Author: Matt Graham

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course! 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 @AFF Editor.

Qantas Club access restricted for Admirals Club members

Admirals Club passes have, until now, offered a cheap alternative to purchasing Qantas Club membership. Under an agreement between Qantas and partner American Airlines, American Airlines Admirals Club members have been able to access Qantas lounges (and vice versa) any time they flew on one of each other’s flights. This has been particularly advantageous for … Continued

China Travel Advice

Ahead of a trip to China, taking in Beijing and Shenzen, one member seeks some advice. Although our member will be travelling for business, a number of “must-see” sight suggestions are given. Naturally the Great Wall just outside of Beijing makes the list, but there are also a number of interesting sights in Beijing itself. … Continued

Circling the Pacific in style

Circle Pacific fares are not widely known, but they can offer some significant savings on multi-stop fares across the Pacific. More than a return ticket, but not quite a round-the-world ticket, Circle Pacific fares allow for two Pacific crossings with a typical routing taking passengers from Australia to Asia, and then onto North America before … Continued

Sticky fingers: Okay to nick items from hotel rooms?

This week our members discuss a common topic of debate – hotel room theft. Obviously you wouldn’t steal a TV or bed from a hotel room, but what about the little things like soap, shampoo and towels? While our members’ opinions somewhat divided on where the line should be drawn, most agree that disposal toiletries … Continued

BP pumping out Velocity points by the tank

Virgin Australia Velocity has a shiny new partner. Velocity members can now earn 2 points per litre of petrol by filling up at BP petrol stations, as well as 2 points per dollar spent in-store. The new partnership is a welcome addition for our members who are more than happy to start taking advantage of … Continued

Stressful Travel Situations

Although travel is usually full of positive experiences, stressful situations are sometimes unavoidable. Delays, lost passports and cancelled credit cards are just some of the issues bound to boost the blood pressure of even the most seasoned travellers. This week our members share experiences that have stressed them out while travelling – and they have … Continued

Gallipoli: An Anzac Day to remember

Anzac Day holds a significance for all Australians and New Zealanders. Recently Australians and New Zealanders commemorated 100 years since the Anzacs landed on the shores of Gallipoli. The pilgrimage to Gallipoli for the annual Anzac Day Dawn Service is always a popular one, but so many people wanted to attend the centenary service that … Continued

Strategies for minimising motion sickness

One member finds themself stuck in a hiatus from flying as they suffer from severe motion sickness. They ask for advice on how to minimise the effects and get back in the air. I used to travel regularly, but a few years ago developed severe motion sickness and have now developed a fear of this … Continued

Optus pulls the plug on Qantas partnership

Our members are disappointed that Optus will no longer award customers with Qantas points from July. A number of customers have threatened to leave the telco, while the news has frustrated some Optus customers on contracts they are unable to get out of. Optus became a Qantas Frequent Flyer partner to much fanfare in 2011. … Continued