Latest news

Ice Class over Antarctic Icebergs

There may be no commercial flights to Antarctica, but AFF member JohnM recently came pretty close! Each summer, Qantas operates a small number of sightseeing charter flights over Antarctica. Departing from Australia early in the morning, the 12-hour flight returns to Australia in the evening after 4 hours of flying over the Antarctic continent. Tomorrow … Continued

15 Feb 2017 Flight Reviews

Redeeming Velocity Points for a Family Holiday

This week one member seeks the community’s recommendations for a family holiday destination that can be reached using Velocity points. AFF member unfunkable is looking for a destination where they take their family of four to relax. While Hawaii had been the destination of choice, there are too few award seats available through Velocity Frequent … Continued

13 Feb 2017 Virgin Australia

Qantas Still Calls Australia Home… In Song Only

Qantas may still call Australia home, but calls to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre will soon be answered by staff in the Philippines. More than 100 Australian jobs will be lost when Qantas shuts its Melbourne-based call centre later this year. The Frequent Flyer Service Centre handles calls relating to the use of Qantas points, … Continued

9 Feb 2017 Qantas

The Value of Overseas Frequent Flyer Programs

Many Australians are familiar with the frequent flyer programs of Qantas and Virgin Australia. But there are other airline loyalty programs out there that offer considerably better value. Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin’s Velocity program are by far the most widely used by Australians. This makes sense, as it’s much easier to earn points within Australia with these programs. … Continued

6 Feb 2017 Other Airlines

Qantas Revamps Business Rewards Program

Qantas has axed its Aquire loyalty program for small to medium businesses, in favour of the newly-launched Qantas Business Rewards. It’s not just a name change, with several significant changes being made to the program. Qantas Business Rewards, like its predecessor Aquire, enables business owners to earn additional points on employees’ flights, as well as … Continued

4 Feb 2017 Qantas

Travel Insurance Warning

They say if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. But as one frustrated member recently learned, not all policies are created equally. This member’s travel insurance provider refused to pay for lost flights and accommodation after an overseas relative passed away. This member had to cancel their pre-booked trip to Adelaide … Continued

2 Feb 2017 Travel Lifestyle

Flight Review: Newcastle-Canberra on FlyPelican

The “big four” domestic airlines – Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar & Tigerair – tend to receive the most attention. But there are other airlines in Australia serving the regional routes not offered by the major airlines. One of these is FlyPelican. Regional Express (Rex) is one of the largest regional carriers in Australia, operating an … Continued

1 Feb 2017 Flight Reviews

The Qatar Airways Experience

Qatar Airways has been offering some excellent airfare deals on flights to Europe lately. But do these low fares come at the expense of quality? One member is considering using the Doha-based oneworld airline for the first time on an upcoming trip, and seeks the opinion of the AFF community on whether Qatar Airways is … Continued

30 Jan 2017 Qatar Airways

Enjoy International Lounges on Domestic Flights

Flying internationally is often a markedly improved experience, compared to taking a domestic flight. The aircraft used on international routes are often more comfortable than planes designed for short-haul flying. The lounges in international terminals are also significantly better – especially if you happen to enjoy access to the Qantas First class lounge in Sydney or … Continued

28 Jan 2017 Jetstar

Qantas Privacy Breach

The personal details of numerous Qantas customers have been compromised after they were mistakenly sent to the wrong email address. Qantas recently emailed customers flying out of Melbourne, warning them of delays during roadworks on the Tullamarine Freeway. These emails mistakenly contained the surnames and booking reference numbers of other passengers. If the email recipient … Continued

26 Jan 2017 Qantas

First Trip to Indochina

Our member yld200 recently returned from a wonderful holiday to Vietnam and Thailand. Not only was it their first time visiting, but they flew there in the luxury of First class Suites on Singapore Airlines – another first for this member. In spite of a faulty seat, the Singapore Airlines Suites experience did not disappoint! Even … Continued

25 Jan 2017 Destinations

Overnight Layover in Singapore: Where to Stay

Most people prefer flights with short connections, but sometimes a long transit is necessary. One member will soon have an overnight layover at Singapore Airport, with their inbound flight from Melbourne arriving at midnight and their onward flight to Seoul departing at 8am the following morning. So, where is the best place to spend a … Continued

23 Jan 2017 Airports & Lounges