2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 caught in global wing-crack inspection order
One Qantas Airbus A380 is among 16 superjumbos worldwide caught up in an urgent inspection program. Inspections were called for after cracks were found in a critical internal wing structure, as reported by the SMH. Europe’s aviation safety regulator, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Adds Economy Plus to Project Sunrise, but other seats will be Economy Minus
Qantas has previously promised to provide Economy passengers with greater legroom befitting these ultra-long Project Sunrise flights. Like the politicians it seeks to influence through its invitation, Chairman’s Lounge makes promises it doesn’t keep. A standard 33-inch pitch in Economy is one of those. Forthcoming non-stop flights from Sydney to...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: New Canberra direct to Bali flights
These flights began on 22 July, so Canberrans can choose not to drive to Sydney Airport to make the domestic connection. Instead, they can fly direct from Canberra Airport to Denpasar in Bali. The new service is a meaningful win for travellers across the ACT, including residents of Batemans Bay,...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Routes for Project Sunrise A350 before it heads to London
Qantas’ first Project Sunrise Airbus A350-1000ULR is due to arrive in April 2027, but the airline will be flying it around on domestic and short-haul international routes before that. Might be a chance to get a partial experience without the 20% premium on the Sydney to London route. ET is...
Also on BoardingArea
Points With a Crew
5 reasons to sign up for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (New $1,000 Welcome Offer!)
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited card has one of the highest signup bonuses ever for a card that comes with no annual fee. You can easily get hundreds ...
View from the Wing
United Airlines Is Working To End The Worst Part Of International Connections: Rechecking Bags In The U.S.
United is working with Customs and Border Protection to expand programs that let international connecting passengers skip reclaiming and rechecking bags at their first U.S. airport. The airline already has this on Sydney–San Francisco, and broader adoption could cut customs delays, missed connections, and one of the worst hassles in...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
A Quick Reference Guide to the 3 Airline Alliances and Their Member Airlines
Knowing the 3 airline alliances and their member airlines is important while traveling, as you may not know about benefits for which you can qualify and codesharing arrangements — especially if you have elite status. Although airline alliances do significantly ease travel via cooperation between member airlines, they are not completely...
Frequent Miler
Bilt Rent Day for July: Up to 200% transfer bonus to Hilton (give this a wide berth)
Bilt Rewards released details of its next Rent Day transfer bonus today that’ll take place on July 1. Following the launch of its new partnership with the Preferred Hotels I Prefer loyalty program on a 1:2 basis, we’d expected next month’s Rent Day to offer a transfer bonus to Preferred...
View from the Wing
[LAST CHANCE] Southwest Card’s 90,000 Point Bonus Gets You Most Of The Way To Companion Pass
Southwest’s new 90,000-point Priority Card offer is valuable on its own, but the bigger play is Companion Pass. Between the bonus, required spending, and the 15,000 qualifying-point boost from holding a Southwest card, this offer gets you most of what you need for the best deal in travel.
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Earn 2x Flying Blue Miles on Air France and KLM flights out of the U.S., Canada & Mexico this fall! (Targeted offer)
North American Air France KLM Flying Blue members check your email inbox for this new targeted flight bonus offer! Flying Blue members who receive this email can earn between 2x miles in any fare cabin for Air France and KLM flights out of the U.S., Canada & Mexico! The 2x...
Travel With Grant
How to Find Out When All of Your Wyndham Rewards Points Expire
Wyndham Rewards only tells you when your next batch of points will expire, but what about the rest of your points? I discovered that Wyndham can provide a detailed expiration report showing exactly when every point in your account is scheduled to expire, and I'll show you how to request...
Your Mileage May Vary
The 10 Dirtiest Cities in America, According To A New Study
One of the best things about travel is seeing places that are completely different from home. Unfortunately, sometimes that includes seeing places that are, well, a little dirtier than home,…
Frequent Miler
Awful new Qatar Airways restriction limits ability to redeem Avios for other people
Qatar Airways added a new restriction last week when it comes to redeeming your Avios to book award flights for other people. While its intention seems to be to restrict the ability for points/miles brokers to make award bookings, unfortunately the implementation of it is extremely stringent and could cause...
Miles To Memories
Chase Is Now Clawing Back Credits! Plus Prime Day & Bilt’s Weak Rent Day?
Bilt's big Rent Day bonus, new Chase clawbacks, implementing family rules + PRIME DAY OVERLOAD & explaining buyers groups.
View from the Wing
Expedia Kills Flight Rewards, Marriott Leases Apartments, And Walt Disney’s Plane Is Back
Amex is running new transfer bonuses to Hilton and Virgin Atlantic, Marriott is moving into branded apartment rentals, airplane dog etiquette somehow still needs explaining, Expedia is cutting One Key rewards on flights and hotels, a former NYC mayoral aide faces charges tied to a migrant-shelter hotel contract, Minute Suites...
The Bulkhead Seat
TSA Expects to Screen Nearly 19 Million Travelers Over Fourth of July Holiday
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for one of its busiest travel periods…
Frequent Miler
(Last chance) Southwest consumer cards: Increased offers up 90K points
Update 6/25/26: These increased welcome offers on the personal Southwest credit cards will end on July 2, 2026 at 7am EST. ~ All three consumer Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit cards now offer an increased welcome bonus of 80,000-90,000 Rapid Rewards points after meeting minimum spend of $1k-$3k within the...
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: PREP Portable Off-Grid Wind Power System (Back By Friday)
The PREP Portable Wind Power System for Life Off-Grid is a lightweight wind turbine to generate and deliver power beyond the grid. It's on Kickstarter, but only for a few more ...
