Latest news

Virgin’s “Hybrid” Strategy is Fraught with Risk

Virgin Australia’s management and new owners have now outlined their vision for the future of Australia’s second-largest airline. Virgin won’t become a low-cost carrier, we’re told, but will instead aim to be the “best value carrier in the market”. “ The airline will serve business travellers, including corporates and customers travelling for a holiday and visiting … Continued

14 Aug 2020 Virgin Australia

Should Tasmanians Switch to Woolworths Everyday Rewards?

Last week, Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards loyalty program officially launched in Tasmania. It will eventually replace the Frequent $hopper Club, which will be discontinued on or shortly after 31 December 2020. Everyday Rewards is the newly relaunched version of Woolworths Rewards, which was not previously available to Tasmanian residents. Everyday Rewards members can earn points at … Continued

14 Aug 2020 Woolworths Everyday Rewards

When Will Virgin Australia’s Lounges Reopen?

Last week, Virgin Australia confirmed that it will keep most of its airport lounges as it transitions to a new post-covid business model. But when will Virgin Australia’s airport lounges finally reopen? All 13 of Virgin Australia’s airport lounges shut on 23 March 2020 due to government COVID-19 restrictions, and remain closed to this day. … Continued

13 Aug 2020 Virgin Australia

Don’t Fall for Fake Airline Facebook Page Scams!

If you ever see a Facebook post inviting you to comment, share or like the page to win a “Quantas” First Class flight, it’s almost certainly too good to be true! Time and time again, scammers create fake pages on Facebook or other social media platforms purporting to belong to an airline (or another well-known … Continued

10 Aug 2020 Travel Tools & Technology

Podcast #42: Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach

Although Qantas recently retired its last Boeing 747, there are still two of the iconic aircraft on public display at Australian aviation museums. One is at HARS in Shellharbour, NSW and the other can be found in Longreach, Queensland. Qantas has a long and proud association with Longreach, the town where it first started its … Continued

8 Aug 2020 AFF on Air Podcast

Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach – AIR042

  Qantas may have retired its last active Boeing 747, but there are still two of the “queens of the skies” on display in Australian aviation museums. One of those, a Boeing 747-200, can be found at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland. Qantas has a long and proud association with Longreach, the town … Continued

8 Aug 2020 AFF on Air (blubrry)

Defunct Tigerair Loses its Roar

Tigerair will not return to the skies in Australia, with the Virgin Australia Group confirming this week that it will discontinue the Tigerair brand. Virgin Australia, which owns Tigerair, said the decision to axe the Tigerair brand is due to insufficient demand in the Australian domestic market to support two carriers at this time. When … Continued

6 Aug 2020 Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia to Retain Lounges, Ditch 777s & A330s

Virgin Australia has revealed how the airline plans to emerge from voluntary administration, and it’s a mixture of good and bad news. Virgin will retain most of its airport lounges and Business class cabins, and all Velocity Frequent Flyer points and travel credits will be honoured. But it will emerge as a smaller airline focusing … Continued

6 Aug 2020 Virgin Australia

Frequent Flyers Recount Their “Flights from Hell”

With most international travel off the cards for the foreseeable future, many frequent flyers are reminiscing about past trips and longing to get back into the air. At this time, it’s easy to think about long-haul travel through rose-coloured glasses. But as any frequent traveller will know, long-haul travel is not always as fun as … Continued

5 Aug 2020 In Flight

What Could Oneworld Alliance-Wide Upgrades Look Like?

In late 2019, Australian Frequent Flyer revealed that the Oneworld alliance was considering allowing frequent flyers of any Oneworld airline to use their points to upgrade on any other airline in the alliance. The news of Oneworld alliance-wide upgrades was welcomed by frequent travellers, and recently, Oneworld CEO Rub Gurney confirmed to Cranky Flier that the new upgrade proposition … Continued

4 Aug 2020 Oneworld

Jetstar Refunds Erroneous Change Fees

Jetstar has refunded passengers that were incorrectly charged a $131 fee to change their flight after Jetstar cancelled on them and failed to provide a suitable alternative. Australian Frequent Flyer member sammy had booked a return flight from Sydney to Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) during a recent sale. This member had flown to the Sunshine Coast last … Continued

3 Aug 2020 Jetstar

Virgin’s COVID-19 Business Class Experience Disappoints

I’ve previously written a fairly positive review of Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737 Business Class. But during COVID-19 it’s a very different experience. As I discovered on a recent flight from Canberra to Brisbane, Virgin Australia Business class passengers are no longer receiving even close to the full Business class experience during COVID-19. Flight Details Flight number … Continued

1 Aug 2020 Flight Reviews