The Journey

At the end of the day it's all about "The Journey". This popular topic covers the planning, booking, the flight, and then the arrival at you destination. Dive into this section to explore tips and advice for every step of your journey.

Lost and found airport sign

The Dumbest Travel Mistake I’ve Ever Made

Earlier this week, I made what is quite possibly the stupidest travel mistake I’ve ever made. After 472 commercial flights, it finally happened… I left my passport on the plane. Normally after losing your passport you’d realise fairly quickly. But by the time I realised, three hours had passed and the plane had already operated … Continued

26 May 2019 Post Flight
JAL 787 Premium Economy

Premium Economy Deals to Europe

If you’re looking for something more comfortable than Economy but more affordable than Business or First class, Premium Economy can be an excellent compromise. More and more airlines have introduced Premium Economy products in recent years. This product is particularly attractive to many Australians, especially when flying to Europe or North America, as these are … Continued

Theft Thief stealing

Theft at 35,000 Feet

Security is something many of us take for granted when travelling by air. Most travellers are quite comfortable leaving their valuables in the overhead lockers or otherwise out of sight for the duration of the flight. But in-flight theft can and does happen. Numerous AFF members have witnessed mid-air robberies while flying to a range … Continued

15 Apr 2019 In Flight
Economy business class queues

Swapping Seats Across Cabin Classes

It’s not uncommon for people in a group travelling together to swap seats on the plane. But is it allowed to swap seats with somebody you know that is travelling in a different cabin class? AFF member maidmarion will soon be flying with Air New Zealand to the Cook Islands. There are three family members booked … Continued

13 Apr 2019 In Flight
Meal served in United international Economy

Airline Food is Overrated

Airlines love to tell their passengers how wonderful their in-flight meals are. But airlines often seem to think the food served on board is better than it really is. Both Qantas and Virgin Australia enlist the help of celebrity chefs in marketing their business class meals. But some airlines have taken this even further. United … Continued

4 Apr 2019 In Flight
Nervous flyer headache sick

Overcoming a Fear of Flying

Did you know that fear of flying affects roughly 1 in 4 people? While there is no perfect cure for a fear of flying, the good news is that it is possible to minimise the discomfort. Peter Chin, who runs Fear of Flying courses at Flight Experience in Perth, joined me on the latest episode … Continued

25 Mar 2019 In Flight
Oxygen masks fall from overhead panel in emergency

Experiencing a Mid-Air Emergency

Have you ever wondered how you would you react in a mid-air emergency? Would you remain calm? Fortunately, most people will never find out the answer to this question. But as it happens, AFF member panpan was a passenger on board a recent Qantas flight that had to divert after a loss of cabin pressure. Qantas … Continued

21 Mar 2019 In Flight
Japan Mt Fuji

Getting to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Next year, Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic Games. As is often the case when a city hosts a major sporting event, many thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Tokyo. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will run from Friday 24 July to Sunday 9 August 2020, although there will be a few soccer matches … Continued

Court heavy fine

Airlines Fight Back Against Hidden-City Ticketing

Clever airline passengers have used hidden-city ticketing for years to save money on their flights. But now airlines are starting to fight back against the practice. German airline Lufthansa is currently attempting to sue a “no-show” passenger that didn’t board the last flight on their ticket. It’s demanding back-payment for the significant difference in price … Continued

11 Feb 2019 Post Flight
Qantas A330-200 domestic Economy cabin

Aircraft Cabins: Too Hot for Comfort?

Ever felt uncomfortably hot (or cold) when flying? You’re not alone. It seems that aircraft cabin temperatures are a sticking point for many flyers, and are something that very few airlines get consistently right. Many AFF members find that aircraft cabin temperatures, generally, are too hot. While it varies across airlines and aircraft types, it … Continued

7 Feb 2019 In Flight
How Qantas Plans to Fly A330s to LA, SFO

The Cost of Operating a Flight

Ever wondered how much it costs a commercial airline to operate a flight? It costs an airline just over $10,000 to fly a Boeing 737 from Sydney to Melbourne, meaning they need to make at least $60 in revenue from each seat to turn a profit. And it costs almost $200,000 to run an Airbus … Continued

3 Feb 2019 In Flight
Search book flights computer

Airline Jargon: What is a Long Sell?

Ever tried to book a frequent flyer redemption ticket, only to be told there’s no award availability? If you’ve ever tried to redeem your frequent flyer points for a flight, you probably answered “yes”! It will often be the case that there’s indeed no award availability on the flight you want. But sometimes the availability … Continued