Latest news

“Acquire” 20,000 Qantas points for 50 bucks (plus some small change)

Our super savvy members have discovered an ingenious way to acquire some Qantas frequent flyer points for less. In a special offer anyone who has an ABN number can pay $50 to join Aquire and they are then eligible for a 10,000 signup bonus plus an additional 10,000 points for purchasing anything at an Aquire-affiliated … Continued

23 Oct 2014 Qantas

The United States of Selfies

The practice of taking a “selfie” is by no means a new one when it comes to our member’s trip reports. While many of our members prefer to capture the scene sans author, others happily include the odd mug shot or two. Some even go to the extent of putting their face into almost every … Continued

22 Oct 2014 Destinations

Virgin gets Tiger’s Tail for $1

Australian aviation history is littered with incidences of companies trying to be a successful third domestic airline. Not long after deregulation, we had Compass Mark 1 and shortly after Compass Mark 2, both short lived. Impulse airlines soon stepped into the role, and it ran successfully until capital was cut off by its backers. As … Continued

21 Oct 2014 Virgin Australia

Connection Conundrums

When it comes to the big trips, getting the right airfare can get tricky. The easiest way is to use a single airline to book the entire journey. Often that airline will have codeshares on the flights it does not operate. Should a delay occur, having it on the one ticket will often give you … Continued

20 Oct 2014 Planning & Booking

Bumped from Business

With a trip to the USA often taking 15 hours or more, the thought of travelling in economy class for that time is one too difficult to contemplate for many. Corporate travellers will often find Business Class mandated for such a journey, thanks to a company’s travel policy. But for the leisure traveller, avoiding economy … Continued

18 Oct 2014 Qantas

Qantas Care Factor

Qantas has coped a battering this week with one member resolutely declaring that the Qantas customer care fail in the inherent requirement of their job… caring! A relatively straightforward request has been met with a poor attitude and a lack of empathy according to one member. This member sought to change the time for the … Continued

16 Oct 2014 Qantas

One award, two trips!

This week’s trip report again features a popular use of Qantas points, in the form of the OneWorld Award that allows for 5 stopovers and 35,000 miles of travel. With Business Class requiring just 280,000 points, it can be a very effective use of points. And as with most awards, there are no limitations on … Continued

15 Oct 2014 Flight Reviews

Thailand to tag tourists?

They say a butterfly flapping its wings over the Amazon can impact people living thousands of kilometres away. While we won’t go into climate change or similar debates now, its true that an event affecting just a few people can have a profound effect on many further down the track. And so it seems, this … Continued

14 Oct 2014 Destinations

Emirates Service Recovery – An Oxymoron?

We have all had a trip or two where something has gone wrong, making for an unhappy memory. For some travellers, that trip can turn into a nightmare, especially when things continue to go wrong at your expense. Just wondering if you can assist with the best way to proceed with a claim from Emirates … Continued

13 Oct 2014 Emirates

Airline meals – are you game?

Complimentary meals or snacks are often a feature of fares with full service airlines. For some of our members, just because they are free, or being served at an unusual time, does not mean you have to eat them. I wonder whether I’m alone in almost totally avoiding in flight meals. Whether in economy or … Continued

11 Oct 2014 Airlines, Miles and Points

Changing the Status Quo

One member this week queries why Status credits are tied to frequent flyer point earn rates. Our members discuss whether there is scope to improve the ways in which status credits are awarded. One suggestion is that there should be an incentive based system for the accrual of status credits. For example, the more flights … Continued

9 Oct 2014 Qantas

Celebrating 20 years of marriage in style!

Our members write trip reports for many reasons. It may be a business trip for work in Business Class to Europe. Or it may be a leisure hop in economy across the ditch. This week our trip report is one that is less common, when it comes to the reasons for the journey. Doesn’t time … Continued

8 Oct 2014 Flight Reviews