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.

A Tipple in the Air Brings A Holiday Cheer

This week’s topic is not for the easily-dehydrated. Our members spread the Christmas cheer and discuss their alcohol consumption in the air. An urban flying legend has emerged that one passenger managed to down eight bottles of Dom Perignon on a long haul flight. Our members question the veracity of this tale. However, it has … Continued

11 Dec 2014 In Flight

Cons (and some pros) of overnight long-haul flights

There is nothing like coming home. That is of course unless the flight getting you home happens to be a famed “red eye” or overnight flight. If you are lucky enough to be able to sleep on a plane then if may not be so bad. For some of our members however, the experience is … Continued

6 Dec 2014 In Flight

Travel to Indonesia gets easier (and cheaper)

Australian passport holders are reportedly one of the luckiest in the world. For many countries, the only preparation required is presenting your passport on arrival for an instant visa. There are however, always exceptions. One of the more popular destinations for Australian travellers, is Indonesia. At present this requires the purchase of a USD$35 Visa … Continued

2 Dec 2014 The Journey

Seating safety: a “weighty” issue

A photograph of an overweight man sitting in a very tight plane seat has resurfaced this week. This photograph has evoked sympathy for both the overweight man and the unfortunate person sitting next to him. In a nation whose waistlines are expanding, our members discuss some of the practicalities of airlines dealings with overweight passengers. … Continued

6 Nov 2014 In Flight

Cheap Business or Premium Economy?

For some time, many of our savvy members have been aware of the excellent value on offer when flying Fiji Air Business Class to the USA. While it does require a stopover or transit in both directions, often you can enjoy the trip in Business Class comfort at excep-tional pricing. When faced with the choice … Continued

Connection Conundrums

When it comes to the big trips, getting the right airfare can get tricky. The easiest way is to use a single airline to book the entire journey. Often that airline will have codeshares on the flights it does not operate. Should a delay occur, having it on the one ticket will often give you … Continued

Air Rage diverts another plane

These days it seems it’s almost a daily occurrence. Be it helping themselves to their duty free stash or just taking advantage of the airlines generosity, passengers are confusing the cabin with a public bar and acting accordingly. With an unruly passenger onboard, and cabin safety of paramount importance, the resultant diversion comes at great … Continued

30 Sep 2014 In Flight

Cancel or Credit – Travel Insurance Woes

Stuff happens! Especially when it comes to expensive overseas travel arrangements. Some call it Murphy’s Law, the principle that if something can go wrong it will. On that basis, most people will purchase travel insurance to make sure they are covered. As our government says on its smart traveller website, if you cannot afford Travel … Continued

Vietnam visa changes

Most of our members hold Australian passports, one of the more widely accepted visa free passports in the world. But not all countries are happy to grant an instant visa on arrival. Some prefer you to give advance notice, or apply for one outside the country. Vietnam, like many of its neighbours, is one such … Continued

15 Sep 2014 The Journey

Nuts-on-board: A deadly snack?

An unexpected danger to some passengers on board is the dissemination or consumption of nuts. A four year old girl on a Ryan-Air flight suffered an alleged anaphylactic shock after a fellow passenger opened a packet of nuts in another row. This story raised a number of issues with our members and led them to … Continued

4 Sep 2014 In Flight

Portable Devices go Gate-to-Gate

One of the biggest changes to the customer experience when flying domestically has been in the area of in flight entertainment (IFE). With seat back screen systems expensive to install and keep updated with technology, airlines have been looking at ways to save money. WiFi streaming is a technology that for many airlines solves the … Continued

2 Sep 2014 In Flight