Wild About Travel
Drafyh Bergen: Norway’s Fjord-Framed Gem
There are some cities I like, some I love, and some that just smack you in the face with their wow factor. Hence the language in my headline’ Surrounded by seven mountains and nestled beside deep blue waters, Bergen’s scenery is more than spectacular. Founded in 1070, Bergen is Norway’s...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 31 May, 2026
Greetings from Canada! I’m here crossing the continent over the next few weeks. It’s my first time in this part of North America. I flew with Qantas to Vancouver, stayed overnight at the airport before meeting up with my husband, and then proceeded to our next Canadian destination. What happened...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Expands points redemptions on Philippine Airlines
Qantas Frequent Flyers can now use points to book Classic Reward seats across the full Philippine Airlines (PAL) network, opening up 15 new island and regional destinations via Manila. Qantas Points can now take you beyond Manila to places like Boracay, Cebu and Palawan with their suspiciously perfect beaches and...
2PAXfly
JETSTAR: Consumer protections threaten airline’s existence
In an article in the SMH, Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully warns that the proposed new aviation consumer protections could “undermine Jetstar’s existence”. Quite a phrase from a low-cost airline owned by the Qantas Group. The comments were made to a Senate committee examining the federal government’s planned Aviation Consumer...
Also on BoardingArea
Michael W Travels
How to Pack a Suit for a 3-Day Business Trip Without Checking a Bag
There is a specific kind of business trip that wrecks people. Three days, two cities, one suit you actually need to look sharp in. You can either check a bag and bet on the airline, or you can solve it on the carry-on side of the gate and stop worrying....
Frequent Miler
Is it bad for your credit score to open so many credit cards?
The average American has three or four credit cards. Of those, about half of them carry a balance from month to month which results in them paying high rates of interest and thereby taking longer to pay off that kind of unsecured debt. It’s therefore not too surprising that many...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards: Save 25% on select reward flights (June 2026 edition)
The newest set of Air France KLM’s Promo Rewards are now available. This month there are 36 cities in total, all of which are 25% off their standard minimum redemption amount for economy, premium economy and business class redemptions (fare class varies by route). For this set of Promo Rewards,...
Points With a Crew
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited® – $750 or 90,000 points
The Chase Ink Preferred and Chase Ink Unlimited are two of Chase's business credit cards and they can both be great options to boost your Ultimate Rewards points balance. Deciding which one is best can depend on ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
No Hotel Breakfast? Try This.
When breakfast is included in the room rate of the hotel or resort property at which you are staying, that can be both convenient and save time. Sometimes breakfast is included at an additional charge — or perhaps no breakfast is available at all. If you are faced with no...
Frequent Miler
Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? | Question of the Week Ep5 | 5-31-26
Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? Frequent Miler reader Keith wrote in with this question: I tried to transfer 560K points to Air France to snag a redemption. had previously transferred about 280k points from Amex to KLM, I thought for sure the points would have similarly come...
Your Mileage May Vary
The One Credit Card You Should Always Bring To The Airport
Most people think they know exactly what they need to bring to the airport. An ID. A boarding pass. Maybe a passport. But there’s one item that occasionally catches travelers…
One Mile at a Time
Hyatt CEO Says Members Had “Overall Positive” Reaction To Points Devaluation
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian was just interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and he made some comments that I think a vast majority of World of Hyatt members would disagree with. Now, I’m actually going to ever-so-slightly defend him here, so let me explain.
Wild About Travel
Drafyh Bergen: Norway’s Fjord-Framed Gem
There are some cities I like, some I love, and some that just smack you in the face with their wow factor. Hence the language in my headline’ Surrounded by seven mountains and nestled beside deep blue waters, Bergen’s scenery is more than spectacular. Founded in 1070, Bergen is Norway’s...
View from the Wing
Flight Attendants Are Right: Stop Touching Them — But That Rule Must Go Both Ways
Flight attendants are right that passengers should stop touching them to get attention, make a point, or treat them like part of the cabin furniture. But that rule has to run both ways: if a galley cart bumps my arm, apologizing by touching my arm again is not fixing the...
One Mile at a Time
Aspen Airport (ASE) Closing For Most Of 2027, For Runway Redevelopment
A commercial airport in the United States will close completely for most of 2027, and that’s not something you often see…
Points With a Crew
Is It Really Stealing If You Take It From a Hotel?
Okay - I have to know. Who is it that is stealing TV sets, mattresses and even a grand piano out of hotels? Is it you?
Your Mileage May Vary
The Amex Platinum’s Strangest Benefit May Now Make The Most Sense
One of the benefits of the American Express Platinum Card has always seemed a little out of place. This is a card associated with airport lounges, luxury hotel perks and…
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Emirates Flight From Edinburgh Forced to Make Stopover in Manchester Due to Jet Fuel Crisis Hitting Scottish Airport
An Emirates flight from Edinburgh to Dubai International Airport will be forced to make an unscheduled stopover in Manchester on Sunday night because of a jet fuel crisis that has impacted multiple flights at Edinburgh Airport (EDI) throughout the afternoon and evening. Emirates flight EK-24, which is set to depart...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER taxiing at Chicago O’Hare
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art.  This week, we have a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER taxiing around the Chicago O’Hare complex as it has completed the long flight from Japan, with now a long taxi to Terminal 5. Note also the queue of domestic...
