2PAXfly
QANTAS: Does Project Sunrise indicate a more premium, lower-volume international strategy, as Joe Aston says?
In an Australian Financial Review opinion piece over the weekend, Joe Aston, author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out, argues that Qantas is changing its international strategy. His core argument is that Project Sunrise is not simply a new pair of ultra-long-haul routes:...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: SUNDAY 5 JULY, 2026
Hello travellers, We are finally home, although we have spent most of the week besieged by builders completing various aspects of our repairs and renovation. The dust has mainly settled and been cleaned away. As with all building work, there are still a few issues and complications to resolve. That...
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: What are reviewers’ first impressions
Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier, Riyadh Air, has now carried its first paying passengers in its own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The early verdict from critics is fairly consistent. Riyadh Air looks exceptionally good. It is serving food, drinks and attention at a level many established airlines would struggle to match....
2PAXfly
INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA: Pilot killed and aircraft burned in remote highlands attack
An American pilot flying one of the small aircraft that keep Indonesia’s remote Papuan highlands connected has been killed after his Pilatus PC-6 Porter was attacked and burned at an isolated airstrip. This tragedy highlights the perils of flying into disputed areas, amid political turmoil. Captain Nicholas F. Gosselin was...
Also on BoardingArea
Economy Class & Beyond
Stansted Express to trial overnight trains to Stansted Airport for the summer Fridays
One of the more annoying things when travelling is the lack of good-quality public transport when you need to get to the hotel late at night and early in the morning. Well, maybe the message is getting through to some parts of Great British Railways, with Stansted Express launching a...
One Mile at a Time
Bleh: American Airlines Adds Chicago To Tokyo Narita Route, Merely Replacing JAL
Last week, American Airlines revealed plans to launch a new daily flight between Chicago and Tokyo, which is a route resumption, and also represents American’s return of Asia flying out of Chicago.
BoardingArea
Review: United Club Fly– Houston (IAH), Terminal B
United’s Club Fly in Houston is a small but attractive and modern place that has an onsite barista bar, food to go, and standing only places to check your emails and charge – but it is not a place to linger. The summary The lounge is terminal B at Houston...
Eye of the Flyer
How to Find Out What Meal Delta Will Serve on Your Flight — Before You Even Board
If you’ve ever wanted to know exactly what you’re going to eat before you even get to the airport, Delta actually has a tool for that — most people just don’t know it exists. Here’s how to use it, and what to expect once you do. There has always been...
TravelUpdate
Review: Flying Aer Lingus from Dublin to London and back on the A320neo
Aer Lingus has an extensive high frequency operation at London Heathrow. There are around 12 daily return flights…
Traveling For Miles
British Airways refreshing Business Class amenity kits on Heathrow routes (has hell frozen over?)
While airlines like Qatar Airways and Emirates seem to change out their long-haul amenity kits a couple of times a year, British Airways seems to go the other way. Its Premium Economy kits were first introduced back in 2019 and the White Company business class kits currently offered on its...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
The Window Shade Dimmer Switches On the 787 Dreamliner Are a Big Money Spinner For Boeing Because Passengers Keep Wearing Them Out
The button that controls the electronic dimmable window shades on Boeing 787 Dreamliners is said to be one of the aircraft manufacturer’s best-selling spare parts for the high-tech widebody aircraft, costing airlines tens of thousands of dollars a year to replace because passengers can’t help but repeatedly press them. The...
Live and Let’s Fly
Hands Off My Nuts: First Class Needs More Warm Mixed Nuts, Not Fewer
View From The Wing argues that it may be time for airlines to retire hot mixed nuts in first class. Respectfully Gary, hands off my (mixed) nuts! Hands Off My Mixed Nuts: First Class Needs More Warm Nuts, Not Fewer View From The Wing argues that hot mixed nuts in...
One Mile at a Time
St. Barts’ Exhilarating Airport (SBH): How To Get There, And Why It’s So Fun
Ford and I recently took a quick weekend trip to St. Barts, a French overseas territory about 20 miles from St. Martin. While there’s a lot to like about St. Barts, as an aviation geek, what I was most excited about was the airport.
