Author: Matt Graham
Matt Graham
The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course! 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 @AFF Editor.
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
Asia to Europe in Business class for just $951!
Fly Business class from Seoul to Prague for just $951 by buying and redeeming miles… After some inspiration on ways to redeem your frequent flyer points? In our new Points Inspiration segment, we highlight an excellent frequent flyer redemption opportunity so you can convert those hard-earned points into a memorable travel experience. The Opportunity How much … Continued
Qantas to Beijing: A Second-Rate Product?
Qantas launched direct flights from Sydney to Beijing earlier this year in an attempt to increase the airline’s presence in the ever-growing Chinese market. Greater choice and competition is good for travellers… but unfortunately for Qantas flyers to Beijing, Qantas has allocated some of its most outdated international aircraft to the route. One member recently … Continued
Jetlag Busting Tricks
There are countless great things about international travel, but jetlag isn’t one of them! Long-haul flying and crossing multiple time zones leaves many travellers exhausted, yet unable to sleep at night. One member recently flew from Sri Lanka to Australia. Despite flying Business class, they felt wrecked once they got home and took almost a … Continued