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...
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
Which Airlines Have The Best Business Class? Here Are My Favorites…
I’ve long published my rankings of the world’s best first class products and best first class lounges. In the past few years, I’ve tried to do the same for business class.
Frequent Miler
Do we undervalue Delta card welcome offers? | Ask Us Anything Ep83 | 2-4-26
Do we undervalue Delta card welcome offers? How do you guys maximize SkyTeam? We answered these and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on February 4th of 2026. Watch the full episode below, or listen on your favorite podcast platform. You can click the timestamps below...
Your Mileage May Vary
This “Morally Gray” Uber Hack Can Slash Airport Ride Prices
A viral TikTok has sparked debate after a traveler shared a workaround that avoids airport Uber surge pricing by taking a free hotel shuttle first—raising questions about fairness, ethics, and…
You Are Travel
Just 3 Spaces Left at this Southern California Retreat – Book By Tuesday!
tl;dr – Start your spring with 3 nights and 4 days in beautiful Southern California wine country on… The post Just 3 Spaces Left at this Southern California Retreat – Book By Tuesday! appeared first on You Are Travel.
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Review: The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North
A recent work trip had me in Atlanta for a few days and I… The post Hotel Review: The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
View from the Wing
Passenger Forgets $20,000 Cash in Checked Bag—TSA Screener Celebrated for Not Stealing It [Roundup
In a story so absurd it cannot possibly be real, a passenger accidentally left $20,000 in cash inside her checked luggage at Boston Logan Airport—and the TSA screener who found it was celebrated for not stealing the money.
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Top 5 Flight Bonus Miles and Points Offers for February 2026
Here are our Top 5 Flight Bonus Mile/Point Offers for this month. This post is of course for bonuses for flying this month however many of these offers go beyond so don’t count them out for flights you need to book past this month. If none of the offers listed...
Your Mileage May Vary
T-Mobile Abroad in 2026: What’s Included, What’s Slow, and What Costs Extra
There’s a specific moment that tells you whether your international phone plan is going to be a lifesaver… or a problem. It’s the second you land, turn off airplane mode,…
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER unloading at London Heathrow Terminal 2
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER, which is unloading at London Heathrow Terminal 2, accompanied by a sister 777 and tails by Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines.  United Airlines operates a fleet of 53 Boeing...
One Mile at a Time
Capella Taipei: What A Hotel… I’m Now Obsessed With The Capella Brand
We just spent a few nights at the 86-key Capella Taipei, which opened in 2025, setting a new standard for hotels in the city. I was very much looking forward to this stay, not just because I thought this specific hotel looked beautiful, but also because I was intrigued by...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint in Zion National Park in Utah
After deciding to abort the mission to complete the hike on the Canyon Overlook Trail, I was set to leave Zion National Park and resign myself to a miserable experience — but before doing so, I checked once more whether the Scenic Drive was open to motor vehicles, as it was...
View from the Wing
Think Other Travelers’ Credit Card Strategies Are Crazy? Why You’re Probably The One Missing the Point
This week’s Frequent Miler On The Air podcast offered a really insightful point that I think is worth repeating.
Your Mileage May Vary
A Cruise Ship Dining Mistake Left This Couple With a $98,000 Restaurant Bill
A simple gratuity error during a specialty dining experience on a Royal Caribbean cruise temporarily resulted in a nearly $100,000 charge—and left a couple without usable credit for the rest…
Miles To Memories
AAnomalies – Mixing it Up with AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards Oddities
AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards options have been largely consistent the past few years, but a few wrinkles exist. Here's what to consider. The post AAnomalies – Mixing it Up with AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards Oddities appeared first on Miles to Memories.
View from the Wing
Which Premium Card Is Best For You? Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X vs Strata Elite
Four premium cards dominate the space right now: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, and Citi Strata Elite. Let's break down lounges, credits, earn rates, and transfer partners—then show which card (or pair) actually makes sense for how you travel and spend.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Israel’s Flag Carrier El Al Faces Record-Breaking Fine Over Price Gouging Claims
Israel’s national flag carrier, El Al Airlines, is facing a record-breaking fine over price gouging allegations during the outset of the Gaza conflict when foreign carriers suspended flights to the country, leaving El Al with a monopoly on many routes. The Israel Competition Authority has been investigating El Al over...
