2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL: Preparing of passenger takeoff in October 2026
After years of construction, political debate and plenty of scepticism, Western Sydney International (WSI) is preparing to open for passengers later this year. Cargo flights are expected to commence mid-year The airport, built at Badgerys Creek and designed to operate 24 hours a day without a curfew, is positioning itself...
Wild About Travel
Terrific Turku, Finland’s Historical Capital. All You Need to Know
Turku is a low-key river city known for its university life and as a gateway to medieval Finland and the beautiful Turku Archipelago. Turku has tens of thousands of students across multiple universities and this creates a fun, youthful atmosphere. Quality‑of‑life index scores Turku slightly higher than Helsinki overall (Turku...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: I know when the next double status promotion is going to start.
Let’s start by confessing that the headline is a lie. No one knows when the promo will drop, except a small group within the Qantas promo team! What I am about to present is just speculation, some of which is my own, and some is drawn from the knowledge and...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: Airlines claim passenger protections ‘unworkable’. Surprise!
Australia’s airlines are pushing back hard against the federal government’s proposed aviation consumer protections, warning the reforms are “unworkable”, confusing, and will push up airfares. Not very imaginative arguments, and ones that every consumer protection initiative has faced. What’s the government proposing? The government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,...
Also on BoardingArea
The Alviator
StarFlyer: The Low-Cost Airline I Have A Crush On
There's a sleek Japanese low-cost airline that has adjustable headrests, PTVs, and 34-inch pitch. Count me super interested. The post StarFlyer: The Low-Cost Airline I Have A Crush On appeared first on The Alviator.
TravelUpdate
Here’s Why This is My Favorite Travel Credit Card…
There are plenty of travel credit cards, but there's one particular travel credit that's my favorite, one that I plan to keep long term.
TravelUpdate
Air Transat Will Stop Flying to the United States
Air Transat will  stop flying to the United States by June 2026 after removing all remaining U.S. routes…
View from the Wing
The ‘Sicilian’ Brisket And ‘Angry Pasta’ American Airlines Is Serving Is Everything Wrong With The Carrier
American Airlines says it’s making a premium push, but a recent menu at the Austin Admirals Club tells a very different story—featuring “Sicilian” brisket in the heart of Texas and “angry pasta” that made me mad. It’s a small detail that captures a much bigger problem with how the airline...
TravelUpdate
What’s the Future of This Amex Platinum Card Benefit? I Tried Finding Out…
Given the financial troubles of the retailer with stores shutting down now, what's going to be the future of this Amex Platinum Card benefit?
One Mile at a Time
Asiana Crews Under Fire After Selfishly Using Starbucks Store For Bag Storage
I know Starbucks stores usually have pretty generous policies in terms of how long customers can linger around for, but this seems like a bit much, no…?
The Alviator
BOOKED: Japan Airlines vs. ANA Domestic Showdown (I’m Flying A 767!!!!!)
I share travels that I'm excited about, and today I'm sharing a trip that I booked with Japan Airlines and ANA, including my first 767. The post BOOKED: Japan Airlines vs. ANA Domestic Showdown (I’m Flying A 767!!!!!) appeared first on The Alviator.
Frequent Miler
My JetBlue blunders chasing Mosaic 2 or higher
Last year, my family of four completed the JetBlue 25 for 25 promotion, so all four of us now have JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic 1 elite status through January 31, 2051. On a podcast episode near the end of last year, Greg and I discussed JetBlue Mosaic Perks You can Pick...
One Mile at a Time
Oops: British Airways Crew Gifted Weed Gummies On Flight, End Up Hospitalized
Here’s a wild story… on the plus side, at least they only consumed these sweets after the flight?
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
British Airways Quietly Appoints New Head Of Customer Experience And Boy Does She Have Her Work Cut Out
British Airways has quietly appointed a new head of customer experience after the last person in the role suddenly announced he was quitting after less than four years, following a series of cost-cutting scandals that further rocked the airline’s reputation. While there’s still no official announcement from British Airways, sources...
One Mile at a Time
Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes Sale: 30% Off Award Tickets
Singapore Airlines offers its monthly KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promo, whereby you can receive a 30% discount on award tickets in select markets. This is a fantastic opportunity to save on award flights on one of the world’s best airlines.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Emirates is Being Thrown Out Of Algeria As Diplomatic Ties Between Algiers And Abu Dhabi Worsen
Dubai-based mega airline Emirates is being thrown out of Algeria after the North African nation announced that it had started the process of terminating an air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates. The announcement by Algeria’s government press office didn’t provide a reason for the decision, though it comes...
Live from a Lounge
Virgin Atlantic Launches an Enhanced Status Match (matching both British Airways and Air India loyalty programmes)
Virgin Atlantic is offering Status Match opportunities in 2026, with an amazing offer for enhanced status for British Airways Elite Tiers. The post Virgin Atlantic Launches an Enhanced Status Match (matching both British Airways and Air India loyalty programmes) appeared first on Live From A Lounge.
Live and Let’s Fly
British Airways Cabin Crew Rushed To Hospital After Consuming Cannabis-Laced Gummies From Passenger
What was presented to British Airways cabin crew as a post-flight “thank you” has turned into a cautionary tale for airline employees worldwide. Passenger “Thank You” Sends British Airways Crew To Hospital In Los Angeles Three British Airways cabin crew members were rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles after...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL: Preparing of passenger takeoff in October 2026
After years of construction, political debate and plenty of scepticism, Western Sydney International (WSI) is preparing to open for passengers later this year. Cargo flights are expected to commence mid-year The airport, built at Badgerys Creek and designed to operate 24 hours a day without a curfew, is positioning itself...
