2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Extends COVID credits usage, but redemption date stays 30 June 2026
Virgin Australia has made a late concession on its COVID-era travel credits, extending the travel period for eligible credits issued between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022. Passengers still need to book by 30 June 2026, but they can now travel up to 27 May 2027. That is a...
2PAXfly
MIDDLE EAST: Australia eases travel warnings for key Gulf transit hubs
Australian travellers heading to Europe, the UK or Africa via the Middle East have been handed some qualified good news. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Smartraveller advice website have lowered advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Level 4, “Do...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Project Sunrise announces first route, Sydney to London non-stop. Surprise, surprise!
CEO Vanessa Hudson just travelled to Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters to announce that London, from Sydney, would be the first Project Sunrise route, followed by New York. Is that really news? We knew it had to be an east coast departure, so that’s Sydney or Melbourne (Brisbane doesn’t have a First...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Non-stop Australia flights delayed until 2027
Turkish Airlines’ promised non-stop flights between Istanbul and Australia have slipped again, with Sydney now expected by the end of 2027 and Melbourne pushed into 2028. That is the bad news. Turkish Airlines plans to fly a specially configured Airbus A350-1000, heavy on premium seats, fitted with the airline’s new...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Wyndham’s intriguing new card lineup | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep363 | 6-19-26
In today’s podcast we see how Wells Fargo Attunes out, we’ll talk about the PAZE craze (and why it pays to pay with PAZE), and Greg convinces Nick that a $395 Wyndham card is a good idea. Wyndham’s intriguing new card lineup Watch the full episode below, or listen on...
Economy Class & Beyond
TRIP REPORT: What you might have missed from Aircraft Interiors Expo – More Innovations in Hamburg
What you might have missed from Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 TRIP REPORT: More Innovations in Hamburg In this week of passenger experience fun: Back to Hamburg Again. And yes, keeping it simple To Heathrow Airport with FlixBus and Terminal 5 British Airways Galleries South, Terminal 5 BA964 London Heathrow to...
Your Mileage May Vary
New (to Me) Airport Vocabulary: What Is “Ghost Bagging”?
Airport security has changed dramatically over the years, but criminals are always looking for new ways to exploit weak spots in the system. One aviation term I recently learned describes…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Downgraded 3-Foot-6 Star Wars Actor Warwick Davis From First Class. So He Wrote The Perfect Legroom Song
Warwick Davis showed up with a first class boarding pass, but a long American Airlines delay ended with him downgraded to economy. The 3-foot-6 Star Wars and Harry Potter actor may be owed more than American’s standard downgrade refund. And heturned the whole thing into a self-deprecating song about legroom.
Frequent Miler
How to apply for Chase Ink® & Sapphire® Business cards
Some of the best credit card welcome offers also happen to come from some of the best point-earning cards around: the Chase Business cards. These include the Sapphire Reserve for Business®, Ink Business Preferred®, Ink Business Cash®, and Ink Business Unlimited®. You have to have a business to apply for...
Miles To Memories
The Resorts World We Could Have Had, Free Absinthe for Diamonds & Penn & Teller Make History!
The lost renderings of Resorts World (death by 1,000 cuts?) plus Caesars brings back a popular benefit, Penn & Teller make history and a visit to the UFO Hotel.
The Bulkhead Seat
Kraft Launches TSA-Compliant Ranch Kit for Travelers Who Can’t Leave USA Without It
For travelers who now believe ranch dressing is an essential travel companion, Kraft has…
Points With a Crew
Why does renting a car feel like such a scam?
Every time I go in to rent a car, they pull the "welllll we don't actually have the car you reserved.... but what about this OTHER one?"
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta Continues Austin Growth With New San Jose Route
Delta Air Lines is continuing its expansion in Austin with a new nonstop route…
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Airlines Make You Gate-Check Your Bag Even When Overhead Bins Aren’t Full
It’s probably one of the most frustrating things about flying. Your carry-on bag fits in the sizer, easy peasy lemon squeezy. But your boarding group number is pretty high….7, 8,…
Frequent Miler
Rakuten offering up to $250 / 25,000 Bilt points on select Bank of America credit cards
Last year, Rakuten started offering bonus rewards when applicants were approved for select Chase credit cards. The only Chase card available via Rakuten at the moment is the Freedom Unlimited®, but there are now also two Bank of America credit cards for which you can regularly earn bonus rewards on...
Rapid Travel Chai
Points Travel Festival Portland, August 1, 2026
Points Travel Festival Portland is August 1, 2026. Join the points travel experts for learning and partying at the PNW Points community event. The post Points Travel Festival Portland, August 1, 2026 appeared first on Rapid Travel Chai.
Miles To Memories
Wells Fargo and US Bank Cardholders: Get 10% Cash Back at Best Buy
Select Wells Fargo and US Bank cardholders have an offer for 10% cash back at Best Buy when using an eligible card.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Ryanair Convinces Shareholders to Offer Michael O’Leary €100 million Bonus to Delay His Retirement
Love him or loathe him, Michael O’Leary is considered one of the brightest airline chief executives in the industry and is credited with transforming Ryanair from a failing small regional Irish carrier into the biggest airline by passenger numbers in Europe. Having worked at Ryanair for more than three decades,...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn 500 Marriott Bonvoy Points With Uber
You can earn 500 Marriott Bonvoy points when your Uber membership account is linked with your Marriott Bonvoy membership account and you take a qualifying ride and place a qualifying Uber Eats order of a minimum of $40.00... ...but you must...