Live and Let’s Fly
Halloway Bets Big On Private Rail Travel In America, Again?!
Halloway is putting private railcars onto Amtrak, with chef-driven luxury and high design. Welcome to the new era of great American rail vacations.  The Return Of Slow Travel, With A Very American Twist For decades, Americans have treated trains like a nostalgia act or a necessary evil. You rode rail...
Pointalize
Aeroplan Stopover Rules Guide
Learn the 2026 Aeroplan Stopover rules: add a second city to your trip for just 5,000 points. Covers the 45-day limit, US restrictions, and booking steps.
Points With a Crew
19 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
The Only Rental Car “Hack” I Use Every Time
Choosing a rental car is not the most glamorous part of vacation planning. Most of the time, I don’t care what I’m driving — I just want something that’s not…
Eye of the Flyer
Honda Jet Can Autoland, Malaria Onboard Royal Caribbean, Boeing 787 Grounded, 3D Printed Jet Parts and more Travel News!
Here are this week’s cruise headlines and news from around the web and interweb: Royal Caribbean cruise passenger diagnosed with malaria, medically evacuated by Mexican Navy Boeing 787 Dreamliner grounded after pilot flags similar issue to deadly Air India jet US law keeps fishermen on decades-old ships Airbus Experiments With...
View from the Wing
American Woman Detained By Border Agents—What Happens When You Don’t Look Like Your Old Passport Photo
A woman crossing the U.S. border from Mexico was detained by Customs and Border Protection after facial recognition software repeatedly failed to match her current appearance to her passport photo taken 10 years earlier. Officers claimed her eyes looked "more open" in her old picture, leaving her locked in a...
Live and Let’s Fly
Hotels: Wellness Is Out, Longevity Is The New Affluent Draw
Juice bars are passé. Ultra-luxury hotels sell longevity with diagnostics, IV drips, and biohacking, and the price tags prove it. Wellness Was The Warm-Up For the last decade, “wellness” in high-end hospitality has been a pretty predictable script: a better gym, a nicer spa, a green juice bar that looks...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Israel Scrambles Fighter Jets To Intercept Wizz Air Plane From London As Terror Alert is Declared
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a packed Wizz Air Airbus A321 with as many as 239 passengers on board on Saturday morning after a terror alert was declared. Wizz Air flight W9-5301 departed London Luton at around 7:50 am on February 8 and was nearing the end of...
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...
Wild About Travel
The Surreal Magic of Walking Where Ships Should Be: Helsinki in Winter
My Strava doesn’t lie. It shows me walking 300 metres across the water from Helsinki’s shoreline, just near Kaivopuisto in southern Helsinki, to the island of Harakka. In winter, Helsinki can spend weeks below zero Celsius, which means vast areas of the sea freeze into thick ice. The 7 metres...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 1 February 2026
Hope you are having a great weekend. Below is a summary of stories that appeared in the blog over the last week. QANTAS: Sydney to Sapporo, Japan flights doubled for next ski season By 2paxfly on 31 Jan 2026 12:35 pmThe international arm of Qantas has never been afraid of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Sydney to Sapporo, Japan flights doubled for next ski season
The international arm of Qantas has never been afraid of exploiting a trend. This time it’s eyeing off winter escape to Hokkaido, Japan for the 2026/2027 snow season. Qantas will significantly increase capacity on its Sydney–Sapporo route next ski season, lifting services from three flights per week to as many...
Wild About Travel
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): A City That Has Lost Its Way.
I rode by minibus along the Garden Route after a week exploring wineries, hikes, whales, coffee, food and South African hospitality. We arrived in Port Elizabeth in a different world. Load shedding had struck, the streets were dark, traffic lights blank or flashing, and pools of water from generators showed...