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  1. Mattg

    Transfer to Velocity 15-20% bonus promo - Nov/Dec 2025

    So once again, you only get the bonus if you transfer two months in a row. I wonder if next May we'll see something that's a bit simpler, or perhaps more creative?
  2. Mattg

    Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge

    I don't think Qantas would consider the walkway space to be wasted - although the reason is not immediately obvious. Having such a long "walk of shame" past the entrance to the F lounge surely incentivises a not insignificant number of Gold frequent flyers to try to earn Platinum status...
  3. Mattg

    Airport security confiscated an empty water bottle

    The reason I ask is that the particular LAGs checks being discussed in this thread are secondary checks at the boarding gate which are specific to inbound international flights to Australia (these are required by the Australian government, except when departing from certain exempt countries like...
  4. Mattg

    Airport security confiscated an empty water bottle

    Were you flying directly to Australia from SGN, HAN and HKG on those occasions?
  5. Mattg

    EK trans-Tasman F reward seats only appear on Qantas multi-city tool?

    Wait, so you’re saying Emirates First reward seats on SYD-CHC don’t show up on the Qantas website if you search for one-way or return flights, but do if you use the multi-city tool? Well that’s an annoying and bizarre quirk!
  6. Mattg

    No China Eastern reward availability on the Qantas website

    Does the Saudia website work?
  7. Mattg

    Article: Is Qantas or Velocity Status Harder to Earn?

    Absolutely - Gold on both is a perfectly legit strategy and I'd personally much rather have both Velocity Gold and Qantas Gold than just Velocity Platinum!
  8. Mattg

    No China Eastern reward availability on the Qantas website

    Just tested this, and you're right. Well that's annoying!
  9. Mattg

    Virgin Economy X pricing depends on number of days until departure

    You may have read recently that Virgin Australia systematically increases its "D" class Business fares 28 days before departure: https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-virgin-increase-fares-closer-departure/ Did you know that VA also systematically adjusts its Economy X pricing...
  10. Mattg

    Qantas Club membership price increase (and removal of 4 year renewals) - 11th December 2025

    Is free Qantas Club membership through Points Club Plus a reasonable long-term option for you once your current membership runs out? You’d need to earn 350,000 points in a year to get Points Club Plus, which is quite a lot but a few credit card sign-up bonuses could really help with that.
  11. Mattg

    Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

    I also can't help making the observation that this change comes after Doug Parker joined the Qantas board. Economy Plus looks quite a bit like Main Cabin Extra on AA.
  12. Mattg

    Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

    Reading between the lines, it looks to me like the 737-800s might be getting a fourth row of Business. If you add an extra row of Business, make rows 5-10 and the exit rows Economy Plus, and have one less row of seats forward of the exit rows, everything fits neatly like a perfect game of...
  13. Mattg

    Skytrans to Operate Lord Howe Island Route from March 2026 - Take over from Qantaslink

    Looks like the start date for SmartLynx to officially take over the Lord Howe Island services has been brought forward to 1 December 2025. I'm not seeing a single Classic Reward seat on the SYD-LDH route after this date.
  14. Mattg

    Solomon Airlines launching Brisbane-Auckland route

    Looks like the Solomon Airlines load factors on the AKL-BNE route have been pretty abysmal. Around 28% in August 2025. Given it's still running, and only once per week, I assume this flight mainly serves to position the aircraft or something.
  15. Mattg

    Emirates load factors on SYD-CHC route

    As many AFFers would know, Emirates flies an Airbus A380 every day between Sydney and Christchurch. According to the most recent BITRE stats, Emirates filled only ~41% of seats between Sydney and Christchurch in August 2025. It was around 53% in July 2025, 39% in June 2025 and 44% in May 2025...
  16. Mattg

    You can now use SmartGates when arriving in Australia from a yellow fever risk country

    In the past, if you were arriving from a yellow fever risk area such as Africa or South/Central America, you would be ineligible to use the SmartGates on arrival as you'd need to show your yellow fever certificate to a Border Force officer. This would inevitably result in long lines if you were...
  17. Mattg

    Qatar charging seat selection fees for Business (U) award bookings

    Do Velocity Gold/Plat members get free seat selection on Qatar Airways?
  18. Mattg

    Article: Strategies for Cheap Business Class Flights to Europe

    Sounds like you're looking at paid fares with Qatar Airways or Oman Air. You just book with the operating airline on their website. You can enter your QFF number during the booking process on the Qatar or Oman Air website.
  19. Mattg

    Melbourne Qantas First Lounge Closed most October 2025

    I believe this is what the maintenance work was for.
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