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Startup longhaul budget airline Oasis Hong Kong Airlines offers tickets from Hong Kong to London-Gatwick for £75 each way. Ludicrously cheap. The company plans to fly to other discount carriers’ hubs around the world, such as Oakland, CA, and Cologne, Germany. (via Jared Blank)

Spirit Airlines‘ “Ocho Libre” sale, featuring flights for $8 each way, ends tonight. Good luck finding any fares at that price.

“Cheat” your way to airline elite status… by following the airlines’ own rules! Fortune Magazine calls adherence to the rules cheating? Nonetheless, the article provides a decent overview of elite qualification “challenges” on American Airlines, and how you can get your status matched by other airlines. (See also this earlier rant and advice on status matching.)

Finally some good news for Northwest Airlines flyers: More food choices in first class. A new rotation of 16 meal options debuts in August.

United’s p.s. (”premium service”) flights between JFK and LAX or SFO just got a little less premium for passengers in coach. Free hot meals in economy are being cut, effective August 4, with food shifting to the buy-on-board model. At the same time, food at the front of the bus is supposedly improving, with a “new gourmet menu” being phased in. And, on United flights to Hawaii, prepare for nonstop tiki… The airline has rebranded their inflight catering with Trader Vic’s. Not a huge change on this last count: United already serves mai tais on Hawaii flights…

Finally: What do you do when your team is defeated in the World Cup? Go on vacation! Lastminute.com reported a surge in bookings following England’s departure from the tournament. Notably NOT a destination: Portugal, the team that ousted England. Vengeful tourism!

tags: travel