Seat Selection

Seat Selection is a popular topic at the Australian Frequent Flyer. The seat you select can make - or break - your journey!

Is Virgin Platinum Status Worthwhile?

Platinum status with Virgin Australia requires twice as many flights to earn as Gold status. But do the additional benefits of Platinum status justify the extra effort? Gold status comes with numerous worthwhile benefits including lounge access, priority boarding, Fly Ahead, and access to points upgrades on international flights. In addition to these benefits, Velocity … Continued

28 May 2016 Virgin Australia

Seat Swap Etiquette

The contentious issue of aircraft seat poaching is a hot topic of discussion this week. What would you do if another passenger plonked themselves into your allocated seat, in order to sit with their travel companion? One member’s recent experience on a Singapore Airlines flight left them annoyed and frustrated. Upon boarding, this member found … Continued

24 Mar 2016 In Flight

The Best Qantas A380 Economy Seats

The prospect of sitting in Economy on a long-haul flight can be daunting. But not all seats were created equal! Luckily, exit row and extra-legroom seats can make the flight much more comfortable. There are a number of excellent Qantas Economy seats on the Airbus A380 to choose from. What economy seats would people suggest for … Continued

15 Mar 2016 Qantas

First Class Seats for Qantas Business Passengers

Some lucky Qantas Business class passengers have the opportunity to fly in First class seats – for no extra cost! Qantas international flights operated by Boeing 747 aircraft are sold as three-class services; featuring Economy, Premium Economy and Business class. But two of Qantas’ remaining Boeing 747s actually feature a fourth cabin class: First. As Qantas … Continued

5 Mar 2016 Qantas

Experiences with American’s Sydney Flights

American Airlines recently began daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles. With four other airlines flying the route, including American’s partner Qantas, how does the new service stack up? Numerous members have already tried out the new flight. The answer seems to depend on the class of travel you’re flying. American Airlines uses new Boeing … Continued

Jetstar Business vs Qantas in Economy

Jetstar Business Class is not exactly renowned as a top-notch premium product. But is it worth considering when the price is only a little higher than Qantas’ asking price for a seat in Economy? This is the dilemma faced by one member currently researching flights to Hawaii. Qantas Business Class is too expensive, and our … Continued

17 Nov 2015 Jetstar

Platinum Perks Whittled Away

It’s not that long ago that Qantas Platinum status came with the “ultimate” in perks. No expense was to be spared for the airline’s valuable Platinum members. But with Platinum One (and Chairman’s Lounge) members now trumping Platinum members, combined with a seemingly never-ending cycle of devaluations and cost-cutting, some members feel that their Platinum … Continued

5 Sep 2015 Qantas

Free Seat Selection on Jetstar

Like most low-cost airlines, Jetstar does not give much away for free. This includes seat selection. Choosing your seat of choice on a Jetstar flight typically costs at least $5 for a regular seat or even more for an “extra legroom” or “up-front” seat. But there is a trick to get the seat you want … Continued

18 Jul 2015 Jetstar

Wider middle seats a solution to the seating squeeze?

This week our members debate the pros and cons of making the middle seats on planes wider. Middle seats are usually an unpopular choice for flyers as passengers in middle seats are wedged between two other passengers. Middle seat occupants often complain of having less space and the seats can be particularly uncomfortable for larger … Continued

30 Jun 2015 In Flight

Stressful Travel Situations

Although travel is usually full of positive experiences, stressful situations are sometimes unavoidable. Delays, lost passports and cancelled credit cards are just some of the issues bound to boost the blood pressure of even the most seasoned travellers. This week our members share experiences that have stressed them out while travelling – and they have … Continued

Strategies for minimising motion sickness

One member finds themself stuck in a hiatus from flying as they suffer from severe motion sickness. They ask for advice on how to minimise the effects and get back in the air. I used to travel regularly, but a few years ago developed severe motion sickness and have now developed a fear of this … Continued

Stuck between an obese flyer and a hard place

One member this week bemoans having to share their seat with a fellow passenger whose size is not well-equipped for a standard seat. In a case of seat invasion, our member had a very uncomfortable journey. The situation is not fair on anyone involved- it can be embarrassing for the overweight passenger and uncomfortable for … Continued

23 Apr 2015 Travel Lifestyle