2PAXfly
AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS: Direct flights to Maldives from Melbourne, and Western Sydney Airport to get Gulf carriers
The Australian government has signed four new or updated aviation agreements, opening the door to more flights and more codeshares. Although, as ever with aviation bilaterals, permission to fly is not the same thing as an airline actually putting metal in the sky. The Albanese Government says it has negotiated...
Wild About Travel
Navigating the world’s best airport: a flawless experience.
Changi, Singapore. Everything you need to know. Stunning takeoff out of Singapore Changi (SIN) after a transit between my flight from Sydney and to Asia. I have been through this airport 82 times flawlessly. There are few airports where anyone can say that about. The others that follow it in...
2PAXfly
NEW AIRLINE: proposed ultra low cost carrier ZINC claims place as Australia’s Ryanair
Australia has a long and fairly brutal history of killing every attempt to form a third domestic airline to compete with Virgin Australia and the Qantas Group. Compass flamed out in the early 1990s. Impulse was folded into Qantas. Virgin Blue survived, but only after Ansett’s collapse turned it into...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 17 May, 2026
Greetings from Adelaide. I’m here for one of my regular catch-ups with family. You will be pleased to know that after more than 10 days, the jet-lag-induced brain fog I have been suffering from seems to have abated. My cold also seems to be receding. So, I hope to return...
Also on BoardingArea
The Alviator
Review: Air New Zealand 787 Premium Economy (AKL-HKG)
Air New Zealand's premium economy is renowned for being top-of-the-line. How does it compare to other great premium economy products?
Points With a Crew
Should you buy Marriott points with a 40% bonus?
Buying points can be a great way to boost your balance, but only if makes sense financially! Does the new Marriott promotion fit that criteria?
Your Mileage May Vary
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card Is Hard to Get, But Totally Worth It
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card has always been one of those cards that sounds a little too good to be true. It’s a premium travel card with a reasonable annual fee,…
Frequent Miler
Buy Hyatt Points For 2.17 Cents Each
World of Hyatt is offering a 20% bonus when buying their points through July 27, 2026. That means you can buy Hyatt points for 2.17 cents each. The Deal Get a 20% bonus when buying 7,000+ World of Hyatt points (i.e. 2.17 cents per point) Direct link to offer Key...
View from the Wing
Southwest Is Matching Other Airline Elites To Top Status — And You Can Do It Year After Year
Southwest used to give everyone free bags and open seating. Now those perks increasingly belong to elites — and Southwest is letting rival airline elites match into top status, then potentially do it again year after year.
Miles To Memories
Apple Launches AirPods Pro 3 Bonus for New Apple Card Users
Apple has officially launched the Apple Card promotion that was rumored last week, but the final version is not nearly as good as many expected.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
$50 New Member Referral Bonus With Rakuten
This is your chance to cash in on a $50 new member referral bonus when you sign up as a new member of Rakuten; and you will receive a bonus of $50.00 via referral when you spend a minimum of $50.00 within the first 90 days of your new membership, which is...
man looks outside flight window (l) SAS aircraft (r)
BoardingArea
Woman Flies Scandinavian Airlines. Then She Looks Out Her Window And Sees How High The Pilot Is Flying: ‘Curvature Of The Earth’
"Quite frightening to be honest."
Your Mileage May Vary
Another Day, Another Banned Item on Southwest Airlines
It wasn’t all that long ago that you could bring your pillow onto a Southwest Airlines flight and no one would bat an eyelid; now it counts as a carry-on.…
Miles To Memories
JetBlue and United Launch Reciprocal Elite Perks
JetBlue and United have announced another major update to their “Blue Sky” partnership, with reciprocal loyalty benefits now live for eligible TrueBlue and MileagePlus members.
Miles For Family
Today is the last day to book Hyatt Awards before Changes
As I mentioned in a previous post, today is the last day to book Hyatt awards before changes go into effect tomorrow, May 20, 2026. Currently, each Hyatt award category has Off-Peak, Standard and Peak levels. The changes that start on May 20 will include 5 levels: Lowest Low Moderate...
Economy Class & Beyond
TRIP REPORT: AA882 Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (Exit Row) – Still for the Friends
AA882 Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (Exit Row) Still for the Friends Time for something I haven’t done for a while – a US Domestic Segment down the back of an American Airlines flight. How are things doing for those of us in steerage on this hour-and-a-bit run to Atlanta? ...
Points Miles and Bling
Until May 22, Buy Finnair Avios for 1.45 CPP (Few Days Only)
Finnair Plus has just launched a points purchase sale with up to a 50% bonus of your miles purchase. This…
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa Extend Middle East Flight Operations… This When Flights Should Now Resume
Air France, British Airways, and the Lufthansa Group have extended their respective flight suspensions to a slew of destinations across the Middle East, with Lufthansa now not expected to return to Dubai until September 13 at the earliest. The updates came just a day after a kamikaze drone launched from...
Frequent Miler
Now earn Bilt points with Rakuten shopping portal (Remember to switch back if no Bilt status)
A partnership between Bilt and shopping portal Rakuten has officially launched today, whereby Bilt members can link their Bilt account to their Rakuten account and choose to earn rewards with Bilt. This is huge news for those whose primary shopping portal is Rakuten, though Bilt members without Bilt elite status...
