2PAXfly
LOUNGE REVIEW: Qantas First check-in and Lounge, Sydney
This is the second instalment of my Oh Canada! Trip Report. I’m lucky that many of my international trips start at Sydney Airport at the Qantas First Check-in facility. And that is closely followed by a visit to the Qantas First Lounge. That was the case this day, with my...
Wild About Travel
My ATM Rules to Keep You and Your Money Safe
At an ATM, distraction is all it takes. Last week, I was coming out of a metro station, when I noticed two European backpackers staring at an ATM. As I rode down the long escalator behind them, I could see they were squinting at the screen, unsure about fees or...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: Goodbye orange arrival card. Digital passenger declarations go national
That mid-flight scramble for a pen, finding your flight number, address in Australia, and other details will soon be over. Wondering if you need to declare that wooden statue/shell necklace you bought in Bali/Fiji (you do). Not to mention declaring that jar of home-grown honey your aunt gave you in...
2PAXfly
TRIP REPORT: Oh Canada! Introduction
This is my most recent trip, completed in June 2026. It’s my first time in Canada, and we crossed the country from Vancouver on the West Coast to St John’s on the East Coast. The trip lasted about three weeks. This trip was in paid Business Class on Qantas and...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Which is the best American Express Platinum Card® in 2026?
American Express has several varieties of its premium Platinum Cards®. And while they’re expensive, they’re also loaded with great perks, especially after last year’s refresh. We often get the question, “Is there a ‘best’ Platinum Card®?” After all, while any Platinum Card® can be an excellent deal for the first...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Teases 5 New International Routes—The Answers Are Naples, Munich, Copenhagen, Quito And Santiago
American Airlines posted photo clues teasing five new international routes. The destinations appear to be Naples, Munich, Copenhagen, Quito and Santiago—the remaining questions are which U.S. gateways will serve them and what aircraft American will use.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Are Tiered Business Class Fares a Good Idea?
As Delta Air Lines became the latest airline to introduce tiered business class fares in select markets that the airline has not yet disclosed, this article discusses whether tiered business class fares are a good idea. As every corporation is seemingly accustomed to doing, the announcement of the expanded Basic fare...
Frequent Miler
Delta adds “Basic Business”: seats assigned after check-in, fewer checked bags, no Delta One check-in or club access
Delta has expanded its “Basic” offering to premium cabin bookings (including Delta First, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One), launching a new Delta Basic Business Class offering. When booking the basic business class experience, your seats will be assigned after check-in. You’ll have less checked baggage allowance. You’ll earn fewer...
View from the Wing
Rakuten’s 100% Rebate Lets You Buy Up To 11,313 Bilt Or Amex Points For $113—New Members Get 5,000 More
Rakuten is offering 100% back on a $113.13 Surfshark purchase, which can be taken as 11,313 Bilt (for anyone with Bilt status) or Amex points—effectively one cent each. New Rakuten members can earn another 5,000 points, bringing the total to 16,313.
Travel With Grant
How to Redeem the Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards 25K Global Companion Award (Step-by-Step Guide)
One of the newest benefits of the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card is the 25K Global Companion Award, but there aren't many guides showing exactly how it works. I recently redeemed my first award and documented the entire process with screenshots, from locating...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why I Buy Travel Medical Insurance for International Trips
When we travel within the U.S., I don’t give much thought to travel insurance before the trip. I make sure to use a credit card with good travel protections, and…
2PAXfly
LOUNGE REVIEW: Qantas First check-in and Lounge, Sydney
This is the second instalment of my Oh Canada! Trip Report. I’m lucky that many of my international trips start at Sydney Airport at the Qantas First Check-in facility. And that is closely followed by a visit to the Qantas First Lounge. That was the case this day, with my...
One Mile at a Time
How Early Can You Check Into A Hotel? How Early Is Too Early To Request?
Here’s a question that comes up with some frequency — while hotels have published check-in times, there’s often some flexibility with how early you can check-in. The question is, how early is too early? Pending empty rooms, can you check into a hotel at 12:01AM? At 6AM? At 12PM? I’d...
Frequent Miler
Up to 35% / 25X back at TripAdvisor via Capital One Shopping
Today’s Capital One Shopping and Capital One Offers deal of the day is TripAdvisor. On the Capital One Shopping home page, I’m seeing 30% back. Within my Capital One credit card login, I’m seeing 25X miles. However, via email I received a targeted offer for 35% back at TripAdvisor. It...
View from the Wing
Delta’s Starbucks Crowned Best Airline Coffee, Amex Centurion Named Best Lounge: New Survey Gets Both Wrong
A new Point.me survey names Delta’s Starbucks the best airline coffee and Amex Centurion the best lounge network. But popularity isn’t quality: Alaska and United serve better coffee, Chase offers stronger lounge design, Capital One has better food—and British Airways has no business ranking among the best inflight meals.
