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...
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...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Emirates Skywards: Earns 20% bonus tier miles on all flights worldwide
Emirates is stepping in to help flyers who have had their status journeys affected due to the conflict in the region with several promotions. The airline is now offering bonus tier miles on all flights globally and they have reduced the requirements for reaching elite tier status until August 31st....
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Virgin Australia Velocity: Receive a 30% bonus when you transfer points from Accor, Choice, IHG or Shangri-La
Receive a 30% bonus when you transfer points from ALL Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, IHG One Rewards or Shangri-La Circle into Velocity points. Offer valid until Jun 5, 26. Click here to learn more. Minimum transfer requirements: ALL Accor Live Limitless: 4,000 ALL Rewards Points – Click here to...
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Review: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel
A work event had me in Columbus a few weeks ago. It was held…
Frequent Miler
8 days in Crete: Here’s what we did
My wife and I recently spent a lovely eight days on the Greek island of Crete. Neither of us had been before, but we knew a few people who had and who all enjoyed their trips there. We hadn’t originally planned on visiting Crete this year, but when I had...
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...
Live from a Lounge
Last days: World of Hyatt’s Upcoming Devaluation Goes live May 20, 2026
Reminder, World of Hyatt is rolling out some wide ranging changes in the coming week. You can save a pretty buck right now with your mile redemptions before the new rules roll out.
The Bulkhead Seat
JetBlue Retreats in Newark and Cuts Flights to Aruba, Cancún, Punta Cana, Tampa, and More
United Airlines is the dominant airline at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with up…
Points With a Crew
Capital One Venture Rewards Card Review (75,000 Mile Offer)
Learn how signing up for the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card can supercharge your travel with 75,000 miles, $250 AND benefits that include ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
“Are You Really Going to Be Standing There The Whole Time?!?”
Funny how things happen not long after an article was posted. For the Stupid Tip of the Day on Saturday, June 15, 2019, I posted this article advising people to not loiter at places of interest so that other people may have an opportunity to get the photograph they want. Tongariki is...
View from the Wing
You Can’t Play In United MileagePlus Without A Credit Card Anymore, Fortunately They’re Offering Up to 110,000 Miles Right Now
United’s big MileagePlus changes are now live, and the program is plainly moving more of its value behind a co-brand card: faster mileage-earning, cheaper United award prices, and better access to saver inventory for cardholders, while non-cardmembers earn less. United and Chase are raising the upfront incentives just as the...
Frequent Miler
My credit card application was declined. Now what? | Question of the Week Ep03 | 5-17-26
My credit card application was declined. Now what? We get this kind of question a lot. And the truth is, credit card application strategies may vary by bank. For example, you can read our Complete Guide to credit card application rules (by bank) here. Let’s say you have a letter...
Your Mileage May Vary
Some Of The World’s Most Overrated Tourist Attractions, According To Travelers
Every traveler eventually visits that place. The attraction everyone says you absolutely HAVE to see…that winds up being crowded, overpriced, underwhelming, or just plain weird. If you travel enough, you’re…
Frequent Miler
Office Depot/OfficeMax: Buy $300+ Visa Gift Cards, Save $15
Office Depot and OfficeMax stores have returned with their profitable gift card deal on Visa gift cards through May 23, 2026. The Deal Buy $300+ Visa gift cards at Office Depot/OfficeMax & get $15 off instantly. Key Terms Valid May 17, 2026 – May 23, 2026. Limit 10 per household/business...
View from the Wing
‘Mayday For Low Fuel’: After 17 Hours In The Air, Emirates Missed Two Miami Landings
fter more than 17 hours in the air from Dubai, Emirates flight 213 reached Miami in thunderstorms, missed one landing for windshear and poor visibility, then got sent around again when the runway was not clear. That second go-around turned “minimum fuel” into a Mayday call.
Your Mileage May Vary
The Airport Lounges You Can Access With The Amex Platinum Card
The American Express Platinum Card has become a mainstream lifestyle card, packed with statement credits and non-travel benefits. But for many travelers, one of the card’s biggest selling points is…
Miles To Memories
The Case for Zero: Avoid this Common Points and Miles Mistake
Avoid this Common Points and Miles Mistake Stacking up balances in rewards accounts can be satisfying.  I definitely understand that; hoarding particular rewards currencies in certain situations is something I still do.  Over time, though, the jollies from growing rewards account balances can normalize.  Larger balances can turn into a...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
American Airlines to Extend Tel Aviv Suspension Until January 2027… More Than Three Years Since it Served Israel
American Airlines isn’t expected to resume flights to either Tel Aviv, Israel, or Doha, Qatar, until January 2027 due to the continuing security situation in the Middle East and uncertainty over whether a lasting peace deal can be struck with Iran. In the case of Tel Aviv, extending the suspension...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
The Vennbahn Former Railroad Line: Belgium Winds Inside of Germany
The Vennbahn is a former German railway line about which I first mentioned in this article pertaining to 13 of the most fascinating international borders in the world; but it became part of Belgium after the Treaty of Versailles — even in several areas which are supposed to be part of...
Economondo
Review: Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800 – Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok on a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800
View from the Wing
Airports Still Feel Like Adventure — Until The Lines, Crowds And $18 Beers Take Over
Airports still have a strange kind of magic: permission to be untethered, drink coffee too early, watch planes, people-watch, and feel the trip begin before you board. The problem is that modern airports keep burying that romance under TSA lines, crowding, lounge waitlists, bad terminals, and $18 beers — so...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Planes Don’t Fly Over The Pacific Ocean
If you’ve ever watched your flight map while traveling between the U.S. and Asia, you may have noticed something odd. The plane almost never seems to fly where you’d expect…
Miles To Memories
(Link To Check) 120K Membership Rewards Amex Business Platinum Upgrade Offer
There is a new Amex Business Platinum upgrade offer going out to more targeted people. It comes with a pretty hefty 120K bonus attached.
Live and Let’s Fly
Spirit’s Gone, And Now Look What Fares Did On Its Routes
FLL to Dallas jumped from $39 to $124 within 48 hours of Spirit's May 2 wind-down. Two weeks in, the routes Frontier didn't backfill are still up 20%.
One Mile at a Time
Mayday: Emirates Boeing 777 Pilots Declare Fuel Emergency In Miami
Fuel planning is an important part of the job that dispatchers and pilots perform before a flight can depart. It’s not just about having enough fuel to get to the destination, but also about having reserves if there’s bad weather enroute, if a diversion is needed, etc.
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....
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Double Status Credits in ‘Pick your bonus’ promo. A longer runway than Qantas
Virgin Australia has responded to Qantas’ latest double rewards offer with its own ‘Pick Your Bonus‘ 2026 promotion, giving Velocity Frequent Flyer members the choice of double Status Credits or double Velocity Points on eligible flights. Qantas’ current offer is limited to flights between 12 May and 31 August 2026....
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Double Status Credits surprise, but only for Australia and New Zealand
Qantas has launched a short, sharp ‘double rewards’ offer for Frequent Flyer members. You can choose between double Status Credits or double Qantas Points on eligible flights within Australia and across the Tasman. The booking window is tight. You need to register and book between 12.01 am AEST on 5...