Latest news

Optimal Strategy for 14 Annual Europe Trips

One member faces the unenvious prospect of taking up to 14 trips between Brisbane and Dublin over the next year. As this member will be paying for the flights themselves, they are looking for strategies to optimise their travel experience and hopefully score a few upgrades along the way. I’m looking at doing either 13 or … Continued

17 May 2017 Planning & Booking

End of an Era for Alitalia

The future of Italian flag carrier Alitalia is in doubt after the debt-ridden airline filed for bankruptcy. The announcement came as the airline, which is losing more than a million dollars per day, failed to reach an agreement with its employees that would have seen jobs and salaries cut to more sustainable levels. Alitalia flights … Continued

15 May 2017 Other Airlines

BP Seeks End to Velocity Tie-up

BP is seeking to pull the plug on its partnership with Velocity Frequent Flyer, ahead of its acquisition of 527 Woolworths Petrol outlets next year. This would mean that Velocity points can no longer be earned or redeemed at BP petrol stations. It is likely that, going forward, BP will seek to form a partnership with … Continued

13 May 2017 Virgin Australia

First Class for a Fraction of the Price

First Class provides the ultimate in luxury in the air. It’s also usually prohibitively expensive… but thanks to frequent flyer points, it doesn’t have to be! One member recently flew First class on Etihad’s Airbus A380 from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, and they absolutely loved the experience. This member said they felt like they were … Continued

11 May 2017 Airlines, Miles and Points

Hainan Airlines: A 5-Star Experience?

There are only 9 airlines in the world that have been given a 5-star rating by Skytrax. One of them is China’s Hainan Airlines. Hainan Airlines’ 5-star rating brings it in line with carriers such as Singapore Airlines, ANA and Qatar Airways. But did it live up to such high expectations when our member Wanderlust_tim recently … Continued

10 May 2017 Flight Reviews

Redeem Points for LATAM Business Class to Chile

Excellent value & award availability: Redeem your points to fly Business Class to South America! Redeeming frequent flyer points to South America has traditionally been very difficult. But thanks to some new direct flights between Australia and South America, award availability to South America is actually very good at the moment. LATAM Airlines will begin … Continued

9 May 2017 LATAM Airlines Points Inspiration

15% Bonus on Velocity Point Transfers

Virgin Australia is currently running an excellent promotion on Velocity point transfers. For the month of May, Velocity members can earn at least 15% bonus points when transferring points to Velocity from most credit card rewards programs. ANZ customers can earn even more bonus points, with up to 50% bonus points on offer for transfers … Continued

8 May 2017 Virgin Australia

Taking a Chance on Flight Delays

Would you fly on the same day as an important event, such as a wedding? That’s the question michaele asks this week as they weigh up the pros & cons of cutting their short trip even shorter in order to avoid arriving back in Australia on the day of their wedding. Looking for your advice … Continued

6 May 2017 Planning & Booking

Is Jetstar the World’s Worst Airline?

It’s been an embarrassing week for Jetstar after the airline was ranked last in an international survey comparing more than 70 airlines. The abysmal ranking earned Jetstar just one star out of five in the survey conducted by Choice in conjunction with Consumers International. But is Jetstar really the worst airline in the world? The … Continued

4 May 2017 Jetstar

Living and Working in Different Cities

Imagine that you’ve been offered your dream job. It has everything you’re looking for, except for one small detail… you would have to work in a different city to your current home. One option would be to simply move to the new city, but this isn’t always practical. As our member significance recently found out, … Continued

3 May 2017 Travel Lifestyle

Great Value on Virgin Australia Business Class

Fly Business Class on Virgin Australia for surprisingly few points… Earning Etihad Guest miles in Australia is not especially difficult. You can transfer points from Flybuys, as well as many Australian credit cards, to Etihad Guest miles. Plus, you can now buy Etihad Guest miles directly from the airline. Of course, you can also earn points … Continued

2 May 2017 Etihad Airways Points Inspiration

What are Married Segments?

If you’ve ever booked a flight, chances are you’ve come across the issue of “married segments”. But what are they, and how do they affect the price of your ticket? In airline speak, a married segment refers to two (or more) connecting flights that are priced based on the origin and final destination. For example, a … Continued

1 May 2017 Planning & Booking