Latest news

Flying to New Zealand in 2021 – AIR059

  The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is now well and truly open, and thousands of Aussies have already flocked to New Zealand to take advantage of it. In this episode, Matt chats to Alan Lam from Netwave Travel (a.k.a. madrooster on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum) about the bubble and what … Continued

1 May 2021 AFF on Air (blubrry)

Virgin Opens Second Temporary Melbourne Lounge

Virgin Australia will open a second temporary lounge at Melbourne Airport on Monday morning (3 May 2021) to ease overcrowding at the existing temporary lounge, amid a surge in travel demand. The new, temporary pop-up Virgin Lounge will be located adjacent to “AFL Kitchen and Bar” in Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 3. This is located before … Continued

30 Apr 2021 Virgin Australia

Loyalty Program “Enhancements”: Devaluations in Disguise

When it comes to airlines, hotels and loyalty programs, few buzzwords are as prolific as the infamous word “enhancement”. While the dictionary definition of enhancement is “an increase or improvement in quality or value”, this meaning seems to have become lost over the years. Nowadays, many businesses seem to love this word because it sounds … Continued

29 Apr 2021 Hotel Loyalty Programs

Triple Qantas Points on Flights to NT

Thinking of escaping to the Northern Territory this winter? Qantas is awarding triple points on flights to the NT when you register on the Qantas website and book by 30 April 2021, for travel until 30 September 2021. For a limited time, you can also earn bonus Qantas points on Qantas Hotels bookings and holiday … Continued

28 Apr 2021 Qantas

Qantas Customers Short-Changed on Refunds

Qantas says it has now fixed what appears to have been a widespread problem that saw customers with cancelled Classic Flight Reward bookings for multiple passengers only receiving a refund for one passenger. Many Australian Frequent Flyer members have complained over the past few months that, after requesting a refund, they only received a refund … Continued

26 Apr 2021 Qantas

How to Claim Free State-Based Travel Vouchers

All Australian state & territory governments have been giving away free travel vouchers recently to encourage people to explore their own state and support struggling tourism and hospitality businesses. Travel vouchers are still available to all adult residents of NSW, who can access up to $100 worth of vouchers to spend at restaurants, museums and … Continued

26 Apr 2021 Travel Lifestyle

Qantas Centenary Celebrations Continue with New Museum Exhibit, Gin

Last year, Qantas turned 100 years old. With a global pandemic shutting down much of the airline and even many internal state borders within Australia closed, last year’s celebrations didn’t exactly go to plan. But the airline – and the Qantas Founders Museum – are trying to make up for it this year in what … Continued

25 Apr 2021 Qantas

Velocity Wine Deal: 12 Wines + 11,679 Points for $177.87

It’s relatively common knowledge on Australian Frequent Flyer that you can earn large amounts of bonus Qantas points by buying promotional cases of wine from Qantas Wine. For example, a recent Qantas Wine deal offered 20,000 bonus Qantas points with a $399 case of red wine. But did you know that you can also earn … Continued

22 Apr 2021 Virgin Australia

Singapore KrisFlyer Miles Will Not Expire Until April 2022

Singapore Airlines will continue extending the validity of expiring KrisFlyer miles, for six months at a time, until at least March 2022 (previously June 2021). It’s welcome news for Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members who are concerned that their miles could expire before they have a proper opportunity to redeem them, particularly as international borders remain … Continued

20 Apr 2021 Singapore Airlines

Qantas Reports Strong Forward Bookings to UK, USA

Qantas says it has already sold “a lot” of international flights for travel in late 2021 and early 2022, with the UK and United States among the most popular destinations. Other than trans-Tasman and ad-hoc repatriation flights, Qantas has not operated international passenger flights since March 2020 due to Australia’s ongoing international border closure. But … Continued

20 Apr 2021 Qantas

Air New Zealand “Touch of Gold” Status Match Offer

Air New Zealand has matched Qantas Frequent Flyer’s status match offer with a Gold status fast-track of its own. Until 7 May 2021, frequent flyers with Gold (or higher) status in another frequent flyer program can apply for the new Air New Zealand Airpoints “Touch of Gold” offer. This status match is available to Gold, … Continued

18 Apr 2021 Air New Zealand

Podcast #58: Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble Opens

The long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble is finally here, with quarantine-free travel in both directions between Australia and New Zealand starting on Monday, 19 April! To celebrate, Qantas is reopening its flagship international First Class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne from the same date – and even Qantas Club, Gold members and Business class passengers will … Continued

17 Apr 2021 AFF on Air Podcast