2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Air Traffic Control stinks! Sewage smell overwhelms control tower
Air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport were forced to work through overpowering sewage odours during the peak 2024–25 holiday travel period. Some staff were reportedly dry heaving at their desks while managing aircraft movements according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald. Incident logs from Airservices Australia show the...
2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Bring boltcutters? Picton Waterfront Apartments, New Zealand
Our New Zealand holiday continued once we arrived in Picton and alighted from the Interisland ferry, picked up our hire car and made our way to the Waterfront Apartments, ready for our four-night stay, with a view straight down Picton harbour. Car Hire Just a note, that another visitor, who...
Wild About Travel
Johannesburg: First encounter with the City of Gold
Firstly, three fascinating facts about Johannesburg for your next Trivia Pursuit Competition: I flew to Johannesburg expecting not to like it, but there is something about its youthfulness, energy, hustling, humour and beauty that got to me. I rate all the cities I have visited or lived in, and Johannesburg...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: To reverse decision on Premium Economy?
Turkish Airlines could be seriously exploring the return of premium economy to its aircraft cabins. That would fit with the carrier plans to operate some of the longest flights in its history, including nonstop services between Istanbul and Sydney. That’s a development worth the attention of Australian travellers. Premium Economy...
Also on BoardingArea
PointsMath
Promotion Weekly January 2026 Second Edition
Here are the ongoing points and travel promotions for this week. Previous Edition: Promotion Weekly January 2026 First Edition This weekly edition is divided into three sections: Airline promotions, Hotel promotions & Award Flight tools. Use the links below to jump to what matters to you. Ending in January 2026...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Air Traffic Control stinks! Sewage smell overwhelms control tower
Air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport were forced to work through overpowering sewage odours during the peak 2024–25 holiday travel period. Some staff were reportedly dry heaving at their desks while managing aircraft movements according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald. Incident logs from Airservices Australia show the...
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: Capital One to Emirates 1:1 transfers, increased Hilton welcome offers, $15 Lyft credit, & more
Welcome to our weekly list of what’s ending this week as well as a collection of some other deals that are due to end soon. There are a dozen deals set to end this week which includes increased welcome offers on Amex Hilton cards. Monday is the last opportunity to transfer...
ATX Jetsetter
My Favorite Travel Tools
Check out some of my favorite travel tools that support my travel addiction and help me keep everything organized on the road. The post My Favorite Travel Tools appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
Points With a Crew
How much to tip a hotel maid? (POLL)
Do you tip hotel maids? If you're wondering how much to tip a hotel maid, customs vary, but ranges go from never tipping hotel maids up to...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 335
Once I finished applying for a visa to visit the republic of Azerbaijan, the time had come to pay the fee of $20.00 — but that does not include a fee of nine dollars plus a fee of one additional dollar to process the payment with a credit card; so...
The Bulkhead Seat
2026 Weekly Review: January 10th
Greetings from Tampa! We just got back from Asia and I have lots of… The post 2026 Weekly Review: January 10th appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
View from the Wing
Chase Just Dropped 5 Free Marriott Nights On One Card — Up To 50,000 Points Each After $3,000 Spend
Chase just launched the biggest-ever Marriott Boundless bonus: 5 Free Night Awards after $3,000 in 3 months, valid up to 50,000 points per night (and you can top off each with 15,000 points). There is also a 2026 airline statement credit up to $100, and the no-fee Marriott Bold now...
One Mile at a Time
Could Marriott Buy Rosewood? I’m Skeptical Of The Rumors, But…
This seems somewhat unlikely to me, but I think its at least worth addressing the rumors, as Ive now had several people forward this to me
Frequent Miler
More affordable one-way fares, stacking Chase Sapphire hotel credits, upgrades that aren’t upgrades, and a 40-year murder gets solved (Saturday Selection)
Throughout the week, our team shares articles they’ve stumbled upon that may interest our readers, even if they might not otherwise merit a full post. Here are some of the posts we found interesting this week: More affordable one-way fares, stacking Chase Sapphire hotel credits, upgrades that aren’t upgrades, and...
The Bulkhead Seat
Lounge Review: United Polaris® Lounge (SFO)
We had some time between our flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to… The post Lounge Review: United Polaris® Lounge (SFO) appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Your Mileage May Vary
How Aviation Geeks Identify Airplanes at a Glance (and How You Can, Too)
Those of you who are aviation geeks amaze me. I mean, you can glance at a plane and know what it is. How do you even DO that??? Me? I’m…
One Mile at a Time
The Most Surprising Hotel Welcome Amenity I’ve Ever Received
It’s not often that I walk into a hotel room and am shocked (well, other than that time the child bandits broke into my room at the Sheraton Grand London), but that’s exactly what happened to me during a recent stay at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley (which I’ll be...
View from the Wing
Marriott Buying Rosewood? “Leaked Email” Screenshot Doesn’t Add Up
A rumor is spreading that Marriott is buying Rosewood—an enormous deal if true, and one that would immediately raise questions about how Rosewood could fit inside Bonvoy. But the story rests on a screenshot of an alleged internal Marriott legal email that reads wrong, while credible reporting points instead to Rosewood...
