2PAXfly
QANTAS: First Project Sunrise A350-100ULR jet rolls out
After years of hype, delays and plenty of scepticism, Qantas, or more accurately, Airbus, has rolled out its first ultra-long-haul Airbus A350-1000ULR from the factory in Toulouse, marking a major milestone for Project Sunrise. It’s a timely occurrence, with the current Middle East trauma, that this aircraft could fundamentally change...
Wild About Travel
Marvellous 12 days in Japan
It is a bit of a grim world right now, so I thought I would share a positive, beautiful, and delicious 1000-mile journey through one of my favourite countries in Sakura (Cherry blossom). Despite it being insanely busy, I enjoyed the landscapes, food, museums, shopping, temples, parks, and, of course,...
Wild About Travel
Gulf Aviation After the Ceasefire: What Travellers Need to Know Now
A two-week ceasefire for Iran was announced on 7th April. On 9th April, several Gulf governments reported a full day without any new missiles or drones. The UAE’s defence ministry said the country was “free of any air threats” that day, after weeks of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles and...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Leadership shake-up. Why?
A recent leadership overhaul at Turkish Airlines has sparked industry attention. Here’s a clear breakdown of what we know as fact and what is informed speculation. The interest in this story stems from Turkish Airlines’ recent commencement of non-stop flights to Istanbul from Australia. A flight I recently took, and...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
What are the worst airline websites? | Ask Us Anything Ep85 | 4-8-26
What are some unusual cards you find yourself using? What are your least favorite airline websites? Which dead cards do you miss the most? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on April 8th, 2026. Watch the full episode below, or listen...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – airBaltic Airbus A220-300 at Hamburg Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have an airBaltic Airbus A220-300 being loaded up at Hamburg Airport, as it is prepared for the return trip to Vilnius, Latvia. airBaltic is an all-Airbus A220-300 operator, flying 55 of the type under its own flag,...
Your Mileage May Vary
Passenger Refused to Switch Seats—So This Mom Got Her Revenge
The problems involved with families not sitting together have been going on for as long as airlines have required people to pay to choose their seats. Either people don’t realize…
One Mile at a Time
Atmos Rewards Summit Card Partner Award Booking Fee Waiver Benefit
Link: Learn more about the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
One Mile at a Time
Atmos Rewards Summit Card Partner Award Booking Fee Waiver Benefit
Link: Learn more about the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
View from the Wing
Ralph Nader Takes On TSA’s War On Hummus [Roundup]
Ralph Nader says TSA confiscated a container of hummus, turning airport security into yet another absurd fight over what counts as a dangerous liquid. Also McDonald’s devalues rewards, Kamala Harris picks the wrong premium cabin, Pand American’s domestic first class caviar gets put to the test.
Economy Class & Beyond
Time for another Lufthansa Strike (Monday and Tuesday, 13th and 14th April 2026), featuring Eurowings
It seems that Vereinigung Cockpit union is in the mood to have a pop at Lufthansa, with it calling out its members on strike on  Monday and Tuesday, 13th and 14th April 2026. This will impact operations by Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline from 00:01 am on Monday (22:01 UTC on Sunday) through...
Points With a Crew
How hotels categorize themselves (the difference between upscale and “upper upscale”)
Did you know there's an "official" list of which hotel chains and brands are considered luxury, upscale, midscale, budget and more? The one that surprised me the most was...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Do People Still Go to Peter Luger, New York City’s Famous Steakhouse?
There are some restaurants that stop being just places to eat and become part of a city’s mythology. Peter Luger Steak House is one of them. Even people who’ve never…
Miles To Memories
I Swear I’m Done with Delta Amex Cards
We've held many Delta Amex cards over the years, but I'm on my last one ever. Our decision was a remarkably easy one.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Have You REALLY Been Everywhere, Man? A Quiz.
Have you really been everywhere, man? The late Johnny Cash was arguably the most famous musician to sing the popular quintessentially North American country song I’ve Been Everywhere, which was released in 1966 — but the song that Johnny Cash sang actually was not the original version. Before we get into...
