Latest news

Accessing Internet, Emails in China with a VPN

The Great Wall is one of China’s most famous attractions. But regular visitors to China will also be aware of the so-called Great Firewall of China. As the internet is censored in China, websites including Facebook, Google and Twitter are blocked. Ahead of a trip to China, one member calls on the AFF community for … Continued

12 Feb 2018 Travel Tools & Technology

How to get to Easter Island

Home to the famous moai statues, Easter Island is a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, its geographic location in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean makes Chile’s Isla de Pascua rather difficult to get to from Australia! There are only two ways to reach Easter Island (airport code IPC) by plane – from Santiago or Tahiti. Both … Continued

11 Feb 2018 Planning & Booking

15% Bonus on Flybuys Transfers to Velocity

Virgin Australia is once again offering a 15% bonus on Flybuys transfers to Velocity Frequent Flyer this month. You’ll earn a 15% bonus on Flybuys points transferred to Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program until 22 February 2018. This means that you’ll receive 1,000 Velocity points – up from the usual 870 Velocity points – for … Continued

10 Feb 2018 Flybuys

Commercial Flights over Antarctica

Antarctica is home to some incredible scenery! But travelling to the southern continent is neither simple nor cheap. You can travel to Antarctica by cruise, but if you don’t have several weeks (and a lot of money!) to spare, viewing the ice continent from the air is the next best thing. The good news is … Continued

10 Feb 2018 Flight Reviews

To Cruise or Not to Cruise?

Cruises are popular among parts of the AFF community, as demonstrated by the recent AFF cruise! But it seems the experience is not for everyone. One AFF moderator has declared that they are unlikely to ever book a cruise. Comparing cruise liners to floating hotels for cattle, AFF moderator serfty believes that the negatives outweigh … Continued

8 Feb 2018 Cruises

How to Redeem Qantas Points for Trans-Atlantic Flights

There are hundreds of daily flights between Europe and North America. So, what are your best options when redeeming Qantas points for trans-Atlantic flights? During peak periods, it’s often a case of taking what you can get. On trans-Atlantic routes, the peak season is the northern summer from June to August. But Christmas, Easter and … Continued

7 Feb 2018 Points Inspiration Qantas

Air Asia X Flying to Melbourne’s Avalon Airport

Malaysia’s Air Asia X has announced plans to shift its Melbourne flights to Avalon Airport in Geelong towards the end of 2018. The double-daily Avalon-Kuala Lumpur services would be the first regular international flights for Avalon Airport. Air Asia X flies twice-daily between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur using densely-configured Airbus A330-300s, with one day flight … Continued

7 Feb 2018 Other Airlines

Fake Service Animals Undermine US Air Travel

The prevalence of “emotional support” animals on flights within the United States has become a serious problem. It’s not uncommon to see service animals such as guide dogs on aircraft… but the rules surrounding support animals on planes in the United States have become a dog’s breakfast. United Airlines last week denied boarding to a … Continued

6 Feb 2018 United Airlines

Qantas Hotels Price Promise Claim Denied

The Qantas Hotels Price Promise is proudly advertised on the Qantas website. The guarantee claims that customers can know they’re getting a great deal. But one member’s recent experience with the Qantas Hotels Price Promise definitely did not live up to expectations. AFF member Phil_vic booked a hotel room on the Qantas website for $236. … Continued

5 Feb 2018 Hotel Loyalty Programs

Free Hotels, Meals and Tours during Long Layovers

Most of us prefer to get to our destination as quickly as possible. But if you happen to have a long layover between flights, did you know that some airlines will provide free hotel accommodation? In fact, some airlines go even further offering free transfers, meals and even tours while in transit! If you have … Continued

4 Feb 2018 The Journey

Bonus American AAdvantage Miles with New Promo

American Airlines is offering bonus AAdvantage miles in addition to a 10% discount on miles purchased by 8 February 2018. With the current American Airlines Buy Miles promotion, you’ll get 10% off when buying at least 20,000 AAdvantage miles. There are also bonus AAdvantage miles on offer, with the bonus amount increasing as you buy … Continued

3 Feb 2018 American Airlines

Book Economy, Fly Business on Qantas 717 Routes

Our members have discovered a way to book Economy and fly Business class for no extra cost on some Qantas 717 flights. Qantas’ regional subsidiary QantasLink operates two different Boeing 717 configurations. Some aircraft have all-Economy seating, while others have a 12-seat Business class cabin. The two-class Qantas 717s featuring Business class are typically used … Continued

3 Feb 2018 Flight Reviews