2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Museum Apartment Hotel, Independent Collection by EVT, Wellington
This hotel has a split personality. Although they share public spaces, the two buildings in this accommodation are marketed as two different hotels, even though they share a lot of the same DNA. Yes, it’s confusing. I stayed at the other half of the hotel a few years ago, marketed...
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....
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Newegg: Buy $1,000 Delta gift card for $900
Newegg has another travel-related gift card deal out, this time offering a $100 discount on a $1,000 Delta gift card. The Deal Buy a $1,000 Delta gift card for $900 on Newegg with promo code BUDF77. Direct link to offer Key Terms Limit 1. Quick Thoughts Saving 10% is a...
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta Brings Basic Economy Logic To Business Class, And Calls It Choice
Delta Air Lines has expanded “Basic” fares into premium cabins, including Delta First, Delta Premium Select, and even Delta One. The airline frames this as more choice, but I see it as the next stage of premium cabin unbundling, and a reminder that fares won’t go down…you’ll just get than...
View from the Wing
No Ticket, No ID, Passport Pages Ripped Out: Bodycam Shows Arrest At DFW TSA Checkpoint
Bodycam footage shows a man at DFW trying to get through TSA with no ticket, no ID, and a passport missing its identification pages. Police detained him after he tried to walk away.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Hilton Sails Into Partnership With Explora Journeys
Hilton sails into a new partnership with Explora Journeys — which is the ultra-elegant ocean travel brand of the MSC Group — and that means that members of the Hilton Honors membership program have new ways to earn and redeem points starting next week. Members of Hilton Honors now can enjoy...
TravelUpdate
Limited Time Offers Ending Soon! Earn Up To 125,000 Delta SkyMiles
These limited time offers are about to end soon. With these offers, you can earn up to 125,000 Delta SkyMiles for just one card bonus offer.
Miles For Family
Quick Getaway to Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa
Last week, my husband and I took a last-minute kid-free getaway to Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa just north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I booked flights from DFW to ABQ on American Airlines using Alaska Airlines miles. We splurged on First Class seats since they were only 9000 miles...
One Mile at a Time
Marriott Guest Redeems 212K Points, Ends Up In 8 Square Meter Room: “Did I Get Scammed?”
An Instagram post about a guest checking into a Marriott affiliated property is getting quite a bit of attention, as the Bonvoy member redeemed 212,000 points for a stay, only to end up in a room so small that he couldnt even open his suitcase.
Economy Class & Beyond
Emirates to expand its Airbus A380 operations to Delhi
Emirates continues to expand its retrofitted A380 operations, with Delhi gaining the type from the 25th October 2026. This will mark the third Indian gateway that features the Airbus A380 on a flight. The A380 will operate on flights EK512/513 in a four-class configuration, complementing the deployment of Emirates’ retrofitted...
Eye of the Flyer
Delta Now Sells ‘Basic Business’ and Basic Premium Fares — Here’s What You’re Giving Up
Delta just rolled out Basic versions of its premium cabins — including the pointedly-not-named-Delta-One "Basic Business." You keep the lie-flat seat; you lose a lot of what surrounds it. Here's what's in, what's out, and whether it's worth booking.
Traveling For Miles
Delta expands Basic fares to First, Premium Select, and Delta One
As of yesterday, 8 July 2026, we now have two (out of three) of the big US legacy airlines offering a Basic Business class and Basic Premium Economy product after Delta continued its rapid race to the bottom. If you're hoping for even the smallest bit of good news in...
Live and Let’s Fly
British Airways Flight Canceled After Crew Got Drunk At All-Inclusive Resort
British Airways was forced to cancel a London-bound flight from Barbados after several crew members allegedly drank so much during their layover at an all-inclusive resort that they were deemed unfit to work. If the reports are accurate, this is totally unacceptable, and BA may need to consider whether a...
woman shares hotel experience (l) Doubletree hotel front view (r)
BoardingArea
‘New Fear Unlocked’: Woman Checks Into Alabama Doubletree. Now She Needs To Know Who Was In Room 331
"Buckle up."
No Work All Travel
Hotel Review: Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
Disclaimer: In exchange for a hosted stay at the Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel, I am writing this review.   Intro & Location When I looked up the location of the nearly 6-years old Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel, the first thing that I noticed was that it’s a very...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
British Airways’ Owner Teams Up With Exosuit Startup to Test ‘Wearable Robotics’ On Baggage Handlers
The parent company of British Airways and the Spanish flag carrier Iberia has made a strategic investment in a ‘wearable robotics’ startup, which has developed a so-called exosuit that is designed to reduce the risk of baggage handlers being injured. Founded in 2020 by Spanish entrepreneur Ignacio Galiana and based...
One Mile at a Time
Guide To Hyatt Globalist Suite Upgrade Awards: The Best Hotel Elite Perk?
There are many benefits I love about Hyatt’s top tier Globalist status, though arguably my single favorite perk is the suite upgrade awards that members can earn. In this post, I’d like to take a closer look at how this benefit works. How can they be used, what are the...
Live from a Lounge
Breaking: Emirates A380 is coming to Delhi, effective October 25, 2026
Emirates will upgauge Delhi-Dubai flights to the A380, effective October 25, 2026. This is big news for Delhi, which has so far never had the A380 for a long period of time and has operated with the Boeing 777s all around.
One Mile at a Time
From PBI To DJT: Palm Beach Airport Now Officially Named After President Trump
Several months ago, we learned how Palm Beach International Airport would officially be renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport, and would also have its three-letter code change, from PBI to DJT. This was due to legislation passed by Florida lawmakers. There’s now an update, as the name change is...
The Alviator
Can You Use Singapore Airport’s T1 Oneworld Lounges Before A T4 Flight? Yes, You Can [2026]
If you're flying out of Singapore in a Oneworld premium cabin, you can use lounges in another terminal. Here are some things to note.
One Mile at a Time
Chase Ink Preferred Card 100K Bonus Points Welcome Offer
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is one of the best business credit cards out there, and is part of the Chase Ink Business card portfolio. This card continues to have a generous welcome bonus, so in this post, I’d like to go over the updated details of that, including eligibility...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Emirates Skywards: Earn up to 40% bonus Tier Miles on select flights Worldwide
Emirates has launched a new bonus offer for that provides up to 40% bonus Skywards Tier Miles on select flights all around the world. The thing is, I can’t tell you what routes and flights have the bonuses as they are only offered on selected flights, cabins, fare brands, and...
Frequent Miler
Booking a paid hotel stay: A card collector’s case study…
Later this summer, my wife and I are planning to stay two nights at The Lodge at St Edward Park to visit relatives who live nearby in Everett, WA. Picking the hotel was easy. Figuring out how best to book it was a challenge. This Small Luxury Hotel is bookable...
2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Museum Apartment Hotel, Independent Collection by EVT, Wellington
This hotel has a split personality. Although they share public spaces, the two buildings in this accommodation are marketed as two different hotels, even though they share a lot of the same DNA. Yes, it’s confusing. I stayed at the other half of the hotel a few years ago, marketed...
Points With a Crew
Get An Easy $50 From Rakuten (Deal Extended!)
If you don't have a Rakuten account, sign up and get an easy $50 by signing up and spending at least $50 (including on gift cards to many retailers!) in the first 90 days.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Not Clearly Indicating Window Seats With No Window Is False Advertising.
Not clearly indicating customers of window seats with no window is false advertising — especially when airlines charge extra money for these seats — as numerous reasons exist as to why passengers choose seats that are adjacent to a window rather than those which are located next to the aisle...
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...
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...