2PAXfly
NEW ZEALAND: Flight from Blenheim to Wellington on Air New Zealand
Our return to Wellington was from Blenheim Airport (BHE). It’s a tiny airport adjacent to a New Zealand Air Force facility. No lounge, and not much of anything else except a big waiting room with two ‘gates’, one at either end. The Airport Facilities are minimal, no lounge, for example,...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 10 May, 2026
Greetings from Sydney. As you will find out below, I have been battling an awful case of jet lag. It has filled me with brain fog, sleep deprivation, irritability, and a general lack of thought capability. I’ve written a post about what I should have done to combat it. What...
2PAXfly
JET LAG: I have been suffering the worst jet-lag of my life. Here is what I should have done
About a week ago, I returned from London to Sydney via Istanbul and Singapore. My flights were mostly with Turkish Airlines, with the last leg on a wet-leased Finnair A330 on a Qantas ticket. It’s been a week, and I am still desperately sleep deprived, irritable, brain fogged, and useless....
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Double Status Credits in ‘Pick your bonus’ promo. A longer runway than Qantas
Virgin Australia has responded to Qantas’ latest double rewards offer with its own ‘Pick Your Bonus‘ 2026 promotion, giving Velocity Frequent Flyer members the choice of double Status Credits or double Velocity Points on eligible flights. Qantas’ current offer is limited to flights between 12 May and 31 August 2026....
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
Buy Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles With 80% Bonus, 1.69 Cents Each: Worth It?
Strategically buying miles & points for luxury travel can be a great deal. We’ve just seen the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program launch a new promotion on purchased miles. While not quite in line with the best-ever offers we’ve seen from the program, it still has the potential to be...
Miles To Memories
Chase Freedom Unlimited, $300 Bonus Plus 5X on Groceries and Gas [In-Branch Only]
The Chase Freedom Unlimited 5X Groceries & Gas Offer has returned, but with a catch. The standard 20K bonus is still attached too!
From The Tray Table
The best free amenity at LaGuardia is hiding in plain sight
My favorite place to relax before a flight isn’t the terminal or the lounge. It’s outdoors. As someone…
Economy Class & Beyond
Qatar Airways to add service to Caracas and Bogotá
New routes are on the menu at Qatar Airways, as it plans to launch services to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia, from July 2026. Qatar Airways Boeing 777-200LR – Image, Economy Class and Beyond  The new routes to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia, are due to commence from 22 July...
Frequent Miler
(Update) How to save money on dining with inKind (increased referral offer)
Update 5/11: As reported by Doctor of Credit, inKind appears to have abandoned the flat 20% back at all restaurants on the platform in favor of offering 5-25% back. When I first looked at restaurants “near” me (in my general geographic region), I initially saw 20% back everywhere, but as...
Live and Let’s Fly
After Frontier’s Fatal Runway Strike, Passengers Fled Smoke-Filled Jet With Bags
A horrific runway death at Denver turned into another emergency evacuation in which passengers were told to leave their bags behind and some took them anyway. That second part is not the tragedy, but it is the problem we keep refusing to solve. After Frontier’s Denver Tragedy, Passengers Still Grabbed...
TravelUpdate
Review: Vana Belle Koh Samui, a Luxury Collection Resort
Background and Location During my trip to Koh Samui (because I had to get my White Lotus experience…
Miles To Memories
Last Chance To Rack Up Bilt & Membership Rewards At 20x For Tons Of Stores
Rakuten has revealed a new promotion coming up soon, called the “Big Give Week”, which will run for eight days.
One Mile at a Time
Why Are Some People So Antagonistic About The Way I Travel? Just Do You!
I write stuff on the internet for a living, and people are welcome to chime in with their takes, both positive and negative. I’ve been doing this for over half my life, so I’m used to the varying opinions on many topics, and I welcome criticism, especially when it’s constructive.
View from the Wing
Hilton Guest Throws Creamer On Tesla, Sentry Mode Catches It — Hotel Shrugs It Off
Tesla Sentry Mode caught a Hilton guest throwing something onto another guest’s car in the hotel parking lot. The hotel’s response, according to the Tesla owner, was to shrug it off as “half & half creamer” — which rather misses the point.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn Up to 40,000 Bonus Points Per Stay With Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
You can earn up to 40,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points per stay with a minimum of two consecutive nights at greater than 140,000 participating Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide through Sunday, January 3, 2027 in addition to the typical five points per dollar you would normally earn... ...but...
From The Tray Table
Delta’s Sky Club chief is retiring — here’s what’s coming next
It’s the end of an era for the man who built the Delta Sky Club into the best…
Frequent Miler
Save at Amazon with American Express Reward Dollars (from cash back cards)
It looks like there’s a new promotion out to save on Amazon purchases when using American Express reward dollars. Award Wallet reports this as saving when using one American Express membership rewards point, but I don’t see a deal available with Membership Rewards points. Instead, the link they reported goes...
