Someone-asked-to-switch-our-business-seats-on-a-plane.jpeg

Someone asked to switch our business seats on a plane. I said yes, and got to take photos with one of my favorite celebrities.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Denny Balmaceda. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In February, I boarded my plane that would fly from Newark Airport in Jersey City to San Francisco. My business-class seat had been booked by a clothing brand I had been working for at the time. My seat on row 11 was a window seat with my own little nook, a treat for me, who usually flies in the economy seats.

As I settled in, neatly arranging my things in the compartment above my head and around my seat, a woman I didn’t recognize kindly asked if I would mind switching seats with her so she could sit next to her husband.

I quickly said, “Sure.” I know that in economy, this kind of question can produce mixed feelings, because if you’ve booked a window seat, you’re not going to want to switch to a middle seat. But in business class, all the seats are good, so I didn’t mind.

I hadn’t realized who her husband was

Just as I responded to her request, I looked up and saw Keegan-Michael Key. I was switching seats with his wife, so she could sit next to him. She continued, explaining she thought she had booked them to sit next to each other.

I took her seat in row 10, and she took mine in row 11.

So not only did I get to travel in business class — already a lot of fun for me — I also got to travel in front of a celebrity that I absolutely love. He’s literally one of my favourite actors.


Keegan-Michael Key on a plane

Denny Balmaceda sat right in front of Keegan-Michael Key on a plane.

Courtesy of Denny Balmaceda



His wife leaned over and said Key would be happy to take a photo with me. He did, and he was so nice. Throughout the flight, he was the same with everyone who came up to him — a real gentleman.

He was so nice

Every single person who came up to him got his time and never once seemed annoyed. He talked to everyone and let people take photos with him.

When his wife needed help with anything, he helped.

And as the flight came to an end, I asked if he could grab my bag, and he didn’t flinch — he was fine with it.

There was no sense that he thought he was above anyone on that plane. He was just a real person who happened to be a celebrity.

Working in the fashion industry, I know there are both celebrities who are rude and those who just have bad days. I know that sometimes, people just want to be themselves without the fame. They just want to travel on planes and not be recognized. But he didn’t fit into any of these categories.

After the flight landed and before we went our separate ways, I took a couple of photos of us together to show my wife.

It was a one-in-a-million chance that I’d switch seats with someone famous, and I was very happy and surprised to get to experience it.




Source link

I-spent-26-hours-in-Qatar-Airways-business-class-Not.jpeg

I spent 26 hours in Qatar Airways’ business class. Not all seats are created equally, but I get why it’s so beloved.

We flew from London Gatwick Airport rather than Heathrow because the flights were about $1,000 cheaper.

Arriving at Gatwick, it was a luxury to have a dedicated check-in counter with barely any queue and then fast-track through security too.

After that, though, I wasn’t super blown away.

Qatar Airways doesn’t have a dedicated lounge at Gatwick, so its business-class travelers can use the Plaza Premium Lounge, which anyone can pay to use. I found it to be quite busy and a bit underwhelming, with a rather uninspiring view.

However, it has a separate area for Qatar Airways customers where we could order from a small à la carte menu. I got a burger, and my husband had a goat-cheese sandwich — it was nice to have complimentary food.

We were also given “premium” drinks vouchers for certain beverages, such as prosecco, though Champagne would’ve cost extra.




Source link

Taylor Rains

Lufthansa is finally selling its complex Boeing 787 business class seats after a certification debacle

Lufthansa can finally start making money on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a certification debacle left one of its most lucrative cabins largely empty for months.

The German flag carrier said on Monday that it will begin selling tickets for its Allegris business class on the 787. Allegris, Lufthansa’s signature cabin concept, spans economy, premium economy, business, and first class, but the business class rollout has been particularly tricky.

The program first launched on the Airbus A350 in May 2024, with the cabin spanning the entire plane. The first Allegris-equipped 787 followed in October 2025, but certification of business class dragged on due to the cabin’s complexity: there are five staggered seat configurations in a single airplane cabin — some with doors or more legroom, others with extra-long beds.


Lufthansa's Allegris business class layout.

The first-row window seats have extra workspace. Some window seats don’t have doors but are billed as being more private.

Lufthansa



This is because the Dreamliner’s geometry — including a slightly tighter usable footprint and different fuselage contouring compared to the A350 — made it harder to demonstrate to regulators that passengers could evacuate quickly from every seat, whether staggered, partially enclosed, or fully cocooned, in an emergency.

