Latest news

Podcast #58: Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble Opens

The long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble is finally here, with quarantine-free travel in both directions between Australia and New Zealand starting on Monday, 19 April! To celebrate, Qantas is reopening its flagship international First Class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne from the same date – and even Qantas Club, Gold members and Business class passengers will … Continued

17 Apr 2021 AFF on Air Podcast

Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble Opens – AIR058

  The long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble is finally here, with quarantine-free travel in both directions between Australia and New Zealand starting on Monday, 19 April! To celebrate the occasion, Qantas is reopening its flagship international First Class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne from the same date – and even Qantas Club, Gold members and Business … Continued

17 Apr 2021 AFF on Air (blubrry)

Rex Opens New Temporary Canberra Lounge

Rex has opened a temporary lounge at Canberra Airport, which will be available to all Rex passengers from Monday, 19 April 2021 when Rex launches Canberra-Sydney flights. Rex says it has concluded an agreement with Canberra Airport to temporarily use the former “International Lounge” while it finalises arrangements for a permanent lounge in Canberra. As … Continued

16 Apr 2021 Rex & Regional Airlines

Qantas Brings Back In-Flight Entertainment

In-flight entertainment is back on most Qantas domestic flights and, from next Monday, all trans-Tasman flights. After being switched off for a year, Qantas in-flight entertainment has been progressively rolled back out since the start of April 2021. By now, it should already be available on all aircraft where in-flight entertainment is normally offered. Qantas … Continued

16 Apr 2021 Qantas

Qantas First Lounges Reopen from 19 April 2021

Qantas will reopen its international First Class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne on Monday 19 April, along with its international Business Lounge in Brisbane, to coincide with the launch of the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble. This is not just good news for Qantas Platinum & Platinum One members travelling across the Tasman with Qantas or … Continued

16 Apr 2021 Qantas

Steep Rise in International Flight Taxes & Charges

With the trans-Tasman bubble launching next week, many Australians are booking trips to New Zealand. But Australians heading overseas are now paying much more than before for the privilege. Airfares from Australia to New Zealand are now considerably more expensive than they were before the pandemic, when return Qantas flights to Christchurch were available for … Continued

15 Apr 2021 Airports & Lounges

Qantas Frequent Flyer Expanding in New Zealand

The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is vying to become a serious alternative to Air New Zealand’s Airpoints program in New Zealand. As far as airline loyalty programs go, Air New Zealand’s frequent flyer program has a near-monopoly in New Zealand. Airpoints has extensive retail partnerships, including with New World supermarkets, and extensive credit card partnerships … Continued

15 Apr 2021 Qantas

5 Great Uses of Frequent Flyer Points to New Zealand

With New Zealand opening back up to travellers from Australia, but flights looking quite expensive, now could be a good time to redeem your frequent flyer points for a trip to New Zealand! Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand are all running flights between Australia and New Zealand. This provides plenty of choices for Australians … Continued

14 Apr 2021 Airlines, Miles and Points Points Inspiration

Flybuys Offers Now Much Better than Everyday Rewards

In many ways, Coles’ Flybuys program and the Woolworths Everyday Rewards program are very similar. Both are coalition loyalty programs, and the rates at which points are earned and redeemed are virtually identical. The main difference is that Flybuys partners with Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer, while Everyday Rewards partners with Qantas Frequent Flyer. Yet, … Continued

14 Apr 2021 Flybuys

Triple Velocity Points on Virgin Flights (April 2021)

Virgin Australia is again offering triple Velocity points when you book a Virgin Australia domestic flight by 25 April 2021. With this offer, you’ll earn at least 15 Velocity points per $1 spent on Virgin Australia flights (up from the usual 5 points per dollar). That’s a good offer, but there’s a catch: it’s only … Continued

13 Apr 2021 Virgin Australia

Which Airlines Will Refund Cancelled Trans-Tasman Flights?

With the long-awaited trans-Tasman bubble launching next week, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Jetstar are preparing to ramp up their flights between Australia and New Zealand. In fact, trans-Tasman forward bookings are looking so strong that some airlines have already put more flights on sale than originally planned. But what happens if the bubble bursts? When … Continued

12 Apr 2021 Airlines, Miles and Points

Virgin & Qantas Status Extension Confusion

In December 2020, Velocity Frequent Flyer launched a great promotion offering a status extension until 31 March 2022 to existing Gold or Platinum members who booked a Virgin Australia flight by 28 March 2021. Virgin Australia has now extended the status extension for all Velocity members who were eligible for this offer until 30 September … Continued

12 Apr 2021 Virgin Australia