2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: B777s are getting new business class suites, better than on new Dreamliners
Air New Zealand has revealed the replacement for the ageing Business Premier seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs. These older aircraft may end up with an off-the-shelf business class seat that many travellers will prefer to the bespoke product installed on its newer Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. From 2027, Air New Zealand’s...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Pay AU$20 to skip the international security queue
Passengers departing from the T1 International Terminal can now pay AU$20 per person for access to a priority queue at the main security checkpoint, regardless of airline, travel class, or Frequent Flyer status. The new SYD Fast Track service effectively opens Sydney Airport’s existing Priority Entry pathway to any international...
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...
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
United MileagePlus Selling Miles At A Discount: Is It Worth It, Though?
Strategically buying miles & points can represent a great deal, especially for luxury travel. United Airlines MileagePlus has just launched its newest sale on purchased miles. As usual, different members may be targeted for different offers.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
All Nippon Airways Captain Sent to Prison For Sexually Assaulting Flight Attendant Who Was Afraid to Say ‘No’ Because She Feared Her Career Would Be Harmed
A Captain for All Nippon Airways, the largest airline in Japan, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by a Tokyo court after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young female flight attendant during a layover. The suspect has been identified as Ryota Mise, a 44-year-old Captain who...
Live from a Lounge
AAIB tells Supreme Court draft AI171 investigation report will be ready by October 2026; CVR transcript to remain confidential
We should hopefully have the truth behind AI171's crash by the end of the year, with the AAIB promising the draft version of the report will be done by October 2026.
One Mile at a Time
New Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes List: Save 30% On These Awards
Singapore Airlines offers its monthly KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promo, whereby you can receive a 30% discount on award tickets in select markets. This is a fantastic opportunity to save on award flights on one of the world’s best airlines.
2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: B777s are getting new business class suites, better than on new Dreamliners
Air New Zealand has revealed the replacement for the ageing Business Premier seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs. These older aircraft may end up with an off-the-shelf business class seat that many travellers will prefer to the bespoke product installed on its newer Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. From 2027, Air New Zealand’s...
Points With a Crew
Why you’re foolish to rent a “standard” car
If you're renting a car for 1 or 2 people, find out why you're foolish to rent a "standard" car
The Gate with Brian Cohen
You Can Apply For Your International Driving Permit Online — But…
You can apply for your International Driving Permit online instead of having to travel to a local office of the American Automobile Association if you are a legal resident of the United States who plans on renting a vehicle to drive in another country... ...but be aware that you will be...
Frequent Miler
Save 10% on 2+ night Homes & Villas by Marriott stays, no minimum spend required
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is out with another new promotion, this time giving a 10% discount on stays of two or more nights. The Deal Save 10% on Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy stays of 2+ nights. Direct link to offer. Key Terms A “stay” is defined...
Frequent Miler
Marriott Bonvoy pros and cons | Coffee Break Ep114 | 7-14-26
Bonvoy is the program we love… to hate. Having said that, we’d be lying if we said there were no redeeming features of this program. In this episode, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of the Marriott Bonvoy program. Marriott Bonvoy pros and cons Watch the full episode below,...
Miles To Memories
Is This A Deal To Japan, Hyatt’s “New” Benefit That Isn’t New & Points Myths to Drop!
Hyatt's strange "new" benefit, is 100K to Japan a good deal, scoring 3 free months of Audible and things we just don't accept.
Your Mileage May Vary
World Of Hyatt Business Credit Card Review: Benefits, Rewards & Who It’s Best For
Over the past several years, I’ve come to appreciate Hyatt hotels and the World of Hyatt program much more than I once did. Hyatt doesn’t have nearly as many hotels…
Miles To Memories
My Latest Amex Retention Offer Was Mildly Insulting
I go over the details of my recent Amex Surpass retention offer data point, and why I think offering nothing would have been almost better.
