2PAXfly
MELBOURNE AIRPORT: New AU$500m baggage system — fewer lost bags & faster check-in
Melbourne Airport says it’s about to drag its international baggage handling into the 21st century, with testing now underway on a half-billion-dollar, German-built, fully automated baggage system that promises faster processing, real-time bag tracking, and fewer bags going AWOL between check-in and carousel. The system, built by logistics heavyweight Beumer...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: to roll out free Starlink WiFi for all cabins
Emirates is preparing to consign slow inflight Wi-Fi to the dustbin of aviation history, confirming it will roll out free, ultra-fast Starlink internet across its entire fleet of 232 Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. This will create the world’s largest Starlink-enabled international fleet and marks a genuine turning point for...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New A321XLR now flying Brisbane to Sydney route
Qantas’ newest narrowbody, the long-awaited Airbus A321XLR, has officially landed in Brisbane, beginning regular flights between Sydney and Brisbane from today. It’s another milestone in Qantas’ fleet renewal program,and the first time Queenslanders get to experience the most modern single-aisle aircraft flying. For passengers, the A321XLR represents a very real...
2PAXfly
FIJI AIRWAYS: Paul Scurrah, former Virgin boss returns to aviation
Fiji Airways has a new CEO, and he’s a familiar name to anyone who remembers the great Virgin Australia upheaval of 2020. Paul Scurrah, former Virgin Australia CEO, has taken over as Managing Director & CEO of Fiji Airways from 1 November 2025. This marks his long-anticipated return to the...
Also on BoardingArea
The Bulkhead Seat
Confirmed: Hilton Unveils Program Overhaul for 2026 With Faster Qualification and a New Top Tier
Last week, Hilton Honors confirmed that it is making one of its biggest loyalty… The post Confirmed: Hilton Unveils Program Overhaul for 2026 With Faster Qualification and a New Top Tier appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
View from the Wing
United Cracks the Travel Agency Problem With Credit Pooling — Delivering Where American’s Coercive Strategy Collapsed [Roundup]
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading United Cracks the Travel Agency Problem With Credit Pooling — Delivering Where American’s Coercive Strategy Collapsed [Roundup]...
TravelUpdate
Do this before apply for your next travel credit card…
Before you apply next for a travel credit card, looking to get that welcome bonus offer, make sure that you've gone thru this checklist...
One Mile at a Time
Official: Major Hilton Honors Elite Status Changes, New Diamond Reserve Tier
A couple of weeks ago, there started to be rumors that Hilton Honors was planning some major changes to its elite status program, thanks to some leaked documents. Well, all of the details have now been announced, and there are some major updates. They’re a mixed bag, and while some...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Emirates Takes Drastic Action To Ease Supply Chain Struggles That Have Frustrated The Airline Industry
Remember, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains came under enormous pressure and popular everyday goods suddenly started to disappear from supermarket and pharmacy shelves. Some of those issues were just down to sudden and unexpected demand – like toilet paper and disinfectant wipes, while other...
The Bulkhead Seat
Allegiant Adds 30 Routes and Enters Four New Airports
Allegiant Travel Company is gearing up for a major network expansion in 2026. Today,… The post Allegiant Adds 30 Routes and Enters Four New Airports appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
One Mile at a Time
Official: Major Hilton Honors Elite Status Changes, New Diamond Reserve Tier
A couple of weeks ago, there started to be rumors that Hilton Honors was planning some major changes to its elite status program, thanks to some leaked documents. Well, all of the details have now been announced, and there are some major updates. They’re a mixed bag, and while some...
Sam Chui
Dubai Airshow 2025 Day 2: Big Orders for Airbus
After a quiet Day 1, Airbus opened Day 2 with major orders from Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Europa. Moreover, Boeing also received order from Gulf Air, following a successful Day 1. Etihad Airways Orders Airbus A330neo, A350-1000 and A350F Etihad Airways has placed a firm order for six A330-900s, becoming the newest customer...
