Latest news

Virgin Cuts Bags, Velocity Benefits on New “Economy Lite” Fares

Virgin Australia has removed checked baggage, seat selection, a range of Velocity benefits, and reduced status credits, on its cheapest Economy Class tickets. It’s part of a shake-up to its domestic fare categories. Virgin’s Economy Getaway, Elevate and Freedom fares are now gone, replaced by Lite, Choice and Flex fares. Business Saver fares have also … Continued

19 Aug 2021 Virgin Australia

More Airlines Offer Status Credits on Reward Flights

With most hotel loyalty programs, reward nights booked using points will count towards a member’s elite status. The same is not true for most airlines, which typically do not award any frequent flyer points or status credits for reward flights booked using points. But recently, some airlines have started to change this. And according to one … Continued

19 Aug 2021 Airlines, Miles and Points

10 One-of-a-Kind Aircraft Liveries

An aircraft’s livery, or paint scheme, is one of an airline’s biggest marketing tools (literally). While many airlines operate exactly the same types of aircraft as their rivals – both Qantas and Virgin use Boeing 737s, for example – their planes are differentiated by the colours they’re painted in. Planes are effectively giant billboards, easily … Continued

19 Aug 2021 Travel Lifestyle

Qantas Norfolk Island Flights Extended to June 2022

Qantas will now continue flying from Sydney and Brisbane to Norfolk Island until 30 June 2022, after Air New Zealand announced it will not be able to take over the routes from the end of this month as planned. Air New Zealand has long held the Australian government contract to service the routes from Brisbane … Continued

18 Aug 2021 Qantas

KrisFlyer Launches Family Pooling (For a Fee)

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer frequent flyer program has introduced “KrisFlyer for Families”, allowing parents to transfer miles out of their children’s accounts until they turn 16 years old. Parents and guardians can now set up a “Parental Link” with the accounts of up to five children aged 2-15 years old on the Singapore Airlines website. Once … Continued

17 Aug 2021 Singapore Airlines

How a Qantas Flyer Earned Platinum One Status in 2021

In the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, Platinum One status is the very top tier. To earn or renew Platinum One, you would need to earn at least 3,600 status credits within a year – with at least 2,700 of those status credits earned on Qantas or Jetstar marketed flights. That’s a lot of flying! Given the … Continued

16 Aug 2021 Qantas

Why Do Booking Websites Ask If You’re Travelling for Work?

Have you ever noticed when booking a flight, hotel or rental car online that you’re asked whether you’re travelling for work? This data is useful information for travel companies and booking agencies, as it helps them understand their customers better and tailor the booking experience. But what exactly happens when you select “travelling for work”, … Continued

15 Aug 2021 Planning & Booking

Stewart Island Flights Review (Oban to Invercargill)

Stewart Island Flights is a small airline based in Invercargill on New Zealand’s South Island. Specialising in commercial and charter flights to Stewart Island, the airline has a fleet of just four light aircraft. I recently flew with Stewart Island Flights from Oban, the main town centre on Stewart Island, to Invercargill. Normally in a … Continued

12 Aug 2021 Flight Reviews

Qantas Offers Easy Status Extensions until June 2022

Qantas Frequent Flyer has announced another round of status extension offers, in light of the current travel downturn in Australia and the extended international border closure. Qantas is now offering further 12-month status tier extensions to Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers whose status would have been due to expire between now and … Continued

11 Aug 2021 Qantas

Qantas Plans Second Points Auction

Qantas says last week’s Points Auction was so successful that it will hold a second one later this year. In Qantas’ inaugural Points Auction, a total of 12,314,485 Qantas Frequent Flyer points were spent on five “money can’t buy” products and experiences, including a used pair of Qantas A380 Skybed seats which sold for 2 … Continued

10 Aug 2021 Qantas

Delta Cuts Domestic Lounge Access for Velocity Members

Gold and Platinum members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program will no longer have access to Delta Sky Club lounges when travelling with Delta on a domestic flight from 1 September 2021. Velocity is also making changes to points earning rates with Delta Air Lines from the same date. From 1 September 2021, Velocity … Continued

9 Aug 2021 Virgin Australia

Finn-UNFair: Thousands Lost in Compensation Nightmare

Multiple Finnair passengers have been left up to AU$13,000 each out of pocket, through no fault of their own, after they tried to claim EU261 compensation for flights delayed due to mechanical faults. In the European Union, airlines are legally required to compensate passengers for flights delayed by more than 3 hours, except in extraordinary … Continued

9 Aug 2021 Other Airlines