2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026: Turkish Airlines plays long game—Australia’s almost-direct route to Europe
There are some exciting developments of routes that Australians can take between East Coast Australia and Europe. Some are non-traditional, some use newly available ultra long haul aircraft, and some are just airlines with extra aircraft expanding their route structures to add the continent of Australia to their network. This...
Wild About Travel
Understanding Cabin and Fare Classes to Unlock Airline Miles
As a frequent flier, I hold status in three programs: Virgin Australia, Qantas (oneworld), and Turkish (Star Alliance), and I juggle credits across all of them. I need to know, actually, how many miles I am getting or not getting when I am booking flight choices. For example, last year...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIANS: Where and what kind of trouble they get into overseas
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has just released its State of Play report for the period 2023-24 period. The facts sheets make for interesting reading. It shows that Australians request consular services mostly when they get into trouble in Thailand (827). Second comes Indonesia (546), followed by the...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 15 February, 2026
Hope your weekend and Valentine’s Day celebrations have been as satisfying as mine. Below is a summary of the stories that appeared in the 2PAXfly blog over the last week. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: Launches flights to Melbourne, Australia in 2028 By 2paxfly on 14 Feb 2026 11:00 amEthiopian Airlines, a Star...
Also on BoardingArea
View from the Wing
American Airlines Quietly Joins Forces With Chase—Unlocking 2 Cents-Per-Point Points Boost Flight Redemptions
In a surprising move, American Airlines flights are now featured in Chase Travel's 'Points Boost'—unlocking exceptional redemptions of up to 2 cents per point for business class and premium economy seats. This major shift means travelers can now access American Airlines premium flights through Chase, significantly enhancing the value of...
Frequent Miler
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review (2026)
The Capital One Venture X card was Capital One’s first entrance into the world of “ultra-premium” cards and created quite a splash when it was launched several years ago. At the time, the combination of a gaudy initial welcome offer, 2x everywhere earning, and excellent travel protections made it a...
Economy Class & Beyond
Porter Airlines heads off to Austin and Chicago O’Hare
It seems Mr Porter wants new places to explore, with Porter Airlines adding new USA destinations – Austin and Chicago O’Hare.  Austin (Texas) The Austin service will start on 21st May 2026, operating five times weekly from Toronto Pearson Airport. As such, this will utilise an Embraer E195-E2 on this...
One Mile at a Time
Was Tucker Carlson “Detained” At TLV By Israeli Officials, Or Is He Just Confused?
Conservative figure Tucker Carlson traveled to Israel this week, and he claims he was detained at the airport, following a contentious interview. However, is there more to the story?
Points Miles and Bling
Porter Airlines announces three new routes, two to United States
Porter Airlines has announced a further route expansion for its 2026 summer schedule, bringing new access from Ontario to Newfoundland… The post Porter Airlines announces three new routes, two to United States appeared first on Points Miles and Bling.
The Bulkhead Seat
United MileagePlus Overhaul Makes Credit Cards Key to Earning More Miles and Cheaper Awards
Major US airlines increasingly rely on loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards as major… The post United MileagePlus Overhaul Makes Credit Cards Key to Earning More Miles and Cheaper Awards appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Dots, Lines, & Destinations
DLD 574: Crushing the Craving
Terrible airport dining, a mess in El Paso, and some interesting A350 action.
One Mile at a Time
Wow: Huge United MileagePlus Changes Make Program All About Credit Cards
Nowadays the major airlines in the United States earn much of their profits from their loyalty programs, and in particular, their co-branded credit card businesses. Even though the ”big three” carriers are already raking in billions per year from these programs, they still see a lot of upside.
Frequent Miler
Citi ThankYou Rewards Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners (2026)
Citi ThankYou Rewards competes directly with the other bank-issued transferable points programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Wells Fargo, and Capital One “Miles.” Points can be transferred to airline partners, used to pay for travel or merchandise, redeemed to pay bills, or converted into cash back. However, the best use...
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta Flight Declares Emergency, Returns To Houston After Disruptive Man In A Blouse Sparks Midair Chaos
A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency return to Houston this week after a man wearing a blouse became disruptive shortly after takeoff, illustrating once again how a single individual can derail an otherwise routine flight. Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Houston After Disruptive Passenger...
View from the Wing
United Airlines Slashes MileagePlus Earnings Up To 40% And Hikes Award Prices—If You Don’t Have Their Credit Card
United Airlines is drastically cutting mileage earning and increasing award prices for passengers without a MileagePlus credit card, pushing flyers to sign up for its cards as it moves aggressively toward becoming an even more card-centric program.
One Mile at a Time
How To Earn Bilt Points With Rakuten For Online Shopping, And Is It Worth It?
Rakuten is my favorite online shopping portal, and it lets you earn bonus rewards for purchases you make online. Historically, Rakuten has offered the ability to earn cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points for online shopping, with the latter being a more compelling option (at least for those good...
Miles For Family
My Order of Operations for International Travel Bookings
I have a big trip to Asia coming up in just a few months. Believe it or not, I don’t have everything booked yet! While I booked my first flight almost a year ahead of the trip, I’ve been slowly piecing together all the parts over the last several months....
Plane ‘n Simple
JetBlue Flight 543 Makes Emergency Landing at Newark After Engine Failure and Cabin Smoke
In a frightening incident that briefly shut down Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Wednesday evening, JetBlue Flight 543 was forced to make an emergency return shortly after takeoff following an engine failure that filled the cabin with smoke. All passengers were evacuated safely via emergency slides, and no serious injuries were reported...
