2PAXfly
EUROPE: New EES entry system for Australians
From April 10, a major overhaul of border control across much of Europe comes into full effect, replacing the familiar passport stamp with biometric data, digital records. I experienced this when entering the Czech Republic at Prague Airport in March, and it was surprisingly efficient. It’s called the Entry/Exit System...
2PAXfly
LOYALTY: Airline programs now worth billions. Qantas in top 10
If you’ve ever wondered why airlines seem more interested in selling points than seats, a new global report puts some serious numbers behind that suspicion. According to the latest On Point Loyalty Top 100 report, airline loyalty programs have evolved into multi-billion-dollar businesses, and for Australian travellers, that shift is...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Launch of new reward seats search tool
Earning points is easy. Finding a decent reward seat, especially in business class, is where things usually fall apart. Virgin Australia is promising to fix that, with a new calendar-based Reward Seat search tool rolling out across its website and app. The airline is calling a ‘step change’ in how...
2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: Cuts 1,100 flights, affecting 44,000 passengers due to Middle East conflict
If your upcoming trip involves Air New Zealand, it’s worth double-checking your booking. The Kiwi carrier is cancelling around 1,100 flights through to early May, impacting roughly 44,000 passengers, as surging fuel prices ripple through the aviation industry. Most travellers are expected to be rebooked onto the same-day flights, as...
Also on BoardingArea
Live from a Lounge
European Carriers such as Lufthansa, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic expand capacity to India
Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Swiss and Lufthansa are all hastening their plans to launch flights to India. Here are the details of the plans.
One Mile at a Time
Delta CEO Predicts Multiple Airline Mergers, Says They’ll All Benefit Delta
Airline consolidation has been a big topic of conversation in recent times. We’ve recently learned that JetBlue is reportedly looking to be acquired, and we’ve even seen the Transportation Secretary talk about how ”Trump loves to see big deals.”
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta, Southwest Match $45 Bag Fee As Airlines Once Again Move In Lockstep
Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines are the latest two U.S. carriers to raise baggage fees in the face of rising fuel costs and uncertainty in the Middle East. Delta, Southwest Raises Checked Bag Fees, The Latest Carriers To Hike Prices Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines have raised its...
No Work All Travel
Hotel Review: Tower Club at lebua, Bangkok
Disclaimer: In exchange for a review, I was invited to enjoy one of the new guest rooms at the Tower Club at lebua, Bangkok. The last time I stayed at the Tower Club at lebua,  the focus was on the food. Given its Michelin-starred pair of restaurants, as well as other...
2PAXfly
EUROPE: New EES entry system for Australians
From April 10, a major overhaul of border control across much of Europe comes into full effect, replacing the familiar passport stamp with biometric data, digital records. I experienced this when entering the Czech Republic at Prague Airport in March, and it was surprisingly efficient. It’s called the Entry/Exit System...
One Mile at a Time
Lufthansa Flight Attendants Going On Strike, Most April 10 Flights Canceled
Lufthansa is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its 100th anniversary in the most authentic way possible, and it involves lots of industrial action. A few weeks ago, Lufthansa pilots went on a two-day strike, and now Lufthansa flight attendants are planning a one-day strike.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Man Caught Stealing From Passenger Hand Luggage On Flight to Pittsburgh After He Was Spotted Vaping in Bathroom
A man was only caught stealing from other passengers’ hand luggage on a flight from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh after he drew attention to himself when he started to vape in the bathroom. Jaymer Ferrell, 23, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of theft on an aircraft after...
Live from a Lounge
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card: Up to 15,000 Miles on Signup in April 2026
Etihad Guest and BOBCARD have launched a new signup offer on their newly launched co-brand credit card, the best one, so far.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Bahrain Finally Reopens its International Airport After 39 Days As Iran Ceasefire Takes Hold
The Kingdom of Bahrain has finally reopened its main international airport on the outskirts of the capital, Manama, after it was shuttered for an unprecedented 39 days following the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. At the outset of the conflict on February 28, Bahrain closed its airspace...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Lufthansa Flight Attendants Will Go On Strike On Friday in Latest Disruption For German Flag Carrier
Lufthansa’s centenary year of celebrations is turning into one of disruption and strife as the German flag carrier faces down yet another day of strike action from aircrew… This time, from flight attendants at its flagship mainline carrier, as well as one of the airline’s short-haul subsidiaries. Crew members from...
Monkey Miles
Amex changes referral terms – 5 referrals per year, per card
This update just went through, but you’re now limited to 5 Amex referrals per year, per card…not per person. You can see it now when you log in and go to refer. Digging deeper into the terms and conditions is where you’ll find the language regarding per card vs per...
Frequent Miler
90K Bilt points through welcome bonuses
Until recently, there weren’t many opportunities to earn many Bilt points through welcome bonuses. People previously earned Bilt points primarily through credit card spend, rewards for paying rent, and shopping or dining with Bilt’s partners. Two big developments have changed all that. First, with the rollout of Bilt 2.0, Bilt...
Points With a Crew
Should you sign up for the Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card? (Higher Offer Ending Soon)
Chase and Capital One both offer great mid-tier credit cards for travel points and miles. Which card is better?
The Gate with Brian Cohen
In Which Direction Does Water Drain at the Equator?
One of the people who asked me about whether or not I was north or south of the Equator in Kenya also asked me about in which direction does water drain at the Equator. People generally believe that water drains counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere in accordance with the Coriolis...
