Latest news

Make the most of a long layover in Singapore

A lengthy layover lasting 18 hours is not always a welcome interruption to a long journey. But things are a bit different in Singapore, widely regarded as a fantastic stopover point between Australia and Europe. One member will have a full day in Singapore between Singapore Airlines flights and requests some tips about how best … Continued

28 Jul 2015 Destinations

Qantas adds new flights to Queensland

Qantas announced last week that it will add two additional domestic routes to destinations in Queensland. From October, the airline will begin long-awaited direct flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Flights from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast will also be added just in time for Christmas. This comes as further good news for Queenslanders … Continued

27 Jul 2015 Qantas

Extracting Maximum Value from Virgin Velocity Points

This week one member is in an enviable position. They have over 100,000 Velocity frequent flyer points stashed away and request advice about the best value way to use these points. Velocity Frequent Flyer points can be used for a variety of different redemptions including reward flights, upgrades, holidays, gift vouchers, products at the Velocity … Continued

25 Jul 2015 Virgin Australia

Good News for Infrequent Flyers

One infrequently-flying member is considering whether it is worthwhile collecting frequent flyer points. This member takes only a small handful of flights on Qantas each year. The answer from our brains trust is a resounding YES. Although our member may not fly enough to enjoy the perks of Gold or Platinum status, there are still … Continued

23 Jul 2015 Airlines, Miles and Points

Discovering the beauty of Western Australia

This week we are treated to a trip report a little closer to home. Our member feezable got to experience the beauty of Western Australia, using Broome as a base to explore the best that the west has to offer. It seems that there is indeed a lot to see and do in Western Australia. … Continued

22 Jul 2015 Destinations

“Automated Passport Control” expedites USA arrivals

Australian travellers to the United States will be pleased to know that “Automated Passport Control” (APC) kiosks can now be used when entering the country. APC machines have now been installed at many major airports in the United States, including Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, San Francisco and both of New York’s international airports. This … Continued

20 Jul 2015 Post Flight

Free Seat Selection on Jetstar

Like most low-cost airlines, Jetstar does not give much away for free. This includes seat selection. Choosing your seat of choice on a Jetstar flight typically costs at least $5 for a regular seat or even more for an “extra legroom” or “up-front” seat. But there is a trick to get the seat you want … Continued

18 Jul 2015 Jetstar

Secrets to Status Match Success

If you hold elite status with any airline, you may be able to get it matched by another airline for free! Numerous status match deals have been circulating on AFF lately. Two of the most popular are from Airberlin of the oneworld alliance and Alitalia, a member of the SkyTeam alliance. A status match is … Continued

16 Jul 2015 Airlines, Miles and Points

Cheap business class to Europe courtesy of Life Miles

This week we follow our member RB‘s trip to some of the less well-travelled parts of Germany, Italy and Spain. To travel to Europe in comfort and style, but without breaking the bank, our member made good use of Life Miles. LifeMiles is the frequent flyer program of Columbian airline and Star Alliance member Avianca. … Continued

15 Jul 2015 Flight Reviews

Bidding for a OneUp Upgrade on Air New Zealand

If you have an upcoming flight with New Zealand’s flag carrier, you might be interested in upgrading to a nicer seat. Air New Zealand’s upgrade system is a little different to most for a few reasons. Firstly, it uses an “auction” to determine who can upgrade. Would-be upgraders can place a bid for a OneUp … Continued

14 Jul 2015 Air New Zealand

Amex devalues rewards program

Some American Express cardholders are in for a nasty surprise in November. From 1 November 2015, Amex’s fee-free cards and a small range of corporate cards will no longer be a part of the popular Membership Rewards Ascent program. This program will instead be replaced by the Gateway program, resulting in a range of significant … Continued

13 Jul 2015 American Express

Joining Qantas Frequent Flyer for free

With over 10 million members, the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is arguably the most popular frequent flyer program in Australia. Technically it isn’t free to join as Qantas charge an $89.50 joining fee to Australian residents. But the good news is that there are a number of ways to avoid paying this fee altogether and … Continued

11 Jul 2015 Qantas