2PAXfly
QANTAS: Project Sunrise A350 reaches Melbourne Australia after 19-hour test flight
Qantas’ Project Sunrise aircraft has touched Australian soil for the first time, completing a marathon non-stop test flight from Toulouse to Melbourne. The specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR landed at Melbourne Airport at about 10.46am on Friday, 24 July, after spending 19 hours and 13 minutes in the air. The aircraft...
Wild About Travel
Fargo: Wide, Weird, and Way Better Than You Think
I came expecting a dull, drive-through prairie city. I was wrong. Most visitors know “Fargo” from the 1996 movie and TV series about crime and weirdness. I also need to add that I watched a second, much less well-known 2014 movie, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, very loosely based on a...
2PAXfly
ALTURA AIRLINES: Majority Indigenous-owned carrier launches from Perth
Australia has another airline name in its skies. You won’t find Altura Airlines appearing beside Qantas or Virgin Australia when searching for your next Perth flight. The new majority Indigenous-owned carrier commenced operations from Perth on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. Its initial focus is charter flying for mining, energy, infrastructure...
2PAXfly
TRIP REVIEW: Qantas B787-9 Dreamliner, QF75 Sydney to Vancouver in Business Class. Oh Canada!
This is the next post in my Oh Canada! Trip Report. I’ve covered the reason for this trip in the introductory post, as well as my check-in experience and the Qantas First Lounge pre-boarding experience. Now its time for the actual flight. This is my first time (I think) on...
Also on BoardingArea
Your Mileage May Vary
Flying With Medication? How To Avoid Airport Security Problems In The U.S. & Abroad
Most travelers know about airport security’s famous liquids rule. In the United States, it’s TSA’s 3-1-1 rule. Many other countries have similar restrictions, limiting how much liquid you can bring…
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Keep it Classy, American Airlines: Flight Attendants Use Scraps of Paper to Stop Sunshine Blazing Through Windows After Dreamliner Malfunction
American Airlines is developing a bit of a reputation for the state some of its planes have been allowed to get into: Nothing dangerous, of course, but cosmetic issues like broken tray tables, seats that won’t recline, non-functioning in-flight entertainment, and worn-out cabins do little to convince passengers that American...
Miles To Memories
Chase Shutdown Wave, Amex Drops Removes OG Card For Sign Ups & Hawaiian Airlines Is Getting A Glow Up
In our Around the Web series we take a look at interesting articles that cover miles, points, travel and personal finance.
Points With a Crew
17 Tech and Travel Deals at Amazon For This Weekend
Some decent Amazon weekend deals on travel and tech gear going on this weekend, including headphones, luggage, locks, packing cubes and supplies, travel books and ...
Live and Let’s Fly
United Taunts Delta Over Its Costly Pacific Expansion And Struggling Hong Kong Flight
Delta Air Lines is rebuilding its Pacific network, but early financial data suggests the expansion may be expensive. A United Airlines executive is already taunting Delta over weak fares and empty seats, though declaring victory after one quarter would be very premature. United Taunts Delta Over Costly Pacific Expansion, But...
Point Me to the Plane
Take Virtual Tours of These Spectacular Libraries
Some of the most beautiful architecture in the world is found in libraries. Even if you can't see them in person, you can enjoy them through virtual tours.
One Mile at a Time
Airplane Seat Change Etiquette & Tips: What’s Appropriate, How Do You Ask?
Airplane seating arrangements can be complicated, especially when you’re traveling with others — some airlines charge to assign seats, some airlines don’t assign seats in advance, some people may book last minute and not be able to reserve seats together, etc.
Your Mileage May Vary
Which Frequent Flyer Program Has the Most Airline Partners?
Most frequent flyer programs let you redeem miles on their own airline, the other members of their alliance and perhaps a handful of additional partners. Aeroplan goes much further. Air…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Passengers Hit With $793 Surprise After Toddler Turns 2 Mid-Trip
A family says American Airlines forced them to buy a $793 walk-up ticket after their child turned two during the trip. The rule is real: once a child reaches their second birthday, they legally need their own seat. But there's nuance to this!
Economondo
Qatar Airways’ Worst Product? Dubai to Doha on an Old A330
Read my review of a Qatar Airways Airbus A330-200 on a short flight from Dubai to Doha
Miles To Memories
Last Chance For Fee Free Mastercard Gift Cards & Bonus Earning At Staples This Week
The Staples Mastercard gift card deal is ending today. It is your last chance to rack up some bonus points fee free.
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta Air Lines Drops Three Routes From New York John F Kennedy International Airport
Delta Air Lines is ending service on three routes from New York John F…
One Mile at a Time
Which Flights Feature Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite? 17 Planes & 10(ish) Routes
In late 2024, we saw Cathay Pacific launch its new Aria Suite business class. I’ve had the chance to fly it, and it’s a phenomenal product. Cathay Pacific is a world class airline, and this really elevates the carrier’s business class to being among the best in the world.
Live and Let’s Fly
I Paid Just $56 For A Full-Service Hyatt In Dubai, With Breakfast And Dinner Included
With hotels struggling in Dubai during the Iran War, I scored quite a deal at the Hyatt Regency Dubai. A Remarkable $56 Stay At The Hyatt Regency Dubai With a layover of just over 24 hours, I checked into the Hyatt Regency Dubai at a rate of $55.59/night that included...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Passenger Paid $1,600 For First Class — Then Was Told To Sit In Back For A Working Tray Table
American Airlines told a passenger who paid more than $1,600 for first class that his tray table was inoperative — and that his alternative was to sit in the back. That leads this morning’s roundup, along with a first-of-its-kind border search prosecution, Hyatt suite upgrade exclusions, an Austin airport lounge...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
The Oldest Stone Span in Australia: Richmond Bridge in Tasmania
On the way to Hobart International Airport to catch a flight back to Sydney, we decided to stop at the oldest stone span in Australia: Richmond Bridge in Tasmania, which is also currently the oldest surviving bridge in Australia. This shallow section of Coal River has long been...
