Author: Matt Graham
Virgin vs Qantas: Apples and Oranges?
Virgin Australia has gone to great lengths to compete with Qantas since it was rebranded from Virgin Blue. But according to one member, there are two reasons that Virgin and its Velocity Frequent Flyer program cannot be compared to Qantas and its frequent flyer program. The first reason is Virgin’s underwhelming on-board catering. Virgin creates … Continued
Culture, Cuisine, Wildlife and More in Brazil
Brazil is the home to samba, beautiful beaches, Carnival, amazing cuisine and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. For two weeks, it was also recently “home” for our member bigpetebrown as they visited some of the less-travelled parts of this beautiful country. São Paulo, Cuiaba, São Luis and the capital of Brasilia were … Continued
United Hikes Award Flight Prices
United is the latest airline to announce a devaluation to its frequent flyer program. From 1 November 2017, United will be making a host of unwelcome changes to its popular Mileage Plus program. Award prices on many routes will be increasing, including on flights to and from Australia. United will also replace its “Standard Awards” … Continued
20,000 Amex Points for $35!
Our members have discovered an ingenious way to earn 20,000 Amex Membership Rewards points for as little as $35! These points can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to numerous frequent flyer programs, including Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates. American Express is currently offering 20,000 bonus points when taking out an Amex … Continued
Business Class to NZ: Qantas vs Emirates
There are more than half a dozen airlines flying between Australia and New Zealand. Except for Jetstar, these airlines all offer Business class. But the product in the pointy-end can vary enormously. Our member v1nce007 recently flew from Melbourne to Auckland and back in Business. They flew with Qantas to Auckland, returning on Emirates. The … Continued
Train or Plane around Europe?
When travelling between Australian cities, it almost always makes sense to fly. Vast distances separate most cities and high-speed rail is not an option. In Europe, the equation is completely different. Fast trains connect almost all European cities. They provide an efficient, comfortable and affordable alternative to air travel. Ahead of a trip to Europe, one … Continued
Australia Phasing Out Departure Cards
Overseas travellers will no longer need to fill out those pesky green cards when departing from Australia. From 1 July, Australia’s “outgoing passenger cards” will finally be phased out. Travellers are pleasantly surprised with the news. These forms have been an annoyance – albeit a minor one – to many of our members. Good, now … Continued
Qantas Sydney Connection Times: Too Short
Connecting from a domestic to an international flight in Sydney can be a time-consuming process. The international and domestic terminals are located several kilometres apart. Passing through the immigration and security checkpoints can also be a lengthy process. Despite this, Qantas continues to sell connections with as little as 60 minutes between the scheduled arrival … Continued
Emirates Lounge Off-Limits
One of the well-publicised benefits of Qantas’ partnership with Emirates is reciprocal access to both airlines’ airport lounges. Qantas frequent flyers are allowed to use the Emirates lounge when flying Qantas or Emirates, and vice versa. But Qantas flyers have reported being turned away from Emirates lounges. A Platinum Qantas flyer recently tried to access … Continued