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.

Award Alert: Business Class to USA with Velocity Points

United Airlines has just dropped a lot of Business Class award availability on its routes from Australia and New Zealand to the United States. These Polaris Business seats are available to book as reward seats using Velocity points.
8 May, 2023

Virgin Business, Platinum, Gold and Economy X passengers can use the priority boarding lane

Virgin Clarifies Priority Boarding Policy

Virgin Australia made a minor change to its flight boarding procedure last year, but the priority boarding queue retains its priority.
8 May, 2023

The "golden handcuffs" of airline status can lead people to do things that seem irrational

It’s Official: Airline Status Makes People Spend More

On one hand, it’s irrational to spend more money on less desirable flights. But this doesn't account for the value of airline status.
7 May, 2023

Sunny morning in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

Big Changes to Qantas’ Samoa Service

Qantas will change its daytime Airbus A330 service from Sydney to Apia, Samoa, to an overnight Boeing 737-800 flight out of Brisbane.
7 May, 2023

Silva McLeod in the cockpit of a Virgin Blue Boeing 737 in 2007. Photo: Supplied.

Podcast #101: Tonga’s First Female Airline Pilot

Silva McLeod was Tonga's first female airline pilot. In episode 101 of the AFF on Air podcast, Silva shares the inspiring journey that took her from a small island in the Pacific to the cockpit of a Virgin Australia Boeing 777 - flying over the Pacific.
6 May, 2023

Tonga’s First Female Airline Pilot – AIR101

Matt sits down for an extended interview by Silva McLeod, Tonga’s first ever female airline pilot. After flying for Royal Tongan Airlines, Silva went on to fly in Auatralia for Aeropelican, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and ultimately Virgin Blue, which became Virgin Australia. But the journey from island girl to airline pilot, as Silva … Continued
6 May, 2023