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International Flights on Sale for December 2021: Will They Fly?

Many airlines are now planning to resume international flights to and from Australia by Christmas, with Qantas and others betting on a mid-December reopening of the country’s international border. Meanwhile, other airlines that have continued to operate loss-making international flights into Australia throughout the pandemic are preparing to ramp up their schedules within months. Many mainstream … Continued

16 Sep 2021 Coronavirus and Travel

Last Chance for Qantas Points with The Economist

It’s the final call for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to earn up to 25,000 bonus points for subscribing to The Economist. That’s because The Economist’s partnership with Qantas Frequent Flyer is ending on 18 September 2021. The number of Qantas points you can earn until 17 September 2021 (next Friday) depends on the type and … Continued

14 Sep 2021 Qantas

How to Stop Qantas Business Rewards Points Expiring

Numerous AFF members say their Qantas Business Rewards points have expired recently without any warning. Just like Qantas points, Qantas Business Rewards points expire after 18 months of account inactivity. If you haven’t taken any flights or earned any Qantas Business Rewards points since the beginning of the pandemic – which happens to be 18 … Continued

13 Sep 2021 Qantas

Passport Renewal Delays Expected

With Australia’s international border set to reopen within months – at least for some states and territories – it’s almost time to dust off your passport… and more importantly, check when it expires! According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has warned that the government is expecting a surge in … Continued

13 Sep 2021 Coronavirus and Travel

Niche New Routes Launched to Launceston

It’s been a big week for Launceston Airport in northern Tasmania. Virgin Australia this week announced it will add a non-stop service from Launceston to Perth, running 3x weekly on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. The seasonal route will operate from 5 November 2021 until 30 January 2022. It comes as Virgin’s inaugural Launceston-Adelaide service took off … Continued

12 Sep 2021 Virgin Australia

How Many Qantas Points Are There in Circulation?

Ever wondered how many Qantas Frequent Flyer points there are in existence? The exact number of Qantas points in the total pool is a closely guarded secret. Of course, it’s also constantly changing as Qantas Frequent Flyer members earn and redeem their points. But using publicly available information – and some educated guesses to fill … Continued

9 Sep 2021 Qantas

Jetstar Ancillary Revenue Up 33% During COVID-19

Jetstar has increased the amount of money its earns from add-ons, bundles and fees by a third during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Qantas Group’s financial results, Jetstar’s ancillary revenue increased by 33% in the 2020-21 financial year, compared to the “pre-COVID” 2018-19 financial year. Ancillary revenue refers to the income made from selling … Continued

9 Sep 2021 Jetstar

New Marriott Competition for Vaccinated Australians

Marriott Hotels is giving away 41 “Ultimate Marriott Bonvoy Packages” to Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 in its new Marriott Vaccine Passport competition. Open to all Australian adults who’ve received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, entries for this competition close at 3pm (AEST) on 30 November 2021. The prizes Five lucky Australians will win a 1-night … Continued

8 Sep 2021 Marriott Bonvoy

Alitalia is Shutting Down: Impact on Velocity Members?

The Italian government will shut down its terminally unprofitable flag carrier Alitalia next month, replacing it with a brand new airline. ITA, which stands for Italia Trasporto Aereo, will take over many of Alitalia’s old aircraft and routes from 15 October 2021. But, determined not to repeat the same mistakes as its predecessor, ITA will … Continued

8 Sep 2021 Virgin Australia

A Tale of 3 Refunds: Qantas vs Virgin vs Rex

Difficulties and delays with getting refunds have been among the most common complaints about airlines during COVID-19. We’ve previously covered the differences in the refund policies of Qantas, Virgin and Rex. But how easy is it to request a refund? And how long does it actually take to receive a refund from Australia’s three major airlines … Continued

6 Sep 2021 Rex & Regional Airlines

Podcast #68: Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Last week, Qantas revealed its new plan to restart international flights to 7 countries from 18 December 2021. That’s just over three months away. But how realistic is this plan? And could we see international travel open up for people in NSW, ACT and Victoria before other states agree to do the same? In the meantime, … Continued

4 Sep 2021 AFF on Air Podcast

Light at the End of the Tunnel? – AIR068

  Returning to Australia over the coming few months is likely to be as hard as it’s ever been during this pandemic. But there is light at the end of the tunnel! Australia is on track to ease some international travel restrictions and introduce home quarantine for some vaccinated travellers by the end of this … Continued

4 Sep 2021 AFF on Air (blubrry)