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.
Climbing the Airline Status Ladder
Many travelers are lured by the benefits of Gold and Platinum airline status. Complimentary lounge access, more upgrades, no queues and extra points make the status chase tempting. But is elite status really worthwhile? Or are there other ways to enjoy the same perks – even as an infrequent flyer – without the extra time, … Continued
Reviewed: Hawaiian Airlines First Class to Honolulu
Hawaii has always been a popular destination for Australian tourists. Qantas, Jetstar and Hawaiian Airlines all fly directly to Honolulu from Australia, with the latter flying non-stop from both Sydney and Brisbane. Hawaiian Airlines flies to Australia using Airbus A330 aircraft. There are two classes of travel available; First Class and “Coach” (an American term … Continued
Best Airline from Australia to China?
There are numerous airlines that offer direct flights between Australia and China, plus countless others offering one-stop flights through hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong. One member is planning a trip from Melbourne to Beijing. As there are no direct flights from Melbourne, this member is will need to connect somewhere. Should the member fly … Continued
ANZ Eliminates Points on Tax Payments
ANZ credit card holders will no longer earn frequent flyer points when paying tax to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). From 27 February 2016, ATO payments are specifically excluded from point earning. ANZ is just the latest in a series of credit card providers to reduce or remove the ability to earn points when paying … Continued
Best Use of British Airways Avios
This week the British Airways Executive Club program is a topic of discussion. In particular, what are the best ways to redeem Avios, BA’s mile “currency”? As a oneworld member airline, British Airways Avios can be used for flights on BA itself or any oneworld partner airline. This includes Qantas, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines. … Continued
Around the World in 10 Days
Forget travelling around the world in 80 days! Our member harvyk recently completed a journey around the globe in just ten days, and their experiences have been compiled into a trip report. Although our member’s real destination was Seattle, some creative flight routings meant some time was spent in Los Angeles and London before completing … Continued
Status Runs: Bridge a Status Credit Shortfall
What should you do if your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year is coming to an end, and you’re just short of the required status credits to reach a higher status tier? One solution is to go on a “status run”. This is where a frequent flyer travels in order to earn status credits. The key … Continued
Qantas Closes Bangkok Lounge
Qantas has permanently closed another of its Qantas Club airport lounges. Qantas Club members and other eligible customers flying from Bangkok are now being redirected to the Louis Tavern CIP Lounge in Concourse G. A number of members believe the change is a detrimental one as the CIP lounge is not up to the same … Continued
Major American AAdvantage Devaluation Coming
American Airlines has announced a major devaluation of its popular AAdvantage frequent flyer program. Among other things, Australian travellers will be most affected by the increased rates for redeeming miles on flights. But the changes go further. American is changing the way members can qualify for elite status, as well as removing some benefits from … Continued