2PAXfly
QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices
More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door
Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website....
2PAXfly
VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: No First Lounge for London. Premier dining room instead
The original plan was to have a new First Class Lounge at London’s Terminal 3. It was to be ready for the debut of the Project Sunrise flights. Qantas has quietly shelved those plans, to the indignation of premium frequent flyers and passengers. Instead, the airline will refurbish and enlarge...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Get 15% back at Great Wolf Lodge with targeted Chase Offer
There’s a new, targeted Chase Offer out for Great Wolf Lodge which is better than the last iteration of it. The offer that recently ended gave 10% back, but this latest version gives 15% back. The Deal Get 15% back when spending $100+ at Great Wolf Lodge with a targeted...
One Mile at a Time
SAS Plans Huge Wide Body Fleet Growth With New A330neos, Used A330ceos
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)has been undergoing some major changes in recent times,following its restructuring. The airline transitioned from Star Alliance to Sky Team, got an investment from Air France-KLM, and is also hoping to become a more globally competitive airline, increasinglyfocusing on its Copenhagen hub.
Traveling For Miles
Emirates rolls out a new lounge design, starting with Munich and Frankfurt
Emirates has unveiled a new signature lounge design that's being rolled out across several of its airport lounges in 2026 and we're told that the new look is already live in Munich and Frankfurt. The lounges in Manchester (UK), Mauritius, and Istanbul will follow later in the year.
The Bulkhead Seat
Enroll Once: TSA and Google Wallet Launch Easier Access to TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with Google Wallet to make it easier…
Live and Let’s Fly
SWISS First Class Hot Dog Gives Me One Big Idea For American And United
SWISS is serving a gourmet hot dog called the “Bastardo” in First Class this summer. The idea is clever, the timing is smart, and while the ingredients sound a bit odd to me, I would absolutely try it. But that gives me an idea for American Airlines or United Airlines…...
The Bulkhead Seat
American Airlines Returns Commercial Service to Naples After 25-Year Absence
After nearly 25 years without scheduled service from a major US airline, Naples, FL…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Took Away The Tool Pilots Used To See Who Might Miss A Connection
American Airlines has reportedly removed broad employee access to a boarding tool pilots and flight attendants used to see boarding progress, inbound connections, likely misconnects, elite passengers, and gate details in one place. The read-only tool could help crews take care of customers, but American has long preferred centralized control...
TravelUpdate
Amex Platinum Card Benefit Going Away For Good, Today Is the Final Day..
This Amex Platinum Card benefit is going away for good, today is June 30 - the final day if you are still looking to use this benefit.
One Mile at a Time
Court Rules Ryanair Can’t Charge For Check-In, Boarding Passes, And More
European ultra low cost carrier Ryanair is known for its incredibly low base fares, and endless optional fees. Over time, the airline has faced quite a bit of regulatory scrutiny over how it does business.
The Bulkhead Seat
Check In: Q2 2026 Elite Status Pacing
We have made it through 50% of the year and I have been traveling…
Eye of the Flyer
What is the Best Card for Delta Airport Lounge Access?
Two things are happening right now that make this question more urgent than usual. First: the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card are both carrying limited-time welcome offers worth up to 125,000 bonus miles — and both expire July 15, 2026....
Traveling For Miles
All-suite Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur opens for reservations (95,000 points/night)
Reservations are now open for Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, marking the brand's debut in Malaysia. The hotel is set to open in late 2026 in the city's Golden Triangle district and there's an opening offer available for stays made deep into 2027.
Live and Let’s Fly
British Airways Will Let Flight Attendants Sleep In Empty First Class Seats
British Airways is now allowing cabin crew to rest in empty First and Club World seats on some longhaul flights. I understand the practical argument, but I still do not like it. British Airways Letting Crew Sleep In Empty First Class And Business Class Seats, Cheapening The Premium Cabin British...