One Mile at a Time
Weekly Review: January 10, 2026
I hope everyone is having a nice weekend so far! We’re on a quick family ski trip, which has been lovely (though cold). Most exciting is that our three-year-old, Miles, is learning to ski (well, or something like that). You can expect a couple of hotel reviews about our experiences...
Economy Class & Beyond
Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond (10th January)
It’s been a bit of a first week back, as snow has impacted play. Yes, it’s time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond. It’s been a bit of a white covering in parts of the UK, with transport links shut, delays and such. Take it easy, especially if...
Points With a Crew
What’s The Worst Country You’ve Ever Been To?
If you're someone who has been to a lot of countries around the world, what's the worst country you've ever been to?
Your Mileage May Vary
Stop Thinking American Express Statement Credits Are The Same As Cash
I’ve been reading for years how a credit card with a high annual fee isn’t as expensive as it seems because the card provides statement credits that are just like…
Live and Let’s Fly
Last Call: Massive Capital One Venture X Business Welcome Offer, Up To 400K Bonus Miles
Link: Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business The Capital One Venture X Business card is generating attention for a headline-grabbing welcome offer of up to 400,000 miles. That number is real, but it is also conditional, and the spending required to unlock it places this card firmly...
Miles To Memories
Out With the Old – My 2026 Points and Travel Resolutions
Last year certainly wasn't a failure, but I can be better with my 2026 points and travel endeavors. I plan to improve in these areas. The post Out With the Old – My 2026 Points and Travel Resolutions appeared first on Miles to Memories.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Los Angeles Olympics 2028 Livery of Delta Air Lines Spotted in Atlanta
During our sojourn of 22 hours to Europe and back which was originally an attempt to go from Georgia to Georgia via Amsterdam, the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 livery of Delta Air Lines was spotted at the international airport which serves the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. An Airbus A350-900 airplane with...
View from the Wing
Citibank’s Strata Elite Card Has A 100,000 Point Bonus — And Earns More American Miles Than AA’s Cards
The Citi Strata Elite got a major boost — a 100,000-point welcome offer after $6,000 spend in three months, plus earning rates up to 12X and the only transferable link to American AAdvantage. Add credits that can be double dipped in the first cardmember year, Admirals Club passes, and full...
Pointalize
Transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton: Is It Worth It?
Is transferring Amex points to Hilton worth it in 2026? We analyze the 1:2 ratio, break-even math, and the only 3 scenarios where this transfer makes sense.
Your Mileage May Vary
5 More Ways to Instantly Annoy a TSA Officer
Not long ago, we published a piece about 5 things travelers do that drive TSA officers crazy. They were activities passengers did that were either annoying to everyone involved, or…
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New Year, means time to plan for the next Qantas Double Status Credits & Points promotion
Each year since at least 2018, Qantas has offered a Double Status and Points promotion in February or March. Sure, it has offered similar promotions on other dates, but February/March are the most consistent and reliable. To that end, with the second week of the new year coming to a...
2PAXfly
CATHAY PACIFIC: Anniversary marks 2026 as 80 years in the air
Cathay Pacific has launched its 80th-anniversary celebrations for 2026, marking eight decades since the airline’s founding in 1946. The anniversary program is being rolled out under the theme ’80 Years Together’. The biggest indicator is an aircraft painted in retro livery. The birthday celebrations were formally launched at a Hong...
2PAXfly
STARLUX: Takes delivery of first A350-1000
Starlux Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first Taiwanese airline to operate Airbus’ largest long-range twin-engine aircraft, a fleet milestone that has implications for Australian travellers flying long haul via Asia. The aircraft, registered B-58551, was handed over at Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters before operating a...
2PAXfly
2026: What’s new in the sky for Australian travellers
There are some interesting changes in aviation for 2026. It’s mainly about longer flights, that get you there moe quickly. It’s also about flying quieter and more comfortably for those uninterrupted very long hours. Most of these innovations have already been announced, but I thought at the beginning of 2026,...
2PAXfly
VENEZUELA: The effect of the USA military action on aviation for Australians
The U.S. military operation in Venezuela in early January 2026 has had a direct impact on aviation in the Americas, with flow-on effects for Australian travellers transiting through the United States, the Caribbean and parts of Latin America. While Venezuela itself is not a common destination for Australians, changes to...
Wild About Travel
Grounded for Good: The Airlines That Didn’t Survive 2025
For over a decade, I’ve been keeping note of which airlines go out of business each year. Do you recognise any of these? Air BelgiumBelgium. Founded: 2016. Commenced: 2018. Passenger operations ceased: 2024 (bankruptcy). Passenger flying had already stopped following the 2024 insolvency. After that, it was limited to wet‑lease...
Wild About Travel
Very Frequent Flying: My best and worst of 2025
One hundred and one flights in 2025, bringing me to 1782 lifetime flights. Flew to or from twenty-seven countries. Five continents. From the midnight sun grazing Helsinki’s summer sky to the crisp air of Hobart’s harbour, 2025 took me 213,054 kilometres (132,386 miles) around our planet. Roughly five times over....
Wild About Travel
Rating a city: From First Crush to Favourites
How do you rate a city? A good memory? The food? Its beauty? The first time I landed in Paris, I fell hard. I loved the art, the tree‑lined streets, the river, the metro, the food and markets, and even the people (yes, I mean Parisians). Twenty‑three visits later, I...