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...
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...
Also on BoardingArea
The Bulkhead Seat
Hyatt’s Early Award Booking Benefit for Elite Members and Credit Card Holders is Now Live
As I wrote about in May, World of Hyatt® has quietly rolled out a…
Points With a Crew
This Is the Real Reason You’re Always Freezing at the Airport
If you've traveled through the airport recently, you might have noticed a new phenomenon where the temperature is a bit colder than you expect. There's a reason for it and you might be surprised to find out ...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why I’m Waiting A Few Days To Book My United Flight
I have a United flight I need to book, but I’m intentionally waiting a few days before buying it. That’s not because I expect the fare to drop, because I’m…
View from the Wing
Hotel Check-In And Check-Out Times Are Broken — You’re Stuck Paying For Nights You Can’t Use
Hotels aren’t selling you a 24-hour stay—they’re selling a shrinking window, and long-haul travelers feel it most. Arrive early, check in late; depart overnight, check out hours before you leave—so you end up paying for nights you can’t use.
Miles To Memories
Left Over Prime Day Deals? Great Prices On Bose Speakers & Hadphones
There is a Bose speakers & headphones sale going on right now that might be just what the doctor ordered if you were looking for an upgrade.
The Bulkhead Seat
Frontier Airlines Launches Eight Former Spirit Routes
Spirit Airlines folded on May 2nd. Frontier Airlines is adding eight new routes this…
Live and Let’s Fly
Owners Want a Cut of the Marriott Bonvoy Machine
Marriott's owners say Bonvoy's billion dollar machine shortchanges them on award nights. However the fight ends, your points are likely to pay for it.
Miles To Memories
(Ending Soon!) Easy Peasy $400 Wells Fargo Checking Bonus
There is a $400 Wells Fargo Checking Bonus that you will want to take advantage of it you can. It doesn't get much easier than this.
View from the Wing
23 Amex Platinum Insider Tips: Hidden Credits, Enrollment Traps, And Benefits Most Cardmembers Miss
Amex Platinum can be extremely valuable, but only if you know how the credits, lounge rules, enrollments, hotel benefits, status perks, protections, and airfare bonuses actually work. These 23 insider details cover the hidden value, easy mistakes, and practical traps that determine whether the card functions as a powerful travel...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
American Flags in 2026. Sunday Morning Photograph.
Photographs of the American flag in 2026 is the topic of this article, as yesterday, Saturday, July 4, 2026 was 250 years since the United States of America was officially founded. Whether it is on display at...
One Mile at a Time
I’m Launching An OMAAT Video Series (If Anyone Will Talk To Me): Any Feedback?
In the coming weeks, we’re planning on launching a series of new initiatives, which I hope readers will view as entirely positive. I mean that seriously, not like when an airline devalues a frequent flyer program, or cuts free food in the name of a buy on board selection, and...
Frequent Miler
Capital One Shopping/Offers: Earn up to 40%/40X at Klook (32X miles for hotels & car rentals)
Capital One Shopping and Capital One Offers have another great boosted rate for a travel site today. Klook is today’s deal of the day and, if targeted, you can earn up to 40% cashback or 40X Capital One miles when booking activities. Hotels and car rentals are eligible for boosted...
One Mile at a Time
Best-Ever Chase Ink Business Cash Bonus: Earn 100K Bonus Points
The Ink Business Cash Credit Cardis part ofthe Chase Ink Business card portfolio, and is one of the best no annual fee cards out there. We’re currently seeing a huge limited time welcome offer available on the card, which is the best that weve ever seen. This is simply a...
View from the Wing
Passenger’s Flashing Charger Turned A Redeye Flight Into A Rave While Everyone Tried To Sleep
A couch passenger plugged their power cord into the seat back on a redeye flight this week and it began flashing red, green and blue rave-style, with the cord draped across the seatback area so - and indeed the cabin - is blasted by rapidly changing colors like a strobe...
TravelUpdate
Here’s what happened when I needed a Batik Air refund…
In all my years of flying, I have never come across anything quite like the Batik Air refund…
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta New International Routes: Smart or Random?
Delta keeps adding nonstop Europe flights from cities that are not hubs. Is the dartboard strategy genius, and which city is next?
One Mile at a Time
#PigOnBoard: Man Calls American Flight Attendant A Pig, Posts Her Picture Online (Shame On Him!)
A ”media personality and political commentator” is facing backlash online for the disgusting comments he made about an American Airlines flight attendant. However, I don’t think this is getting quite enough attention yet, and I hope that (at a minimum) the airline bans him from traveling with the carrier going...
One Mile at a Time
Told To “Shut Your F**king Mouth” On Qatar Airways: What Would You Do?
An OMAAT reader shared an experience with me that he had on Qatar Airways, whereby the very loud guy seated across from him became verbally abusive, down to telling him to ”shut [his] f**king mouth.” He asks for my take on this situation, so let’s get into it…
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: American Airlines award sale, Choice & Best Western promos, & more
Welcome to our weekly list of what’s ending this week as well as a collection of some other deals that are due to end soon. There are quite a few deals ending this week which includes an American Airlines award sale and stay promotions for Choice and Best Western. Also ending...
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...
Economy Class & Beyond
Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond (4th July)
It’s the weekend again, and after a long week, there’s nothing like a list of links to go through, with witty one-liners to keep you all entertained. It’s therefore time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond. Rainbow Junction – what was dominated by cars, now for the people. Birmingham...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 360
The photograph for this edition — which was taken in Torrington in Wyoming — features United States Highways, as the United States of America was founded 250 years ago today, Saturday, July 4, 2026. For this edition of this popular game, can you guess what...
The Bulkhead Seat
2026 Weekly Review: July 4th
Happy 250th, USA! I just returned from Paris and London to enjoy some quiet…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Put A Table On A Window Seat To Get Around Pilot Contract Rules
American Airlines has a regional jet with a table placed on a window seat, making it unusable on purpose. The reason is not comfort or safety, but pilot contract scope rules: blocking one seat keeps the Embraer 170 at 65 seats instead of 66, avoiding limits that apply to larger...
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!...
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...