Latest news

New Zealand Drops Mandatory COVID-19 Tests on Arrival

The New Zealand government no longer requires international arrivals to prove their vaccination status or complete COVID-19 tests after arriving in the country. It comes as the nation also significantly relaxes its remaining domestic COVID-19 restrictions. Until yesterday, international passengers arriving in New Zealand were given two rapid antigen tests on arrival and required to … Continued

13 Sep 2022 Coronavirus and Travel

Virgin to Bring Back In-Flight Wifi from Late 2022

Virgin Australia will restore in-flight wifi from the end of this year, with high-speed internet to be rolled out across most of the airline’s fleet over the next 18 months. Virgin Australia previously offered wi-fi on board most of its planes before the pandemic. This service was free on domestic flights and for the first … Continued

13 Sep 2022 Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia “Switch-A-Roo” Gold & Platinum Status Match

From 13-26 September 2022, Virgin Australia is running an expanded Velocity status match offer that it’s calling “Switch-A-Roo”. Aimed blatantly at Qantas customers but also available to anyone who holds the equivalent of Gold or higher status with any airline that doesn’t partner with Virgin Australia, this new promotion offers fast-tracks to both Velocity Gold … Continued

13 Sep 2022 Virgin Australia

Canberra Airport’s Facebook Page is Refreshingly Sassy

For an airport serving a city of less than half a million, Canberra Airport punches above its weight. In my personal (and perhaps slightly biased) opinion, it’s the nicest airport in Australia with its modern, spacious facilities, excellent Qantas & Virgin lounges, and its (usually) short lines for security. The airport also boasts direct flights … Continued

11 Sep 2022 Airports & Lounges

Face Masks No Longer Required on Flights to Australia

The Australian government has today lifted the requirement to wear face masks on domestic flights, as well as on international flights bound for Australia. It ends the mask mandate for air passengers that was first introduced by the Australian government in January 2021. Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Rex have all removed their requirement to … Continued

9 Sep 2022 Coronavirus and Travel

Fly Premium Economy to Europe from $1,828 Return

Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines both have some excellent round-trip Premium Economy fares available now for travel from Sydney and Melbourne to Europe, starting from as low as $1,828 return. Singapore Airlines also has some stellar Premium Economy sale fares available now from Melbourne and Sydney to New York. Both are full-service airlines. The main … Continued

9 Sep 2022 Planning & Booking

Qatar Airways Rewards: Velocity Members Get Priority over Qantas

This week, Qatar Airways launched a new strategic partnership with Virgin Australia. But as a member of the Oneworld alliance, Qatar Airways already partners with Qantas – Australia’s other major airline. This creates a unique situation where members of both Virgin Australia Velocity and Qantas Frequent Flyer can earn points, earn status credits, redeem points … Continued

8 Sep 2022 Qatar Airways

How to Reinstate Expired Qantas Points

Qantas Frequent Flyer points don’t expire as long as you earn or redeem at least one point every 18 months. But if they do happen to expire, you might be able to get some or all of your expired Qantas points back by completing a Qantas points “challenge”. How to get expired Qantas points back … Continued

7 Sep 2022 Qantas

Virgin Australia Launches Partnership with Qatar Airways

In some exciting news for Australian frequent flyers, Virgin Australia’s unlikely new partnership with Qatar Airways is taking off from 6 September 2022. Under the new partnership, Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn points and status credits, redeem points and receive reciprocal status benefits on Qatar Airways flights. The Doha-based Oneworld airline was voted the “world’s … Continued

5 Sep 2022 Qatar Airways Virgin Australia

Qantas Delays San Francisco Relaunch Until March 2023

Qantas has delayed the restart of its Sydney-San Francisco route yet again, with the tentative restart date for QF73 and QF74 now pushed back to 27 March 2023. Prior to COVID-19, Qantas flew non-stop from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to San Francisco. These routes were all suspended during the pandemic – along with all other … Continued

5 Sep 2022 Qantas

Podcast #92: The Singapore Airlines Round-the-World Award

Many Australian frequent flyers will be familiar with Qantas’ Oneworld Classic Flight Reward – the multi-city award that lets you fly up to 35,000 miles on Oneworld airlines, with up to 5 stopovers, for a cost of 318,000 Qantas points + taxes in Business Class. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer also offers its own version of this award … Continued

3 Sep 2022 AFF on Air Podcast

The Singapore Airlines Round-the-World Award – AIR092

  The Star Alliance Round-the-World Award offered by Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program is a great deal. For just 280,000 KrisFlyer miles, plus taxes of course, you could fly around the world with up to 7 stopovers across the Star Alliance network! But booking one of these does take a bit of work and there are … Continued

3 Sep 2022 AFF on Air (blubrry)