economy or $3,720 in business class.

I’d book this flight with Air Canada Aeroplan points instead, using 50,000 points one-way for economy or 75,000 points in business. Plus, it’s fairly simple to earn these points via transfer partners or the airline’s co-branded credit cards.

And when it comes to the destination itself, I adore Taipei, a city that surprised me with its incredible food, friendly locals, cleanliness, and generally awesome vibes. It’s an incredibly safe spot that I first visited alone, and I have fond memories of navigating awkwardly funny language barriers, taking free walking tours, and wandering through temples and parks at my own pace.

4. Cruise in Singapore Suites 

I can’t think of a better gift for a partner on their birthday, holiday, anniversary, or any special occasion than a flight in Singapore Suites, the airline’s premium, first-class suite on its A380 aircraft. It comes complete with a double bed and a sliding screen door for privacy.

My goal is to give this to my husband for our 10-year wedding anniversary. I’ve always preferred flights over jewelry or any other gift, and I suppose an aircraft experience would work perfectly for the traditional 10-year anniversary present, which is tin or aluminum.

I’d like to take this one-way flight between Frankfurt (FRA) and Singapore (SIN) for 141,000 KrisFlyer miles per person if I can find availability. However, this route isn’t always operated by the A380, so it’s essential that I double-check the aircraft to ensure the flight uses the A380 on my travel date.

Earning Singapore KrisFlyer miles is fairly simple, as the program is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards (if you have a premium credit card, otherwise it’s a 1:0.7 ratio), and Capital One Miles.

5. Spend the Night in the TWA Hotel

This bucket list item is aviation-themed, but doesn’t require a flight. I’ve been eyeing the TWA Hotel in New York ever since it opened at JFK airport in 2019.

It’s kitschy, it’s fun, and it celebrates the magic of vintage airlines. After spending an exciting night in a vintage 1965 Boeing 727 plane at the Costa Verde Hotel in Costa Rica (complete with monkeys climbing along the plane’s exterior and access to the cockpit, which is part of the bathroom), I’m all about aviation-themed overnight stays.

Besides its guestrooms, which have a view of JFK’s runways, the hotel also features a rooftop pool and runway observation deck, a Lockheed Constellation L-1649A, which is now the hotel’s cocktail lounge, a TWA museum that has vintage uniforms, dioramas, and plane models, and a Twister room, where you can play the game wall to wall.

I have an upcoming flight between Cancun (CUN) and Madrid (MAD) with a layover in New York (JFK) this winter, and I’m actually hoping for a weather-related cancellation that traps me in New York overnight.

When the time comes for me to stay, whether it’s a planned trip or a surprise winter snow delay stay, I’ll book via Citi Travel using my $300 hotel credit, which comes as a perk on my Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. I’ve already used the credit for 2025, but it’ll restart again in 2026 — and it’ll help me achieve my final aviation bucket list item for the year.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been fortunate enough to cross key items off my aviation bucket list, including taking a shower on the Emirates A380 while flying in first class, enjoying bubbles in Qatar’s QSuites, and scoring a couple of KLM’s Delft houses.

Whether it’s waking up to runway views in Queens, learning how to best utilize a lesser-known rewards currency, or snoozing in a double bed at 35,000 feet, my aviation bucket list for 2026 has a little bit of everything, and I know I’ll be able to tick at least a couple of these items, if not all, off my list this year.

I hope this list inspires you to create your own and find creative and exciting ways to use your points and miles for memorable flight experiences or unique, aviation-themed travel.