Points Miles and Bling
Review: Columbus Hotel Monte-Carlo, the Curio Collection by Hilton
Christmas Markets in Monaco Christmas Markets in December bring throngs of tourists to many European destinations. From extravagantly lit Christmas…
Frequent Miler
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card new welcome offer: 150K points + $125 (now available via referrals)
Update 6/19/26: After almost a month, this offer is finally available via referral links. Household and friend referrals are much easier through Amex than Chase or Capital One, as the referred business can have open Amex cards and still be eligible. Note that you can refer to this card from any...
One Mile at a Time
Chase Ink Business Cash Review: 100,000 Bonus Points & 5x Categories
There are lots of businesses that leave rewards on the table by not using the most rewarding business credit cards. In this post, I’d like to take an in-depth look at the Ink Business Cash Credit Card — this is a credit card that I personally have, and it’s one that...
View from the Wing
Michigan Airport Bars Could Start Serving Alcohol 24 Hours A Day And Let Travelers Carry Drinks Through The Terminal
Michigan lawmakers are advancing bills that would let airport bars serve alcohol 24 hours a day and allow travelers to carry drinks through the terminal. The airport carveout would break from the state’s overnight alcohol limits, though the drafting may not clearly cover sealed retail bottle sales or even after-hours...
Your Mileage May Vary
Things Locals Wish Tourists Knew Before Visiting
No matter where you travel, there are always unspoken rules that guide daily life. Some are practical, some are cultural, and some can leave visitors completely baffled if nobody warns…
Miles To Memories
New Verizon Shine Rewards Program and Verizon Dollars
Verizon has launched a new loyalty program called Verizon Shine which promises deals every Monday, all year-round.
View from the Wing
LAST CHANCE: Record IHG Premier Card 185,000 Point Bonus — Worth Keeping For The Free Night
The IHG Premier Card has a limited-time offer worth up to 185,000 points, which is more than I’ve seen before on this $99 hotel card. The upfront bonus is the reason to get it now, but the annual free night, fourth-night-free award benefit, Platinum status, and 4th night free on...
Frequent Miler
Air France / KLM Flying Blue gives you miles on Apple products other portals exclude
Yesterday, Air France/KLM Flying Blue announced a new portal for Apple purchases that, while somewhat odd, could prove relatively useful. Apple is already on many shopping portals, but there’s always a laundry list of exclusions that encompass many of Apple’s most popular products – things like current-year MacBooks and iPhones....
Travel Codex
Mitsui Ocean Cruise Review: 100% Japanese & Absolutely Awesome
Mitsui Ocean Cruises is not a household name in North America, but it should soon be one. Offering amazing trips around Japan for years for Japanese guests, the company is now introducing their iconic brand to the world. Inviting international guests for the first time to sail on their ships,...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: biggest Boeing 737 is coming — eventually
Virgin Australia has put a date, of sorts, on the next stage of its fleet renewal. It expects to receive its first Boeing 737-10 in late 2027. That’s like more than 12 months away. The PR department must have been light on for stories to report for this to be...
2PAXfly
BOEING: Bird strikes, smoke and the cabin air problem that won’t go away
There are bird strikes. There are fume events. And then there are bird strikes that lead to smoke or oil mist entering the cockpit and/or cabin. That is the issue now ruffling feathers around Boeing’s 737 MAX, its LEAP-1B engines, and the regulators charged with deciding whether this is a...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 14 June, 2026
Greetings from Canada (I’m still here)! I’ve actually spanned the continent and just spent some delightful days enduring the cold of Newfoundland. I’ve also seen puffins at Gull Island and whales out of Bay Bulls Harbour. Both of which were wonderful experiences. Arrival at Montreal, not so much, but they...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: introduces confirmed upgrades with cash
Qantas has added a new way to upgrade your seat that takes the element of chance out. Confirmed Upgrades is a fixed-price cash upgrade offer for selected passengers on selected Qantas flights, with confirmation (or not) within half a day. This becomes the third form of upgrade you can use...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: Finally an opening date, and Jetstar gets first dibs
Western Sydney International Airport will welcome its first paying passengers on Sunday, 25 October 2026, with Jetstar being the first commercial passenger carrier off the tarmac. The inaugural flight from Western Sydney International, officially the Nancy-Bird Walton Airport and known by the code WSI, will be a Jetstar flight, JQ362,...
Wild About Travel
draft Kalogorlei ourback tnwn
I almost came to Kalgoorlie decades ago but never made it. I have travelled across Western Australia’s 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi), from Esperance in the south to Wyndham in the north, and through many towns, beaches, deserts, and mountain ranges in between. I love the state. Kalgoorlie remained...
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: New aviation deal with Saudi Arabia puts passennger flight on Australia’s horizon
Saudi Arabia has signed a new aviation agreement with Australia, opening the way for direct flights into Avalon in Victoria and Toowoomba Wellcamp in Queensland. The first flights are likely to be freight, chilled meat, seafood and dairy and not business class suites. But this raises the possiblity that Riyadh...
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: Initial destinations and flight schedule
We finally have the launch schedules and first five destinations for the long-awaited launch of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air. Launch pricing is intriguing rather than sensational, but at least any travellers on these flights will get the full Riyadh experience in Riyadh Air’s fully kitted-out cabins. But don’t expect an...