The result? For months, only four of the 28 business class seats could be sold — the front-row Business Class Suites — leaving the remaining 24 empty. Business class is a cash cow for airlines, and by flying most of the cabin empty as competitors pour investments into their own premium seats, Lufthansa was essentially leaving money on the table.

It has been a particularly costly headache for a carrier in the midst of a multi-year turnaround plan to restore profitability after years of financial pressure from frequent maintenance, aircraft shortages, rising operating costs, and labor strikes.

Lufthansa even opted for an already-certified business-class seat to retrofit onto its Airbus A380s rather than risk another prolonged and costly certification process.

But the saga is nearing the finish line. Beginning April 15, Lufthansa plans to carry passengers in 25 business-class seats on its 787s, with three remaining blocked in the second row of the cabin.

Bookings are open, though it’s unclear whether the news indicates the seats have been fully certified or if that’s just Lufthansa’s expected timeline.

Lufthansa said “Classic” seats — one of the Allegris categories available — are free to secure with the premium fare.

The others require an extra fee: this includes the first-row suites, the “Privacy” seat next to the window, the “Extra Space” seat with more legroom, and the “Extra Long Bed” with an over seven-foot sleeping surface.

The three second-row seats that are blocked — and not yet available for booking — are two privacy seats and an extra-legroom seat.


Allegris business class.

One of the large, door-equipped Allegris suites on Lufthansa’s A350. It has a larger business-class cabin than the 787 and also features a luxe, ultra-private first class.

LUKAS BARTH/AFP via Getty Images



Lufthansa flies eight Allegris-equipped Dreamliners and expects to have 29 by the end of 2027.

They are set to first fly from Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, Cape Town, Shanghai, Hyderabad, Hong Kong, and Austin; New York-JFK and Los Angeles join the roster in June, followed by Delhi in July.

As part of Lufthansa’s greater multibillion-dollar fleet overhaul plan, Allegris is also being fit onto the airline’s existing A350s and Boeing 747-8s, as well as its future, yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777Xs.

A similar spacing issue on the 747 double-deckers’ upper level means it will have a split business class: the lower deck will have Allegris, while upstairs will feature the plane’s original cabin.




Source link

author bio headshot for jennifer stavros

How much are Rod Stewart tickets? Affordable seats to see the legendary singer live

Rod Stewart is a legendary artist from England with over 50 years of performances under his tenure. The British-born artist is one of the last remaining survivors of mid-century musicians still touring. He’s had several big hits over the years that span across generations. Some popular titles include his solo debut “Maggie May,” “You’re in my Heart,” “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “Forever Young,” and many more.

He is finishing the last remaining international big shows he’s set to do before he comes to the US leg of his ongoing tour. That tour continues to grow, too, as Stewart has recently added fifteen more stops to it. We’re going to tell you how you can get seats to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer for the cheapest deals on Stubhub and Vivid Seats.

Rod Stewart’s 2026 tour schedule

Rod Stewart is continuing his final major tour in the US, which is set to start in February. He has only a few shows left internationally, in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Abu Dhabi, before that, all of which cannot be found from resellers. From there, he will travel to 25 different cities in the US and Canada from February to September 2026. He is making one other international stop out of North America to Spain in late June, as well.

It’s going to be a busy year of shows. Will you be going to one of them? Check out the dates and cities to determine which spot works best for you to visit.

North America


International

Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides.


How to buy tickets for Rod Stewart’s 2026 concert tour

Rod Stewart will be touring in twenty-five cities across the US during his visit. You can purchase those tickets directly from Live Nation or through resellers. Whether you can get a deal via a reseller is subjective: some dates and locations will be a lot more expensive on reseller sites. Others may be comparable. Thankfully, we’ve done some of the legwork here, so you can determine which is best for you cost-wise.

How much are tickets?

Despite being a legendary performer, several of Rod Stewart’s shows are actually remarkably accessible in price, depending on the location. His lowest-priced shows are on August 15th in Riverside, MO, and cost only $50 for lawn seats. However, some of his shows are really expensive, even at their lowest price offerings via resellers.

**The February 28 show, for example, is not currently showing on Live Nation or VividSeats, but has been changed to be available on December 2 or has been postponed. It is priced at over a grand for the lowest price available options. It is currently unknown when the show may be rescheduled.

Who is opening for Rod Stewart’s tour?

Earlier this month, Howard Jones and Richard Marx were announced as opening acts for Stewart’s newly announced shows in March and August. Given the current trend, further surprises and additions may be forthcoming.

Will there be international tour dates?

