Latest news

Southeast Asia Welcomes Back Tourists – AIR080

  So far this year on the AFF on Air podcast, Matt has spoken to Australians who recently travelled to Canada, Fiji and the UK during this post-COVID era of international travel. In this episode, Matt talks to Ben Bartlett, an Australian who recently visited Thailand and the Philippines for a business trip. Thailand began … Continued

19 Mar 2022 AFF on Air (blubrry)

Virgin Australia Won’t Return to NZ Until November 2022

New Zealand will reopen its border to Australian tourists next month, with quarantine-free travel from Australia resuming from 13 April 2022. Following this announcement, Qantas quickly announced an increase to services from Sydney to Auckland from the date of the border reopening. It will also resume daily Brisbane-Auckland, Melbourne-Auckland and Sydney-Christchurch flights from 13 April, … Continued

18 Mar 2022 Virgin Australia

Qantas Int’l Business Lounges Reopen 27 March 2022

Qantas will reopen its international Business Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on 27 March 2022, as more international flights resume. This will relieve some of the pressure on the Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, which had been getting quite full lately during peak times as more people return to the skies. Meanwhile, … Continued

17 Mar 2022 Qantas

New Zealand Reopens to Australians on 13 April 2022

Australians will finally be allowed to travel quarantine-free to New Zealand once again on 13 April 2022, with the New Zealand government yesterday announcing the much-anticipated reopening of the country’s border. From 11.59pm on 12 April, Australians will be allowed to enter New Zealand without needing to quarantine. Travellers will just need to be fully … Continued

17 Mar 2022 Coronavirus and Travel

30% off Selected Qantas Economy Classic Rewards

Qantas Frequent Flyer is discounting the points required for selected Classic Flight Reward bookings in Economy Class by 30%, for bookings made between 16-20 March 2022. The discount is available on selected routes, for travel dates from 1 May 2022. Eligible routes include the “golden triangle” domestic routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well … Continued

16 Mar 2022 Qantas

Cheap Singapore Airlines Business Fares from Europe to Australia

If you want to fly from Australia to Europe in Singapore Airlines Business Class, you could expect to pay at least $5,255 round-trip (e.g. for a flight from Adelaide to Frankfurt). But tickets in the other direction, from Europe to Australia, can be significantly cheaper. Singapore Airlines currently has some great deals on round-trip Business Class fares … Continued

16 Mar 2022 Singapore Airlines

Greater Benefits for Qantas Business Rewards Members

Qantas has made it easier for businesses to achieve a higher level in its Qantas Business Rewards program, while also increasing the benefits offered with each tier. Changes include larger discounts on flights and Qantas Club membership, as well as a new Gold Accelerator offer. Qantas Frequent Flyer members who book through Qantas Business Rewards … Continued

15 Mar 2022 Qantas

Yet ANOTHER Huge Increase to Emirates Carrier Charges

Barely a week ago, without warning, Emirates massively increased the carrier charges payable when redeeming points to book a reward seat. Unfortunately, there has now been a second major increase to Emirates carrier charges in as many weeks. When redeeming Emirates Skywards miles or Qantas Frequent Flyer points to book a Classic Reward seat in … Continued

15 Mar 2022 Emirates

Qantas Keeps Hanging Up on Customers

Unless you’re lucky enough to have Platinum or Platinum One status, dealing with the Qantas contact centre has become a maddening experience lately. The wait times are often astronomical, and if your call is directed to one of the outsourced overseas call centres operated by Mindpearl, the staff are often poorly trained and unable to … Continued

14 Mar 2022 Qantas

Jetstar Resumes Flights to Bali

The first Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Bali in almost two years will take off this morning, taking almost 300 Australians to the Indonesian holiday destination. Flight JQ43 will take off from Melbourne at 9.55am this morning, with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arriving at 12.45pm local time. Many of the passengers on board would have … Continued

14 Mar 2022 Jetstar

What Airlines Does Bain Capital Own?

In 2020, Bain Capital purchased Virgin Australia out of voluntary administration after months of negotiations. The Boston-based US private equity firm now owns almost 95% of Virgin Australia, along with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group which owns around a 5% share. A small stake in the airline was also purchased by the Queensland government. Following the sale to … Continued

13 Mar 2022 Virgin Australia

How to Fly to Mauritius with Points from Australia

Mauritius is a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean between Australia and Africa. This French-speaking destination is a great place for a holiday, and vaccinated travellers can currently enter the country without needing to quarantine. At the moment, getting to Mauritius from Australia is a bit of a challenge. With the direct Air Mauritius … Continued

12 Mar 2022 Airlines, Miles and Points Points Inspiration