Frequent Miler
UBS credit cards finally have welcome bonuses (but only through 6/30/26)
UBS credit cards are quirky little things. Historically they haven’t had welcome offers, you need to be a High Net Worth individual to get approved for them, and you can’t apply for them online—you have to call UBS. While the latter two quirks haven’t changed, the first one has: there...
You Are Travel
Hilton Forges Exclusive Agreement with YOTEL
​tl;dr – Hilton makes a move in the ‘smart-convenience’ sub-segment of ‘lifestyle’ travel. ​Hilton recently announced an exclusive…
Frequent Miler
Current Amex Offers
This post is designed to show current Amex Offers. If you have any Amex cards, even authorized user cards, then you’re eligible to sign up for offers when you log into your Amex account. If you’re planning to shop or book travel, check this page to see if an Amex...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Flying Through Europe Feels So Confusing (It’s Not Just You)
If you’re used to flying within the U.S., the rules are pretty straightforward:Domestic flight? No passport.International flight? Passport. Then you fly through Europe… and suddenly none of that logic seems…
You Are Travel
St. Regis Kapalua Bay to Debut in 2027, But Resort Bookable Through Marriott Now
​tl;dr – This is a conversion of an existing property. Marriott recently reached an agreement to bring The…
Frequent Miler
Viator/TripAdvisor Experiences Chase Offer: Get 8% back on up to $125 spend
There’s a new card-linked spending offer for Viator available on targeted cards. It’s a Chase Offer giving 8% back on up to $125 spend and it’s also valid for TripAdvisor Experiences bookings. The Deal Get 8% back as a statement credit for Viator and TripAdvisor Experiences bookings with a targeted...
Hawaii Calling
The Perfect Oahu 7 Day Budget Itinerary (2026)
I’ve put together this Oahu 7 day budget itinerary based on my own trips around the island, focusing on the best free and low-cost things to do without missing what makes Oahu special. If you’re trying to experience beaches, hikes, local food, and iconic spots like Pearl Harbor without overspending,...
Miles To Memories
Vegas May Have Lost Its Train, Plus Bruno Mars Gets a Parade & Goodbye To The Middle Class!
MTM Vegas April 8, 2026 Consider joining our Vegas Patreon to get the weekly exclusive MtM Vegas after show! You can also listen to this episode as a podcast. Learn more here.  Today’s MTM Vegas Video Brightline West suddenly looks a lot shakier, Rio’s latest shakeup raises fresh questions, and...
View from the Wing
Passenger Boarded A Flight Only To Learn Their Seat 27E Didn’t Exist
A passenger boarded a flight with a boarding pass for seat 27E, only to discover that there was no 27E on the aircraft at all. The most likely explanation is a last-minute aircraft swap that changed the seat map without giving the traveler a new boarding pass.
Frequent Miler
(Update: Extended) CardPointers: Automatically enroll offers to all of your cards
CardPointers is an app/website/browser extension that helps you track all your credit cards, their various benefits, etc. Its most popular feature is the ability to auto-enroll card-linked spending offers like Amex Offers, Citi Offers, etc. Rather than having to go through and manually click to enroll in each offer, CardPointers...
2PAXfly
TRIP REPORT: First impressions of Turkish Airlines Sydney to London
I have just flown Turkish Airlines for the first time, as has my husband, but on different flights. My trip was Sydney–Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul–London. His was Bangkok–Istanbul–Prague, and return. Before I do a considered full report on the flights and the trip, I thought it was worth posting about my first...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Joint flights with Qatar Airways to Doha shelved
If you’ve booked a Virgin Australia flight to Doha, there’s some bad news. Flights operated by Qatar Airways on behalf of Virgin Australia have now been cancelled until at least mid-June, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt travel through the region. And for travellers, this isn’t just...
Wild About Travel
rewute and redrfat Discovering the World’s Highest and Lowest Airports
Reflecting on my travels last year, I realised I flew through quite high and low-altitude airports. I have long realised that altitude affects the travel experience, airport operations, and the differing challenges for pilots. This got me thinking: of the 289 airports I’ve visited in my life, how many would...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 5 April, 2026
Greetings from London! I’ve moved on from Prague, which was very cold but fantastic. I hadn’t realised how much early 20th-century architecture there was in the city centre. There is even a Cubist architecture walk!  Once I got over the cold, I really enjoyed myself. The rugging up and de-rugging...
Wild About Travel
drfat Explore Taipei, Asia’s best city with me
Every time I come back to a favourite city, I wonder if my experience on tis occasion  will be as enjoybale as it was on the previous visits. Yaipei did nit diusappoin. – it never disappomts, In fact, I would go to say it is the best city in Asia....
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: Air New Zealand to land first
Western Sydney International (WSI) hasn’t even opened yet, but the race to be first on the departures board seems already underway. Last week Singapore Airlines announced its first flights in November 2026, and now Air New Zealand is going to beat them to the baggage claim. From October 26, the...
Wild About Travel
Drfat medillin
twi wodneorfi vists here loffocually my favorute xciy in clonmia, lanscapr,e peoel, culture, drive, food and more llacolodie in a organsed coae Location and Orientation Medellín, known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” is the capital of the Antioquia department in Colombia. Nestled in the Aburrá Valley, at an altitude...
2PAXfly
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES: Joins OneWorld from 22 April, 2026
This is no surprise, given its amalgamation with Alaska Airlines. The integration has been gradual, so joining OneWorld represents yet another step. From April 22, 2026, Hawaiian Airlines will officially join the OneWorld alliance. For travellers, and especially Qantas Frequent Flyers and other OneWorld airline loyalty members, this opens the...