Eye of the Flyer
Luxury Hotel Credit Card Statement Idea: Valentine’s Day (Start Booking Now)
I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. But we’ll be at Christmas 2026 before you know it! 🙂 If you hold a travel rewards credit card that features statement credit for luxury hotel bookings and can’t think of how to use it, might I propose an idea? (Especially for the...
Frequent Miler
Hilton Diamond Reserve status coming in 2026: Here are the details
Today, Hilton Honors announced several changes to its elite program for 2026, which will include lowering the stay and night thresholds for current tiers, removing base points as a qualification metric, and perhaps most notably, adding a new top-tier: Diamond Reserve. The new elite tier and lower thresholds were leaked...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
FlyDubai Abandons Its ‘All-Boeing’ Strategy With Massive New Order For Airbus A321 Jets
Dubai’s closest homegrown equivalent to a low-cost airline, FlyDubai, has just announced a major upset for US aerospace giant Boeing after confirming it has chosen rival Airbus for a massive fleet expansion and renewal program. Having adopted an all-Boeing fleet strategy since its inception in 2008, FlyDubai will begin adding...
Traveling For Miles
IHG’s 2025 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale goes live today (details here)
The 2025 IHG Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale comes in multiple parts, but the most important thing for you to know right now is that the pre-sale starts today with what appears to be the best discount that IHG is planning to offer. The post IHG’s 2025 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale goes...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
New Diamond Reserve Elite Status Tier Confirmed by Hilton; Faster Path to Elite Status
As one of a select few people who attended an official interactive media roundtable of Hilton at the newly built Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key hotel property in Rosslyn in Virginia yesterday morning, Monday, November 17, 2025, I am now able to report on the news that the new Diamond...
One Mile at a Time
Air Europa Orders Airbus A350, Despite All-Boeing 787 Long Haul Fleet
There have been a lot of announcements during the first couple of days of the Dubai Airshow, though they’ve largely involved Gulf carriers. Well, here’s an announcement involving a European airline, which will catch some people (including me!) off guard.
One Mile at a Time
FlyDubai Rolling Out Free Starlink Wi-Fi On Boeing 737 Fleet In 2026
FlyDubai has made an exciting announcement, which will see the airline going from not offering Wi-Fi at all, to offering free, high speed Wi-Fi for everyone. Talk about a nice upgrade!
View from the Wing
Worldwide Exclusive: Hilton Honors 2026 Overhaul — Confirmed Upgrades, Guaranteed Late Checkout And Elimination Of Rollover Nights
Hilton is rolling out a major Honors overhaul in 2026, and I can confirm the key changes: a new Diamond Reserve tier with confirmed upgrades and guaranteed late checkout, lower requirements for Gold and Diamond, and the end of rollover nights. Continue reading Worldwide Exclusive: Hilton Honors 2026 Overhaul — Confirmed...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Their Cabin Crew Went On Strike; Now Aer Lingus Says It Might Shut Its Manchester Base
Just a month after cabin crew at a major Aer Lingus base in Manchester voted to go on strike, the Irish flag carrier has warned staff that it might now exit the city with the potential loss of more than 200 jobs. Aer Lingus created the Manchester base in 2021...
Live from a Lounge
Dubai Airshow 2025: Etihad orders A330neos, adds to the A350-1000 order as well
Airbus and Etihad have signed an agreement for Airbus to supply more wide-body aircraft to Etihad. Here are the details. The post Dubai Airshow 2025: Etihad orders A330neos, adds to the A350-1000 order as well appeared first on Live From A Lounge.
One Mile at a Time
Wow: FlyDubai Orders Up To 150 Airbus A321neos, In Major Blow To Boeing
FlyDubai has just announced a new aircraft order, and it’s one of the most interesting orders that we’ve been in quite some time, if you ask me!
Live from a Lounge
Dubai Airshow 2025: flydubai Orders up to 150 A321neos
At the Dubai Airshow, 2025, flydubai has signed its first order with Airbus, becoming a customer of the A321neo. The post Dubai Airshow 2025: flydubai Orders up to 150 A321neos appeared first on Live From A Lounge.
