Author: Matt Graham

Matt Graham

Matt was the editor of Australian Frequent Flyer from 2015 until 2025. His passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries - with a lot of help along the way from frequent flyer points! Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine. You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @Mattg.

Woolworths Rewards is now called Everyday Rewards again

Woolworths Relaunches Everyday Rewards

The Woolworths Rewards loyalty program has been renamed to its original name of “Everyday Rewards”, effective from 29 July 2020. The new program is now being rolled out nationwide. You’ll still earn 1 point per $1 for purchases from Woolworths, and you’ll still be able to redeem 2,000 points for either $10 off your shopping … Continued

SMS text message on phone

Qantas Dream Planner Sends Real-Time Reward Alerts

Qantas Frequent Flyer has launched its new “Dream Planner” tool which it says will send real-time notifications of reward seat availability to frequent flyers. Designed to make it easier to redeem Qantas points, the service will also inform Qantas customers of special offers to their favourite destinations. Originally due to launch on 28 July, the … Continued

Podcast #41: Farewell to the Queen of the Skies

Podcast #41: Farewell to the Queen of the Skies

This week, Australia said farewell to a national icon. Over the past 49 years, Qantas has operated almost every variant of the Boeing 747 in existence. In fact, the flying kangaroo was once an all-747 airline. Now, the queen of the skies has been placed into early retirement in the Mojave desert. The iconic Boeing … Continued

Farewell to the Queen of the Skies – AIR041

  This week, Australia said farewell to a national icon: the Qantas Boeing 747. Over the past 49 years, Qantas – once an all-747 airline – has operated almost every Boeing 747 variant that has existed. The “queen of the skies” has transported millions of passengers to destinations all over the world, including Olympic athletes … Continued

Oil prices rising carrier charges fuel surcharges

Many Fuel Surcharges Remain Excessive Despite Low Oil Prices

Fuel surcharges have long been a pet hate of frequent flyers. They add to the cost of frequent flyer redemption tickets, and in extreme cases, can be even higher than the cost of a regular ticket on the same flight! With worldwide oil prices now at record lows, and airlines desperate to fill seats, a … Continued

Amex Launches "Plan It" as Qantas Partners with Afterpay

Amex Launches “Plan It” as Qantas Partners with Afterpay

With Australia in the midst of a financial crisis, “buy now, pay later” services have become increasingly popular lately. It’s already prompted Afterpay to start offering Qantas Frequent Flyer points. And now, American Express is launching a new “Plan It” feature for its own cardholders. Amex launches “Plan It” payment instalments American Express card holders in … Continued

Turkish Airlines priority boarding sign

Triple Status Credit Offers Have Begun

It is widely anticipated that airlines will be doing everything they can to lure back customers in the coming period, as travel recovers from the COVID-19 shutdown. Cheap airfares, loyalty programs and special promotions will form a large part of that. Last month, we already saw a “triple frequent flyer points” offer from Qantas. It … Continued

It's Getting Progressively Harder to Return to Australia

It’s Getting Progressively Harder to Return to Australia

It’s now been four months since the Australian government closed its border to non-Australian citizens and residents, and banned Aussies from leaving their own country without special permission. Shortly after, the federal government introduced mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival into Australia. Ever since March, flight cancellations and border restrictions – not just in Australia – … Continued

Virgin Australia 737

Velocity Reinstates More Reward Flights, Upgrades

Velocity Frequent Flyer has reinstated reward seats on 19 more non-stop Virgin Australia domestic routes. That’s around double the previous number. Plus, in even better news, Velocity points can now be redeemed for travel any time – effective immediately. Velocity points can also be redeemed once again for flight upgrades, hotel bookings and, shortly, car … Continued