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
Miles To Memories
Look Past the Gas – Two Interesting Fuel Credit Cards to Use Elsewhere
It can be fun to spend on these two less-than-obvious gas credit cards for other reasons. I bet you don't hold either of them!
View from the Wing
American Airlines Pilots Got Locked Out Of The Cockpit At DFW, So Maintenance Climbed Through The Window
An American Airlines flight from Dallas - Fort Worth to Monterey flight was delayed on Sunday after pilots were locked out of the cockpit and maintenance had to climb in through the window.”
Monkey Miles
The most underrated two card combo that deserves more hype
You don’t want a ton of cards in your wallet…then I have a solution. Hands down, The Most Underrated 2 card combo in the marketplace is the Capital One Venture X ( my choice for best super premium card ) & Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card . Why?...
Points With a Crew
This is the dumbest advice to get a first class upgrade I’ve ever heard
Everyone's looking for the magic secret to get that elusive first class upgrade. Just don't follow the advice in this article, which is probably the dumbest I've ever heard.
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – American Airlines Boeing 787-8 climbing out of Chicago O’Hare International
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art.  This week, we have an American Airlines Boeing 787-8 climbing out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport as it commences its journey. American Airlines operates a fleet of 37 Boeing 787-8 aircraft in its widebody fleet. The airline also...
Your Mileage May Vary
Should You Pay For The Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) When Renting A Car?
It’s easy to forget that when you rent a car, you’re “borrowing” a vehicle that costs tens of thousands of dollars from a major corporation. When you pick it up,…
Miles To Memories
Half Price ChatGPT Business! Hurry and Use Your New Credits
Rhere are two new codes that will cut the monthly subscription in half. These will not last long, I would sign up right away to lock in the 50% discount.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
How to Keep a Car Clean When Driving in Iceland
Driving a vehicle in Iceland in general is not difficult in and of itself; but it does have its pitfalls — and one of them is driving on the many unpaved roads which permeate much of the small island country. Keeping a rental car clean is very important — if only...
View from the Wing
Air France Canceled A Family’s Award Tickets After Check-In, Then Accidentally Sent Emails Showing Staff Making Up Fraud Claims
Air France canceled a family’s confirmed award tickets after check-in, forcing them to buy $8,354 in replacement flights. Internal emails accidentally sent to the customer show staff struggling to justify the fraud claim after the fact.
One Mile at a Time
Last Chance: Best-Ever Chase Sapphire Reserve Card 150K Bonus Points Offer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is one of the most popular premium travel credit cards, given its lucrative bonus categories, valuable lounge access, and other credits and benefits that can help offset the annual fee.
Live and Let’s Fly
Inside Mooney International’s Bid To Rebuild Spirit
Mooney International says it has bid for Spirit, will buy an aircraft maker, and build a three-airline empire. I called the CEO. Here is what he told me.
Miles To Memories
Get 10% Off Putting Together Frustrating IKEA Furniture With New Amex Offer
A new IKEA Amex Offer that could save you up to 10% off your next purchase. Unfortunately you still have to put the dang thing together.
The Bulkhead Seat
Targeted Promo: Free 12-Month Paramount+ Premium Subscription From Delta Air Lines
While flying this week on Delta Air Lines, I noticed an interesting box appear…
Frequent Miler
CardPointers: Automatically enroll offers to all of your cards
CardPointers is an app/website/browser extension that helps you track all your credit cards, their various benefits, etc. Its most popular feature is the ability to auto-enroll card-linked spending offers like Amex Offers, Citi Offers, etc. Rather than having to go through and manually click to enroll in each offer, CardPointers...
Points With a Crew
Flight attendants plead with passengers to stop a disturbing habit on planes: ‘It’s insane’
A new airline passenger habit is catching the notice of flight attendants, who are begging passengers to stop. Is this something that ...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why AMEX Centurion Cardholders Don’t Play The Same Points Game We Do
For many of us in the points and miles world, credit card strategy is all about optimization. We know which card earns 4X at restaurants, which one earns 5X on…
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Flight Attendant Made to Wear Surgical Face Mask and Gloves Because Manager Didn’t Like the Color of Her Makeup
A flight attendant has revealed how she was made to wear a surgical face mask and latex gloves for the duration of her long working day aboard the aircraft because her manager didn’t like the color of the lipstick and nail varnish she was wearing. Taking to the popular social...
View from the Wing
Why U.S. Airlines Stopped Selling Flight Attendant Sex Appeal, While Asian Carriers Still Police Age, Weight, And Looks
U.S. airlines once sold sex appeal through young, thin, unmarried flight attendants, but deregulation, civil-rights law, and union seniority ended that model. Yet this hasn't taken hold everywhere, as some Asian carriers still use age, weight, grooming, and appearance rules as part of cabin crew branding.
Frequent Miler
Office Depot/OfficeMax: Buy $300+ Visa Gift Cards, Save $15
Office Depot and OfficeMax stores have returned with their profitable gift card deal on Visa gift cards through June 20, 2026. The Deal Buy $300+ Visa gift cards at Office Depot/OfficeMax & get $15 off instantly. Key Terms Valid June 14, 2026 – June 20, 2026. Limit 10 per household/business...
One Mile at a Time
Review: Royal Jordanian Crown Lounge Amman Airport (AMM)
During my two-part birthday trip to the Golden Triangle, I had an extended layover at Amman Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), between two Royal Jordanian flights. I was arriving from Bangkok (BKK) in Royal Jordanian’s Boeing 787-8 business class, and departing to Frankfurt nearly six hours later, in Royal Jordanian’s...
The Bulkhead Seat
Star Alliance Updates Lounge Access Rules, Officially Excludes United Polaris® Lounges
Star Alliance has quietly updated its alliance-wide lounge access policy, clarifying access rules for…
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
The best hotel bonus points promotions – June 2026
Here is your monthly update of all the major hotel bonus points promotions that are available. One of the easiest ways to rack up lots of hotel points is to take advantage of these global/systemwide/regional bonuses that come from many of the big chain programs and also from the lesser...
Travel Codex
American Airlines “Elevates” Lounge Dining By Playing Catch Up
American Airlines is back with another round of lounge “enhancements,” this time promising to take dining “to new heights” across its Flagship Lounges and Admirals Clubs. If you read the press release, you’d think AA just reinvented the pre-flight meal. Yet lets me be real, they are just playing catch...
The Bulkhead Seat
Rodent at 30,000 Feet: The Only JetBlue Passenger Who Didn’t Need a Boarding Pass
Most JetBlue passengers expect a comfortable space and complimentary snacks in Mint. What they…
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...