2PAXfly
QANTAS: Final A380 returns, back in the air 1 January 2026
Just in time for the Christmas travel crush, Qantas has wheeled its tenth and final Airbus A380 out of long-term storage and back onto the Sydney tarmac, nearly 2,000 days since it last touched Australian soil. Yes, the superjumbo Paul McGinness (named for one of the airline’s founders) is back,...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: ‘Champagne for Lulu.’ You can now get Bollinger in First Class
Qantas is rolling out a fresh wave of upgrades to its A380, and currently only First Class cabins. From December, First passengers will have a new dining program, brand-new Aesop amenity kits, redesigned pyjamas, upgraded Champagne with Bollinger, and dine-on-demand, dressed up as ‘wellness. The retrofit is part of Qantas’...
2PAXfly
AIRBUS: A320 software glitch triggers chaos at Australian airports and internationally
If you turned up at an airport this morning expecting a routine Jetstar hop to Melbourne, Hobart or Adelaide, chances are you walked straight into a scene that looked more like the chaos of Boxing Day sales. Airports were filled with long queues, cancelled flights, confused announcements, and a whole...
2PAXfly
INDIA: Qantas and Jetstar plan sub-continental expansion with new jets
Australia’s fast-growing demand for travel to India is about to be met with renewed enthusiasm from Qantas and Jetstar. As both airlines usher in new long-range aircraft, they’re preparing to expand their presence on routes to the subcontinent significantly. For travellers, this means more nonstop flights, more modern cabins, and...
Also on BoardingArea
TravelUpdate
Hilton Honors to launch a ‘secret’ elite tier level above Diamond Reserve
Hilton Honors will soon launch a 'secret' tier, one level above the Hilton Diamond Reserve level, called 'The Honors Society'.
Economy Class & Beyond
TAP Air Portugal moves to introduce Premium Economy… but not as you know it.
TAP Air Portugal is joining the Premium Economy bandwagon as it seeks to eek out extra revenue.  But it’s doing it in … different way compared to some carriers. TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-900neo – Image, TAP Air Portugal  When most carriers introduce Premium Economy, they do so with a fanfare and...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Alaska Airlines Manages To Score London Hearthrow Slots After Initially Being Knocked Back By Regulators
Alaska Airlines has managed to score a pair of valuable takeoff and landing slots at London Heathrow Airport after its plans to launch flights to the British capital were initially put in serious jeopardy when airport regulators denied the airline’s application for landing rights. Thankfully, Alaska’s oneworld alliance partner American...
The Bulkhead Seat
Frontier Airlines Announces 23 New Routes for 2026
Frontier Airlines is gearing up for another big route expansion in 2026 with the… The post Frontier Airlines Announces 23 New Routes for 2026 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Eye of the Flyer
Thoughts on (One of?) My Final “Old” Southwest Trips
Southwest Airlines is only a few weeks away from truly becoming “just another” airline. I hesitate to call them a “low cost carrier” because their fares sure don’t reflect that (at least the ones I’ve seen). My family and I just returned from a Southwest round-trip from the Los Angeles...
One Mile at a Time
Hilton Honors Plans The Honors Society Invitation-Only Elite Status
In 2026, Hilton Honors is making major change to its elite program, which includes lowering elite requirements for existing tiers, while launching a new Diamond Reserve elite tier. We’ve had reason to believe that there was even more coming, and that has now been officially confirmed.
The Bulkhead Seat
American Airlines Delivers Holiday Cheer to Families of Fallen Heroes
The major US carriers are all getting into the holiday spirit in their own… The post American Airlines Delivers Holiday Cheer to Families of Fallen Heroes appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Live and Let’s Fly
No REAL ID? TSA Adds $45 Fee To Clear Airport Security
REAL ID enforcement is finally becoming real, and if you show up at an airport TSA security checkpoint unprepared next year, it will cost you. TSA To Charge $45 If You Show Up Without REAL ID Starting February 1, 2026, any adult traveler who does not present a REAL ID...
The Bulkhead Seat
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul Are All Adding Starlink Wi-Fi
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul are all set… The post Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul Are All Adding Starlink Wi-Fi appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Economy Class & Beyond
Korean Air to adopt Starlink, along with other Hanjin Group airlines
Starlink by SpaceX has won another customer, this time to provide connectivity for the South Korean Hanjin Group of companies. Hanjin Group includes leaders such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, as well as Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul. All aircraft in their fleets will move onto the...
One Mile at a Time
Air France First Class Network Expands To Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Tel Aviv
Air France’s first class is branded as La Premiere, and it’s one of the best experiences in commercial aviation. That’s especially true when you consider the totality of the experience, from the ground service to the inflight service.
One Mile at a Time
Royal Air Maroc Launching LAX Flights, Putting Airport Into Six Continent Club
Royal Air Maroc is planning to launch flights to a new destination in the United States, which will also have major implications for that airport, in terms of achieving a fairly rare milestone. While I first covered the carrier’s intent to launch this route a couple of weeks ago, it’s...
One Mile at a Time
Royal Air Maroc Launching LAX Flights, Putting Airport Into Six Continent Club
Royal Air Maroc is planning to launch flights to a new destination in the United States, which will also have major implications for that airport, in terms of achieving a fairly rare milestone. While I first covered the carrier’s intent to launch this route a couple of weeks ago, it’s...
One Mile at a Time
Korean Air Adding Free Starlink Wi-Fi, A (Very) Long Overdue Development
In recent times, weve seen many airlines announce plans to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi. However, this might be the most exciting and overdueStarlink announcementyet, given the state of this airline group’s Wi-Fi situation…
One Mile at a Time
Marriott & Uber New User Promo: Earn Up To 3,000 Bonus Points
Marriott and Uber have a partnership, allowing Bonvoy members to earn points when spending with Uber and Uber Eats. If you haven’t yet participated in this collaboration, there’s an incentive to do so right now, and you don’t even have to make a purchase to unlock part of the offer.
