2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Antisemitic outburst by 19yo on Bali–Sydney flight
With Sydney siders still reeling from the massacre of those celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday, a 19-year-old passenger has been arrested on a Virgin Australia flight. The 19-year-old is accused of an alleged antisemitic outburst on board a Virgin Australia flight from Bali to Sydney. This incident comes...
Wild About Travel
A Personal Message in light of the Bondi massacre
Today’s post is a very personal one and I have wondered whether to post at all, but this is my blog, so here goes. I have written previously here about my experience four months ago when I was caught in a mass shooting at a local market in Bangkok. The...
2PAXfly
THAI AIRWAYS: Baggage changes. What you need to know
Baggage rules are changing at Thai Airways. In a major move, the airline is changing from weight-based allowances to a piece-based system, with weight and dimension limits for all passengers from 2 March 2026. Whatever class you are flying in first, business or the cheapest economy fare, your checked bags...
Wild About Travel
What the new US entry rules really mean.
This week, media and travellers are reacting to a new US proposal that would greatly expand the data the US collects from applicants under the ESTA Visa waiver program. In this post, I delve into what it means for those of us who use visa‑waiver travel to go to the...
Also on BoardingArea
Economy Class & Beyond
SNAPSHOT: Malaysia Airlines 627 Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Time for another Snapshot, this time focusing on the passenger experience aboard Malaysia Airlines 627 on the short hop between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I’m sure you know how I do this travel writing thing by now. But for those reading this for the first time, I have two major...
Frequent Miler
Bilt has added Spirit as another transfer partner
Ever since launching a few years ago, Bilt has steadily added more and more transfer partners. They’ve announced today that they now have a new partner: Spirit Airlines. Transfers will be conducted on a 1:1 basis, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 Bilt points, and should transfer over pretty much...
Live and Let’s Fly
Finnair Caught In The Crossfire After Racism Controversy Explodes In Asia
A social media post by a beauty queen, followed by predictable outrage, has somehow metastasized into a reputational crisis for Finland’s flag carrier. Finnair Scrambles To Contain Backlash After Racism Controversy Erupts In Asia Finnair is facing a growing public relations crisis after a racism controversy originating in Finland spilled...
Pointalize
Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries: What’s the Difference?
Confused by hard vs. soft credit inquiries? We break down the math, the 5-point cost, and why travel hackers shouldn't fear the hard pull.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Chaos Erupts On Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 As ‘Hallucinating’ Passenger Tries To Open Emergency Exit At 39,000 Feet
Chaos erupted on an Alaska Airlines flight to Anchorage last Wednesday when a passenger who was suffering from hallucinations and was “out of mind” tried to open the emergency exit mid-air, managing to force the handle from its fully locked position. Kassian William Fredericks has now been charged with interference...
Pointalize
GigSky Trick: Get Infinite 3GB Free eSIM Data
Stop paying for international roaming. Learn the Venture X virtual card hack to unlock unlimited 3GB data plans via GigSky for free. Step-by-step guide.
PointsMath
Last Day: Buy Air Canada Aeroplan Points with up to 100% Bonus [1.34¢ or ₹ 1.20/Point]
Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance. Its frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, is one of the best, with many airline partners, offers a stopover for just 5,000 points, and has good flight award availability. And if you are short of points, you can top up using this 100%...
View from the Wing
Chase Quietly Walks Back Sapphire Reserve Points Boost at The Edit Hotels — Guaranteed 2x Becomes Up to 2x
Chase introduced Points Boost as the Sapphire Reserve’s big new redemption pitch: up to 2x on flights, and a guaranteed 2x on The Edit hotels. Now Chase has quietly rewritten the terms so The Edit is only “up to 2x” as well—turning the one fixed-value use case into a dynamic,...
From The Tray Table
Exclusive: American plans major lounge overhaul for 2026, starting at DCA
American Airlines is making a major play to reinvent itself as a premium carrier. Perhaps nowhere is that… The post Exclusive: American plans major lounge overhaul for 2026, starting at DCA appeared first on From the Tray Table.
Frequent Miler
Smart marketing: Rove running Match Your Mesa program offering up to 5,000 free miles
Rove has been one of the most interesting companies in the points and miles space this year. From launching a new transferable points program, to offering rewards for hotel bookings that are – in effect – booked directly with the hotel chain, to awarding a generous number of miles for...
Miles To Memories
Rove Will “Match Your Mesa” Lost Points, Up to 5K
Through Match Your Mesa, eligible former Mesa users can match their Mesa points balance to Rove Miles, up to 5,000 miles per person. The post Rove Will “Match Your Mesa” Lost Points, Up to 5K appeared first on Miles to Memories.
One Mile at a Time
Shameful: Fairmont Udaipur Walks Guest, Doesn’t Apologize, Offers Nothing
I’d like to award the Fairmont Udaipur Palace the prize for the worst handling of walking a guest that I’ve ever heard of. And that’s quite an accomplishment, because there are a lot of hotels out there that don’t actually care about hospitality.
From The Tray Table
Stop booking United flights the usual way. Here’s a better option.
Most travelers probably head to United.com or the airline’s mobile app to book their flights. But that’s no… The post Stop booking United flights the usual way. Here’s a better option. appeared first on From the Tray Table.
View from the Wing
Rove Miles Is Giving Mesa Cardholders Free Points — Up to 5,000 Each, Until They Run Out
Rove Miles is offering a Mesa points “match” for anyone stuck with a Mesa rewards balance—really a giveaway of up to 5,000 Rove points per member, capped at 2 million points total. To claim, upload a screenshot of your most recent Mesa statement and your current rewards balance; points are...