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: MagCharge Pro Modular Magnetic Fast Charger (Back By Sunday)
The MagCharge Pro is a modular magnetic charger that solves the problem of tangled cords with 540 degrees of flexibility and instant magnetic charge. It's on Kickstarter for a few more ...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Ryanair Sacked Captain Who Used Legal Authority to Extend Rest Period For Cabin Crew After Long Day at Work
The European low-cost behemoth, Ryanair, allegedly sacked a Captain based at the airline’s Barcelona hub who used his legal authority to extend the rest period for a group of cabin crew who had worked beyond normal working hours under a special provision called ‘Commander’s Discretion.’ The SEPLA pilots’ union, which...
One Mile at a Time
Chase Sapphire Preferred & Reserve Card Bonus Eligibility Rules: Earn Up To 400K Bonus Points With Three Cards
TheChase Sapphire Preferred Card (learn more) andChase Sapphire Reserve Card(learn more) are among the most popular personal travel rewards cards, while theSapphire Reserve for Business(learn more) is quickly becoming one of the most popular premium business travel rewards cards.
Live and Let’s Fly
Aerolíneas Argentinas Was Supposed To Collapse, But Now It Is Profitable And Ordering 20 New Jets
Aerolíneas Argentinas has finalized plans to add 20 new aircraft, including six Airbus A330neos and eight Boeing 737 MAX 10s. But the aircraft themselves are only half the story. Far more remarkable is how an airline that consumed billions of dollars in government subsidies became profitable after Argentina effectively told...
The Points of Life
AA Business CLT-MAD: We’re Out of Paella
Let’s not bury the lead. The reason I flew AA from CLT-MAD was to try the paella. Imagine my surprise when the flight attendant came around and said too many people had pre ordered it and there was none left. Pre ordering a meal on AA? What is this SQ...
BoardingArea
Review: Air India Maharaja Lounge – San Francisco Int’l (SFO), Concourse A
Terrific lounge that surpasses expectations The summary My flight into SFO from Denver arrived early and in the D gates. Thus, with a 3.5 hour layover, I made the 15 minute walk over to Concourse A to check out the new Air India Maharaja Lounge. If I had less time,...
View from the Wing
Doctor Says DFW Airport Theft Was An Accident—But Police Found The Jewelry Five Zippers Deep In Her Bag
A doctor headed to Kansas said she didn’t realize she had taken two pieces of Kate Spade jewelry at DFW. Bodycam shows police finding the matching-tag merchandise deep inside her bags—and telling her she was going to jail.
View from the Wing
Earn Up To 12% Back On Hotel Stays Without Giving Up Direct Booking Benefits
Hotel chains often pay rebates through shopping portals even when you still book direct, keep elite benefits, and earn hotel points. Current offers show up to 12% back on some stays, making it worth checking a portal before going straight to Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, or Expedia.
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: A better headrest may be as good as Economy seat innovation gets
Emirates has unveiled a new Economy Class headrest designed to stop passengers’ heads rolling sideways while they attempt the unlikely feat of sleeping upright. Called the U-Dream, the adjustable headrest folds around the passenger’s head and neck, rather like a built-in travel pillow. It may prove genuinely useful. It also...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: First international passenger flights 100 days away
Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will welcome its first overseas passenger flight on Monday, 26 October 2026, when an Air New Zealand Airbus arrives from Auckland. The same aircraft will then operate the first scheduled international passenger departure from the new airport, returning across the Tasman later that morning. Western...
Wild About Travel
Why Working From Cafés Around the World Reveals So Much About Culture
I just spent two hours in a café in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, and ended up observing how differently cafés work here compared to other places. People were happily shouting to each other across the room, kids running and dancing and playing games or videos on their phones. One group took...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 19 July, 2026
Hello travellers, Greetings from Adelaide! I’m here visiting family and friends. It’s the second of two short domestic trips this week. The previous one was to Canberra to view the Arthur Boyd tapestries at the National Gallery of Australia, where I also sampled the Virgin Australia Lounge. What happened last...
2PAXfly
CATHAY PACIFIC: Adelaide to Hong Kong flights return for summer
Cathay Pacific will return to Adelaide for another Southern Hemisphere summer season, this time offering up to five weekly non-stop flights to Hong Kong during the busiest holiday months. The service will operate from 10 November 2026 until 27 March 2027. There will be three flights each week during November...
2PAXfly
LOUNGE REVIEW: Canberra Virgin Australia Lounge
I just had my first experience of the Canberra Virgin Australia Lounge. Yesterday, I spent time in Canberra seeing the Arthur Boyd tapestries at the National Gallery of Australia and the John Brack and Noel McKenna exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. I had one of those lingering credits with...
2PAXfly
UNITED AIRLINES: WTF! Adds European Business class rows to 321XLRs
Oddly, that is not how United Airlines is promoting this ‘innovation’. They are adding the curse of European Business Class blocked-off centre seats. British Airways call this arrangement ‘Club Europe’. United is promoting it as ‘Economy Plus Seats with Extra Elbow Room. They should hang their heads in shame! A321XLR...
2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: B777s are getting new business class suites, better than on new Dreamliners
Air New Zealand has revealed the replacement for the ageing Business Premier seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs. These older aircraft may end up with an off-the-shelf business class seat that many travellers will prefer to the bespoke product installed on its newer Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. From 2027, Air New Zealand’s...