The Bulkhead Seat
Wyndham and Caesars Double Point Transfer Cap and Launch Summer Promotion
Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards are giving members even more ways to maximize their…
Points With a Crew
Buy Hyatt points with 20% bonus
Hyatt is offering a bonus on points if you buy points for the next few weeks. But does it make sense to purchase Hyatt points?
Your Mileage May Vary
The 6 Things That Drive Me Crazy On Cruise Ships
I was a late convert to cruising. My husband and I had sailed with Disney, Royal Caribbean and Holland America over the years. We enjoyed them well enough, but not…
Frequent Miler
Wells Fargo Premier Autograph card might be available without a Premier account
We have previously covered the Wells Fargo Premier Autograph Visa Infinite Card, which is essentially a very slightly better version of the Autograph Journey card with very similar benefits, but a better introductory bonus. It was previously believed that the Premier Autograph card was only available to Wells Fargo Premier...
Live and Let’s Fly
Deaf Man Aimed Laser At Delta Jet On Final Approach, Gets Just 18 Months
A deaf man who deliberately aimed a laser at a Delta Air Lines aircraft on final approach has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. Considering the danger he created for the pilots and everyone onboard, the punishment strikes me as remarkably light. Deaf Man Sentenced To Prison For...
Miles To Memories
American Express to Retire Old Blue Cash Card
American Express is notifying holders of the Old Blue Cash Card that the legacy product will be discontinued early next year.
One Mile at a Time
Huge Amex Business Gold Card As High As 200K Points Welcome Offer
The American Express Business Gold Card is one of the most rewarding business cards if you’re looking to earn Amex Membership Rewards points.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Last Chance: Save Up to 40 Percent With Expedia
Celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America by saving up to 40 percent on select hotel properties and vacation rentals with Expedia; and get deals on cars, packages, and flights as well through Tuesday, December 15, 2026... ...but you must...
View from the Wing
Hotel Shower Bottles Have One Ridiculous Problem: Guests Can’t Read The Labels
Hotel shower bottles often have tiny, low-contrast labels that are impossible to read without glasses—right when guests aren’t wearing them. It’s a basic design failure that turns shampoo, conditioner, and body wash into a guessing game.
One Mile at a Time
Dynamic Currency Conversion: Always Choose Local Currency
If you’ve ever traveled abroad and paid for something by credit card, you’ve almost certainly been asked ”would you like to pay in [local currency] or [your home currency]? For example, if you’re in Europe and using a credit card issued in the United States, you’ll probably be asked if...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why You Should Always Bring The Physical Credit Card When You Travel
I had the right credit card for my hotel stay. I just didn’t have the actual card with me. When I checked into a Fairfield by Marriott, the front desk…
Miles To Memories
Improved Bonus on Word of Hyatt Card, Earn Up to 75,000 Points
Chase and World of Hyatt have launched a new welcome bonus on the World of Hyatt Credit Card. New cardmembers can now earn a total of 75,000 miles after spending $15,000 on the card.
Economy Class & Beyond
West Sydney Airport edges closer to commerical operations – Qantas Cargo starts cargo trials
As Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is heading fast towards commercial operations for both passenger and cargo aircraft, Cargo Precinct trial flights have commenced, with the first freighter touching down. The Cargo Precinct is due to formally open to commercial traffic from the 26th July, with passenger traffic set to commence from...
Wild About Travel
I Finally Did It: All 50 US States
My first trip to the USA was my second time overseas as a (very young adult). I boarded a Continental Airlines flight for Honolulu. I had no idea that I would return many, many times to the USA and end up visiting every state. For a long time, I thought...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 12 July, 2026
Hello travellers, Well, the dust has largely settled on our renovations, but as always, there is a bit here and a bit there still to do. We are back in our regular bedroom with its new floor, and using our repaired and renewed bathroom. All of that confirms what Dorothy...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380s to get WiFi by 2027
But you will have to wait until early 2027. The A380s are scheduled to have their repeatedly delayed WiFi upgrade by then, but it’s slow Viasat not peppy Starlink. At least usage is free across classes. Qantas has now installed satellite internet across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet and most...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: World’s most punctual airline in June 2026!
That’s according to aviation data company OAG, as reported in the AFR. They note that 87.16% of Qantas flights arrived on time during the month. That placed the Flying Kangaroo just ahead of Colombia’s Avianca, which recorded an on-time arrival rate of 87%. Subcontinental airline Indigo came in third with...
Wild About Travel
drat Budpaets
September 8, 2024, by Martin J CowlingLeave A Comment OverviewBudapest has long been one of my favorite cities, and this winter visit marks my tenth time here. My first visit was back in 1990, when the city was still shaking off the remnants of communism and transitioning to capitalism. Nearly...
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...