ATX Jetsetter
Royal Jordanian is Offering an Amazing Status Match Opportunity
Royal Jordanian is offering a paid status match for its Silver Jay and Gold Sparrow status tiers, earning up to OneWorld Sapphire status. The post Royal Jordanian is Offering an Amazing Status Match Opportunity appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Final A380 returns, back in the air 1 January 2026
Just in time for the Christmas travel crush, Qantas has wheeled its tenth and final Airbus A380 out of long-term storage and back onto the Sydney tarmac, nearly 2,000 days since it last touched Australian soil. Yes, the superjumbo Paul McGinness (named for one of the airline’s founders) is back,...
Frequent Miler
End of year checklist for 2025
Time is winding down to secure your elite status requirements, snag your Companion Pass, and to make the most of your credit card “coupon book” perks. Here’s a checklist of points & miles-related things that need to be done before it is too late . . . Earn elite status...
The Alviator
Best Ways To Use IHG Points
Here are a few of my favourite ways to use IHG points, whether that be for aspirational hotel redemptions, or some of their other uses. The post Best Ways To Use IHG Points appeared first on The Alviator.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
An Unscheduled Stop in the South Shetland Islands.
Our first landing was supposed to be in Antarctica tomorrow, Friday, December 5, 2025; but because we arrived in the region faster than expected with unusually calm weather, an unscheduled stop in the South Shetland Islands occurred earlier today. The island on which we arrived was... The post An Unscheduled Stop in...
Points With a Crew
Get up to 40% off at Amazon with 1 Citi ThankYou Point (targeted)
Act fast if you want to get up to 40% off your Amazon purchases, possibly even including gift cards. Find out how by ...
Live from a Lounge
IndiGo wins time till February 2026 to fix its act; cancellations to continue through the weekend
IndiGo is a hot mess right now, and the airline now has time through February 2026 to get its act right. Here is what it has won permission from the DGCA for. The post IndiGo wins time till February 2026 to fix its act; cancellations to continue through the weekend...
Frequent Miler
World of Hyatt now on shopping portals (dead?)
Update 12/4: Bummer. After a jovial, heartwarming week where World of Hyatt was on multiple shopping portals at rates of up to 15x, the party seems to be over. We can’t find it listed anywhere. Unsure if the sudden (and generous) portal rates were a one-time, Black Friday jamboree, or...
Travel Codex
Travel is Antidote to Ignorance – Try it Kristi Noem
Travel isn’t just about ticking destinations off a bucket list—it’s about connection. It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone and realizing that people are not their governments. When you share a meal in a family-owned café in Brazzaville along the river or chat with a shopkeeper in Vang Vieng after...
2PAXfly
FLIGHT DEALS: Black Friday & Cyber Monday flight deals: Domestic & International
It’s that time of year again, when Australians pretend Black Friday is a local tradition, and not a marketing festival imported from the USA. Airlines are gleefully landing on the day, too, since they have never been shy about taking advantage of any marketing opportunity. But seriously, some are dropping...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Economy Plus cabin on A330 to service Asia
Qantas’ shiny new Economy Plus cabin, the one that gives you more room and the warm fuzzy feeling of boarding before everyone else, is getting a long-haul upgrade. From next year (2026), the airline will bolt the product onto its international Airbus A330 fleet, the aircraft that does much of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS & VIRGIN: What travellers need to know about the ban on power bank use on flights
If you’re the sort of traveller who boards a flight with your phone at 23%, a laptop on life support, and a power bank the size of a small brick, brace yourself. Australian airlines, that’s Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink and Virgin Australia, are banning the use of portable power banks onboard...
2PAXfly
LOUNGE REVIEW: Adelaide Qantas Business Class lounge — ceiling leaks already
This is my first visit to the new Qantas Business Lounge at Adelaide Airport, which opened earlier this year, and was carved out of the old Qantas Club. Background For many years, Adelaide didn’t have a dedicated Qantas Business Class lounge. In August 2022, Qantas first announced plans to redevelop...
2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: Airpoints loyalty program to become ‘Koru’ from April 2026
Air New Zealand has revealed some of the details of the makeover of its loyalty program., From April 2026, the long-running Airpoints program will be renamed and reborn as Koru. As well as a new name, there will be newly named tiers and new benefits. Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil...
2PAXfly
MELBOURNE AIRPORT: New AU$500m baggage system — fewer lost bags & faster check-in
Melbourne Airport says it’s about to drag its international baggage handling into the 21st century, with testing now underway on a half-billion-dollar, German-built, fully automated baggage system that promises faster processing, real-time bag tracking, and fewer bags going AWOL between check-in and carousel. The system, built by logistics heavyweight Beumer...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: to roll out free Starlink WiFi for all cabins
Emirates is preparing to consign slow inflight Wi-Fi to the dustbin of aviation history, confirming it will roll out free, ultra-fast Starlink internet across its entire fleet of 232 Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. This will create the world’s largest Starlink-enabled international fleet and marks a genuine turning point for...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New A321XLR now flying Brisbane to Sydney route
Qantas’ newest narrowbody, the long-awaited Airbus A321XLR, has officially landed in Brisbane, beginning regular flights between Sydney and Brisbane from today. It’s another milestone in Qantas’ fleet renewal program,and the first time Queenslanders get to experience the most modern single-aisle aircraft flying. For passengers, the A321XLR represents a very real...