2PAXfly
BOEING: Bird strikes, smoke and the cabin air problem that won’t go away
There are bird strikes. There are fume events. And then there are bird strikes that lead to smoke or oil mist entering the cockpit and/or cabin. That is the issue now ruffling feathers around Boeing’s 737 MAX, its LEAP-1B engines, and the regulators charged with deciding whether this is a...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 14 June, 2026
Greetings from Canada (I’m still here)! I’ve actually spanned the continent and just spent some delightful days enduring the cold of Newfoundland. I’ve also seen puffins at Gull Island and whales out of Bay Bulls Harbour. Both of which were wonderful experiences. Arrival at Montreal, not so much, but they...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: introduces confirmed upgrades with cash
Qantas has added a new way to upgrade your seat that takes the element of chance out. Confirmed Upgrades is a fixed-price cash upgrade offer for selected passengers on selected Qantas flights, with confirmation (or not) within half a day. This becomes the third form of upgrade you can use...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: Finally an opening date, and Jetstar gets first dibs
Western Sydney International Airport will welcome its first paying passengers on Sunday, 25 October 2026, with Jetstar being the first commercial passenger carrier off the tarmac. The inaugural flight from Western Sydney International, officially the Nancy-Bird Walton Airport and known by the code WSI, will be a Jetstar flight, JQ362,...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Changes coming to Resy Credit-eligible restaurants
Gold and Platinum cards from American Express come with statement credit benefits for purchases at Resy restaurants. Thus far, the only requirement in order to be able to earn the statement credit on a qualifying card is that you make payment at a restaurant listed on the Resy platform. However,...
Miles To Memories
Potentially Profitable Office Depot Visa Gift Card Deal Returns (Plus Bonus Points)
The Office Depot Visa Gift Card Deal is back again this week. Rack up some bonus points, and maybe even some potential profit!
View from the Wing
Double Partial Amputee Challenged By United Airlines Over Preboarding. Fake Wheelchair Requests Make Gate Agents Skeptical
A double partial amputee was allegedly challenged by United Airlines over his disability preboarding request, though he ultimately boarded early after pushing back. Fake wheelchair and preboarding requests can make gate agents skeptical, hurting passengers who genuinely need extra time and assistance.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn Up to 300,000 IHG One Rewards Points By Unlocking Your Dream Honeymoon
You can earn up to a maximum of 300,000 IHG One Rewards points by unlocking your dream honeymoon when you book contracts for qualifying weddings and events related to weddings through Thursday, December 31, 2026 at participating IHG Luxury and Lifestyle Hotels & Resorts in the United States, Canada, and...
The Bulkhead Seat
American Express Keeps Betting on Dining With $700 Million TheFork Acquisition
Tripadvisor has agreed to sell TheFork, its European restaurant reservation and management platform, to…
Views by Gate Access
TSA is developing a body scanner that could screen travelers without an officer present
What if the person operating your airport body scanner wasn’t a person at all? That’s the direction the Transportation Security Administration is heading. The agency is developing an automated passenger screening system that would use artificial intelligence and machine vision to guide travelers through Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) scanners without...
The Bulkhead Seat
Weak Promo: Marriott Bonvoy® Week is Back at Starbucks Through June 21st
In June 2024, I first wrote about a new partnership between Starbucks and Marriott Bonvoy®. The collaboration…
Live from a Lounge
Noida International Airport opens for commercial operations; IndiGo launches first flights
Today was day one for the Noida International Airport. Another new airport comes to life, adding to India's aviation infrastructure.
TravelUpdate
Chase Sapphire Changes, Resy Benefit Nerfed, Points Transfer Devaluation & more…
Chase Sapphire Changes, Hyatt transfer ratio devalued, new welcome bonuses and more as we recap top stories from the week gone by.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Disabled Model Says British Airways Refused to Let Her Fly Home From New York Because Cabin Crew Couldn’t Help Her Get to the Bathroom
A disability rights campaigner and model has vowed to sue British Airways for disability discrimination after airline staff at New York JFK refused to let her board one of the airline’s flights to London Heathrow because cabin crew wouldn’t be able to help her use the airplane’s bathroom during the...
Traveling For Miles
This month’s Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes deals are now live (expect spontaneous disappointment!)
It's the middle of the month and that means that another set of KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes deals has been published by Singapore Airlines in which its offering the usual discount of 30% on select award bookings made by the end of the month. Unfortunately, this month the selection is almost...
View from the Wing
Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000 Point Bonus Is Live, So Are Changes To Hyatt Transfers
Chase Sapphire Preferred’s refreshed benefits are now live with a 100,000-point initial bonus, new 3x categories, a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit, and added trusted-traveler credit. The big downside is that Hyatt transfers fall from 1:1 to 4:3 for new Preferred cardmembers.
One Mile at a Time
Ouch: Beond Airlines Hasn’t Paid Staff In Months, Asks Them To Work Anyway
Unfortunately I can’t say I’m surprised by this situation, but it’s still pretty bad, and one can’t help but wonder how numbered the carrier’s days are…
One Mile at a Time
Buy Finnair Plus Avios For 40% Off (1.3 Cents Each): Worth It?
Strategically buying points for premium travel can be a great value. Finnair Plus has just launched its newest promotion on purchased Avios, offering up to 40% off. This is one of the more lucrative promotions that we’ve seen from the program, and there’s even a trick to getting the lowest...
Live and Let’s Fly
Newark Airport Is Beating Rivals In On-Time Performance. Did The FAA Do United Airlines A Favor?
Newark Liberty International Airport has long been a difficult airport to love, which leads me to revisit a question I asked last year: was the federal government’s forced capacity discipline actually a blessing for United Airlines and its passengers? One year later, I’d say the answer is a definite yes....
