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.
Free Qantas Travel Out Of Reach?
Are Qantas points a valuable currency, or is the point chase futile because free reward travel is out of reach? The high cost of frequent flyer rewards tickets, combined with excessive fuel surcharges have led some members to claim that Qantas points are in fact worth very little. Firstly, they argue that other programs including … Continued
The Intrigue of Sri Lanka
The many trip reports on AFF don’t just make for captivating reading. They also offer inspiration and ideas for your own travels! Plus, as they are written by other AFF members, there is always an opportunity to ask questions and seek recommendations. Our member albatross710 recently had the chance to visit Sri Lanka. While researching … Continued
Best Value CommBank Awards Redemptions
Commonwealth Bank Awards points can be used in one of two ways. They can either be redeemed directly through the CommBank Awards program, or you can transfer CommBank Awards points to an airline frequent flyer program. Direct redemption options include gift vouchers, cash back and merchandise, while Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Australia Velocity are … Continued
Emirates and Malaysia Airlines Announce Partnership
A troubled Malaysia Airlines has announced a new partnership with Emirates. Under the new agreement, which comes into effect in 2016, Emirates Skywards and Malaysia Airlines Enrich members will enjoy reciprocal benefits when flying on either airline. This includes the ability to earn and redeem points for each airlines’ flights. Malaysia Airlines will also codeshare … Continued
Redeeming Qantas Points for Business Class to the USA
Redeeming points to fly in Business class can be a challenge at the best of times. Reward seats can be very difficult to find. But trying to find award availability on Qantas’ hugely popular flights to the USA can border on the impossible. One member is hoping to use points to fly two people to … Continued
Virgin’s Identity Crisis
One Platinum Virgin Australia flyer believes the airline is suffering from a serious case of “innovation deprivation”. This member is considering switching to Qantas as they feel constantly underwhelmed by Virgin’s inconsistent product. In 2011, Virgin Blue became Virgin Australia as part of a transition towards “full service” airline status. Despite much initial fanfare, this … Continued
A 4-Way Domestic Airline Battle
The Australian domestic aviation landscape is dominated by four airlines: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Tigerair. Qantas is widely regarded as the market leader, with Virgin Australia sharing the premium travel market. Meanwhile, low-cost airlines Jetstar and Tigerair compete for travellers on a budget. One AFF member recently travelled on all four domestic airlines – … Continued
Best Sydney Airport Hotels
If you have an overnight stopover or early morning departure in Sydney, you may need to spend a night at an airport hotel. There are numerous hotels near both terminals at Sydney Airport, with each offering different prices and levels of service. One particular hotel is located very conveniently to the international terminal. Others are … Continued
It’s Back: Bonus Points on Qantas Vouchers
One of the best Qantas deals of the year is back! For the past five years, Qantas has offered bonus points at Christmas time on gift voucher purchases. Although this year’s deal is not as generous as last year’s, there are still 5 points for every dollar spent on flight vouchers up for grabs. This … Continued