Latest news

Qantas Opens New Brisbane Lounge

Qantas last week opened its brand new lounge in the international terminal of Brisbane Airport. The new lounge replaces the outdated Business and First class lounges previously used in Brisbane. The lounge is a combined space for Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, as well as Business and First class passengers. This is the same concept used in Qantas’ … Continued

22 Oct 2016 Airport Lounge Reviews

Enjoy Business Class for Less!

It’s no secret that flying Business class is more enjoyable than Economy, but it also comes with a high price-tag. This week our members share their tricks for scoring discounted Business class tickets, making pointy-end flying possible for just a fraction of the regular ticket price! The first tip is to consider left-field airlines. For … Continued

20 Oct 2016 Planning & Booking

The Value of Starwood (SPG) Points

The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program is highly attractive as Starpoints can be transferred to over 30 different airline frequent flyer programs! The vast majority of transfers are completed at a 1:1 conversion rate. Plus, SPG will throw in 5,000 bonus points for every 20,000 points transferred. This means that 20,000 SPG points are worth … Continued

19 Oct 2016 Marriott Bonvoy

Earn Qantas Points with Airbnb

Qantas points can now be earned for booking accommodation through Airbnb! To ensure you earn points, you’ll need to use the Airbnb link on the Qantas website and be logged into your Qantas Frequent Flyer account at the time of booking. Points will be credited to your account within 8 weeks after your stay. Our members are largely … Continued

17 Oct 2016 Qantas

A Trip to Southern France… via China!

Our member Jacques Vert recently took advantage of their Qantas points to book a trip to Europe, with stops in China and even South Africa! Canal du Midi in Southern France was a particular highlight of this whirlwind trip. The first stop was Beijing, where some sightseeing was in order. Tiananmen Square and Heaven Temple … Continued

15 Oct 2016 Flight Reviews

Expired Qantas Points Predicament

One member is extremely lucky not to have lost 350,000 Qantas points after they expired due to account inactivity. After trying to use their points to book a redemption flight, this member discovered they had expired just five days earlier. These types of situations often end in disappointment, with the expired points lost forever. Qantas, to … Continued

13 Oct 2016 Qantas

Qantas Platinum Perks Guide

This week our members reveal how they make the most of Platinum status with Qantas. Hi there, I’m new to AFF and to WP (Platinum status). What are some of the best ways to make the use of my WP status? I probably will not be able to maintain being a WP after this year … Continued

12 Oct 2016 Qantas

Etihad Removes Silver Member Lounge Access

Etihad Airways will no longer offer lounge access at most airports for Silver tier members of the Etihad Guest program. The changes, to be implemented from 15 January 2017, come as Etihad aligns the benefits available to members of its partner airlines’ frequent flyer programs. These include Airberlin Topbonus and Alitalia’s MilleMiglia loyalty program. The … Continued

10 Oct 2016 Etihad Airways

Save Hundreds with Mystery Hotels

Mystery hotel deals can be a great way to score a bargain on a hotel room, saving you literally hundreds of dollars off the cost of accommodation! There’s just one catch: you won’t know where you’re actually staying until after you’ve paid. There are numerous websites that sell discounted mystery hotel rooms. These include Hotwire, … Continued

8 Oct 2016 Hotel Loyalty Programs

Frequent Flyer Accounts Suspended

Some members have had their frequent flyer accounts suspended after the airline accused them of breaking the program rules. These members have lost access to their frequent flyer points, plus status benefits such as lounge access, until an audit of their accounts is completed. It has been reported that Velocity Frequent Flyer is sending letters to members suspected … Continued

6 Oct 2016 Virgin Australia

Flight Review: PNG Air

This week’s trip report features an airline that few people have ever heard of, and even fewer are likely to ever fly! Based in Port Moresby, PNG Air is the second-largest airline in Papua New Guinea. The airline operates domestic routes within Papua New Guinea using a fleet of Dash 8 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. … Continued

5 Oct 2016 Flight Reviews

Score the Best Seat on the Plane

Would you like to stretch out in the front row, or perhaps an elusive exit row seat on your next flight? Well, you can! There’s a trick that’s guaranteed to get you a better seat on the plane. You may have noticed that when you try to choose a seat, the front rows are unavailable. … Continued

3 Oct 2016 Planning & Booking