2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: EconomyFlex fares gain free same-day Fly Ahead feature
For those whose business meetings end early and want to get back home sooner, Virgin Australia is extending its Fly Ahead feature to eligible domestic Economy Flex passengers. This allows them to move to an earlier flight on the same day without paying a change fee or fare difference. It...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: New-generation lounges roll out globally, but Sydney is still waiting
Emirates is rolling out a new ‘signature’ lounge concept across its global network, beginning with Munich and Frankfurt and continuing to Manchester, Mauritius and Istanbul later this year. The airline says it will spend more than AED50 million (AU$20 million) on each next-generation lounge. That is a substantial sum. Passengers...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices
More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door
Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website....
Also on BoardingArea
Live and Let’s Fly
Korean-American Doctor Says United Airlines Employee Mocked Him With “Konnichiwa” Greeting
A Korean-American physician says he was greeted mockingly with “Konnichiwa” after a flight by a United employee, then watched as the awkward exchange turned into something more insulting. While this may not be a David Dao incident, it seems like a serious unforced error. Doctor Says United Failed To Step...
Dots, Lines, & Destinations
DLD 594: Widget Watch
I dunno…but it seems like lots of Delta news, plus some other idiocy this week
The Bulkhead Seat
Finally: First Class Known as “Blue First” Will Begin Flying on JetBlue in October
Back in December, I wrote about JetBlue finally adding a First Class cabin fleetwide…
Miles To Memories
(They’re Back Jack!) American Express Launches Two New Transfer Bonuses
American Express has launched two new Membership Rewards transfer bonuses, giving cardholders extra value when moving points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Hilton Honors.
View from the Wing
American Airlines Agents Said I Needed A 24-Hour Delay To Switch Airlines. Its Own Contract Says Otherwise
My American Airlines flight went mechanical, and two agents insisted I could not be moved to another airline unless I faced a 24-hour delay. American’s own Contract of Carriage says otherwise: for controllable disruptions, if no American flight is available until the next day, passengers can be rebooked on a...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Save Up to 15% on Airfares With Qatar Airways Independence Day Sale
In celebration of Independence Day in the United States — which is Saturday, July 4, 2026 — you can save up to 15% on airfares with Qatar Airways on specific fares in both the economy class cabin and in the business class cabin for travel through Wednesday, March 31, 2027... ...but...
One Mile at a Time
Plane Crashing Into Beijing’s Tallest Tower Blamed On “Personal Reasons”
Last week, a small plane crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper — obviously this wasn’t an accident, and that’s a chilling reality, which has had implications for aviation throughout the country. There’s now an update, as the government claims it has completed its investigation, and has released more information about the...
Frequent Miler
Marriott Gold fast track for Chase Sapphire Reserve is back
Marriott Gold is the second lowest of Marriott’s elite tiers and offers a modest set of benefits, including 2 pm late check-out, 25% bonus points on stays, free premium wifi, and upgrades to non-suite rooms. Complimentary Marriott Gold status is a benefit of the American Express Platinum card and the...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Ryanair Demands Europe Scrap New Border Controls As Delays Reach ‘Critical Point’ With Immigration Wait Times of Five Hours or More
Ryanair is demanding that the European Union scrap its controversial new immigration border checks until September to avoid ‘chaos’ breaking out at airports across Europe during the busy summer holiday period. The call came just hours after a lobby group representing Europe’s airports warned that passport lines had now reached...
Miles To Memories
(Now Live) Vroom, Vroom! 5% Categories For 2026 3rd Quarter & Quick Activation Links
I share the 5% Categories for the 2026 3rd quarter, give my thoughts on each and even give you easy to use activation links for them.
Traveling For Miles
Chase is launching new spending bonuses for Q3 2026 [Targeted]
In the past few years, Chase has, from time to time, offered a variety of quarterly targeted spending bonuses across its co-branded card portfolio and while the frequency of these bonus has definitely gone down, it looks like Chase is targeting select cardholders for new bonuses in Q3 2026.
One Mile at a Time
JetBlue “Blue First” First Class Rolling Out Fleetwide Starting In Late 2026
JetBlue is known for its excellent Mint business class experience, though the catch is that it’s only available on select premium routes. Fortunately some time ago, JetBlue announced plans to introduce a premium product throughout the rest of its fleet, more comparable to domestic first class.
Live and Let’s Fly
Scott Kirby Says United Airlines Is Spreading American Values Around The World
Scott Kirby’s July 4th message to United employees mixed patriotism, corporate pride, and his usual claim that United Airlines is not just the biggest airline, but “the best airline in the history of aviation.” Scott Kirby: United Airlines Plays A Pivotal Role In Exporting American Values (And Of Course, Is...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Delta Air Lines’ Unionized Pilots Slam Atlanta’s Hometown Airline Over ‘Unacceptable’ Delays and Cancellations
Delta Air Lines’ once laser-focused obsession on operational reliability earned it the moniker of ‘the on time machine,’ an accolade that the carrier’s executives were more than happy to boast about. In recent years, however, Atlanta’s hometown airline has struggled to deliver the industry-leading performance it became famous for, and...
