Wild About Travel
Ode to Paris: My Favourite Things
Paris does something to me that no other city quite manages — it hits me every single time I arrive. The smells, the tower, the croissants, the hot chocolate, the coffee, the Seine, the packed brasseries, the art galleries, the markets, the parks. All beautiful. That’s the thing about the...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: International travellers to be slugged another AU$10 to leave
Australian international travellers will pay more to leave the country from 1 January 2027. The Federal Budget confirms the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) will rise by AU$10 from AU$70 to AU$80. This is a Commonwealth charge applied to most passengers departing Australia by air or sea. Airlines collect it through...
Wild About Travel
Cities I Love
A series for travellers, dreamers, and anyone who has ever fallen for a place. It’s a crazy time right now, isn’t it? In the midst of everything, I’ve been reminiscing about how lucky I’ve been to spend time in some of the most extraordinary cities on earth. Not just passing...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Digital upgrade — faster check-in, smarter app, and priority bag drops
Virgin has announced a major upgrade to its mobile app and domestic airport check-in experience. It promises a 50% redution in check-in times across 10 Australian domestic airports. The rollout starts this month, May 2026, and should rbe complete before the end of the year. What this actually means is...
Also on BoardingArea
Your Mileage May Vary
Delta Found A Sneaky New Way To Avoid Oversold Flight Compensation
Passengers on one Delta flight were reportedly offered something unusual instead of the typical oversold-flight compensation. We all know “the ways” of airlines – they gamble that some passengers won’t…
Points Miles and Bling
Review: Waldorf Astoria Osaka
The Waldorf Astoria Osaka opened its doors in 2025 and is it is the brand’s debut in Japan, found in…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Board Faces Shareholder Vote To Loosen Management’s Grip After Profits Collapsed 87%
American Airlines shareholders will vote next month on a board reform that could make it easier for outside candidates to break through management’s slate. The proposal is almost certain to fail — but after profits collapsed 87%, executive pay barely budged, and shareholders lagged the S&P 500 badly, the fact...
Frequent Miler
30% transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Chase has launched a new transfer bonus today, and it’s one that we don’t often see. Until June 5th, you can receive an additional 30% when transferring Ultimate Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards. The Deal Receive a 30% bonus when transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards. Expires...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Alaska Airlines Passenger Sues Carrier After She Was Left Terrified of Flying Following Severe Turbulence That Left Crew Members Bleeding and Screaming in Pain
An Alaska Airlines passenger who was left terrified of flying after being on a flight that experienced severe turbulence, tossing three flight attendants in the air and leaving them bleeding and screaming in pain, is now suing the Seattle-based carrier for negligence. Natalie Russell from Washington state was a passenger...
The Bulkhead Seat
JetBlue Unveils “Blueprint II” Special Livery on Airbus A220
I love a good special livery. JetBlue Airways has brought back one of its…
Miles To Memories
A Sapphire Return: Why I’m Back with this High-Maintenance Card
I swore of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card for a whole six months or so. But coming back to this fussy little product was surprisingly easy.
Miles To Memories
(2 Ending) Every Available Transfer Bonus & A History Of Transfer Bonuses
We share all of the current transfer bonuses available right now, but we also share a history of every major transfer bonus over time.
Economy Class & Beyond
When two finally become one – Korean Air to fully subsume Asiana Airlines by December
In a saga that’s gone on since November 2020, it’s finally happening – with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines finally integrating into one carrier. Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.  Korean Air will become “an integrated flag carrier” on 17th December 17, 2026, marking the completion...
Points Miles and Bling
Canadians Can Now Get CLEAR+ — But Should You?
