Qatar Flights Disrupted

Visitors to Qatar and passengers flying with oneworld member Qatar Airways are likely to face disruption after several neighbouring countries cut diplomatic ties with the small Arabian Peninsula nation. Direct flights between Qatar and the affected countries are no longer allowed. Qatar Airways aircraft are also being forced to take longer, circuitous routings as they … Continued

Denied Entry to Another Country: Who’s at Fault?

One member recently had the unfortunate experience of being denied entry to a country because they did not have the correct visa. This member inadvertently flew with Qantas to Papua New Guinea without the necessary visa, and was sent on the next flight back to Australia after being stopped at the border. I had a rather … Continued

A Magic Carpet Tour of Persia

Our member Skyring recently travelled to an intriguing part of the world that very few get the opportunity to experience first-hand. Having been inspired by the stories of Bruce, a Persian carpet salesman, our member visited the Middle Eastern country of Iran. The thought of participating on a tour through a “difficult” country, led by … Continued

Airfares to South America Hit Record Lows

If you’ve always wanted to visit South America, there has never been a better time! Flights between Australia and South America have traditionally been expensive. But, to the delight of travellers, this appears to be changing. In late 2015, Air New Zealand launched flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires. This effectively broke the monopoly of … Continued

Indonesia Now Visa-Free for Australians

For many years, Australians visiting Bali and other Indonesian destinations have needed to pay for a visa. This added USD35 (around $47) to the cost of every visit. But after years of discussions and speculation, this visa fee was finally dropped last week. Australians are now able to enter the country without a visa for up … Continued