A great trip starts with smart planning and careful booking. From finding the best deals to navigating frequent flyer programs, this section covers everything you need to make your travel dreams a reality.
Check below for articles and advice on planning and booking your next trip, and chat to our community for more info.
When booking flights, online travel agents like Bestjet, CheapOair and Trip.com are often cheaper than the airline’s own website. But are the savings worth it? An AFF member was recently searching for three Singapore Airlines Business class tickets. Laffer found the same flights available on Bestjet.com for $1,500 cheaper than Singapore Airlines’ own website. It is … Continued
If you’ve ever had to call an airline – especially Qantas – you’ve probably had the frustrating experience of an extended wait on hold. But it doesn’t have to be this way! By calling at off-peak times, you’ll be served much faster. So, when exactly is the best time to call Qantas and other airlines? … Continued
Have you ever noticed that some flights are more expensive if you only spend a short amount of time at the destination? This is probably a result of airlines imposing a “minimum stay” requirement on their cheapest fares. For example, say that you need to travel to New York for a short work trip. You’ll … Continued
There’s just one week left to take advantage of Hong Kong’s fuel surcharge ban! From 1 November 2018, fuel surcharges on award flights departing from Hong Kong will no longer be regulated. This will likely lead to a sharp increase in the taxes and carrier charges you’ll pay when redeeming points out of Hong Kong. … Continued
The humble Boeing 737 is the backbone of the Qantas and Virgin Australia domestic fleets. These narrow-body aircraft operate the vast majority of domestic flights within Australia. In fact, Virgin Australia has 82 Boeing 737s in its fleet of 93 aircraft. Qantas owns 72 of these aircraft. Boeing 737 Business Class on both Qantas and … Continued
It’s that time of year again when all the airlines discount their airfares to Europe for travel in the following year! Qantas, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines and many other airlines have all released Europe early bird sale fares. Right now, you can book a return ticket from Australia to Europe on a full-service … Continued
Fuel surcharges on flights departing Hong Kong are set to increase dramatically after the Hong Kong government elected to end the current ban. Following months of speculation the Hong Kong fuel surcharge ban will finally be removed from 1 November 2018, allowing airlines once again to set their own charges. Booking award flights originating in Hong … Continued
There are currently some super Business Class deals from Australia to Europe! Thanks to a Hainan Airlines sale, Business tickets from as little as $3,000 return are available from Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns. Destinations on sale include Rome, London, Paris, Madrid and Brussels. The flights are with Hainan Airlines, which has a 5-star Skytrax … Continued
Strategic seat selection can make all the difference between a comfortable flight and a torturous experience in a cramped middle seat. That’s why many frequent flyers spend a lot of time and effort researching aircraft configurations and choosing the best seat on the plane. When travelling as a couple, aircraft with pairs of neighbouring seats … Continued
Did you know that there are several domestic tag flights within Australia operated by overseas airlines? For example, Cathay Pacific flies from Brisbane to Cairns, with services continuing to Hong Kong. However, it is impossible to book a seat on these domestic tag flights within Australia. While overseas airlines are allowed to operate tag flights … Continued
The Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) forum is a wonderfully useful resource for travellers. Our forums cover all sorts of travel-related topics including airlines, loyalty programs, credit cards, hotels and much more! There are many knowledgeable AFF members that are happy to answer any travel-related questions you may have. Asking questions will enable you to get … Continued
The Fifa World Cup in Russia has begun! We thought we’d take this opportunity to explore the different ways you can fly from Australia to Russia with frequent flyer points. If watching all that football has inspired you to book a trip to this fascinating country, here are the best ways to get from Australia … Continued
