Latest news

Jetstar awarding Qantas points on NZ domestic flights

Qantas points will now be earned domestic flights within New Zealand that are operated by low-cost subsidiary Jetstar. As of last week, Jetstar flyers on all New Zealand domestic flights will earn at least 400 Qantas points, even on the cheapest Starter fares. Unfortunately passengers on starter fares will not earn status credits, however points … Continued

29 Jun 2015 Jetstar

Strategies for sleeping soundly on planes

Our members share their tips and experiences in getting some shut-eye on aircraft. Some lucky members are able to sleep with ease, even in economy. For others, getting some rest at 35,000 feet can be a great challenge. For those who find that sleeping in the air doesn’t come naturally, there are numerous strategies available. … Continued

27 Jun 2015 In Flight

Secretly Scheming a Surprise Holiday

One crafty member hopes to surprise a lucky loved one with an overseas holiday to a secret destination. They know the surprise will be appreciated, but ponder the risk of inadvertently blowing their cover. Countless opportunities exist for the secret to be let out.  Overheard phone calls and misplaced tickets are just the start of … Continued

25 Jun 2015 Planning & Booking

New Virgin/South African Airways partnership put to the test

Virgin Australia recently announced a new partnership with South African Airways. As part of the agreement, Velocity members can earn and redeem points with South African Airways. They also have access to reciprocal status benefits, such as lounge access, when flying South African. The partnership is a fairly useful addition to the global network of … Continued

24 Jun 2015 Virgin Australia

Budget airlines: costs and benefits

A new member will soon begin commuting weekly between the Gold Coast and Sydney for work. While they are keen to maximise comfort and perks, they will be paying for all flights out of their own pocket. With this in mind, our member wonders whether the money saved by flying low-cost might outweigh the benefits … Continued

23 Jun 2015 Airlines, Miles and Points

New “Border Clearance Levy” results in higher airfares to NZ

Flights to New Zealand will become $22 more expensive after the New Zealand government announced a new tax on arriving and departing passengers. The “border clearance levy” has been spruiked by the New Zealand government as a way to cover the cost of customs and border protection. Our members are not particularly thrilled about this. … Continued

22 Jun 2015 The Journey

Virgin’s Fare Promise worthless?

With much hype, Virgin Australia recently introduced its “Fare Promise”. Under the scheme, Virgin claims it will match the prices of its own flights if they are cheaper on a third-party website. In addition, members with eligible claims will receive 500 Velocity points. It sounds good in theory, but a closer inspection of the fine … Continued

20 Jun 2015 Virgin Australia

Forced downgrade leaves Expedia customer fuming

One member is furious that online travel agent Expedia downgraded their business class ticket to economy without explanation. Having booked a business class trip to Europe, Expedia now says the member will need to pay $1,200 to “upgrade” the ticket back to business class. When our member then threatened to cancel the ticket, Expedia demanded … Continued

18 Jun 2015 Planning & Booking

Heading north for some winter warmth

We are currently approaching one year since Qantas stopped selling JASAs, or business class Any Seat Awards. These awards were very popular as our members were able to book reward seats at classic award prices, and also earn points and status credits for the journey. Some of our clever members, such as amaroo, bought one … Continued

17 Jun 2015 Flight Reviews

First Class, First Timer

One member is in a rather envious position. They want to use their frequent flyer points to cross that first class flight off their bucket list. Faced with a multitude of airlines and first class products to choose from, our member asks for advice in choosing the best route and airline to make the most … Continued

16 Jun 2015 Qantas

Qantas flying to San Francisco, American flying to Sydney

Flights across the Pacific are set to get a shake-up. From December, American Airlines will begin flying between Sydney and Los Angeles daily. To coincide with the launch, Qantas will itself launch a new route from Sydney to San Francisco. The airlines, who are already close partners, will collaborate and codeshare on each others’ flights … Continued

15 Jun 2015 Airlines, Miles and Points

Avoiding unfair airline fees – a creative solution

An airline passenger in the UK has come up with a clever way to avoid paying a “name change fee” on an airline ticket. The passenger was accidentally booked under the wrong name, but European low-cost airline Ryanair wanted to charge £220 (about $440!) for the name on the ticket to be changed. Instead of … Continued

13 Jun 2015 Airlines, Miles and Points