View from the Wing
Popular Instagram Account Posing As American Airlines Flight Attendant Exposed As AI Fake [Roundup]
A popular Instagram account posing as an American Airlines flight attendant appears to be AI-generated. Plus: a Delta pilot saves the day, Chicago travelers admit Midway has advantages over O’Hare, JSX ramp workers face a union push, and a couple allegedly tried hiding live monkeys in their underwear at an...
Miles To Memories
Amex Marriott Business Card Bonus: Earn 150K Points and $125 Credit
American Express has launched a new welcome offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card that can earn eligible applicants 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points plus a $125 statement credit.
One Mile at a Time
Review: Qatar Airways Qsuites Business Class Boeing 777 (DOH-BKK)
For the second flight of my two-part birthday trip to the Golden Triangle, I flew Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER Qsuites business class on the 6hr35min flight from Doha (DOH) to Bangkok (BKK). This flight came after arriving in Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 Qsuites business class from Miami (MIA).
Points With a Crew
What Stops People From Eating Hotel Breakfast When They’re Not Staying There?
Since most hotels (at least in America) don't have a breakfast attendant checking whether you're actually a guest, is it okay to eat the "free" hotel breakfast even if you're not a guest?
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Finnair Plus: Receive up to a 50% bonus when buying Avios (May 19 Bonus Offer Highlight)
Today's bonus offer highlight is the next buy Avios offer from Finnair Plus where you can 50% extra only for a few days and then up to 40% after that! Check out all of the new bonuses added today:
Your Mileage May Vary
I Thought I Used This AMEX Offer Correctly. One Detail Cost Me $100
Amex Offers can be a great way to save money, but they’re not as simple as “add the offer, use the card, get the credit.” Sometimes, one small detail buried…
Miles To Memories
My Intriguing ($1,000+) Marco Island Timeshare Presentation Offer
I go over the details of my intriguing Marco Beach Ocean Suites timeshare offer, which should net me at least $1,000 in positive value.
woman shares airport experience (l) Delta airlines aircraft (r)
BoardingArea
Delta Passenger Finds No One At Help Desk—So He Takes Matters Into His Own Hands: ‘Is Delta Self-Checkout Now?’
“The airline industry is collapsing in front of our eyes.”
View from the Wing
NYC Hotel Housekeepers Will Make Over $100,000 — Do Guests Still Need To Tip?
New York City hotel housekeepers are set to earn more than $100,000 under a new union contract, with hotels still covering health benefits. That is great for workers — but it also changes the argument for tipping, especially in a city where union-backed rules have restricted hotel supply, raised room...
Wild About Travel
Ode to Paris: My Favourite Things
Paris does something to me that no other city quite manages — it hits me every single time I arrive. The smells, the tower, the croissants, the hot chocolate, the coffee, the Seine, the packed brasseries, the art galleries, the markets, the parks. All beautiful. That’s the thing about the...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: International travellers to be slugged another AU$10 to leave
Australian international travellers will pay more to leave the country from 1 January 2027. The Federal Budget confirms the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) will rise by AU$10 from AU$70 to AU$80. This is a Commonwealth charge applied to most passengers departing Australia by air or sea. Airlines collect it through...
Wild About Travel
Cities I Love
A series for travellers, dreamers, and anyone who has ever fallen for a place. It’s a crazy time right now, isn’t it? In the midst of everything, I’ve been reminiscing about how lucky I’ve been to spend time in some of the most extraordinary cities on earth. Not just passing...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Digital upgrade — faster check-in, smarter app, and priority bag drops
Virgin has announced a major upgrade to its mobile app and domestic airport check-in experience. It promises a 50% redution in check-in times across 10 Australian domestic airports. The rollout starts this month, May 2026, and should rbe complete before the end of the year. What this actually means is...
2PAXfly
GOVERNMENT: Budget grounds taxpayer-funded Qantas Club memberships
The Australian Federal Government has cottoned on to the public service’s travel habit of taxpayer-funded airline lounge memberships. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has banned Commonwealth agencies from charging taxpayers for Qantas Club, Virgin Australia lounge and similar airline memberships. The directive emerged from the 2026 budget papers. Lounge bill The...
2PAXfly
NEW ZEALAND: Flight from Blenheim to Wellington on Air New Zealand
Our return to Wellington was from Blenheim Airport (BHE). It’s a tiny airport adjacent to a New Zealand Air Force facility. No lounge, and not much of anything else except a big waiting room with two ‘gates’, one at either end. The Airport Facilities are minimal, no lounge, for example,...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 10 May, 2026
Greetings from Sydney. As you will find out below, I have been battling an awful case of jet lag. It has filled me with brain fog, sleep deprivation, irritability, and a general lack of thought capability. I’ve written a post about what I should have done to combat it. What...
2PAXfly
JET LAG: I have been suffering the worst jet-lag of my life. Here is what I should have done
About a week ago, I returned from London to Sydney via Istanbul and Singapore. My flights were mostly with Turkish Airlines, with the last leg on a wet-leased Finnair A330 on a Qantas ticket. It’s been a week, and I am still desperately sleep deprived, irritable, brain fogged, and useless....