Rod Stewart has publicly said that it’s “the end of large-scale world tours” for him. A majority of these concert dates are performances within the United States, with three exceptions: two shows in Canada and one show in Spain.

How old is Rod Stewart?

Rod Stewart was born on January 20th, 1945, making him eighty years young. Although he has experienced various health issues, especially over the recent years, last year he posted on Instagram that while he “has no desire to retire”. He will probably be “Forever Young” to many.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.




Source link

author bio headshot for jennifer stavros

How much are Florence and the Machine tickets? The tour kicks off in February, and seats are selling fast

While many people handle grief in private, Florence and the Machine processed hers in an album released on Halloween. Some fans got a taste when the band performed “Sympathy Magic” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It’s an enchanting series of songs that make you feel like you’re meandering deep through a forest, encountering mythical beings before getting on a dark horse and clomping straight through the fog and shadows of grief straight through to heaven itself. To say that the album is a journey is an understatement. It is otherworldly and ethereal. Excitingly, fans can experience it all, live, and I’m here to help by breaking down how to get Florence and the Machine tickets.

Even if you’re not yet a fan of the new album, Florence and the Machine have had several hits over the years. While not all of them are quite as witchy or grief-ridden as this one was, Florence Welch’s voice brings you through powerful moments that will inspire you to make your way through it to the other side, from “Dog Days Are Over” to “Shake It Out.”

Florence and the Machine are going on tour again next year. I’m here to bring you tips on how to have an experience that will leave you feeling an echo afterward. Come check out how to get the best deals on tickets from StubHub and VividSeats.

Florence and the Machine’s 2026 tour schedule

Florence and the Machine announced the coming concerts a week before they announced their new album: “Everybody Screams.” The tour is highly anticipated among fans who have become enchanted with the recent Halloween album drop.

The band is playing in several major cities and venues across the United States. In cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, they’ll be there for a couple of days to help ensure that more fans can hear them before they move on to the next location.

Several of the stops along the tour are paired with other artists.

North America


International

* Indicates a tour date shared with Rachel Chinouriri.

† Indicates a tour date shared with Sofia Isella.

‡ Indicates a tour date shared with CMAT.

§ Indicates a tour date shared with Mannequin Pussy.


How to buy tickets for Florence and the Machine’s 2026 concert tour

Florence and the Machine tickets went on presale recently. This gives aspiring concertgoers a lot of options for possibly snagging seats, with tickets up for grabs on Ticketmaster as well as on StubHub and VividSeats.

There is one festival appearance scheduled during the tour on Friday, July 3, 2026. That appearance in Milan is part of the I Days, a major festival that takes place annually in Italy.

Some tickets are available to purchase via StubHub’s UK ticketing portal. Those tickets are priced in British currency to reflect that.

The most expensive tickets currently are for the France and Germany shows. They are hundreds of dollars more than any of the other dates. When I researched purchasing tickets outside the United States, I found information stating that tariffs were in place that could be applied. Shoppers will want to be mindful of this when budgeting their spending.

How much are tickets?

Currently, resale tickets are not tremendously more expensive than their original counterparts, but it’s still early. We are in the pre-sale after all.

The price ranges for tickets are quite substantial, even for the cheapest tickets. The lowest tickets are about $70 on a handful of dates. They can then reach upward of a couple of hundred dollars for tickets on Stubhub, to over $500 for the highest-priced tickets on VividSeats.

That said, while I did find affordable tickets, I also found expensive ones. For example, if someone wanted to go to the show on May 20th in really good available seats in a lower bowl corner area of Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, they’d be looking at paying over $2,500 a ticket. While those are good seats, they aren’t even the top tier for the venue. Concert suite tickets at the Kia Forum can range between $5,000 and $15,000. People drop serious money going to events there and spare no expense to see their favorite performers. There is a huge difference not only in cost but in the experience itself when there.

Who is opening for Florence and the Machine’s tour?

Florence and the Machine is sharing the tour with a few other artists. The paired bands are marked with their corresponding dates on the charts above. The artists going with Florence and the Machine are: *Rachel Chinouriri in the early April dates, †Sofia Isella in mid April, ‡CMAT in the later April to early May dates, and §Mannequin Pussy for May dates.

Florence and the Machine are the big name for the date that they are headlining the Italian festival scheduled in July.

Will there be international tour dates?

There are lots of opportunities to see Florence and the Machine internationally. In fact, some of the tour’s biggest shows are international dates.

When was the Florence and the Machine presale?

