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...
Also on BoardingArea
The Bulkhead Seat
Spirit Pilot Gets Emotional Retirement Sendoff From Southwest
A retiring Spirit Airlines pilot received an unexpected and emotional send-off after the airline’s…
One Mile at a Time
Kudos: Southwest Surprises Spirit Pilot After He Misses Retirement Flight
Yesterday was an incredibly sad day for aviation in the United States, with Spirit Airlines ceasing operations. While the outcome was inevitable, that doesn’t make it any easier for the thousands of employees at the company who are now finding themselves without jobs.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
American Airlines Flight Attendants Are Still Unhappy With the New and Improved Catering at London Heathrow
Flight attendants at American Airlines remain less than impressed with the changes the carrier has made to its catering operation at London Heathrow Airport, following its sudden departure from its longtime catering partner at the start of March. In the eyes of American Airlines, the carrier has done well to...
Miles To Memories
Excellent $300 (Or $400) Capital One Checking Bonus Offer
There is a really excellent $300 Capital One Checking bonus available that has fairly easy requirements and a quick payout time.
View from the Wing
Viral Grassroots Effort To Buy Spirit Airlines Claims $22 Million In Pledges — But Has No Cash And No Business Plan
A “people-owned” rescue effort for Spirit Airlines has gone viral, claiming $22 million in pledges from would-be founding patrons. It has no cash, no actual bid, and no business plan to fix an airline that was losing money before it shut down.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Sông Sài Gòn in Vietnam at Night. Sunday Morning Photograph.
Sông Sài Gòn — which is known in English as Saigon River — in Vietnam at night was a sight to see from the suite in which I stayed at the Hilton Saigon hotel property. Included in the view were...
One Mile at a Time
Guide To United Polaris Lounges: Access, Locations, Amenities, And More
In this post, I’d like to take a look at United Polars Lounges, which are the carrier’s premium international lounges. In particular, I’ll focus largely on access requirements, especially as we’ve recently seen massive changes to these. Separately, Ive written about United Clubs, which are United’s more basic lounges, accessible...
View from the Wing
After Spirit Shutdown, Budget Airlines Seek $2.5 Billion Bailout — DOT Says They’re Taking Advantage
With Spirit Airlines ceasing operations, other low cost airlines are doubling down on their request for a government bailout.
You Are Travel
Book A Hotel Room for the Day: Here Are The Best Day Pass Apps
​tl;dr – Great options for next staycation or burn to pass a few hours. Day passes to hotels…
You Are Travel
Deals I’m Booking That You Should Too (Vol. 11) – Skip the $1000 Nightly Cost and Pay Net $26 for Daytime Fun at This Luxe Isla Mujeres Resort
​tl;dr – Do you really want to pay $ 1,000 a night in Cancun? We’re back with another…
You Are Travel
The Contrarian’s Beach Vacation: Day Passing Your Way Through Cancun
​tl;dr – Go budget but live large? ​Recently, I wrote about several options for accessing hotels and resorts…
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Southwest Airlines Puts On Special Surprise For Spirit Airlines Captain Who Was Due to Retire On Day Carrier Went Bust
Southwest Airlines is being praised for going above and beyond to surprise a Spirit Airlines Captain who was due to fly his very last flight before retirement on the same day that the ultra-low-cost carrier fell into liquidation, ensuring that this career was celebrated on what was otherwise a brutally...
One Mile at a Time
British Airways Hiring Pilot Just To Taxi Planes Around Chicago O’Hare, Not Fly
British Airways is currently looking to hire a wide body pilot, but not to actually fly planes. This is as niche as pilot jobs get…
View from the Wing
Delta Air Lines Meltdown Leaves Passengers Without Help — One Grabs Gate PA: “Is Anybody Working?”
Delta passengers were stuck at the gate with no obvious help during the airline’s meltdown, so one of them grabbed the PA handset and started making announcements himself: “Delta, is anybody working?” It was a dumb move, but passengers do desperate things when an airline disappears on them.
