Avios points are on offer(Image: imageBROKER/Chris Putnam via Getty Images)
A bank is tempting new customers with 10,000 Avios Points.
J.P Morgan Personal Investing confirmed the deal was running until July 31, 2026. The bank revealed customers could put their points towards flights at a time when concerns are mounting over potential fare increases.
The offer is open to new customers who invest £500 or more in a single payment before the end of July.
To qualify for the points, new clients must keep at least £500 invested from August 1, 2026, until February 1, 2027, after which the Avios will be awarded within 55 days of this holding period concluding. New clients can open a Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, Lifetime ISA, Personal Pension or General Investment Account.
New investors will need to complete the sign-up form, accessible via the promotional page. J.P Morgan reminded customers that their capital was at risk and that transfers in were excluded from the offer.
Claire Exley, head of advice and guidance at J.P. Morgan Personal Investing, said: “Many UK savers are curious about investing for the first time but unsure when to get started. Over the long term, it’s often more important to stay invested over several years than to try to time the market and pick the ‘perfect’ moment.
“For those thinking about starting to invest, our Avios offer is designed to help make that first step in investing feel a little more rewarding. With the cost of travel on many people’s minds, those Avios points could help towards a future holiday or bring a dream trip a bit closer.
“Whether you’re using a Stocks and Shares ISA for the first time, investing for your children, or topping up your pension, what often matters most is choosing an approach you’re comfortable with and staying invested for the long term.”
The entrance to Samsung Electronics’ Suwon campus in Suwon, South Korea, is seen under a clear sky. Photo by Hyojoon Jeon / UPI
June 5 (Asia Today) — Samsung Electronics said Friday it will launch a monthlong customer appreciation campaign worth 400 billion won, or about $261 million, as part of a broader social contribution plan linked to strong performance in its semiconductor business.
The campaign, called “Together With the People, Samsung Electronics Appreciation Festival,” will begin Monday. Customers who buy Samsung Electronics products during the event will receive Onnuri gift certificates equal to 20% of the purchase price, the company said.
Onnuri gift certificates can be used like cash at traditional markets and small neighborhood businesses across South Korea. Samsung said it chose the certificates instead of direct discounts to help stimulate local economies and support small merchants.
The event is part of Samsung Electronics’ earlier pledge to expand social contributions by 5 trillion won, or about $3.26 billion, over the next five years. The company announced the plan after reaching a labor-management agreement last month, saying it would invest in “mutual growth and a healthy ecosystem” as well as “future talent development.”
Samsung said soldiers, police officers, firefighters and correctional officers, which the company refers to as “K-heroes,” will receive a 30% benefit when buying products through the Samsung Electronics Family Mall. More than 700,000 people are expected to be eligible.
Samsung Electronics has operated a separate “K-Hero Family Festa” since 2024 to provide price benefits to members of the military, police, fire services and correctional service.
“The dedication and sacrifice of K-heroes made South Korea one of the safest countries in the world, and Samsung Electronics was able to achieve strong performance and growth thanks to that,” the company said. “The program is intended to honor the devotion and hard work of the heroes around us and express our gratitude and support.”
Samsung is also reviewing additional social contribution measures, including support for partner companies, inclusive finance and artificial intelligence talent development.
The company said those plans may include strengthening the competitiveness of industrial ecosystems through supplier support, expanding financial access for vulnerable groups and small business owners and increasing university-industry cooperation to train talent in AI and other future industries.
“We will continue to think deeply about what role a company should play in our society while considering the expectations of the people,” Samsung Electronics said. “As a company that grows together with society, we will faithfully carry out our responsibilities and role.”
Plane etiquette can be a contentious topic but one flight attendant has shared five of the “basic” passenger habits she always “absolutely loves” to see people doing on board
08:04, 10 May 2026Updated 08:06, 10 May 2026
A flight attendant has shared her five “favourite” habits plane passengers can do while flying (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A flight attendant has shared her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing while flying. Plane etiquette can be a hot topic, with many passengers holding strong opinions on what’s appropriate and polite behaviour – be it whether it’s acceptable to recline your seat or not, whether you’re obligated to swap seats if asked to by a stranger with a small child, and much more.
Playing loud audio, kicking the seat of the passenger in front of you, or ignoring the instructions of the flight crew are all seen by reasonable people as unacceptable ways to act while on board. Still, some passengers are guilty of engaging in unpleasant and unwanted behaviour.
Keen to shed some light on the positives displayed by people when travelling on a plane, one flight attendant took to TikTok with a simple video showing her working behind the scenes and sorting food and drinks out while on a flight.
In overlay text written over the top of the footage, she penned: “My top five favourite things passengers do on a plane”.
In the caption, she elaborated on this and said: “Top 5 things passengers do that I absolutely love:
“1. When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row
“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.
2. When you actually pay attention during announcements
“I promise I’m not just talking to hear my own voice.
3. When you give a smile and a genuine ‘thank you’
“You have no idea how far that goes at 30,000 feet
4. When you keep your shoes on
“Especially in the lavatory. We all know that floor is not holy water.
5. When you treat the plane like it’s not your personal living room
“It’s someone’s workplace. And someone else’s ride home.”
She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”
In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “Soooo actually basics and human behaviour”.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
To which, another replied: “So sad so many people are selfish, rude and ignorant”.
A third said: “Blows my mind people don’t genuinely thank the crew when getting off a flight or after they bring you something”.
And a fourth commented: “When I’m getting off the plane and looking at people’s mess they leave, it makes me mad so I can only imagine how you feel”.
While the majority of TikTok users agreed with the flight attendant’s views, some did take issue with one point – the contentious issue of taking shoes off on a plane.
One TikTok user said: “I’m down for everything except shoes on at my seat. I’m so sorry I have to take them off”.
Another agreed: “Anymore than a four hour flight and the shoes are coming off and slippers going on”.
And someone else added: “I think shoes off is okay as long as you’re not barefoot and put them back on when you leave your seat. And if you travel a lot, nobody is listening to that nonsense – sorry. Everything else 1000%”.
Others stressed the importance of showing your appreciation to flight attendants.
Ryanair has issued a warning to its customers(Image: Getty)
Ryanair has issued a warning to passengers hoping to fly in the days ahead. The budget airline has sent emails to travellers flying from the UK to large parts of Europe.
It cautions of ‘longer queues, particularly at busy airports’. The reason is the new Entry and Exit System (EES), which has been rolled out by the European Union (EU). It requires all travellers from the UK and other non-EU nations to be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border crossings.
The objective is for the new system to replace manual passport stamping and more efficiently track the 90-day visa-free limit, but there have been accounts of it causing delays stretching to several hours at busy airports. It has even been temporarily suspended at times to clear the backlog.
In a message to customers titled ‘Important: Changes to Passport Control’, Ryanair says: “From 10 April 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is in place at all Schengen Area external borders. As a result, passport control may take longer for some passengers.
“You are affected if you hold a non‐EU / non‐EEA / non‐Swiss passport (e.g. UK, USA, Canada, Australia), and are flying into or out of the Schengen Area.
“Commonly affected routes include flights between the Schengen Area and countries such as: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye, Egypt, Israel and others.
“At passport control you may need to:
Scan your passport
Provide fingerprints
Have a facial image taken
These checks may cause longer queues, particularly at busy airports. Queues may form before security.
If affected, please:
Arrive at the airport early to allow for queues
Have your travel documents ready
Follow signs marked EES / Passport Control
Those who are not affected:
EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders
Flights within the Schengen Area (e.g. Spain–Italy, France–Germany)
“If you are denied entry, this will be due to EU policy, not Ryanair’s rules.”
Greece has reportedly opted to pause the EES rollout following considerable delays. A statement on the Greek Embassy website and posts across official social media channels said: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
Airport representatives and the European Commission convened a meeting on Tuesday to address issues surrounding the system. Approximately 122 passengers were left stranded and unable to board their flight from Milan Linate to Manchester on Sunday, following severe hold-ups at passport control linked to the introduction of the EES.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that your details will need to be re-registered every three years. A statement also warned that travellers may face longer waiting times when entering or departing a country. It states: “The European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 This is a new digital border system that has changed requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.
The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries. If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.
EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.
“On your first visit to the Schengen area, you may be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival. You may be asked to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You don’t need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. The checks may take slightly longer than previously, so be prepared to wait during busy times.”
“If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone or Eurostar, St Pancras International, any EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK. You may also be asked to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you exit the Schengen area.”
“If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. You must be aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the immigration limit in any individual Member State you plan to travel to, or through.”
The airline shared advice for passengers looking for the best deal on their holiday
13:27, 17 Apr 2026Updated 13:29, 17 Apr 2026
Jet2 passengers might not be aware of how the pricing system works (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
Jet2 has issued a message for customers, letting them know that holiday prices can go up or down ‘at any time during booking’. The advice could be helpful for anyone looking for a deal on their next getaway, so customers don’t miss out on any offers.
The package holiday provider has explained that it uses a live pricing system, which can be affected by various factors. As such, customers may wish to book without delay when they spot a deal they’re interested in.
One customer took to social media to share their experience when looking at booking a trip, prompting Jet2 to explain its pricing system. In the post, a customer named Phil claimed: “Jet2tweets almost booked a holiday to Portugal, left it overnight, same holiday had increased by £600!”
In response, a Jet2 team member explained that holiday prices may fluctuate and customers are advised to book at a price they are happy with. In a response posted on April 16, Jet2tweets said: “Hi there Phil, thanks for reaching out.
“Please be advised that when looking for a holiday, the price shown next to ‘Holiday price from’ is live and can take some time to update throughout the website.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
“We work on a live pricing system, which is affected by a number of variables such as customer demand, availability, and promotions, meaning our prices are subject to change and can fluctuate up or down at any time during booking.”
The reply continued: “Therefore, we’d always recommend booking at a price you are happy with. We apologise for any disappointment caused. Should you require any further assistance in the meantime, then please feel free to send us a DM.”
Given the response, customers who are wondering about the ‘best time’ to book a holiday may wish to book as soon as they find a deal at the price they want. For passengers looking for cheap flights, the airline also offers money-saving tips on its website.
In a FAQ section on Jet2’s website, the airline said: “What’s the cheapest month to fly? Travelling outside of school holidays, bank holidays and peak summer dates tends to offer the lowest fares.
“You can also find some bargains in the shoulder seasons too, like late autumn, winter and early spring. To find the best prices, check our Low Fare Finder and compare months at a glance.”
