Latest news

Free Delta Comfort Plus Upgrades for Virgin Australia Flyers

Frequent Virgin Australia flyers have access to a range of perks when flying on Virgin, or any of its international partner airlines. These status perks generally include the use of priority check-in counters, priority boarding, and lounge access for top-tier Gold and Platinum Virgin Velocity members. But there is one particularly fantastic perk available to … Continued

19 Mar 2016 Virgin Australia

Commonwealth Bank Slashes Qantas Points

The Commonwealth Bank is the latest Australian bank to slash the number of points earned on its Awards credit cards. The rate at which Qantas Frequent Flyer points are earned on the bank’s high-end Diamond and Platinum credit cards will be cut from May. Diamond cardholders will see points earned on their Amex cards fall from 1.5 … Continued

17 Mar 2016 CommBank

American Airlines Business Class Reviewed

American Airlines recently entered the trans-Pacific market, offering daily flights to Sydney on their flagship Boeing 777 aircraft. Our member casanovawa recently tested the new AA73 service from Los Angeles to Sydney in Business class. They have taken the time to review all aspects of the service, from check-in right through to arrival into Sydney. American Airlines … Continued

16 Mar 2016 Flight Reviews

The Best Qantas A380 Economy Seats

The prospect of sitting in Economy on a long-haul flight can be daunting. But not all seats were created equal! Luckily, exit row and extra-legroom seats can make the flight much more comfortable. There are a number of excellent Qantas Economy seats on the Airbus A380 to choose from. What economy seats would people suggest for … Continued

15 Mar 2016 Qantas

ID Checks at Australian Domestic Airports?

There have recently been calls to make identification checks mandatory for all passengers flying within Australia. The checks would be intended to prevent criminals from flying under a fake name. Booking a ticket using a false name is already a serious criminal offence. However, the introduction of online check-in and self-service kiosks means that it … Continued

14 Mar 2016 Airports & Lounges

The Cost of Airline Loyalty

For frequent travellers, there are many benefits of frequent flyer program membership. The points earned can be put towards free flights & upgrades, and elite status offers benefits such as lounge access & priority check-in. But for a relatively infrequent flyer, does airline loyalty come at a cost that is not outweighed by the benefits? This week … Continued

12 Mar 2016 Airlines, Miles and Points

Virgin “Enhancements” – Winners and Losers

Virgin Australia has announced major changes to its Velocity Frequent Flyer program. Many reward flight prices are increasing, and points will also expire more quickly. But it’s not all doom and gloom, with most redemptions on Singapore Airlines actually becoming cheaper. The big news is an increase to many of Virgin’s reward flight redemption rates. … Continued

10 Mar 2016 Virgin Australia

The Ultimate Japan Travel Guide

Following a recent trip to Japan, our member Noel Mugavin has put together a detailed trip report. This ultimate Japan travel guide that shows the best of what Japan has to offer. The trip began well. For a country famous for its efficiency, our member was not let down after arriving in Tokyo on an early … Continued

9 Mar 2016 Destinations

The Absence of Third-Party Airport Lounges in Australia

For frequent flyers, airport lounges become a part of the travel experience that is almost as important as the flights themselves. Gold and Platinum Qantas & Virgin Australia flyers – and their equivalent in other frequent flyer programs – gain unlimited access to their airline’s lounges whenever they fly. But not everyone flies enough to … Continued

8 Mar 2016 Airports & Lounges

Upgrading Qantas Reward Flights with Points

Qantas is now allowing classic reward flights to be upgraded with points. This means that passengers using points to book reward flights in Economy or Premium Economy can enter the “upgrade lottery” for a bump-up to Premium Economy or Business class. (Business Class rewards remain ineligible for upgrades to First class.) So… is this a … Continued

7 Mar 2016 Qantas

First Class Seats for Qantas Business Passengers

Some lucky Qantas Business class passengers have the opportunity to fly in First class seats – for no extra cost! Qantas international flights operated by Boeing 747 aircraft are sold as three-class services; featuring Economy, Premium Economy and Business class. But two of Qantas’ remaining Boeing 747s actually feature a fourth cabin class: First. As Qantas … Continued

5 Mar 2016 Qantas

Best Hotels for the Best Prices

This week our members share their hotel booking strategies! The right tools and a bit of research are key to scoring the best hotel for the best price. There are two steps to booking hotels. Websites such as Booking.com and Expedia can help with the first step – selecting a hotel – as they present an overview of … Continued

3 Mar 2016 Hotel Loyalty Programs