One Mile at a Time
Etihad Orders Airbus A330-900neo, More A350-1000s, Deliveries Start 2027
Etihad Airways has just announced an Airbus aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow, and it’s an interesting one, as the airline will be adding a new aircraft type to its fleet.
2PAXfly
MELBOURNE AIRPORT: New AU$500m baggage system — fewer lost bags & faster check-in
Melbourne Airport says it’s about to drag its international baggage handling into the 21st century, with testing now underway on a half-billion-dollar, German-built, fully automated baggage system that promises faster processing, real-time bag tracking, and fewer bags going AWOL between check-in and carousel. The system, built by logistics heavyweight Beumer...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: to roll out free Starlink WiFi for all cabins
Emirates is preparing to consign slow inflight Wi-Fi to the dustbin of aviation history, confirming it will roll out free, ultra-fast Starlink internet across its entire fleet of 232 Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. This will create the world’s largest Starlink-enabled international fleet and marks a genuine turning point for...
ATX Jetsetter
Emirates is Adding Starlink Wi-Fi Fleetwide
Emirates is retrofitting more than 200 aircraft with fast, free, Starlink Wi-Fi with retrofits expected to be completed by mid-2027. The post Emirates is Adding Starlink Wi-Fi Fleetwide appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
Wild About Travel
Air Japan exits after Just Three Short Years
I am heading to Japan from Bangkok in December, and I always like to keep my options open for flying. ANA Group’s subsidiary, Air Japan (NOT JAL Japan Airlines), has been strongly marketing itself as a key carrier at Bangkok Airport, operating several times a week from Bangkok to Narita...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Hobart lounge cupboard to grow with redesign
This has been a long time coming for Tasmanian travellers. Qantas is about to upgrade and expand its famously poky Hobart lounge cupboard, sorry Hobart Qantas Club, with a redesign and expansion that is far more befitting for the island’s growing status as a premium destination. With an opening date...
2PAXfly
SINGAPORE: Green flying comes with a COST — Singapore slaps SAF levy on airfares
If you’re flying out of Singapore from mid-2026, get ready to pay a little extra to support the island state’s net-zero by 2050 sustainability initiative. From April next year, Singapore will introduce a green tax on airfares, the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy. From October 2026, that tax will be...
2PAXfly
CATHAY PACIFIC: Return to servicing Hong Kong to Adelaide route three times a week for winter
Cathay Pacific is dusting off its Adelaide route, announcing a seasonal return to the South Australian capital with three flights a week between Hong Kong and Adelaide from 11 November 2025 through to 27 March 2026. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Hong Kong (returning from...
Wild About Travel
Fire Over Kentucky: What People Miss in Plane Crash Fears
Last week, a UPS MD-11 crashed at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, Kentucky, USA, shortly after takeoff. The jet, carrying an estimated 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel, erupted into a massive fireball as it crashed into an industrial area about two kilometres from the airport, striking multiple buildings and...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Market update given at the Annual General Meeting
The Qantas Group, although reporting solid trading conditions, warns that some potentially adverse trading conditions are on the horizon. Domestic revenue growth trimmed Qantas expects ‘Group Domestic unit revenue’ to grow by approximately 3% in the first half of the 2026 financial year (FY26). That’s the lower end of what...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Copies Virgin Australia with ‘Economy Plus’ for more leg room
Qantas has announced its newest cabin product, Economy Plus to be launched in February 2026. The product, which provides four extra inches, increases the seat pitch at the front of the economy section from 30 to 34 inches. It means Qantas is going to sacrifice, say, a row of capacity...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Project Sunrise aircraft finally takes shape — again
Remember when Qantas first floated the idea of flying non-stop from Sydney to London back in 2017? We’ve had multiple CEOs, a pandemic, a federal inquiry, and at least one mid-air Wi-Fi trial since then. But here we are, November 2025, and Qantas’ first Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR is finally being...