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This week our trip report is a little different. Rather than being another business trip in familiar territory, or a short domestic jaunt, it’s the big one, the first long haul trip overseas. My mother has managed to make it to 60 without ever going overseas (Kangaroo Island doesn’t count), so when I stumbled on … Continued
Thanks to the hints and tips on our forum, one of our members has done a lot of travelling in the pointy end recently. During these travels, they have made some interesting observations as to the demographics of the frequent flyer when it comes to gender. I am nearing the end of a whirlwind trip … Continued
It appears that the old adage “it’s hard to get good help” rings true in some situations with one member complaining about the customer service (or lack thereof) experienced at Citibank. This member was flummoxed that the customer service representative required the full year (including the century!) of birth when verifying credit card accounts. Our … Continued
In the past 2 years, the two big airlines, Qantas and Virgin, have been adding capacity in the battle for the consumer’s dollar. At the lower cost end of the market, Jetstar has also been adding capacity, while Tiger was restricted by authorities from expanding after their grounding. With all this extra capacity, consumers, it … Continued
It’s a common question these days. With liquids and gels often being restricted or limited in the cabin as far as carry on baggage goes, how do you handle your family’s unique dietary requirements? One of our members asks: I am heading domestically with 2 kids tomorrow, (only BNE to SYD) but my wife is … Continued
For many of our members, the change last year with Qantas to route European bound flights via Dubai meant it was time to look at alternatives. For others, avoiding Heathrow and its departure tax surcharges has also been a primary concern. This week’s trip report offers a real world review of one of those alternatives … Continued
One of the benefits of heading overseas is the ability to claim back GST (and some other taxes) on departure, thanks to the Tourist Refund Scheme. This nice little perk applies for both residents and visitors. While it may not seem much, GST can add up to a bit of money, especially on expensive goods. … Continued
One Qantas Frequent Flyer member this week wants to close their account and exit the program. For this member the program was not delivering any value. In their view the rewards do not justify the annual fee for the QFF credit card, they find it hard to book flights and they resent being stung with … Continued
The best airports for a frequent flyer are often those that are located close to your final destination. There is nothing worse than getting off a long flight, knowing there are still hours before you hit your workplace or hotel room, thanks to being located in the middle of nowhere. Conversely, those living near inner … Continued
Many of our members have airport lounge access as part of their frequent flyer status or lounge membership program. For others, it only comes when they fly business or first class. When the occasion rises, questions are often asked about the lounge facilities on offer and if there is a choice, what’s the best? Hi … Continued
Taking advantage of geography errors or quirks in frequent flyer schemes has long been the hallmark of the frugal frequent flyer. As we featured recently in another trip report review, Guam is one such quirk. With Australia and Guam both classed as South Pacific in US Air Dividend Miles program, return travel between the two … Continued
This week, one of our members found out that loyalty does not always help when it comes to rectifying an honest, albeit expensive, mistake and was keen to share On Monday night, due to a communication breakdown (I had not realised my Aunty was also booking my mothers flights) we each booked a return flight … Continued