Could Virgin be the next Ansett?

There are further signs of financial turmoil at Virgin Australia after Air New Zealand flagged plans to sell its financial stake in the airline. The CEO of Air New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, has also resigned from the Virgin Australia board. The news has led some concerned members, fearing a repeat of the Ansett collapse, to empty … Continued

Chasing Status: Like Running in a Hamster Wheel?

This week a new member seeks to understand why some travellers go to such extreme lengths to chase elite airline status. Some frequent flyers willingly spend dozens of unnecessary hours in the air – often for a hefty price tag – in order to supplement their status credit balance. Known as a status run, this … Continued

Indonesia Now Visa-Free for Australians

For many years, Australians visiting Bali and other Indonesian destinations have needed to pay for a visa. This added USD35 (around $47) to the cost of every visit. But after years of discussions and speculation, this visa fee was finally dropped last week. Australians are now able to enter the country without a visa for up … Continued

Seat Swap Etiquette

The contentious issue of aircraft seat poaching is a hot topic of discussion this week. What would you do if another passenger plonked themselves into your allocated seat, in order to sit with their travel companion? One member’s recent experience on a Singapore Airlines flight left them annoyed and frustrated. Upon boarding, this member found … Continued

Premium Economy: Qantas vs Virgin

Ahead of a trip to the USA, one member is deciding between flying Premium Economy on Qantas or Virgin Australia. Both airlines offer Premium Economy from Australia to Los Angeles. With prices almost identical, which airline is the better option? I have a trip coming up in June to LAS (BNE-LAX-LAS) and will likely fly … Continued