One Mile at a Time
Chase Freedom Flex 5x Points Q3 2026: Eligible Categories & How To Register
The Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card(review) is a useful no annual fee card belonging to Chase’s Freedom portfolio, which can help you maximize your points, thanks to its quarterly bonus categories. With a new quarter being around the corner, Chase has just opened registration for its Q3 2026 bonus categories,...
View from the Wing
All-Business Class Airline Beond Is Two Months Behind Paying Staff, Asks Crew To Keep Flying Anyway
All-business class airline Beond is two months behind paying staff, according to an internal memo, while asking crew to keep flying charters so it can secure funding and cover back pay. The airline has paused scheduled Maldives service for the summer and says Middle East conditions have made cash management...
Miles For Family
Back from Thailand and Singapore! 7 Biggest Takeaways
Hello readers! I’m back from my trip to Singapore and Thailand. Due to a flight delay, I got back a day later than planned and had to head right back to work immediately. So, my sleep schedule and jet lag has taken a bit longer to work itself out. However,...
One Mile at a Time
Transfer Amex Points To Avianca Lifemiles With 15% Bonus: Worth It?
We’ve just seen a new transfer bonus introduced when moving Amex Membership Rewards points, and it could represent a good deal.
One Mile at a Time
Transfer Amex Points To Avianca Lifemiles With 15% Bonus: Worth It?
We’ve just seen a new transfer bonus introduced when moving Amex Membership Rewards points, and it could represent a good deal.
Eye of the Flyer
Could You Actually Retire on a Cruise Ship? The Pros, the Cons, and the Real Numbers
You’ve probably seen the headlines and rolled your eyes. Some retired guy has lived on Royal Caribbean for over 1,000 voyages. Someone else moved aboard a cruise ship instead of into a retirement community and says it’s the best decision they ever made. It sounds amazing and crazy, right? No...
View from the Wing
Why Smugglers Keep Hiding Dubai Gold In Aircraft Lavatories [Roundup]
Smugglers keep hiding Dubai gold in aircraft lavatories because India’s high import taxes create a lucrative arbitrage, especially on routes from the Gulf. Also: a United speakerphone meltdown, fish slime on a checked bag, forced gate-checking despite empty bins, a Citi-to-Accor transfer bonus, and a Wizz Air pop song.
Traveling For Miles
United MileagePlus miles pooling just got a lot more useful
The United MileagePlus program has had a miles pooling feature since early 2024, but it has always had a restriction that limited how useful it actually was. In unexpectedly good news, that restriction has now been lifted, and the feature is significantly better for it.
Live and Let’s Fly
Travel Vlogger’s Meta AI Glasses Spark Airport Showdown Over Privacy In “Third World” Spain
A travel vlogger claims Volotea staff abandoned their desk after she refused to stop recording them with Meta AI glasses, but the bigger lesson here is a reminder that privacy laws in Europe are very different than in the United States. Travel Vlogger Records Volotea Staff With Meta AI Glasses,...
Wild About Travel
draft Kalogorlei ourback tnwn
I almost came to Kalgoorlie decades ago but never made it. I have travelled across Western Australia’s 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi), from Esperance in the south to Wyndham in the north, and through many towns, beaches, deserts, and mountain ranges in between. I love the state. Kalgoorlie remained...
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: New aviation deal with Saudi Arabia puts passennger flight on Australia’s horizon
Saudi Arabia has signed a new aviation agreement with Australia, opening the way for direct flights into Avalon in Victoria and Toowoomba Wellcamp in Queensland. The first flights are likely to be freight, chilled meat, seafood and dairy and not business class suites. But this raises the possiblity that Riyadh...
2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: Initial destinations and flight schedule
We finally have the launch schedules and first five destinations for the long-awaited launch of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air. Launch pricing is intriguing rather than sensational, but at least any travellers on these flights will get the full Riyadh experience in Riyadh Air’s fully kitted-out cabins. But don’t expect an...
2PAXfly
INDONESIA: Bali giveth to Australians, and taketh away from influencers
Bali is preparing to make holidays cheaper for Australians by restoring visa-free entry. At the same time, Indonesian immigration authorities are making life more complicated for influencers, content creators and assorted digital nomads by requiring them to obtain work visas. No longer will they be able to treat a tourist...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Taj hotel discounts for frequent flyers, with future status match
OneWorld executives have been busy. Qantas frequent flyers can now receive discounts at more than 630 Taj and Indian Hotels Company properties, under a new partnership linking the Oneworld airline alliance with the Taj InnerCircle–NeuPass loyalty program. The agreement stretches beyond Taj’s grand palaces and luxury hotels to include everything...
2PAXfly
ONEWORLD: Philippine Airlines is joining, and that’s good news for Australian travellers
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is preparing to join the oneworld alliance, bringing a Southeast Asian carrier into the same airline family as Qantas. The Philippine flag carrier has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become oneworld’s 16th member, following an invitation from the alliance’s governing board. The announcement was made at...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Looking at Superjumbo A380 replacement
Qantas is reportedly considering an order for about 20 additional widebody aircraft, potentially setting up another contest between Airbus and Boeing for a large slice of the airline’s international fleet. According to Reuters aviation correspondent Tim Hepher, Qantas is discussing either additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners or the Airbus A350-900 with...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 7 June, 2027
Greetings again from Canada! I’ve spent just shy of a week in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. I’ve also had my first experience of Air Canada, and its Express and Rouge brands. I’m impressed on the whole with their Business Class. Less so by their lounges. What happened last week? Don’t...