TravelUpdate
Chase Makes Changes to Cash Back Redemptions
Chase is about to make changes very soon, limiting options when it comes to how you make cash back redemptions with their points.
View from the Wing
Delta Pilot Reports Attempted Cockpit Breach, Passenger Restrained—But Airline Claims It Never Happened
A Delta pilot reported an attempted cockpit breach just after takeoff from Houston, prompting passengers to restrain a shirtless man mid-flight—yet the airline insists no such breach attempt occurred.
TravelUpdate
American Airlines 777 Tokyo-DFW Business Class Review (2018)
My American Airlines 777 Tokyo-DFW business class review was part of my work trip to Japan. Traveling with…
TravelUpdate
Why I’m Eyeing This 1.4 Cents Per Point Hilton Honors Redemption…
This redemption is on my radar and is really tempting, giving me to redeem Hilton Honors points at a 1.4 cents per point value.
One Mile at a Time
Two Hilton Hotels In Germany Face Scrutiny Over Iran Regime Ownership
Two hotels in Germany may lose their Hilton affiliation, after the owner’s ties to the Iranian government have been exposed.
Eye of the Flyer
Couple Kicked Off 13+ Hour Qantas A380-800 in Business Class for Being Rude!
My wife and I, just last week, returned home from Sydney on Friday the 13th 2026, Australia and had the chance to fly for the first time on a Qantas A380 in business class (review up in a bit). Boarding was a bit of a mess because of a small...
View from the Wing
‘Stop, He’s Already Dead!’ Leaked United Slides Mock Collapse of American’s ‘Temporary’ Chicago Hub, Plan To Beat Them Revealed
Internal slides leaked from United Airlines reveal its aggressive strategy to dominate Chicago O'Hare, as their leadership openly mocks American's hub there as "temporary" underscoring how American's strategic missteps have cost hundreds of millions in losses.
Live and Let’s Fly
Tucker Carlson Claims He Was “Detained” In Israel. That’s Not What Actually Happened.
Tucker Carlson says he was “detained” in Israel after an interview with the U.S. ambassador, but his description sounds strikingly similar to my own uncomfortable experience at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, which cannot properly be characterized as a detention. Tucker Carlson Says He Was “Detained” In Israel, But...
One Mile at a Time
United Airlines’ Chicago Smack Talk Is A Bit Extreme At This Point, No?
At the moment, perhaps the most interesting airline ”battle” in the United States is between American and United at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD). While both airlines have hubs there, the dynamics have changed. A decade ago, American had the advantage, while United has been growing there considerably ever since, putting...
Pointalize
Credit Card MCC Codes Guide
Stop losing points on miscoded purchases. Master Merchant Category Codes (MCC) to ensure every swipe earns 4x-5x rewards. Updated guide for 2026.
2PAXfly
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: Launches flights to Melbourne, Australia in 2028
Ethiopian Airlines, Star Alliance member and Africa’s largest airline, is reported as having confirmed it is targeting 2028 for its Australian debut. Group CEO Mesfin Tasew says the carrier will need roughly two years to secure the wide-body aircraft required for the ultra-long-haul mission to Australia’s east coast. “We will...
Wild About Travel
Chasing Frequent Flyer Status in a Stacked System
For context: I’m a frequent flyer who maintains status across multiple programs: primarily Virgin Australia Platinum, Qantas Platinum, and Star Alliance Gold. This isn’t unique. Many frequent flyers play multiple programs to maximise coverage and benefits. Are you one of them? Virgin Australia has been one of my “main homes”...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL: Preparing of passenger takeoff in October 2026
After years of construction, political debate and plenty of scepticism, Western Sydney International (WSI) is preparing to open for passengers later this year. Cargo flights are expected to commence mid-year The airport, built at Badgerys Creek and designed to operate 24 hours a day without a curfew, is positioning itself...
Wild About Travel
Terrific Turku, Finland’s Historical Capital. All You Need to Know
Turku is a low-key river city known for its university life and as a gateway to medieval Finland and the beautiful Turku Archipelago. Turku has tens of thousands of students across multiple universities and this creates a fun, youthful atmosphere. Quality‑of‑life index scores Turku slightly higher than Helsinki overall (Turku...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: I know when the next double status promotion is going to start.
Let’s start by confessing that the headline is a lie. No one knows when the promo will drop, except a small group within the Qantas promo team! What I am about to present is just speculation, some of which is my own, and some is drawn from the knowledge and...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: Airlines claim passenger protections ‘unworkable’. Surprise!
Australia’s airlines are pushing back hard against the federal government’s proposed aviation consumer protections, warning the reforms are “unworkable”, confusing, and will push up airfares. Not very imaginative arguments, and ones that every consumer protection initiative has faced. What’s the government proposing? The government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,...
Wild About Travel
A Moomin Pilgrimage Through 80 Years of Finnish Magic
I just spent two amazing weeks in Finland, which remains one of my favourite countries in the world. This trip: Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Turku. I’m still processing everything I experienced. The timber architecture of Rovaniemi, the frozen Baltic where ships should be, and now this: my Moomin pilgrimage across 80...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 8 February 2026
Hope your weekend has been as good as mine. Below is a summary of stories that appeared in the blog over the last week. QANTAS: Gets A321XLR configuration very wrong. Too few loos. By 2paxfly on 06 Feb 2026 12:17 pmWhen Qantas began introducing its new Airbus A321XLRs, the focus...