Your Mileage May Vary
Delta Amex Cards Now Offer Two Free Checked Bags — But There’s A Catch
Delta and American Express recently refreshed several Delta SkyMiles co-branded credit cards to include a new checked-bag benefit. At first glance, it sounds simple: cardholders now get two checked bags…
From The Tray Table
I just used Europe’s new EES border system. Here’s what you need to know.
The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces traditional passport stamps with a digital system for border crossings…
Frequent Miler
Holland America Line Amex Offer: Spend $750 & get $200 back or spend $1,000 & get $250 back
There are new, targeted Amex Offers out for Holland America Line which are giving a $200 statement credit after spending $750 or more, or $250 back when spending $1,000 or more. The Deals Spend $750 in one or more transactions with Holland America & get $200 back with a targeted...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
United Airlines Flight From Shanghai Jettisons $50,000 Worth of Fuel to Offload Confused Passenger Over ‘Small Quarrel’ With Flight Attendant
The pilots of a United Airlines flight from Shanghai to San Francisco are estimated to have dumped up to $50,000 worth of fuel to divert the plane to Tokyo Narita after a ‘confused’ Chinese woman who didn’t speak English got involved in a ‘small quarrel’ with a flight attendant, a...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Breakfast and 2,000 Bonus Radisson Rewards Points Included in Family Packages — Plus…
Breakfast, 2,000 bonus Radisson Rewards points, a discount of up to 15 percent on members rates, and a room for families for up to two adults and two children younger than eleven years of age — as well as a welcome pack for kids that includes an activity booklet, crayons,...
Frequent Miler
eBay will stop selling its own gift cards; redeem from Capital One Shopping ASAP if interested
eBay made an unexpected announcement yesterday, advising that it’s going to cease the selling of its own gift cards both online and in-store. Per the announcement on eBay’s website: Starting August 3, 2026, the sales of eBay gift cards on all digital platforms will no longer be sold. Physical eBay...
Live and Let’s Fly
“It’s A River!” Delta Passengers Told To Hold Bags For Landing After Lavatory Floods Aisle
A Delta flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco had water running down the aisle from the front lavatory during approach, forcing passengers to lift their bags off the floor for landing. That is gross enough, but the safety question is even more interesting. Delta Flight Floods On Approach To...
View from the Wing
Fired Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Say Their Union Pushed Them Out Over Christian Views On LGBTQ Rights — Appeals Court Revives Case
The Ninth Circuit revived claims by two fired Alaska Airlines flight attendants who say they were terminated over Christian comments about LGBTQ rights and abandoned by the union meant to defend them. The record includes explosive union texts calling their posts bigoted, urging management to act, and even joking about...
One Mile at a Time
Is The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Worth It?
The Sapphire Reserve for Business (learn more) is Chase’s ultra-premium $795 business card, and right now it’s offering a welcome bonus that I value at $3,400. So the ”is this card worth it” topic really comes down to two different questions — is it worth applying for and getting in...
Your Mileage May Vary
7 Ways You Give Away Your Social Status at the Hotel Check-In Desk
When people check into a hotel, you’d think everybody is equal. After all, whether you’re staying in a standard room or the presidential suite, everyone has to stop at the…
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 retirement to be brought forward?
Qantas may be preparing to bring forward the retirement of its Airbus A380 fleet, despite only completing the expensive restoration of all ten surviving superjumbos late last year. That is the central claim in a Rampart report by Joe Aston (paywall article), written after last week’s Qantas investor and media...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 22 June, 2026
Greetings from Sydney! I’m back after three weeks in Canada. I’ve crossed the country from Vancouver on the west coast to St John’s in Newfoundland, I think the most easterly point. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a city visit rather than time spent in nature. Cities visited in no...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Extends COVID credits usage, but redemption date stays 30 June 2026
Virgin Australia has made a late concession on its COVID-era travel credits, extending the travel period for eligible credits issued between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022. Passengers still need to book by 30 June 2026, but they can now travel up to 27 May 2027. That is a...
2PAXfly
MIDDLE EAST: Australia eases travel warnings for key Gulf transit hubs
Australian travellers heading to Europe, the UK or Africa via the Middle East have been handed some qualified good news. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Smartraveller advice website have lowered advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Level 4, “Do...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Project Sunrise announces first route, Sydney to London non-stop. Surprise, surprise!
CEO Vanessa Hudson just travelled to Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters to announce that London, from Sydney, would be the first Project Sunrise route, followed by New York. Is that really news? We knew it had to be an east coast departure, so that’s Sydney or Melbourne (Brisbane doesn’t have a First...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Non-stop Australia flights delayed until 2027
Turkish Airlines’ promised non-stop flights between Istanbul and Australia have slipped again, with Sydney now expected by the end of 2027 and Melbourne pushed into 2028. That is the bad news. Turkish Airlines plans to fly a specially configured Airbus A350-1000, heavy on premium seats, fitted with the airline’s new...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: biggest Boeing 737 is coming — eventually
Virgin Australia has put a date, of sorts, on the next stage of its fleet renewal. It expects to receive its first Boeing 737-10 in late 2027. That’s like more than 12 months away. The PR department must have been light on for stories to report for this to be...
2PAXfly
BOEING: Bird strikes, smoke and the cabin air problem that won’t go away
There are bird strikes. There are fume events. And then there are bird strikes that lead to smoke or oil mist entering the cockpit and/or cabin. That is the issue now ruffling feathers around Boeing’s 737 MAX, its LEAP-1B engines, and the regulators charged with deciding whether this is a...