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.

Alliance Airlines E190 at Canberra Airport

Book One Airline, Fly Another: The World of Wet Leasing

Last year, Qantas signed a contract to “wet lease” up to 14 Embraer E190 jets from Alliance Airlines for a limited time. This has allowed Qantas to expand its regional network with the flexibility of a new aircraft type which can fly further than a Boeing 717 and has fewer seats than a Boeing 737 … Continued

Qatar Airways 777 tail Virgin Australia partnership

Velocity Teases More Partner Airline Benefits

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program recently introduced a new partnership with Qatar Airways, while also adding lounge access as a benefit for Velocity Gold and Platinum members travelling on Air Canada. Both of these have been positive developments for Velocity, and there could be more good news on the way. Qatar Airways and Air … Continued

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000.

Cathay 15% Transfer Bonus + Renew Expiring Miles

Cathay Pacific is offering 10-15% bonus Asia Miles when you transfer points from a credit card rewards program to Cathay, the Hong Kong-based airline’s new loyalty program, by 12 November 2022. Plus, by transferring at least the equivalent of 30,000 miles into Cathay, any expiring Asia Miles that you earned prior to 2020 will have … Continued

Terminal 3 Qantas check-in area at Sydney Airport

Does Travel Insurance Cover Lost Points?

Travel insurance is essential to ensure you aren’t left out of picket if your trip is disrupted by events outside of your control. If you’re unable to continue your journey as planned, for example, travel insurance may cover the cost of rebooking or cancelling your flights, or purchasing a replacement ticket. But what if you’ve … Continued

Entrance to the SkyTeam Lounge in Sydney

Upgraded SkyTeam Lounge Opens in Sydney

A newly-refurbished SkyTeam lounge has opened in the international terminal of Sydney Airport. Located in the same location as the old SkyTeam lounge, near gate 25, the space has been completely refurbished during the pandemic. It now offers floor-to-ceiling windows, reupholstered seating, buffet food, a live-cooking station and bar service. Another great feature of the … Continued

Woman paying online with Amex credit card

Podcast #93: The Amex-Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Trick

American Express Membership Rewards points are already one of the most useful and valuable points currencies in Australia. That’s because you have the option to transfer your points to nine different airline frequent flyer programs (plus Qantas Frequent Flyer, if you have an Amex Platinum or Centurion card). Amex points can also be converted to … Continued

AFF on AIR podcast artwork

The Amex-Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Trick – AIR093

  If you want to use your points to book an international Business or First Class flight, often the hardest part is just finding award availability. But if you have American Express Membership Rewards points, there’s a great hack that can give you access to award seats across more than 30 different frequent flyer programs. … Continued

Qatar Airways Airbus A380 at Sydney Airport

Qatar Airways, Emirates Upgrade Perth Flights to A380s

Both Qatar Airways and Emirates will soon upgrade their daily Boeing 777 flights to Perth to Airbus A380s. This is good news on multiple levels. As well as more capacity in the market and an upgraded experience for travellers, Qatar Airways has just released a bunch of First Class award seats on the Doha-Perth route … Continued

American Airlines jets at Washington National Airport

USA Proposes Mandatory Refunds for Aircraft Type Downgrades

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed updated legislation that would require airlines to offer refunds for “significant changes” including aircraft type changes that result in a downgrade in the available amenities and onboard experience. The US government already requires airlines to offer customers a refund if there is a significant change and … Continued