We’ve sung the praises of NEXUS, which includes TSA Precheck and Global Entry. A relatively newer player to the scene,…
Live and Let’s Fly
Trump Administration Backs Off $15,000 Visa Bond For Some Foreign Visitors
The Trump administration is waiving visa bonds of up to $15,000 for certain World Cup ticket holders, a sensible carveout that underscores a much broader travel problem: the United States cannot host the world while making it needlessly expensive and intimidating for visitors to enter. U.S. Waives $15,000 Visa Bonds...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
ALL Accor Live Limitless: Earn up to 4x points for stays at Ennismore hotels Worldwide (May 15 Bonus Offer Highlight)
Today's bonus offer highlight is another excellent bonus from Accor Hotels who are offering 3x and 4x ALL Rewards points at Ennismore lifestyle hotels around the world. Check out all of the new bonuses added today:
View from the Wing
California Couldn’t Build High-Speed Rail — Now It’s Studying 140 MPH Buses [Roundup]
California couldn’t build high-speed rail, so now officials are studying 140 mph buses. Plus: MrBeast says he only books flights with Starlink, Southwest passengers complain about forced bag checks, and a woman says the wrong soap triggered TSA explosives screening.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Southwest Airlines Settles Legal Dispute With San Antonio Airport Over Access to the Newest and Fanciest Terminal
Southwest Airlines has reached an out-of-court settlement with the City of San Antonio over access to the new and fanciest terminal at San Antonio International Airport, which is slated to open in 2028, following years of legal wrangling over the contentious issue. The City of San Antonio commissioned the new...
Traveling For Miles
Review: Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card
The Alaska Airlines Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card is the flagship Atmos credit card offered by Bank of America following the merger of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines loyalty programs. The card is designed to sit at the top of the Atmos Rewards ecosystem and aims to appeal to...
Frequent Miler
Citi ThankYou Rewards: Last weekend to share points between cardholders (Ends May 17th)
5/15/26: We’ve now reached the final weekend for points sharing between Citi ThankYou Rewards customers. If you want to share points with your partner, friend, colleague, or anyone else, do it soon. Don’t wait until Sunday night either, as Citi is notorious for making changes before midnight Eastern time. The following...
One Mile at a Time
Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Flight Streak Loyalty Points Bonus Explained
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard (review) is American Airlines’ new premium credit card. The card has a huge welcome bonus, which makes it worth considering, and it’s one of the reasons I already applied for the card.
Live and Let’s Fly
My Delta Boarding Pass Was Purple. I Had No Idea LAX–ATL Was Delta One
Delta Air Lines has quietly expanded Delta One service to one of its most important domestic routes: Los Angeles – Atlanta. I somehow missed this development when it was first reported months ago, then discovered it by accident when noticing my digital boarding pass was purple instead of red. Delta...
Live from a Lounge
Emirates Skywards set for Increase on Redemption and Upgrade pricing From May 20, 2026
Coming soon, an Emirates devaluation on some routes. Lock in those redemptions over the next week if you want to escape the repricing.
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes: Save 30% on select KrisFlyer award flights (May 2026 edition)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer’s famous Spontaneous Escapes have been released for May and offer 30% off select award flights. These are the airline’s monthly discounted award flight offers that are only open for booking for the last few weeks of this month for travel in the following month. As is typically...
TravelUpdate
Here’s Aegean Airlines’ physical frequent flyer card and bag tag – thoughts?
Remember physical frequent flyer cards and bag tags? Once upon a time, even brand new members of an…
One Mile at a Time
The Best Airline Ad Campaigns: Here Are My Favorites From Over The Years
I’ve written in the past about the best airline boarding music and the best airline safety videos. Continuing with the theme of enjoying airline-related things at home, today I want to share some of my favorite airline ads that were produced in the past 25 or so years.
Monkey Miles
Secret Hotel Vip Programs you can book for no extra charge – compare perks with this tool
This is a list of all the hotel VIP programs you can use to access increased benefits at qualifying rates ( usually BAR ) updated for 2022
TravelUpdate
The New JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown Is Officially Open, Here’s What to Expect
After a rebranding exercise, the JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown is now open and the points pricing seems really attractive for now.
2PAXfly
GOVERNMENT: Budget grounds taxpayer-funded Qantas Club memberships
The Australian Federal Government has cottoned on to the public service’s travel habit of taxpayer-funded airline lounge memberships. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has banned Commonwealth agencies from charging taxpayers for Qantas Club, Virgin Australia lounge and similar airline memberships. The directive emerged from the 2026 budget papers. Lounge bill The...
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....
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...