Latest news

Making free calls overseas over WiFi

Using your mobile phone overseas can be an expensive exercise. Phone service providers often charge exorbitant rates. And although some now offer special global roaming packages, they are still generally poor value when you compare them to other options out there. One option to bring down the cost of overseas calls is to buy a … Continued

3 Jan 2015 Travel Tools & Technology

Flight Booking Regret

Post Travel Expo regret has hit one member hard this week. Our member spontaneously purchased an economy flight from Sydney to LA with friends and is now regretting the decision. The prospect of 14 hours in economy is enough to drive our member to drink! The current attitude is putting the “WHY” into Y-class. Our … Continued

18 Dec 2014 Planning & Booking

The delights of Thailand, Burma and Singapore

This week our trip report starts with what used to be a common experience – the joy of travelling First Class to Asia. Due to the withdrawal of Qantas First Class service to Asia, it is now a little harder to travel in the lap of luxury using points. While Singapore Airlines do have some … Continued

17 Dec 2014 Destinations

Don’t you know who I am? Over Nuts!?

The famous (and sometimes the not so famous) are known for the occasional dummy spit. That moment when they feel like someone clearly does not know who they are. For a purser onboard Korean Air this week, such a moment resulted from a career-limiting move they made onboard a departing flight. And it was all … Continued

16 Dec 2014 Other Airlines

Melbourne to Phuket – Points or Pay?

If you are sitting on a stack of points, it can be pretty tempting to use them. Sometimes it makes sense, while other times, it seems the airlines can make it hard to use them. So when do you pull the trigger? This week, one of our members poses such a dilemma. Hi guys, really … Continued

15 Dec 2014 Airlines, Miles and Points

Qantas “enhances” Priority Boarding, more changes to follow in 2015?

One of the better perks for many of our members is priority boarding. A benefit usually on offer to the top tiers of frequent flyers, it allows them to board at anytime in a dedicated queue without joining what is often a long line. While Virgin have offered this benefit to their domestic Platinum and … Continued

14 Dec 2014 Qantas

A Tipple in the Air Brings A Holiday Cheer

This week’s topic is not for the easily-dehydrated. Our members spread the Christmas cheer and discuss their alcohol consumption in the air. An urban flying legend has emerged that one passenger managed to down eight bottles of Dom Perignon on a long haul flight. Our members question the veracity of this tale. However, it has … Continued

11 Dec 2014 In Flight

Mistaken Fare Showdown: Flight Centre vs Singapore Airlines

With so many airlines currently flying to Australia, offering a variety of fares, sometimes it can be pretty hard to pick when a published fare is a mistake. Some two weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, Flight Centre staff did think they had found such a mistake fare. Doing the responsible thing, they let Singapore … Continued

9 Dec 2014 Singapore Airlines

Getting into a spin over baggage

Our members often muse about baggage, and what makes a good purchase. If you only travel once in a blue moon, spending good cash on a suitcase may not make sense. For instance, if you have looked closely at a Japanese tour group, you will not their baggage often looks similar. That’s because they often … Continued

8 Dec 2014 Travel Lifestyle

Cons (and some pros) of overnight long-haul flights

There is nothing like coming home. That is of course unless the flight getting you home happens to be a famed “red eye” or overnight flight. If you are lucky enough to be able to sleep on a plane then if may not be so bad. For some of our members however, the experience is … Continued

6 Dec 2014 In Flight

Qantas Travelling Pet Policy leaves Members Barking Mad

The latest group of passengers to be targeted by Qantas policy changes are barking mad about it. One member has been left furious that Qantas now require travelling pets to be consigned as freight for all tickets purchased after 1 December 2014. It is a dog eat dog world out there for travelling fur-babies. The … Continued

4 Dec 2014 Qantas

The sights and smells of Istanbul

With the 100th Anniversary of World War 1, Turkey will certainly be a place of pilgrimage for many an Australian in the near future. For those planning on visiting, this week’s trip report gives some clues as to what can be expected when it comes to visiting Turkeys capital city of Istanbul. As promised many … Continued

3 Dec 2014 Destinations