2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 1 March, 2026
It’s been a big week in Australian aviation, especially with the announcement of Qantas’ half-year results, a direct route from Brisbane to Las Vegas, and surprising changes to their loyalty scheme.  A lot of posts to catch up on in this Review, so read on: QANTAS: First International A321XLR route...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: First International A321XLR route announced — Brisbane to Manila
According to a story on ET, the first international A321XLR route will be Brisbane to Manila, commencing on 25 October 2026. But don’t get too excited, because there won’t be any flat beds, just domestic Business Class recliners. So, aside from a newer, quieter, more highly pressured plane, it’s a...
Wild About Travel
Qantas’ “New Era” For Status
Qantas has just made it more expensive to stay loyal. Funny how that works. The airline is calling it a ‘new era’ for its Frequent Flyer program. I’d call it a quiet price hike dressed up in marketing language. This is a change I’ve been waiting on for months. After...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: MASSIVE overhaul of Qantas Frequent Flyer program. The good and the bad
Qantas is making it easier to earn Status Credits without setting foot on a plane, but there are positives and negatives. As part of its sweeping overhaul of the loyalty program, the airline will lift the annual threshold required to retain status, even as it introduces rollover credits and more...
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
Bilt Blue Card: No Annual Fee Sounds Nice, But What About The Perks?
Link: Apply for a Bilt credit card, with three options to choose from
TravelUpdate
Want a peek inside a Qantas Boeing 747SP?
The Qantas Boeing 747SP was a rare aircraft, with the Australian airline ordering just two examples. They were…
Frequent Miler
Bilt Rent Day for March: Get a 25%-125% transfer bonus to Japan Airlines
Update 3/1/26: Just a quick reminder that this transfer bonus is available for today only. ~ Bilt Rewards has released details of its next Rent Day promotion and it’s great news for people who were excited by the addition of Japan Airlines as a transfer partner last year. That’s because...
TravelUpdate
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Card Review: 150,000 Points Welcome Bonus Offer!
The Chase Sapphire Reserve for business card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 150,000 points. Here's a full review of the card.
One Mile at a Time
New Korean Air Lounge LAX Opens, And… It’s Actually Nice, Finally?!?
Korean Air is currently investing quite a bit in its passenger experience, seemingly finally realizing that the carrier has been sort of second rate among its Asian peers. Along those lines, the airline is refreshing in its lounge network. While this includes a full overhaul of lounges at Seoul Incheon...
Eye of the Flyer
UK Issues U.S. Travel Warning, Vogue Editor Ditches First Class, NCL Criticized by Investment Firm, Amex Expands and Upgrades Resy – Weekly Travel News
Here are this week’s travel and cruise headlines and news from around the web and interweb: Major Shareholder Blasts NCLH Leadership, Pushes for Major Changes “Don’t Go”: British Tourist Detained By The U.S. Warns Travelers To Avoid Visiting America Amex Is Upgrading Resy to Win the Restaurant Reservation Wars Once...
View from the Wing
Flight Attendant Fired For Denying Passenger Bathroom Access Out Of Spite—Demanded Boarding Pass As Ransom, Now They’re Suing
A passenger desperately needed to use the lavatory during a delayed flight, but an angry flight attendant repeatedly blocked access—demanding his boarding pass as ransom. Now fired, the flight attendant is suing the airline.
TravelUpdate
3 Free Nights Welcome Bonus, 1 Free Night Upon Renewal: Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card Review
With this offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you'll earn three free nights as a welcome bonus and another free night upon renewal!
One Mile at a Time
Vogue Editor Downgrades Herself From American First Class Due To Bad Service
Imagine paying for first class, only to downgrade yourself to a lower cabin due to bad service. That’s allegedly what happened to a traveler on a recent transatlantic American Airlines flight.
Live and Let’s Fly
A Runner Did a 5K in an Airplane Bathroom. Why?
A marathoner locked himself in a plane lavatory for an hour to log a 5K on Strava. Passengers and the internet had thoughts.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Passengers On American Airlines Flight From Philadelphia Experience One of the World’s Longest Ever ‘Flights to Nowhere’
Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia experienced a wild 16-hour ‘flight to nowhere’ after their Boeing 787 Dreamliner performed a U-turn around seven hours into a transatlantic service to Doha, Qatar, when airspace across the Gulf was suddenly shuttered on Saturday. This is one of the longest ‘flights...
You Are Travel
Hyatt Adds First Bunkhouse Properties Outside of the US
tl;dr – Both properties are in Mexico. In Fall 2024, Hyatt closed its acquisition of Standard International Brands,… The post Hyatt Adds First Bunkhouse Properties Outside of the US appeared first on You Are Travel.
One Mile at a Time
Transfer Chase Points To British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, With 20% Bonus
Chase Ultimate Rewardshas just launched its latest airline transfer bonus. Actually, it’s a trio of transfer bonuses, and I think some members will find this to be worthwhile.
One Mile at a Time
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards: Save 25% On Award Tickets
The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program has just published a new Promo Rewards list for March 2026, offering discounted short haul and long haul awards for travel over the coming months.
