Wild About Travel
drat Budpaets
September 8, 2024, by Martin J CowlingLeave A Comment OverviewBudapest has long been one of my favorite cities, and this winter visit marks my tenth time here. My first visit was back in 1990, when the city was still shaking off the remnants of communism and transitioning to capitalism. Nearly...
2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Museum Apartment Hotel, Independent Collection by EVT, Wellington
This hotel has a split personality. Although they share public spaces, the two buildings in this accommodation are marketed as two different hotels, even though they share a lot of the same DNA. Yes, it’s confusing. I stayed at the other half of the hotel a few years ago, marketed...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Does Project Sunrise indicate a more premium, lower-volume international strategy, as Joe Aston says?
In an Australian Financial Review opinion piece over the weekend, Joe Aston, author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out, argues that Qantas is changing its international strategy. His core argument is that Project Sunrise is not simply a new pair of ultra-long-haul routes:...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: SUNDAY 5 JULY, 2026
Hello travellers, We are finally home, although we have spent most of the week besieged by builders completing various aspects of our repairs and renovation. The dust has mainly settled and been cleaned away. As with all building work, there are still a few issues and complications to resolve. That...
Also on BoardingArea
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Entry/Exit System in Europe Postponed Again Until 2027
If you plan on visiting Europe, note that the Entry/Exit System — which is informally known as the EES — in Europe has once again been postponed until sometime in 2027, as passengers had reportedly been experiencing mass confusion and widespread disruptions shortly after its inconsistent implementation on Friday, April...
Frequent Miler
Get 10% back on Lyft rides with new Chase Offer
There’s a good Chase Offer for Lyft showing on some folks’ accounts that can save you up to 10% on rides, up to a maximum of $10 (or $50 in Lyft spending). The offer is valid for single use only. This must be relatively widely targeted. I checked both mine...
One Mile at a Time
No Surprise: Egypt Blocks Gay Cruise From Entering Waters, Just Like Turkey
Several days ago, I covered how a Virgin Voyages cruise organized by Atlantis Events was supposed to make a couple of stops in Turkey, only for government officials to block this on the grounds of moral standards. So the organizers replaced the Turkey stops with a stop in Egypt. Want...
Frequent Miler
You can now book Explora Journeys cruises with Hilton points & get elite benefits
Several months ago, Hilton launched a partnership with the cruise company Explora Journeys that enabled people to earn Hilton points when booking a cruise. That partnership has been expanded further today, providing additional benefits on cruises for those with Hilton status. It’s now also possible to redeem Hilton points for...
Your Mileage May Vary
The One Hotel Bathroom Freebie That Refused To Disappear
For decades, checking into a hotel meant finding the same little collection of freebies waiting in the bathroom. Tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion. A little wrapped bar of…
Miles To Memories
Rack Up Over 75,000 Bilt Points (Or $750 Cash Back) With These Card Bonuses
Tons of Rakuten credit card offers right now where you could end up with a stack of Bilt Rewards, other transferrable currencies & cash back.
Wild About Travel
drat Budpaets
September 8, 2024, by Martin J CowlingLeave A Comment OverviewBudapest has long been one of my favorite cities, and this winter visit marks my tenth time here. My first visit was back in 1990, when the city was still shaking off the remnants of communism and transitioning to capitalism. Nearly...
Frequent Miler
Hilton Timeshare Offer: 2-4 nights & 125K points, starting at $229 (includes Hawai’i options)
Hilton Grand Vacations is currently offering a good vacation package that requires attending a two-hour timeshare presentation. You get 2-4 nights of lodging in one of several specific locations, and 125,000 Hilton Honors points for as low as $229 + tax. Danny the Deal Guru first spotted this offer, and...
Miles To Memories
AA’s 25,000 Mile Glitch, Amex Gets Stingy & The Rakuten Card Stack
Avoiding the Amex triple stack, AA's 25K mile glitch, Citi retention mixed results and Rakuten's secret Bilt windfall.
View from the Wing
They Ran Out Of Chicken For The Wrong Passenger — He’s Sued Airlines 27 Times In Two Years [Roundup]
News and notes from around the interweb: Man who claimed ’emotional distress’ when airline ran out of chicken meals has sued airlines 27 times in the past two years A serial litigator who has filed lawsuits against a slew of international airlines 27 times in less than two years has...
Points With a Crew
5 reasons to sign up for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (New $1,000 Welcome Offer!)
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited card has one of the highest signup bonuses ever for a card that comes with no annual fee. You can easily get hundreds ...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Flight Attendant Calls Cops On Passenger Accused of Pilfering Airline Snack Cart During Flight to Florida
A man was handcuffed and paraded off a packed Breeze Airways airplane at Vero Beach Airport in Florida on Tuesday after flight attendants called the cops over an allegation that he had taken pilfered items from the snack cart during the two and a half hour flight from White Plains...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
YOTEL Club Will Wind Down; Fast Track to Elite Status in Hilton Honors Unlocked
The YOTEL Club membership program will wind down effective as of Wednesday, July 15, 2026 as the result of an exclusive agreement with YOTEL becoming the first independent brand to participate in the global distribution platform of Hilton under the Select by Hilton umbrella of affiliated brands; and also on that...