Tickets for Florence and the Machine went on sale via presale from November 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET to noon ET. This presale was special for American Express (AMEX) holders, as you had to pay for your tickets using an American Express card. An American Express gift card did not work for purchases. A select number of tickets were available with this pre-sale. The artist presale of tickets was also on November 3, 2025, and November 4, 2025. This was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday and was available to fans who had signed up through the artist’s website. Tickets for the show officially go on sale to the general public on November 5, 2025.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.




Source link

nicole berardi headshot

How much are Luke Combs tickets? We’ve found all of the cheapest seats to see the singer live

Following several days of teasing on social media, Luke Combs officially announced his 2026 concert series, titled the “My Kinda Saturday Night” world tour. With the announcement first being sent to his “Bootleggers” fan club members and then to the general public, fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to see Combs live. With all venues in stadiums and a long roster of opening acts scheduled to join the star, it’s no wonder tickets are already in high demand.

Luke Combs has been praised for his dedication to his fans, and releasing the tour announcement and presale first to his Bootleggers fans has been specifically applauded. The “Fast Car” singer has been quoted as saying he is happy for the chance to promote country music in places where it is not typically found, and his 10 international stops can attest to that effort as well.

If seeing Luke Combs in concert next year sounds like your kind of Saturday night, we’ve got you covered. We’ve broken down everything Luke Combs and the My Kinda Saturday Night world tour, including purchasing details and price comparisons between ticket vendors. You can also browse concert and ticket specifics at your convenience on StubHub or Vivid Seats.

Luke Combs’ 2026 tour schedule

The My Kinda Saturday Night tour will kick off in Las Vegas next March, followed by several shows across the continental US and Canada. From July, Combs will embark on a tour of Europe and the UK. The My Kinda Saturday Night tour is scheduled to wrap up on August 2 in London.

North America


International

*Indicates an event that Luke Combs will be performing at in addition to other artists.


How to buy tickets for Luke Combs’ 2025 concert tour

Original tickets for the My Kinda Saturday Night tour went on presale on October 15, followed by general sale on October 17, with tickets available for purchase on Ticketmaster. As of writing, all dates still have limited availability for original tickets, and can still be purchased on Ticketmaster.

Tickets are also available for purchase from verified resale vendor sites such as StubHub and Vivid Seats. Many popular tour stops, such as Las Vegas, have limited remaining seating options; in such cases, you may find more ideal options on resale sites instead.

How much are Luke Combs tickets?

With shows still having yet to sell out, ticket prices between the original and resale options are somewhat similar, with resale options leaning slightly more affordable for certain dates. Original standard ticket prices vary depending on the venue and location, but currently tend to fall within the average range of $100 to just over $300. Many locations even offer pit options under $300 (Knoxville and South Bend, for example), which is very reasonable compared to other artists whose pit tickets can easily exceed $1,000.

As of writing, for the resale option, Vivid Seats has prices ever so slightly below those of StubHub, with the most affordable options ranging from $71 for the May 2 tour stop in Knoxville to $176 for the May 30 tour stop in Montreal. StubHub ranges from $79 for the same Knoxville show to $244 for the Green Bay performance on May 16. The biggest difference right now is that Vivid Seats has fewer international location options, which is somewhat common for the site in general.

Luke Combs has a guest appearance at Alan Jackson’s event in Nashville on June 27, and prices for this are considerably higher than his own headlining tour’s stops. This is due to the event being large, with several artists performing.

There are no VIP packages for The My Kind Of Saturday Night tour available for purchase on Ticketmaster.

Who is opening for Luke Combs’ tour?

Several artists have been confirmed to join Luke Combs on his upcoming 2026 world tour. For North American shows, Dierks Bentley, Ty Myers, The Castellows, and Thelma & James have been tapped as supporting artists. Europe will continue to see Ty Myers and the Castellows perform, with The Script also joining them for shows in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Ireland. The Teskey Brothers have been announced as an opening act for the Edinburgh show, and Thomas Rhett will also be supporting the London concert.

Will there be international tour dates?

The My Kinda Saturday Night tour has 10 international dates currently scheduled. The tour will head to Sweden in July, followed by shows in France, the Netherlands, and Ireland, and will conclude in the UK with five performances in Edinburgh and London.

Who is Luke Combs?

Luke Combs is an American country singer from North Carolina who first emerged on the scene in 2014 with his debut EP, “The Way She Rides”. He has since gone on to win several Billboard Music and Country Music awards, and also has his own polarized sunglasses and hat company called Blue Otter Polarized. Luke Combs married Nicole Hocking in 2020.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.