The Bulkhead Seat
Impossible: You Must Choose One Italian Region, Forever. What’s Your Pick?
Italy is one of my favorite countries in the world. I’ve been exploring the…
Miles To Memories
Cheap(er) Delta First Class Awards! Use Fewer Miles with this Easy Move
Delta first class award rates are generally obscene, similar to the airline's other options. Here's a method not requiring as many miles.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
This View From a Hotel Room Is Even Worse.
I have stayed in plenty of rooms in hotel and resort properties which had poor views — such as this one in Canada and this one in Spain as two of countless examples — but the room in which I am currently staying in Glasgow in Scotland takes the title...
The Bulkhead Seat
American Airlines Slashes Six Routes as Rising Oil Prices Force Network Cutbacks
Rising fuel costs are beginning to reshape airline schedules and American Airlines is the…
View from the Wing
Memphis Lets Hotels Add A 5% Tourism Tax — Then Spend The Money On Themselves
Memphis lets certain hotels add a 5% “tourism” tax to guest bills — but unlike ordinary hotel taxes, much of the money goes back to the same hotel to fund renovations, expansion, or redevelopment. It looks like a mandatory government charge, but economically it’s a hidden room-rate increase with city...
Your Mileage May Vary
How Hotels Decide Who Gets The Best Rooms
Most travelers assume hotel room assignments are pretty simple. You check in, they hand you a key, and that’s that. In reality, assigning rooms can be a daily puzzle involving…
Frequent Miler
Hyatt loses more ground to Marriott and Hilton, Flying Blue is on the rise, be ready for long lines in Europe and more
The Frequent Miler team often shares stories internally that we find interesting, so now and then we like to publish a list of interesting reads from around the Internet that are worth checking out. Hyatt Now Lets Park Hyatt Sydney And Tokyo Pretend They’re Resorts To Dodge Elite Late Checkout...
Live and Let’s Fly
Your Miles Are Losing Value Faster Than Cash
Aeroplan, LifeMiles, Emirates, and Cathay all raised award prices within weeks. Call it what it is. The miles in your account are inflating away. The Month Everyone Reached Into Your Account There are times where one program tightens the screws and the rest of us grumble and move on. May...
Miles To Memories
Amex Is Raising The Annual Fee For Some Cardholders, 8 Can’t Miss Music Festivals & Americans Ditching Summer Travel At Alarming Rate
Roundup: Articles From Around the Web Here are some posts that caught our eye that I thought you may find interesting!  Let me know if there is anything good I missed.  Email me anything awesome that you find, or write, at Mark@milestomemories.com. Interesting Articles Here are some interesting articles I found...
Wild About Travel
Drfat Perth
OverviewWhen you hear the name “Perth,” it’s worth noting that there are actually three places that share the name: Perth in Scotland, Perth in Tasmania, and the vibrant capital of Western Australia, which I’m reviewing here. Perth, WA, is known for its vast open spaces, stunning coastlines, and year-round sunshine....
2PAXfly
STARLUX: Taiwan’s ‘luxury’ airline to fly to Sydney and Auckland
Sydney looks set to gain a new Taiwanese contender in 2027, with STARLUX, the Taiwan-based airline, having confirmed (ET) plans to launch direct flights between Taipei and Sydney, with Auckland added as a trans-Tasman tag flight. That means Australians could soon have another way to reach Taiwan, North Asia, North...
2PAXfly
QATAR & ETIHAD: A380s retreat from Australia as the superjumbo shuffle continues
Qatar Airways is cutting back planned A380 service to Australia and China, with the superjumbo now concentrated on a much smaller number of routes as the airline rebuilds its network after disruption in the Middle East. AeroRoutes schedule filings show Qatar’s regular A380 operations from 16 June to 15 September...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Project Sunrise slips again due to ‘supply chain’ delay, now aiming for April 2027
The first Airbus A350-1000ULR for Project Sunrise, the aircraft Qantas is banking on to finally make non-stop Sydney and Melbourne flights to London and New York a commercial reality, will now join the fleet in April 2027 according to reports in the SMH. That is later than previously announced, when...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 24 May, 2026
Greetings from Sydney. Back at home for a week or so before I head out on my next trip. Later this week, I’m heading eastward to the Americas. Precise location and cities to visit will be revealed as the trip progresses. These will all be totally new destinations for me,...
2PAXfly
WEBJET: Travel agent squeezed as Virgin Australia cuts commissions
Webjet is warning investors that trading conditions remain “fluid and challenging” after Virgin Australia cut the commissions it pays the online travel agent, according to an article in the SMH. For travellers, that could mean fewer sharp Webjet airfare deals on Virgin flights. For Webjet, it is another revenue hit...
2PAXfly
UNITED STATES: Trump administration floats airport squeeze on ‘sanctuary cities’
I have refrained largely from reporting on USA affairs. That’s partly because I don’t want to besmirch my reputation if I decide to travel to the USA again. However, there are just some things that need to be reported in the interests of Australians travelling to the USA. The Trump...
Wild About Travel
Dubrovnik. Dragons, Demons,
Dubrovnik looks almost unreal at first glance. Terracotta roofs stacked above polished limestone streets, all wrapped in thick medieval walls with the Adriatic on three sides. It is indeed a real‑world city. It became King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. Many key scenes were filmed in and around its medieval...