One Mile at a Time
Air India Boeing 777 & 787 Cabin Retrofits Underway, Finally
In late 2021, Air India was privatized by Tata Group, which was Air India’s initial owner when the company was first founded. Since then, executives at the company have been working hard to transform the airline. Suffice it to say that this is no small task, given the state of...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Finally Has Pilot Trading Cards — But The Union Made Them, Not Management
American Airlines finally has pilot trading cards, but the airline did not create them — the pilot union did, filling a small but telling gap that even Spirit and Frontier had already managed to cover, underscoring how American spent years missing the little customer-facing details.
Your Mileage May Vary
The First Things TSA Officers Notice About You at the Airport
From body language to what you’re wearing, TSA officers are trained to spot certain behaviors at security. A while back, we wrote a piece about what flight attendants are really doing…
Miles To Memories
Show That Teen In Your Life They Don’t Know Everything With This $125 Checking Bonus
Win over that kid who thinks they know everything in their life by showing them how to earn an easy $125 with this Chase teen checking bonus.
View from the Wing
Citi Strata Elite Approvals Rolling In — $2,300 In First-Year Value
Readers are reporting surprisingly generous approvals for Citi new premium credit card. The Strata Elite currently offers an initial bonus and credits I value at $2,300 total in the first cardmember year, making it one of the most lucrative new card launches in years.
2PAXfly
QANTAS: First Project Sunrise A350-100ULR jet rolls out
After years of hype, delays and plenty of scepticism, Qantas, or more accurately, Airbus, has rolled out its first ultra-long-haul Airbus A350-1000ULR from the factory in Toulouse, marking a major milestone for Project Sunrise. It’s a timely occurrence, with the current Middle East trauma, that this aircraft could fundamentally change...
Hawaii Calling
The 15 Best Hotels On Oahu For Families 2026
Finding the best hotels on Oahu for families can be overwhelming—there are a lot of great options, but not all of them are designed with families in mind. Living on Oahu and having personally stayed at many of these resorts, I’ve seen firsthand which hotels actually deliver when it comes...
Live and Let’s Fly
American Bets Billions On Miami And DFW
While competitors cut capacity, American is dropping $5 billion into simultaneous expansions at both hubs. Here's why it matters.
One Mile at a Time
Luxury Hotel Spas & Happy Ending Massages: Common? Problematic?
A longtime OMAAT reader who asked to remain anonymous shared an interesting story with me. I have my own thoughts on this, and I’d be curious to hear how others feel…
View from the Wing
Airline Tells Already-Ticketed Passengers To Pay Extra For Fuel As Oil Prices Soar — Or Be Denied Boarding
European low cost airline Volotea has crossed a line I've never seen from a commercial carrier before. They're trying to charge customers extra for fuel that already bought their tickets. They say they'll deny boarding to anyone that doesn't pay an extra €7 to fly because the cost...
Points With a Crew
17 Tech and Travel Deals at Amazon 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 ...
Your Mileage May Vary
What Is ResortPass? How To Use Hotel Amenities Without Booking A Room
Sometimes the hardest part of a trip isn’t getting there or getting home—it’s dealing with the awkward hours in between. You check out of your hotel in the morning, but…
Miles To Memories
Up To 20% Off Caesars Las Vegas Properties With New Amex Offer
There is a new Caesars Las Vegas New Amex Offer that could save you up to 20% off your room, dining, drinks, spa or any other fun.
2PAXfly
THAILAND: Travel insurance for tourists may become compulsory
Thai authorities are moving toward making travel insurance mandatory for all foreign visitors, as hospitals struggle with rising unpaid medical bills from tourists. It’s not law yet, but according to the Bangkok Post, the direction for travellers is clear, so Australians should take note. Why Thailand is cracking down The...
2PAXfly
NEW ZEALAND: Top of the South Island, what we did and ate in Picton, Havelock and Blenheim
We had three nights/four days at the Picton Waterfront Apartments, and were mainly interested in rest and relaxation. We also did a little sightseeing, and winery wining and dining. This post is a short summary of some of those activities. Hope it gives you an idea of what you can...
Wild About Travel
Sendai: The City of Trees
A 90-minute hop from Tokyo on Japan’s fastest train, the Hayabusa Shinkansen, brings you to Sendai, the city of trees! My critique of many Japanese cities is that they have a lot of concrete and asphalt, and not much green space. In the 19th century, Sendai’s local ruler encouraged tree...
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...
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...