Frequent Miler
Easy $400 bonus with a new Wells Fargo checking account
Wells Fargo has extended its regular offer for new checking account customers. The offer is available in-branch or online and gives a $400 bonus when opening a new Everyday Checking account and completing a total of $1,000 in direct deposits within 90 days. See Doctor of Credit’s list of what...
One Mile at a Time
Oy: Lufthansa Boeing 787 Gear Collapse In Frankfurt Was Due To Simple Error
Several weeks ago, I covered a bizarre incident at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), where a Lufthansa Dreamliner had a gear collapse at its gate, causing some injuries. Suffice it to say, seeing a plane’s gear collapse at a gate is mighty unusual, and shouldn’t happen. A report has now revealed what...
View from the Wing
Flight Attendant Has Police Meet Plane After Passenger Helps Himself To Airline Snack Cart
A Breeze Airways passenger helped himself to the snack cart after being told it wasn’t self-serve. The flight attendant had police meet the plane in Florida, though the man was not arrested or charged.
The Bulkhead Seat
Air France Updates La Première, Business, and Premium Economy Amenity Kits
Air France is introducing a new collection of premium amenity kits this summer to…
Travel Points Playbook
How I Earned 50k AAdvantage Miles in 5 Minutes with Business Account Promo
As flagged by Frequent Miler and others, you can currently earn 25k AA miles when signing up for…
The Bulkhead Seat
Iberia Refreshes Long-Haul Menus and Adds Summer Treats to Madrid Lounges
Iberia is elevating its onboard dining experience with new long-haul menus departing from Adolfo…
Your Mileage May Vary
The Cruise Planning Mistake That Can Ruin Your Vacation Before It Even Begins
A while back we wrote a piece about figuring out how early you should arrive at the airport before a flight. (hint: the “2-hour rule” doesn’t always apply) As it…
Miles To Memories
Save Up To $80 On Amazon By Paying With $3 In Rewards [Check If Targeted]
There is a new Amazon Amex Rewards Dollars Promotion that can save you 50% off your next purchase, or up to $80 off!
Points Miles and Bling
TD Rewards “Book Any Way Travel” Online Redemptions To End Soon
There is a single best redemption value for TD Rewards: using them on Expedia For TD at 0.5 cents each…
One Mile at a Time
Breeze Airways Crew Calls Cops On Snack Thief, Triggering “Security Breach”
The police were called to meet a Breeze Airways flight upon landing, and all passengers had to stay seated while someone was taken off the plane. The crime? Well, stealing something from the snack cart…
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Etihad Guest: Earn 2x miles on Avis car rentals this summer (July 9 Bonus Offer Highlight)
Today’s bonus offer highlight is a rare bonus offer for Etihad Guest where members can earn double miles on Avis car rentals this summer. Check out all of the new bonuses added today:
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: What are reviewers’ first impressions
Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier, Riyadh Air, has now carried its first paying passengers in its own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The early verdict from critics is fairly consistent. Riyadh Air looks exceptionally good. It is serving food, drinks and attention at a level many established airlines would struggle to match....
2PAXfly
INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA: Pilot killed and aircraft burned in remote highlands attack
An American pilot flying one of the small aircraft that keep Indonesia’s remote Papuan highlands connected has been killed after his Pilatus PC-6 Porter was attacked and burned at an isolated airstrip. This tragedy highlights the perils of flying into disputed areas, amid political turmoil. Captain Nicholas F. Gosselin was...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: EconomyFlex fares gain free same-day Fly Ahead feature
For those whose business meetings end early and want to get back home sooner, Virgin Australia is extending its Fly Ahead feature to eligible domestic Economy Flex passengers. This allows them to move to an earlier flight on the same day without paying a change fee or fare difference. It...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: New-generation lounges roll out globally, but Sydney is still waiting
Emirates is rolling out a new ‘signature’ lounge concept across its global network, beginning with Munich and Frankfurt and continuing to Manchester, Mauritius and Istanbul later this year. The airline says it will spend more than AED50 million (AU$20 million) on each next-generation lounge. That is a substantial sum. Passengers...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices
More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door
Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website....
2PAXfly
VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: No First Lounge for London. Premier dining room instead
The original plan was to have a new First Class Lounge at London’s Terminal 3. It was to be ready for the debut of the Project Sunrise flights. Qantas has quietly shelved those plans, to the indignation of premium frequent flyers and passengers. Instead, the airline will refurbish and enlarge...