Points Miles and Bling
Convert RBC Avion to British Airways Avios with a 30% transfer bonus
RBC Avion Elite members can convert their Avion points to British Airways (BA) Avios with a 30% bonus. The 30%…
The Bulkhead Seat
Air Europa is the Latest Airline to Join JFK’s New Terminal One
The New Terminal One at New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has…
One Mile at a Time
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Card: The Most Lucrative Premium Airline Card?
Link:Learn about the best credit cards for Alaska Atmos Rewards
One Mile at a Time
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Card: The Most Lucrative Premium Airline Card?
Link: Learn about the best credit cards for Alaska Atmos Rewards
Miles To Memories
Profitable Office Depot Mastercard Gift Card Deal Returns (Plus Bonus Points!)
The Office Depot Mastercard Gift Card Deal has returned which means a chance to earn some "free" bonus points and maybe a little profit.
The Points of Life
MIA-AXA: Almost Bumped on My Birthday
I had planned to spend my 42nd birthday in Anguilla. American Airlines had other plans for me. Sitting in the AA Lounge D30, I tried to select seats for the 3-hour flight. I had no luck. When I went to the gate, I was told the flight was sold out...
From The Tray Table
United basic Premium Plus fares: what you’ll pay
United is officially bringing basic fares to Premium Plus. We’ve known this move was coming ever since the…
View from the Wing
Your United Miles Can Help Someone Reach A Dying Loved One In Time — Here’s How
Miles are usually about getting more value for yourself. But United miles can also do something far more urgent: help someone get on a plane in time to say goodbye to a dying loved one.
Live and Let’s Fly
Millionaire Influencer Mocks Laid-Off Spirit Airlines Employee Asking Him For Help
Thousands of Spirit Airlines workers lost their careers overnight. An apparently-popular influencer named James Charles apparently thought that was the perfect moment to mock one of them for asking for help. James Charles Mocks Laid-Off Spirit Airlines Worker, Then Apologizes After Backlash There are plenty of fair criticisms to make...
Frequent Miler
Newegg: Buy $500 Hotels.com gift cards for $440
Newegg is running another sale on Hotels.com gift cards, this time discounting $500 denominations by $60. The Deal Buy $500 Hotels.com gift cards for $440 from Newegg when using promo code SSF6838. Direct link to offer. Key Terms Expires May 11, 2026. Limit 3. Quick Thoughts This works out to...
TravelUpdate
The Amex Platinum Card Just Tweaked Its Terms & Conditions, Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry
A small tweak to the cardmembers agreement on the Amex Platinum Card has stirred up a discussion, but there's no need to be alarmed.
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Double Status Credits surprise, but only for Australia and New Zealand
Qantas has launched a short, sharp ‘double rewards’ offer for Frequent Flyer members. You can choose between double Status Credits or double Qantas Points on eligible flights within Australia and across the Tasman. The booking window is tight. You need to register and book between 12.01 am AEST on 5...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 3 May, 2026
Greetings from Sydney. My month-long stay in the UK has come to an end, and I’m back home to enjoy the dwindling warmth of Autumn. It was a great time catching up with friends, seeing way too much theatre, and adding to my long list of galleries, museums, and artworks...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: More cuts to domestic flights but flights to Paris and Rome extended
Qantas has confirmed it will extend its 5% reduction in domestic capacity through to September, stretching what was initially a short-term cut from May–June into a full winter slowdown. Its low-cost sibling Jetstar is following suit, with both airlines also trimming flights across the Tasman and within New Zealand. For...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Restarting Doha flights with Qatar Airways from June
Although Qatar Airways has resumed some of its Australian network flights as of 1 May, Virgin Australia’s wet-leased flights using Qatar Airways aircraft are not returning until June The return to the wet lease agreement is cautious because of the Middle East conflict. Virgin Australia has confirmed its Doha flights...
2PAXfly
QATAR AIRWAYS: Network begins to rebound restoring Australian flights
Qatar Airways is ramping up flights to Australia, restoring capacity after months of disruption caused by Middle East airspace closures. From May, the Doha-based carrier is progressively returning to a full schedule across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with daily flights reinstated after a period of reduced services. Australian routes return...
2PAXfly
INTERNATIONAL FLYING: Middle East conflict and fuel crisis cuts one in four flights
Almost a quarter of international flights from Australia were cancelled in April. That’s according to the AFR, as airlines scrambled to deal with soaring fuel prices and widespread airspace disruptions. The trigger is the escalating conflict involving Iran, which has effectively shut down large parts of Gulf airspace since late...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: Talk of First Class private suites with en suite bathrooms
Rumours are mounting that Emirates could be working on a new First Class concept featuring private suites with their own en-suite bathrooms. It sounds ambitious, but this is the airline that already put showers on board the Airbus A380 and introduced fully enclosed suites on the Boeing 777. If any...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New open skies deal between Australia and Canada opens more flights and destinations
A new open skies agreement between Australia and Canada has removed limits on flights between the two countries, giving Qantas the green light to expand its services. The updated air services arrangement allows unlimited passenger capacity for Australian carriers, replacing the previous cap that effectively limited Qantas to a daily...