One Mile at a Time
World Of Hyatt Adds Early Award Night Access For Elites & Credit Card Members
We recently saw World of Hyatt make massive changes to its award pricing. While the program is maintaining a published award chart, it has increased the range of pricing, meaning that peak season award stays cost more than ever before. This is clearly part of Hyatt’s efforts to improve the...
One Mile at a Time
Castlelake To Buy EasyJet For $7.3+ Billion: What’s The Real Motive, Though?
EasyJet is Europe’s second largest ultra low cost carrier, and also Europe’s second largest individual airline brand (after Ryanair, by both metrics). In recent weeks, we’ve known that US investment firm Castlelake was looking to buy the airline and take it private.
Frequent Miler
6 underrated states to visit for a domestic vacation
My wife and I were fortunate to visit all 50 states on a seven year road trip, getting to see parts of the country we’d never have thought to visit on vacation. Some of the places we visited hadn’t previously been on our radar, but they ended up being some...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
State Capitols: 7 Reasons Why They An Ideal Way To See the United States of America
This article outlines 7 reasons why visiting state capitols — both the buildings and the capital cities in which they are located — is an ideal way to see and learn about the United States of America. State capitols offer...
Points With a Crew
Why we don’t have pay toilets in America
In 1974, there were 50,000 pay toilets in the US. By 1980, there were almost none. Learn about the Committee to End Pay Toilets in America (CEPTIA), a grass-roots organization that ...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Does Project Sunrise indicate a more premium, lower-volume international strategy, as Joe Aston says?
In an Australian Financial Review opinion piece over the weekend, Joe Aston, author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out, argues that Qantas is changing its international strategy. His core argument is that Project Sunrise is not simply a new pair of ultra-long-haul routes:...
Frequent Miler
Staples.com is selling $200 digital Visa gift cards with no purchase fee
Staples is once again waiving purchase fees for digital Visa gift cards sold online. This type of deal is always popular, so you’ll want to buy ASAP if you’re interested. The Deal Buy $200 virtual Visa gift cards with no purchase fee at Staples.com. Direct link to offer. Key Terms...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
EasyJet Agrees in Principle to $6.9 Billion Takeover by U.S. Investment Firm
The board of directors of the British low-cost airline EasyJet has agreed in principle to a $6.9 billion takeover by the U.S. investment firm Castlelake. If the transaction completes, the Haji-Ioannou family, who have long been the largest single shareholder in the Luton-based carrier, will lose control of the airline....
Frequent Miler
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? | Question of the Week Ep8 | 7-5-26
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? Reader “LR” sent us the following question: I was intrigued by a recent post about schedule changes in another group that I follow. This particular person noted that anytime United or AA makes a schedule change of any type, you can change...
Your Mileage May Vary
10 Easy Ways To Make Flight Attendants Love You
Flight attendants deal with hundreds of passengers every day, and unfortunately, not all of them are pleasant. The good news? You don’t have to do anything extraordinary to stand out…
View from the Wing
First Class Hot Nuts Feel Stale — It’s Time For Airlines To Serve Something Better
First class hot nuts used to feel like a premium ritual; now they mostly feel like airlines stopped trying. If carriers want passengers to pay more for a better experience, the pre-meal drink snack is an easy place to surprise people with something more memorable than the same warm ramekin...
The Bulkhead Seat
Denver International Airport Plans Underground Walkways to Reduce Train Delays
Denver International Airport (DEN) is planning an upgrade that could change how passengers move…
Points With a Crew
What’s the Difference Between a Concourse and a Terminal?
Confused about the difference between an airport terminal and a concourse? Learn what each one means, how they connect, and tips for finding your gate fast.
Your Mileage May Vary
Why I Don’t Use SkyMiles To Book International Delta Flights
I like flying Delta. But I don’t use Delta SkyMiles when I’m looking for international award flights. When it comes to Delta SkyMiles, I’m probably more forgiving than most. Delta…
Miles To Memories
Stronger Signals: Checking In On My Almost Free Mobile Service Play 4 Years Later
We've rocked the same strategy for almost free Mint mobile service over an extended period, and it's gotten even better. Check out how here!
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....
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!...