Source link

nicole berardi headshot

How much are Ariana Grande tickets? The singer’s upcoming tour is entirely sold out, but here’s where to find seats

Ariana Grande is officially touring again in 2026: The Eternal Sunshine Tour opens June 6, 2026 in Oakland and runs across North America with arena stops in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Montreal, Chicago and more, followed by a London O2 run in mid-August. Cities and dates were confirmed via the official announcement and ticketing pages, with multiple nights added in several markets due to demand.

Grande announced the tour in late August 2025 and opened presales in early September. Initial allocations sold out quickly, prompting the addition of shows in Oakland, Los Angeles, Austin, Sunrise, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Boston, Montreal, Chicago, and London. If you’re trying to get seats now, start with primary listings and then compare trusted resale options, since some dates are already selling above face value. Below, we break down how to buy Ariana Grande tickets with the latest schedule, presale details, and price checkpoints. You can also look at ticket details at your leisure on StubHub and Vivid Seats.

Ariana Grande’s 2026 tour schedule

For the Eternal Sunshine tour, Ariana Grande will be doing multiple shows at each of her stops. She will begin in California on June 6, 2026, and then make her way to Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Canada, and conclude her North American shows with a visit to Illinois next August. Afterward, she is set to perform 10 shows in London, officially concluding the tour on September 1, 2026.

North America


International


How to buy tickets for Ariana Grande’s 2025 concert tour

Original standard tickets were sold on Ticketmaster but quickly sold out for all North American shows shortly after release. Tickets for the London performances of The Eternal Sunshine tour are currently available for presale, with general on sale beginning September 18 at 10 AM EDT.

Tickets are also available from verified resale vendors such as StubHub and Vivid Seats. Since original tickets for The Eternal Sunshine tour are no longer available, reselling tickets is the best option for securing a spot.

How much are Ariana Grande tickets?

Tickets for Ariana Grande’s The Eternal Sunshine tour vary depending on the date, location, and demand for each show. Original standard tickets quickly sold out on Ticketmaster shortly after the general sale began, and currently only resale options are available for North American stops. London shows began their general sale on September 18 at 10 a.m. ET.

Overall, resale prices are high. Ariana herself has commented on her disappointment with scalpers and tried to discuss with the venues about making as many tickets available as possible so that her fans can attend without paying inflated prices.

StubHub and Vivid Seats currently have similar resale prices. StubHub’s most affordable options range from $395 (July 25 in Boston and July 30 in Montreal) to $752 (August 3 in Chicago). Vivid Seats prices range from $416 (June 30 in Sunrise, Florida) to $906 (June 20 in Inglewood). It could be attributed to the high demand and anticipation for the tour from Ariana Grande, who has not toured in seven years. However, many locations even have premium seats being resold for several thousand dollars.

However, with resale prices high and the tour not set to begin until 2026, prices are expected to fluctuate over the next few months.

Upon the release of The Eternal Sunshine’s tickets, three VIP packages were sold on Ticketmaster: the Ultimate Ari’s Lounge VIP Package, the Ari’s Lounge VIP Package, and the Gold VIP Package. These packages included various perks such as premium reserved tickets, early entry, VIP gifts, and access to an exclusive VIP lounge. Similar to the original standard tickets, these packages quickly sold out and are no longer available.

Who is opening for Ariana Grande’s tour?

There has been no official announcement made yet regarding opening acts for Ariana Grande’s 2026 The Eternal Sunshine tour. For her previous Sweetener world tour, Ella Mai, Normani, and Social House opened for Grande. It is expected that more information will be made public as the tour approaches regarding whether someone will be opening for the star on her highly anticipated tour.

Will there be international tour dates?

There are currently 10 performances scheduled in London for The Eternal Sunshine tour. The final five dates were announced on September 16, with Ariana stating that these dates would be the last additions to the tour, and the current schedule is now finalized.

How much are Ariana Grande meet and greet tickets?

While three VIP packages were offered on Ticketmaster for The Eternal Sunshine tour, none of these packages included a meet-and-greet option.

During her Sweetener tour, Ariana Grande previously offered meet-and-greet options for sale in the range of $1,000, which included pit access as well as the opportunity to view the pre-show soundcheck. However, midway through the tour Ariana ended meet and greet options, which was reportedly due to anxiety. So, while it seems unlikely that she will offer a meet-and-greet for The Eternal Sunshine tour or future tours, Ariana has been reported to have said she does not mind interacting with fans if they happen to meet her by chance.




Source link