Latest news

Should Thongs be Banned from Lounges?

Airport lounge attire and etiquette is a hot topic of discussion this week. Our members have a wide range of conflicting opinions on whether airlines should enforce a lounge dress code. When it comes to appropriate lounge attire, our members are firmly divided in two camps. One group believes that thongs, beachwear and singlets have … Continued

18 May 2016 Airports & Lounges

Peru’s Magical Machu Picchu

On a recent trip to South America, AFF member amaroo decided to celebrate a special birthday with a visit to Machu Picchu. This historical Incan site is one of the great wonders of the world! After enjoying the Qantas Business service to Chile, LAN was used for the final flights to Cusco, Peru. Cusco is the gateway … Continued

16 May 2016 Destinations

Fly for just $27!

Did you know that it’s possible to fly for less than the cost of the taxi to the airport? One of the cheapest ways to fly in Australia is to use the little-known Jetstar Price Beat Guarantee. By taking advantage of this, you could fly from Sydney to Melbourne for as little as $27! As part … Continued

14 May 2016 Planning & Booking

Frequent Flyer Licence

What does it take to become a frequent flyer? This question has divided our members this week. While some say it’s all about the number of flights taken, others believe a frequent flyer is anyone that can make the most of the perks available to make any trip more enjoyable. One member opines that a … Continued

12 May 2016 Airlines, Miles and Points

Emirates First across the Tasman

Flying in First class on an international flight may seem out of reach. But our members have discovered a way to do just that. Emirates regularly offers First class sale fares from New Zealand to Australia for under NZ$900. These fares also earn 120 Qantas status credits, making them a great way to earn some … Continued

11 May 2016 Flight Reviews

Airline Status: Qantas vs American Airlines

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is a popular oneworld alternative to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. AAdvantage status comes with perks such as system-wide upgrades, and AAdvantage miles are considered by many to be more valuable than Qantas points. Having recently moved to the USA, one Qantas Platinum member is currently weighing up the pros … Continued

9 May 2016 American Airlines

Virgin’s New Boeing 777 Business Class In Service

The first of Virgin Australia’s refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft is now in service! Virgin is currently refurbishing their entire long-haul fleet with new suites in Business class, an on-board bar and brand new Premium Economy seats. These aircraft will operate on Virgin’s routes to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi. Virgin’s new Boeing 777 Business class … Continued

7 May 2016 Virgin Australia

Online Booking Blunder

This week one member is less than impressed with the shocking service from online travel agent “BYOjet”. After paying for a flight, the member received a ticket for a flight 3 months after the date booked. But this was just the start of the problems. When the member tried to contact BYOjet, they were advised … Continued

5 May 2016 Planning & Booking

Effortlessly Manage Your Travel Plans

If you travel frequently, it can be difficult to keep track of all those flight bookings, hotel reservations and other travel plans. Spreadsheets are one possible method, but there’s a much simpler option. There are a number of Apps and websites that can be used to conveniently store all of your travel reservations in one … Continued

3 May 2016 Travel Tools & Technology

Qantas Points Stolen

The security of Qantas Frequent Flyer accounts is being questioned this week after a member’s account was hacked. Almost 50,000 points were stolen. The member’s private information would have also been compromised. Having somehow managed to obtain this member’s PIN number, the hacker redeemed over 30,000 points worth of Myer gift vouchers. After spotting the fraudulent transactions, … Continued

28 Apr 2016 Qantas

Two Months in North America

Our member Noel Mugavin recently spent two months in the United States and Canada! And it certainly seems to have been quite an adventure. Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston and New York are just a few of the many destinations visited. Flying Qantas into the United States, our member began by heading across the northern border to Vancouver, … Continued

27 Apr 2016 Destinations

Are Eurail Passes Worthwhile?

Trains are one of the fastest and most convenient ways to get around Europe. Frequent high-speed trains connect all of the major European cities. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, it can be tempting to purchase a Eurail Pass. These passes cover unlimited train travel within certain European countries for a fixed amount of time. … Continued

26 Apr 2016 Travel Lifestyle