Author: Matt Graham
Matt Graham
Matt was the editor of Australian Frequent Flyer from 2015 until 2025. His passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries - with a lot of help along the way from frequent flyer points! Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine. You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @Mattg.
Qantas Increases Upgrade Rates
Qantas has quietly announced a range of price increases for upgrades using Qantas points across its domestic and international network. The cost of a points upgrade will increase by as much as 25% on some routes, with those upgrading from cheaper Economy class tickets hit the hardest under the revised rates. For domestic flights, the … Continued
The End of Cheap US Status Runs
The United States has traditionally been a popular destination for frequent flyers looking for an inexpensive path to Qantas status. Two classes of service are offered on most American Airlines domestic flights, where the premium cabin is marketed as “First class” rather than the usual “Business class”. Domestic First class tickets on American are typically inexpensive, and … Continued
FREE Status with Qantas and Virgin Australia!
Our members have discovered a way to enjoy the benefits of Silver status on both Qantas and Virgin Australia for free! In just a few easy steps, you can enjoy perks like priority check-in, extra baggage allowance and even a complimentary car hire status match. The trick is to register for a current Air Berlin promotion. Air … Continued
Denied Entry to Another Country: Who’s at Fault?
One member recently had the unfortunate experience of being denied entry to a country because they did not have the correct visa. This member inadvertently flew with Qantas to Papua New Guinea without the necessary visa, and was sent on the next flight back to Australia after being stopped at the border. I had a rather … Continued
Hyatt Overhauls Loyalty Program
Hyatt Hotels will completely overhaul its loyalty program from March 2017. Hyatt Gold Passport, Hyatt’s current rewards program, will become “World of Hyatt” as a host of changes are made to status benefits and the way in which status is earned. Replacing the existing Platinum and Diamond status tiers will be three new levels, the … Continued
An Eastern Canada Road Trip
AFF member OZDUCK recently enjoyed a Canadian road trip, taking advantage of the Northern Hemisphere summer as they travelled from Toronto to Halifax using a mixture of hire cars and trains. Being based in Perth, it made sense to fly Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. Cathay flies directly into Toronto, making one-stop connections possible from … Continued
Qantas Points Refused
A Qantas flyer is bitterly disappointed after the airline refused to award any points or status credits for their flight. The Qantas flight to Shanghai was booked directly on the airline’s website. Our member had been relying on the status credits to reach the next status tier. Qantas advertises that all Qantas flights booked on its … Continued
Flight Delayed? You Could Earn $860!
Flight delays can be frustrating, but sometimes there’s a silver lining. If you’re flying on a European airline, or any other airline on a flight departing Europe, you could be entitled to compensation. The European Union has generous laws designed to help passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. The “EU261” regulations entitle passengers to … Continued
Qantas Enhances Loyalty Bonus
Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now opt to earn 50 bonus status credits with each loyalty bonus. The Qantas loyalty bonus is awarded each time a member earns 500 status credits from flights on Qantas or Jetstar, up to four times per membership year. Currently 8,000 points are awarded as part of the loyalty bonus. Members … Continued