One Mile at a Time
Bilt Rent Day Promotion March 2026: Up To 125% Japan Airlines Transfer Bonus
Bilt is the platform known for providing rewards for housing payments. We’ve recently seen massive changes at Bilt, including an overhaul of the credit card portfolio, plus new ways that housing rewards are offered.
Pointalize
Hyatt’s New Award Chart Raising Rates More Than 60%
Hyatt's new 2026 award chart introduces a 5-tier pricing system, raising luxury hotel redemptions by up to 67%. Learn how to protect your points before May.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Second Explosion Reported at Dubai International Airport: Why is Iran Attacking Airports And Hotels?
A second major explosion has been reported at Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Sunday morning, less than 10 hours after an Iranian kamikaze drone hit Terminal 3, injuring at least four people, and leading to the full-scale evacuation of the airport. Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the airfield...
Nerd Ka Travel
Hyatt Implied It Wouldn’t Be Like the Others, Then Added Two More Ways to Charge You
World of Hyatt has announced updates to its loyalty program, including changes to its published award chart and the introduction of new features aimed at increasing flexibility for members. The updates begin rolling out in May 2026. Award chart expanding […]
The Bulkhead Seat
2026 Weekly Review: February 28th
Somehow, it’s already March tomorrow. I’m home in Tampa this weekend and watching all… The post 2026 Weekly Review: February 28th appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
The Bulkhead Seat
EL AL Halts New Bookings Through March 21st as Israel Prepares Massive Repatriation Effort
EL AL Israel Airlines has suspended new flight bookings until at least March 21st… The post EL AL Halts New Bookings Through March 21st as Israel Prepares Massive Repatriation Effort appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: Japan Airlines transfer bonus, IHG & Best Western promos, & 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 only four deals ending this week. Ending soonest is the Bilt transfer bonus to Japan Airlines which is only live on Sunday March 1....
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards: Save 25% on select reward flights (March 2026 edition)
The newest set of Air France KLM’s Promo Rewards are now available. This month there are 45 cities in total, all of which are 25% off their standard minimum redemption amount for economy, premium economy and business class redemptions (fare class varies by route). For this set of Promo Rewards,...
View from the Wing
After Strikes Reportedly Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, Here’s Why Tehran’s Drones Targeted Dubai’s Airport, Burj Al Arab Hotel
U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military figures, prompting Iran to retaliate aggressively with drone attacks hitting major civilian landmarks, including Dubai International Airport, the Burj Al Arab hotel, and Kuwait International Airport.
Points With a Crew
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Review (New Higher Offer)
KEY LINK: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card – Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees ) I’ve often said that one...
Wild About Travel
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): A City That Feels Lost.
I had just had an amazing week on the Garden Route, exploring wineries, seeing whales, and enjoying hikes, coffee, food, and South African hospitality. Enjoy some of the photos! When my Baz Bus minibus (great service by the way) reached Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth, we arrived in a very different world....
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New search tool allows region-to-region Classic Rewards search across partner airlines
Qantas is promising to roll out a major upgrade to how members search for Classic Reward seats in March 2026. It could dramatically improve your chances of finding low-points Classic Rewards redemptions. Over at ET they have seen a preview, and this is what they found. Region-to-Region search The new...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Frequent Flyer changes evaluated, and when they roll out
Qantas is billing these largely status-related changes as a ‘new era’ for Frequent Flyers. Here’s what’s coming, what I think of it, and when it will arrive. Read on to find out what it means if you’re chasing Silver, protecting Gold or sitting comfortably at Platinum. March 2026: A better...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: What happens on a seasonal direct flights to Vegas, stays in Vegas.
What happens in Vegas no longer requires a stop in Los Angeles. From 29 December 2026, Qantas will launch the first-ever nonstop flights between Australia and Las Vegas, with a seasonal Sydney–Las Vegas service running through to 12 March 2027. For Australian travellers, that means skipping the usual US gateway...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Sweeping overhaul of Qantas Frequent Flyer program. The good and the bad
Qantas is making it easier to earn Status Credits without setting foot on a plane, but there are positives and negatives. As part of its sweeping overhaul of the loyalty program, the airline will lift the annual threshold required to retain status, even as it introduces rollover credits and more...
2PAXfly
UNITED KINGDOM: New rules for British/Australian dual nationals. What to do if your travelling soon
If you’re a British dual national with travel to the UK booked this week or next, this issue isn’t theoretical, it’s immediate. From 25 February (today), the British Home Office requires airlines to verify that British citizens board with a valid British passport (or a foreign passport carrying a certificate...
2PAXfly
MELBOURNE AIRPORT: $4.5 billion international terminal expansion
Melbourne is about to get a bigger front door to the world with plans for a $4.5 billion expansion of its international terminal. The project will expand check-in areas, baggage halls, and aircraft gates. These innovations are all aimed at easing pressure on Australia’s largest 24-hour airport. In January 2026,...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Cuts Doha flights on Qatar jets as bookings lag
Virgin Australia’s high-profile partnership with Qatar Airways is facing an early recalibration, with several Australia–Doha services reduced across late summer and autumn schedules. The services are operated by Qatar aircraft but sold under Virgin’s code, allowing passengers to earn Velocity Status Credits on long-haul sectors from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and...