View from the Wing
Bilt Adds Spirit Airlines Transfers — Now Has 23 Airline And Hotel Transfer Partners, Bigger List Than Amex And Chase
Bilt just added a new transfer partner, and it’s one nobody else offers: Spirit Airlines. That brings Bilt to 23 airline and hotel transfer partners — a bigger transfer list than Amex or Chase — but whether you should actually move points is another matter. Continue reading Bilt Adds Spirit Airlines...
From The Tray Table
The free way to earn valuable travel points — no premium credit card required
Most people assume you need a pricey premium credit card to earn meaningful travel rewards. And even if… The post The free way to earn valuable travel points — no premium credit card required appeared first on From the Tray Table.
Monkey Miles
Another year of IHG One Rewards Diamond Status + 120k Points for $800
Last year I locked in  IHG One Rewards Diamond status simply by purchasing points for $640. This year, the same deal is back, but it’ll run you $800. Ultimately, I decided to go for it mainly because you’re buying 120k points for $600 ( which I’ll definitely use ),and then...
The Alviator
Cathay Pacific Introduces Free WiFi For Premium Economy Passengers (With A Catch)
Cathay Pacific is introducing free WiFi for their premium economy passengers. However, you need to be crediting your flight to Cathay. The post Cathay Pacific Introduces Free WiFi For Premium Economy Passengers (With A Catch) appeared first on The Alviator.
One Mile at a Time
Do You Check-Out Of Hotels, Or Just Leave? The Factors I Consider…
When you’re ready to leave a hotel, do you physically go to the front desk to check-out, or do you just leave?
Eye of the Flyer
Thinking About a Delta Medallion® Year end Mileage run for Status? Why You Probably Shouldn’t!
For a great many years in December you could find me taking one last year end mileage run to wherever to top off my points needed to again fly the following year as a Diamond Medallion®. Most times they were a BLAST! Heck some years I even started the year...
View from the Wing
Ex-Hooters OYO Las Vegas Lists $1 Rooms Across Multiple Room Types — Resort Fee Adds $50.96
OYO Las Vegas (the former Hooters) is advertising $1 rooms Monday through Wednesday with promo code ONEDOLLAR — across everything from basic kings to strip-view and pool-view rooms. But the fine print says you still owe a $50.96 resort fee (with tax) at check-in, and it isn’t included in the...
TravelUpdate
Amex Platinum Card: $200 Courtesy Credit Added for Eligible Cardholders
If you're an existing Amex Platinum Card customer who qualifies certain criteria, the you may receive a nice $200 credit from Amex.
Economy Class & Beyond
Austrian Airlines moves to simply its fleet – Embraer fleet to be transfered out
Austrian Airlines is simplifying its fleet, with the airline announcing the exit of the first of its Embraer E195 fleet. The first Embraer E195 has been transferred from Austrian Airlines to sister Lufthansa Group airline Air Dolomiti. OE-LWM was the first aircraft to be transferred, being reregistered as  I-ENJA. Its transfer...
One Mile at a Time
Oman Air Launches Intriguing Flight To Copenhagen… Via Baghdad
Oman Air has just launched a new route to Europe, and I can’t help but find this to be one of the most interesting fifth freedom flights we’ve seen from a Gulf carrier.
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Power banks banned from todaym 15 December. What you need to know
From today, Monday 15 December 2025, Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink has banned the use of portable power banks on all flights. Qantas group airlines are joining a growing list of airlines responding to a sharp rise in lithium battery fires in cabins and lounges worldwide. You’ll still be allowed to...
2PAXfly
BORDERS: Visa Waiver Program to require social media, phone numbers and IP history from Australians
Australian travellers who want to head to New York at Christmas, or Coachella in spring, or to trek through the Grand Canyon may soon face a very different pre-departure checklist. It could soon include handing over five years of social media accounts, five years of phone numbers, and 10 years...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 wing panel peels on first flight out of mothballs
Qantas’ big, shiny, triumphantly returned Airbus A380 has been unceremoniously benched in Los Angeles after part of its left wing peeled apart on its first commercial flight back in service. This happened after news releases only a few days ago with Qantas chest-beating about the superjumbo’s grand return after a...
2PAXfly
QATAR AIRWAYS: Surprise CEO dumping without explanation. Why?
In a surprise move a few days ago, Qatar Airways has replaced its chief executive with immediate effect. This is the second leadership change in just a couple of years after Akbar Al Baker relinquished his 27-year reign. The Gulf carrier appointed Hamad Ali Al-Khater as its new Group CEO...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: International flights return to the Gold Coast (OOL). Fly direct to New Zealand 3 times a week
In a win for Gold Coast travellers, Qantas is bringing back overseas flights from the Gold Coast (formerly Coolangatta) Airport for the first time in almost five years. Qantas will launch Gold Coast to Auckland services from 16 June 2026. This will reconnect Queensland’s beach capital with New Zealand three...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New Auckland International Lounge opens in New Zealand
Qantas is scheduled to open its new Auckland International Lounge on 17 December 2025, just in time for the Christmas rush. Unlike the old space (which was in desperate need of attention), the new lounge features a 60% larger footprint and can accommodate more than 370 passengers. Qantas has combined...
2PAXfly
HEATHROW: A car park robbery turns into a full-blown airport emergency
If you’ve ever felt that Heathrow’s Terminal 3 car park was a little too chaotic on a normal day, Sunday morning took things to an entirely new level. A woman was robbed of her suitcase inside a lift at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 car park. The attackers deployed what police believe...
2PAXfly
DELTA AIRLINES: Starts Melbourne to LAX flights from today
Starting today, Saturday 6 December 2025, Melbourne’s long-haul travellers have a new way to cross the Pacific. Delta Air Lines has officially launched flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles. That makes the route a three-horse race alongside Qantas and United Airlines. It’s the first time an Airbus A350 has flown...