Latest news

Could Virgin be the next Ansett?

There are further signs of financial turmoil at Virgin Australia after Air New Zealand flagged plans to sell its financial stake in the airline. The CEO of Air New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, has also resigned from the Virgin Australia board. The news has led some concerned members, fearing a repeat of the Ansett collapse, to empty … Continued

4 Apr 2016 Virgin Australia

Is Duty Free Alcohol a Rip-Off?

Airport Duty Free outlets were once a great place to pick up a bargain. But it seems that bargains are now few and far between. Taxes and duties should not be payable on Duty Free alcohol. Yet it’s often the same price – or even more expensive – at the airport than Dan Murphy’s or … Continued

2 Apr 2016 Airports & Lounges

Chasing Status: Like Running in a Hamster Wheel?

This week a new member seeks to understand why some travellers go to such extreme lengths to chase elite airline status. Some frequent flyers willingly spend dozens of unnecessary hours in the air – often for a hefty price tag – in order to supplement their status credit balance. Known as a status run, this … Continued

31 Mar 2016 Airlines, Miles and Points

Soaking Up the Delights of Dubai

Our member yld200 has just returned from a week of holidaying in Dubai! Home to the world’s tallest building, this thriving metropolis has something for everyone visitor. Taking advantage of a family connection, our member managed to pick up some great value Emirates staff travel tickets, albeit in economy, for the trip to the UAE. … Continued

30 Mar 2016 Destinations

Indonesia Now Visa-Free for Australians

For many years, Australians visiting Bali and other Indonesian destinations have needed to pay for a visa. This added USD35 (around $47) to the cost of every visit. But after years of discussions and speculation, this visa fee was finally dropped last week. Australians are now able to enter the country without a visa for up … Continued

28 Mar 2016 The Journey

Seat Swap Etiquette

The contentious issue of aircraft seat poaching is a hot topic of discussion this week. What would you do if another passenger plonked themselves into your allocated seat, in order to sit with their travel companion? One member’s recent experience on a Singapore Airlines flight left them annoyed and frustrated. Upon boarding, this member found … Continued

24 Mar 2016 In Flight

An Unconventional Route to Europe

Our member Mattg recently returned from a whistle-stop tour of Europe, taking a rather unique combination of airlines to get there. Our member used a diverse range of premium and low-cost airlines, flying a mixture of Economy and Business class. I love trying new things, espceially when it comes to travel. So as usual I’ve … Continued

23 Mar 2016 Flight Reviews

Premium Economy: Qantas vs Virgin

Ahead of a trip to the USA, one member is deciding between flying Premium Economy on Qantas or Virgin Australia. Both airlines offer Premium Economy from Australia to Los Angeles. With prices almost identical, which airline is the better option? I have a trip coming up in June to LAS (BNE-LAX-LAS) and will likely fly … Continued

22 Mar 2016 Airlines, Miles and Points

Qantas Proposes New London Lounge

Qantas recently announced plans for a brand new lounge in London’s Heathrow Airport. The stylish multi-storey lounge in Terminal 3, which is expected to open in early 2017, will be a “shared” lounge space. Business and First class passengers, as well as Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers will all have access. Qantas has … Continued

21 Mar 2016 Qantas

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