Weekly Travel Roundup

Here are some articles and links from around the travel world that came across my desk this week. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments, post them on our Facebook page or send them my way on Twitter.

Air New Zealand’s new 787-9 unveiled

Air New Zealand showed off their new Dreamliner this week with one beauty of a paint job. The all black livery with the distinct NZ Fern will roll out later this year. If you’d like to hop on board, the plane will be operating to Tokyo and Shanghai from Aukland in October.

These plastic pipes filled with warm water help Airbus test passenger comfort on the A350

Airbus recently showed off the extensive testing going in to their new A350s. See how these pipes simulate hours in flight, and take a look at the new aircraft’s seating layout, in this photo gallery. And if you’d like to see the cabin without all of the testing apparatus, check out this USA Today tour.

American Airlines ties frequent-flier plans to time of travel

If the changes to American Airlines’ FF program had you a little confused this week, you’re not alone. Some changes looked great, some not so great, and some had us shaking our head. This article lays out the changes ahead for your next AA flight.

America’s Meanest Airlines 2014

Meanest airlines, or airlines with the most complaints? The 2014 Air Quality Rankings were released this week, taking in to account customer complaints, on-time arrival percentage, lost bags, bumped passengers, and more. Can you guess who ranked as the “meanest” U.S. based airline? (Hint: It rhymes with United)

Are Hong Kong & Macau Countries?

If you’ve ever wondered about the differences and similarities between Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, then this video will sort you out.