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Duty Free Decline

One of the perks of international travel used to be the ability to bag some serious bargains by purchasing duty free products. One member speculates that the value for money of duty free products has declined rapidly. On a recent trip to Hong Kong one member felt that there was not a significant difference in … Continued

15 May 2014 Airports & Lounges

Qantas A380 to service Dallas, Melbourne-London flights retimed

One of the more common questions over the past few years on the Australian Frequent Flyer’s forum has been our members asking when Qantas was going to put the A380 on its lucrative Dallas route. The current 747 operation has had its fair share of issues with marginal range at times, thanks to high winds … Continued

14 May 2014 Qantas

A touch of luxury in Hong Kong

This week one of our members has a question about how to enjoy some luxury, without bill shock come checkout time I’ve booked my wife and I on a trip to Japan via Hong Kong. The flight is a 1st class award redemption with a 1 night stop over in Hong Kong. I’m hoping for … Continued

13 May 2014 Hotel Loyalty Programs

First overseas trip, in Business!

This week our trip report is a little different. Rather than being another business trip in familiar territory, or a short domestic jaunt, it’s the big one, the first long haul trip overseas. My mother has managed to make it to 60 without ever going overseas (Kangaroo Island doesn’t count), so when I stumbled on … Continued

12 May 2014 Flight Reviews

Where is the solo female frequent flyer?

Thanks to the hints and tips on our forum, one of our members has done a lot of travelling in the pointy end recently. During these travels, they have made some interesting observations as to the demographics of the frequent flyer when it comes to gender. I am nearing the end of a whirlwind trip … Continued

10 May 2014 Travel Lifestyle

Customer Service Struggle

It appears that the old adage “it’s hard to get good help” rings true in some situations with one member complaining about the customer service (or lack thereof) experienced at Citibank. This member was flummoxed that the customer service representative required the full year (including the century!) of birth when verifying credit card accounts. Our … Continued

8 May 2014 Citibank

Tiger to replace Virgin flights on selected routes?

In the past 2 years, the two big airlines, Qantas and Virgin, have been adding capacity in the battle for the consumer’s dollar. At the lower cost end of the market, Jetstar has also been adding capacity, while Tiger was restricted by authorities from expanding after their grounding. With all this extra capacity, consumers, it … Continued

7 May 2014 Virgin Australia

Great tip for feeding infants on flights

It’s a common question these days. With liquids and gels often being restricted or limited in the cabin as far as carry on baggage goes, how do you handle your family’s unique dietary requirements? One of our members asks: I am heading domestically with 2 kids tomorrow, (only BNE to SYD) but my wife is … Continued

6 May 2014 In Flight

Going Czech with the Finns

For many of our members, the change last year with Qantas to route European bound flights via Dubai meant it was time to look at alternatives. For others, avoiding Heathrow and its departure tax surcharges has also been a primary concern. This week’s trip report offers a real world review of one of those alternatives … Continued

5 May 2014 Flight Reviews

Traveller Tax refunds – should I declare on return?

One of the benefits of heading overseas is the ability to claim back GST (and some other taxes) on departure, thanks to the Tourist Refund Scheme. This nice little perk applies for both residents and visitors. While it may not seem much, GST can add up to a bit of money, especially on expensive goods. … Continued

3 May 2014 Travel Lifestyle

Best Way to Exit Frequent Flyer programs

One Qantas Frequent Flyer member this week wants to close their account and exit the program. For this member the program was not delivering any value. In their view the rewards do not justify the annual fee for the QFF credit card, they find it hard to book flights and they resent being stung with … Continued

1 May 2014 Qantas

AFF members influence location of Sydney’s second airport?

The best airports for a frequent flyer are often those that are located close to your final destination. There is nothing worse than getting off a long flight, knowing there are still hours before you hit your workplace or hotel room, thanks to being located in the middle of nowhere. Conversely, those living near inner … Continued

30 Apr 2014 Airports & Lounges