One Mile at a Time
China Suspends General Aviation Flying Nationwide Following Beijing Tower Crash
Reports suggest that China has just indefinitely banned virtually all general aviation flying nationwide. If this goes on for any substantial amount of time, this is about as drastic of a measure as we’ve ever seen from a country to restrict general aviation flying.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Ryanair’s Loathed Airport Check-In Fee Ruled Illegal By Austrian Court in Major Win For Consumer Rights Group
An Austrian court has ruled that Ryanair’s loathed €55 (US $62) airport check-in fee, along with 13 other ancillary charges are illegal in a landmark ruling following a legal challenge by Austria’s Association for Consumer Information (VKI) brought on behalf of the country’s government. VKI challenged 15 of Ryanair’s ancillary fees,...
One Mile at a Time
JetBlue Pilot Reports Colliding With Drone On JFK Approach: “It Hit Us Right Above The Cockpit”
Drones are posing an increasing risk to our aviation ecosystem, given the unauthorized ways these are sometimes used in restricted airspace. Along those lines, a JetBlue pilot reported colliding with a drone while on approach to JFK, which is the first known instance of this happening in the United States…
2PAXfly
QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices
More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of...
One Mile at a Time
The Scam Some Hotels Run To Get Paid More When You Redeem Points
Consumers don’t often think about the economics of how hotels are reimbursed when loyalty program members redeem point for a stay. That brings us to an interesting post on Reddit, where a Hilton employee is asking if they should report their hotel to Hilton corporate for a fraudulent scheme they’re...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door
Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website....
Frequent Miler
What are Hyatt points worth now that the new award chart is live?
At Frequent Miler, we keep a database of point valuations called “Reasonable Redemption Values.” These are estimates of the “worth” of airline miles, hotel points, transferable points, and more. The idea is that we try to identify the point at which it is “reasonable” to get that much value or...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Delta Air Lines eCredits Expire 5 Years After Issue — If…
Delta Air Lines eCredits expire 5 years after they are issued, which has been upgraded from the typical expiration policy of only one year back in the spring of 2025... ...but this policy is only in effect if...
2PAXfly
VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety...
Frequent Miler
Lifemiles+ eliminates free cancellation benefit for new subscribers
Avianca Lifemiles has a subscription service called Lifemiles+. I’ve written pretty extensively about the value in subscribing to Lifemiles+, particularly for family travelers, since those subscribing to the Basic plan or higher have enjoyed benefits like a 10% discount on award redemptions, including on Star Alliance awards, and free changes...
Points With a Crew
Get An Easy $50 From Rakuten (Deal Ends Tuesday)
If you don't have a Rakuten account, sign up and get an easy $50 by signing up and spending at least $50 (including on gift cards to many retailers!) in the first 90 days.
2PAXfly
CHINA AIRLINES: More flights to Australia from October, 2026
Taiwan’s China Airlines is increasing flights to Australia from late October, giving travellers more non-stop choices between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Taipei. The headline act is Sydney, where China Airlines will lift its Taipei service to daily from 25 October 2026. Melbourne follows on 28 October with a fifth weekly...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Lounge pass rules change from 1 July 2026
From Wednesday 1 July, Qantas will tighten the rules governing Complimentary Lounge Invitations, ending the long-standing ability to transfer a pass to any other Frequent Flyer member, regardless of whether they are travelling with you. If you have a stash of passes, you only have days to give them away!...
Wild About Travel
concordes at last
She was the most beautiful aircraft ever created. She was the fastest passenger aircraft ever to fly. She was created through the cooperation of two countries, and the technology that came with her is still being used, with the breakthroughs she sparked continuing to impact aviation today. One fatal crash...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 28 June, 2026
Hello travellers, Well, I’m in Sydney, but not quite home yet. If you have ever had a renovation done, you will understand. I have spent the last week at a Meriton Suites in central Sydney. It’s been a mixed experience. Living in central Sydney has some great advantages, especially on...
Wild About Travel
copy an dre doBeautiful Bold Brightline -The Best way to Ride
Birghtline is superb. What blows me away is that the Brightline experience has been created to attract and keep people who have never ridden a train before. And it works. Background First, a bit of history. In 2018, Brightline did the unthinkable and opened a new private rail service in...
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,...