TravelUpdate
Capital One Lounge at DFW disappoints me twice.
The Capital One lounge at DFW has been open about 3 years now. I mostly fly out of…
The Bulkhead Seat
Cool: Brussels Airlines Unveils New Tintin Belgian Icon Livery
Brussels Airlines has revealed its newest Belgian Icon aircraft and it celebrates one of… The post Cool: Brussels Airlines Unveils New Tintin Belgian Icon Livery appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
The Bulkhead Seat
The Second Capital One Landing Will Finally Open at New York LaGuardia Airport Next Week
Capital One has carved out a space in the premium airport lounge space thanks… The post The Second Capital One Landing Will Finally Open at New York LaGuardia Airport Next Week appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Wild About Travel
Terrific Turku, Finland’s Historical Capital. All You Need to Know
Turku is a low-key river city known for its university life and as a gateway to medieval Finland and the beautiful Turku Archipelago. Turku has tens of thousands of students across multiple universities and this creates a fun, youthful atmosphere. Quality‑of‑life index scores Turku slightly higher than Helsinki overall (Turku...
Points With a Crew
Save Up to 50% on Amazon with Amex Rewards Dollars (Targeted)
We’ve written about this deal before but it appears to be back! It appears to be targeted but if so, it seems widely targeted. Save 30% on Amazon, up to $30 in savings (offers vary), when you you purchase eligible products and use at least 1 cent in Amex Reward...
The Alviator
Hong Kong Airlines’ Messy Fleet: 28″ or 34″ Seat Pitch?
It's common for airlines to have different configurations on their shorthaul fleet, though Hong Kong Airlines takes this to the extreme. The post Hong Kong Airlines’ Messy Fleet: 28″ or 34″ Seat Pitch? appeared first on The Alviator.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
This Premium Credit Card Benefit Came Through For Me. Again.
This premium credit card benefit came through for me again — and it covered the majority of my annual fee on two cards that I used for a recent trip that was snowballed due to a significant snowstorm. I use a premium credit card for travel purchases because... The post This Premium...
Frequent Miler
Free Instacart+ and $20/month in credits with a business Mastercard
There is a new Instacart promotion offering three months of free Instacart+ to “eligible” business Mastercard holders who enroll. More exciting is that enrollees also receive $20 in credits per month through January 2027, starting with their second monthly order. Instacart promos are fairly common these days, but a nice...
One Mile at a Time
American CEO Robert Isom’s Turnaround Plan Is To Keep Doing More Of The Same
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom is under a lot of scrutiny right now. American’s 2025 financial results paled in comparison to the results of Delta and United, and many employee work groups received 0.3% profit sharing, given the lack of profits to share.
Wild About Travel
A Moomin Pilgrimage Through 80 Years of Finnish Magic
I just spent two amazing weeks in Finland, which remains one of my favourite countries in the world. This trip: Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Turku. I’m still processing everything I experienced. The timber architecture of Rovaniemi, the frozen Baltic where ships should be, and now this: my Moomin pilgrimage across 80...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 8 February 2026
Hope your weekend has been as good as mine. Below is a summary of stories that appeared in the blog over the last week. QANTAS: Gets A321XLR configuration very wrong. Too few loos. By 2paxfly on 06 Feb 2026 12:17 pmWhen Qantas began introducing its new Airbus A321XLRs, the focus...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Gets A321XLR configuration very wrong. Too few loos.
When Qantas began introducing its new Airbus A321XLRs, the focus was on longer range, larger overhead bins, and a more modern onboard experience. Instead, they got one incredibly basic thing wrong. It has become the talking point amongst passengers. That is, not enough toilets, or colloquially, ‘too few loos’. For...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Refreshing 7 regional lounges after closure
If you rely on Qantas’ regional lounges for a quiet coffee, a power point and a bit of pre-flight calm, there’s good and bad news. Your lounge is likely being refreshed and may be closed for a few weeks. Qantas has been active on the lounge front, with the most...
2PAXfly
EUROPE: Carry on bags to become free on low-cost carriers
Budget carriers like easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have built their ultra-low headline fares on optional extras, especially baggage fees. But now the European Parliament has taken a strong stance in favour of passengers being allowed to bring more on board for free — and it has triggered a fierce...
2PAXfly
ETIHAD: Brings its best Business Class to Sydney and Melbourne
Etihad Airways has now rolled out its latest-generation Business Class suites on all services from Sydney and Melbourne to its base in Abu Dhabi. That consistency of product will be welcomed by Australian travellers. In practical terms, that means no more ‘pot luck’ draw of older cabins. Book Business Class...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: We had Economy X first, so there!
Yesterday, I wrote a post about the launch of Qantas’ new Economy Plus seats. Today, I write a post where Virgin Australia gives a less-than-subtle middle finger to the Qantas initiative, rightly claiming that they did it first with their Economy X seats. To top if off, they are offering...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: ‘Economy Plus’ now launched
Qantas has now launched its newest cabin product, and as of today, Monday 2 February, it’s available for booking. Economy Plus was first announced back in November 2025. The product, which provides four extra inches, increases the seat pitch at the front of the economy section from 30 to 34...