TravelUpdate
$0 Intro Annual Fee & 130,000 Points Bonus: Amex Hilton Surpass Card Review
With this limited time offer on the Hilton Surpass Card, you'll pay no annual fee for the first year and earn 130,000 bonus points.
One Mile at a Time
Delta Pilots Subtly Blame Management For “Unacceptable” Flight Reliability
Delta Air Lines’ pilot union has set up a website to apologize to customers for the carrier’s declining operational reliability. The site is genuinely useful and comes across as just being intended to help, but the undertone here is very clear. I must say, this is very well played on...
View from the Wing
Hunter Biden Blames Business Class Bloody Mary Cart And United App Shows Who Boarded
Marriott and United are offering targeted summer bonuses for elites enrolled in their partnership, Hunter Biden says a business class Bloody Mary cart triggered a relapse, and United’s app now shows how many passengers have boarded. Also: Frontier and Barclays renew their cobrand deal, Flying Blue promo awards include U.S.–Europe...
TravelUpdate
New $1,000 Amex Credit: Why I Find This One Truly Bizarre
This new Amex Credit is worth $1,000. Whilel this is a new benefit, I find this move by American Express to be truly bizarre. Here's why...
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta Air Lines Adds The Wall Street Journal Access to Delta Sync Inflight Entertainment
Delta Air Lines is expanding its onboard digital experience through a new partnership with…
One Mile at a Time
Are Doors On Business Class Seats A Big Deal, Or Just A Silly Gimmick?
We’re increasingly seeing airlines introduce business class seats with doors, which is something that most travelers are happy about. Of course we all have different preferences when it comes to seating arrangements, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some people even prefer older generation business class seats, especially if traveling...
Eye of the Flyer
Delta’s 20-Minute Bag Guarantee: How to Actually Claim Your 2,500 SkyMiles This Summer
It’s summer, which means the airports are full, the air is thick, the patience is thin, and a fair number of us are about to stand at a Delta Air Lines baggage carousel watching the same three unclaimed suitcases lap the belt while yours reconsiders its commitment to the trip....
View from the Wing
Delta Pilots Launch Passenger Advice Site To Blame Management For Cancellations
Delta’s pilot union has launched a passenger-advice site that points travelers to delay tips, DOT complaints, compensation rules, and Elliott Advocacy, but the real message is aimed at management. As Delta struggles to recover from disruptions, pilots are trying to frame cancellations as a management failure of staffing, scheduling, technology,...
The Bulkhead Seat
I Hold Top-Tier Status With American, Delta, and United. Here’s What is Right (and Wrong)
Elite status has never been more expensive to earn, but for frequent flyers like…
Traveling For Miles
IHG deal: 15% off reward bookings at new + refreshed properties
IHG One Rewards has an ongoing promotion that's worth reminding you about as it may be able to save you some points on the next award stay that you make. It's simple: You'll get 15% off the number of points needed to book a stay at a property that IHG...
2PAXfly
VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: No First Lounge for London. Premier dining room instead
The original plan was to have a new First Class Lounge at London’s Terminal 3. It was to be ready for the debut of the Project Sunrise flights. Qantas has quietly shelved those plans, to the indignation of premium frequent flyers and passengers. Instead, the airline will refurbish and enlarge...
2PAXfly
CHINA AIRLINES: More flights to Australia from October, 2026
Taiwan’s China Airlines is increasing flights to Australia from late October, giving travellers more non-stop choices between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Taipei. The headline act is Sydney, where China Airlines will lift its Taipei service to daily from 25 October 2026. Melbourne follows on 28 October with a fifth weekly...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Lounge pass rules change from 1 July 2026
From Wednesday 1 July, Qantas will tighten the rules governing Complimentary Lounge Invitations, ending the long-standing ability to transfer a pass to any other Frequent Flyer member, regardless of whether they are travelling with you. If you have a stash of passes, you only have days to give them away!...
Wild About Travel
concordes at last
She was the most beautiful aircraft ever created. She was the fastest passenger aircraft ever to fly. She was created through the cooperation of two countries, and the technology that came with her is still being used, with the breakthroughs she sparked continuing to impact aviation today. One fatal crash...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 28 June, 2026
Hello travellers, Well, I’m in Sydney, but not quite home yet. If you have ever had a renovation done, you will understand. I have spent the last week at a Meriton Suites in central Sydney. It’s been a mixed experience. Living in central Sydney has some great advantages, especially on...
Wild About Travel
copy an dre doBeautiful Bold Brightline -The Best way to Ride
Birghtline is superb. What blows me away is that the Brightline experience has been created to attract and keep people who have never ridden a train before. And it works. Background First, a bit of history. In 2018, Brightline did the unthinkable and opened a new private rail service in...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 caught in global wing-crack inspection order
One Qantas Airbus A380 is among 16 superjumbos worldwide caught up in an urgent inspection program. Inspections were called for after cracks were found in a critical internal wing structure, as reported by the SMH. Europe’s aviation safety regulator, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive...