Author: Staff Writers
Staff Writers
How will the capacity bubble burst?
One of the features in the battle between Qantas and Virgin of recent years has been the increase in capacity both airlines have made in a bid to make money. Not long ago, trans- continental traffic was mostly single aisle jets. With Virgin upping the ante to wide-bodies with lie flat beds in business, Qantas … Continued
When points won’t stretch the distance
While many of our members like to accumulate points rather than spend them, some have been burned by hard lessons from the past. As the events of 2001 showed with the demise of Ansett, sometimes it can be a case of easy come easy go. Spending those points rather than saving them can be a … Continued
When fashion means trouble!
If you don’t travel overseas often you might not realise that sometimes it is the little things that can make a lot of difference. It might be the simple gesture of a handshake with the wrong hand offered causing offence. Or it could be the action of taking photos of the local females going about … Continued
Nuts-on-board: A deadly snack?
An unexpected danger to some passengers on board is the dissemination or consumption of nuts. A four year old girl on a Ryan-Air flight suffered an alleged anaphylactic shock after a fellow passenger opened a packet of nuts in another row. This story raised a number of issues with our members and led them to … Continued
Hobbits and Rugby- where else but NZ!
Travellers tend to head to New Zealand for all sorts of reasons. The skiing, natural scenery and adventure all feature on the to-do lists of many travellers. This week’s trip report has a to-do list that is a little different. It seems despite it being the midst of winter, T-shirts and hobbit hunting are the … Continued
Portable Devices go Gate-to-Gate
One of the biggest changes to the customer experience when flying domestically has been in the area of in flight entertainment (IFE). With seat back screen systems expensive to install and keep updated with technology, airlines have been looking at ways to save money. WiFi streaming is a technology that for many airlines solves the … Continued
Beating Car Hire Excess with “Bingle and Dingle” Insurance
If you don’t rent cars often, it’s pretty easy to be confused by what you’re covered for in the event of an accident. Overseas, what’s compulsory for coverage can vary between states, let alone differences between countries. Terms such as loss damage waiver, collision damage waiver and single vehicle accident excess also help contribute to … Continued
Seat buddy issues
For many, the joys of travel include the opportunity to meet to new people. Thanks to assigned seating, you will not always have the choice as to whom you may sit with. That long haul flight could see time fly should you be lucky to be seated beside someone who is witty and entertaining. Taking … Continued
Frequent Flyer Perk Envy
This week many members suffer from some serious perk-envy when some of our members reveal the perks that are attached to their careers. An Amex gold card where accrued points are allowed to be used at the employee’s discretion is a frequent flyers fantasy. A company car with all registration, insurance and petrol paid is … Continued