Frequent Miler
Capital One offering referral bonus of 100K miles or $2,000 cashback for some cardholders
Doctor of Credit reports that some Capital One business cardholders are being provided with some incredibly rewarding referral bonuses. Some cardholders are seeing a referral bonus of 100,000 bonus miles per referral which is capped at 500,000 bonus miles, while others are seeing a referral bonus of $2,000 cashback. These...
One Mile at a Time
Amex Gold Card Up To 100K Bonus Points Welcome Offer (The Card Is A Keeper!)
The American Express Gold Card is one of Amex’s most compelling cards for earning Membership Rewards points. We’re continuing to see a great welcome offer on this card (with a twist), making it a great time to apply, if eligible. In this post, I’d like to go over all the...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Pay AU$20 to skip the international security queue
Passengers departing from the T1 International Terminal can now pay AU$20 per person for access to a priority queue at the main security checkpoint, regardless of airline, travel class, or Frequent Flyer status. The new SYD Fast Track service effectively opens Sydney Airport’s existing Priority Entry pathway to any international...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Set To Return To Iceland—Likely From Philadelphia, The Aircraft Is A Mystery
American Airlines is reportedly preparing to return to Reykjavik, reviving Iceland service that disappeared during the pandemic. Philadelphia is the logical gateway, but the airline’s choice of aircraft—and whether it might instead revisit Dallas—remains unclear.
Frequent Miler
Rakuten offering up to $275 / 27,500 Bilt points on select Bank of America credit cards
Update 7/14/26: The Rakuten bonus for both Bank of America cards have increased again. ~~~ Last year, Rakuten started offering bonus rewards when applicants were approved for select Chase credit cards. The Chase cards available via Rakuten at the moment are the Freedom Unlimited® and Ink Business Unlimited® cards, but...
Frequent Miler
Targeted Capital One Shopping deals: Spend $100 & get $100 back for hotels or event tickets
Capital One Shopping has some extremely generous spending offers at the moment when visiting the home page on desktop. Some people are getting an offer giving $100 cashback on a $100+ hotel or vacation rental booking, while others are getting an offer for $100 cashback when spending $100+ on event...
One Mile at a Time
Surprise: Air New Zealand Unveils New Business Class For Boeing 777 Fleet
Air New Zealand has just unveiled plans to retrofit its entire Boeing 777 with new business class seats starting in 2027. However, these won’t be the same new business class seats that are currently being installed on the Boeing 787 fleet… and that’s probably a good thing?
Your Mileage May Vary
This Flight Delay Map Explains The Chaos In Seconds
We’ve all been there. Your flight gets delayed. Then delayed again. Then, if you’re really lucky, it gets canceled altogether. Or maybe you’re watching one of those airline meltdowns unfold—whether…
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn Up to 2,500 Bonus MileagePlus Miles by Shopping for Back to School
Effective through Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 11:59:59 in the evening Eastern Daylight Time, you can earn up to 2,500 bonus United Airlines MileagePlus miles — in addition to the standard MileagePlus miles earned — during the Back to School Bonus campaign at the MileagePlus Shopping portal by spending the...
One Mile at a Time
Why The Hilton Honors Aspire Is My Favorite Hotel Credit Card, Offers Outsized Value
Terms apply to the offers and benefits mentioned in this post. See the card application for complete details.
Frequent Miler
Get a 45% discount when buying Choice points (buy points for 0.57 cpp)
Choice Privileges has launched its latest points sale. This latest deal gives a discount of up to 45% which means you can buy points for as low as 0.57 cents per point. That’s a much better decrease on the price per point compared to recent sales and can be a...
View from the Wing
Captain Sully Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis—‘Miracle On The Hudson’ Hero Says ‘We Will Be Courageous Together’
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who safely brought US Airways Flight 1549 down on the Hudson River and saved all 155 people aboard, has revealed an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The 75-year-old plans to use his public voice to help other families face the disease with hope and courage.
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...
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...