View from the Wing
United Passenger Attacks Flight Attendant, Tries To Break Into Cockpit Of Newark Flight
A passenger on United Airlines flight 1837 from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic to Newark “attacked a flight attendant” on Saturday, according to the captain, and “tried to open the forward main cabin door, trying to gain access to the flight deck.”
Live and Let’s Fly
Icon Of The Seas Is Moving To Galveston, Not Florida.
Florida’s cruise dominance was supposed to be permanent. Then Royal Caribbean’s flagship (world’s largest), Icon of the Seas, sails from Galveston in 2027. Icon Of The Seas Is Moving To Galveston, Not Florida. Florida has owned cruise homeporting for forty years. PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, the geographic and infrastructure...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
British Airways Will Pay Pilots $100,000 a Year Just to Taxi Planes On the Ground Around Chicago O’Hare
British Airways has a rather interesting job offer for pilots who could earn up to $100,000 a year just to drive, or taxi in aviation speak, one of its airplanes a couple of kilometers on the ground at Chicago O’Hare a few times a day. No, really, there’s no flying...
The Bulkhead Seat
Breeze Airways Expands in Atlantic City With New Routes Following Spirit’s Exit
Breeze Airways is moving quickly to expand service from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY).…
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: Airbnb Amex Offer, 10K bonus Flying Blue miles promo, Delta portal promo, & more
Welcome to our weekly list of what’s ending this week as well as a collection of some other deals that are due to end soon. There are only half a dozen deals ending this week, but they’re worth being aware of in case they’re any you want to take advantage of....
Points With a Crew
Marriott Bonvoy Business Review (New Higher Offer – Up to 5 Free Nights)
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card has a new welcome offer that is potentially worth hundreds of dollars (or more). This one credit card offer could make your next vacation ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 351
I was a guest at a hotel property recently which offers a complimentary continental breakfast buffet which is included in the rate. For this edition of this popular game, can you guess what...
Travel Codex
Spirit Airlines Shutdowns. Strands Passengers
An airline that changed how we fly is gone and you will feel it, whether you loved Spirit or not. As of May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines is officially no more. I never flew Spirit Airlines but I know plenty of people who have. Their low costs brought the Ryan...
Economy Class & Beyond
Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond (2nd May)
It’s the first of two bank holiday weekends, where Mondays off are a thing, and the DIY shops will no doubt be flooded. But it’s also Saturday, so it must be time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond.  Tooling towards Old Turn Junction for the Birmingham Canal Old...
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
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...
2PAXfly
FIJI AIRWAYS: Dallas USA flights dropped from September
Fiji Airways is reshaping its network, cutting its Dallas route while boosting capacity on other key services amid rising fuel costs. The airline will suspend flights between Nadi and Dallas Fort Worth from 7 September, marking a retreat from one of its longest and most operationally demanding routes. That removes...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: A380s to get Starlink WiFi
The first Starlink-equipped superjumbo is now in service, marking the start of a rollout the airline says will extend across its entire fleet by mid-2027. And, it’s free. Emirates is ditching its current pay-to-use model, which charges up to around US$20, in favour of complimentary high-speed access for all passengers....
Wild About Travel
Draft Future of First Class?
From Railway to Runway I juts tcked ofve r 1800 flights. of hthsoe, just 23 havebeejn fistc alss Some quick history. The class system in air travel, evolved from the British railways of the 1830s and originally aligned closely with the British Class System. Understanding this evolution from railways to...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 26 April, 2026
I’m still in London, but will be departing soon. It’s really begun to warm up now, just in time for the London Marathon today. Not that I’m a participant. In fact, the only reason I know is because of its effects on public transport. And there seem to be a...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORTS: July will see changes to flight paths as Western Sydney Airport starts cargo flights
Sydney’s skies are about to change, and if you live under a flight path, brace for impact. A shake-up of airspace across the city kicks in on July 9, paving the way for the first cargo flights into Western Sydney Airport later that month. It’s all part of getting the...