2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 8 March, 2026 — International Women’s Day
I’m in Adelaide for the annual Adelaide Arts Festival, catching up with friends, and sucking up the cultural events. Today is International Women’s Day. To celebrate, Qantas have more than 2,500 customers flying on Jetstar and Qantas flights operated by all-female crews. Virgin Australia is celebrating with the Future Aviators...
Wild About Travel
Pretoria (Tshwane): The Capital That Surprised Me
I arrived in Pretoria with low expectations. South Africa had been a mixed bag. The delights of the Garden Route, a superb Johannesburg, falling in love with Cape Town and almost getting mugged there, wonderful stops in Hermanus and Durban. And then the disappointments: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Mossel Bay...
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026 #5: Singapore Airlines with new A350 business class with doors — late 2026
After years of speculation, Singapore Airlines is refreshing its long-haul Airbus A350 business class with privacy doors. The rollout begins in the first half of 2026, with retrofits phased across selected long-haul A350 aircraft. When do we see these refreshed cabins in Australia? Background I’m doing a series of posts...
2PAXfly
MIDDLE EAST: Advice for Australians caught in flight chaos
Airspace is closed across parts of the Middle East due to attacks by Israel and the USA and consequent retaliation from Iran. This has left thousands of Australian travellers stranded or scrambling to rearrange flights. If you’re travelling through the region in the coming days or stuck there right now,...
Also on BoardingArea
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Taipei
Our final stop in January after Hong Kong, Manila, and Cebu was Taipei. I’ve…
Frequent Miler
What is a dummy booking? How to get targeted offers using this trick
We often refer to ‘dummy bookings’ in posts about shopping portals, credit card offers, hotel and airline bookings, etc., so if you’ve ever wondered to yourself “What is a dummy booking?”, here’s a quick explainer, along with some examples for how it can come in handy to save money and/or...
Points With a Crew
Amex Delta Gold vs. Delta Platinum – which is better? (New Higher Offers)
Several Amex Delta credit cards currently have all-time high signup bonuses. Looking at the Delta Gold vs. Delta Platinum cards - how can you decide which is better?
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Do Those Reminder E-Mail Messages Really Work?
Sometimes I will visit the official Internet web site of a hotel property in order to conduct some research for an article — or perhaps I may be in the middle of planning for a trip — and I either postpone or abandon my research for a variety of reasons... ...only...
View from the Wing
This New Citi Card Earns More American Airlines Miles Than An AAdvantage Credit Card — Plus 75,000 Point Bonus
You no longer need an American Airlines credit card to earn the most AAdvantage miles from your spending. Citi Strata Elite is offering a 75,000-point bonus, and because those points transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage, everyday purchases can earn more American miles than most AAdvantage cards themselves.
Your Mileage May Vary
The Real Reason Detroit Airport Has Japanese Signs
Although English is the primary language used in the United States (these are the most popular languages in each state), the country has had no official national language for most…
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Etihopian Airlines Boeing 787-9 at Olso Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art.  This week, we have an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-9 at Oslo Airport as it awaits its return journey to Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of nine Boeing 787-9 aircraft in its widebody fleet. The airline also...
View from the Wing
DHS Shutdown Turns Into Airport Chaos — Security Lines Stretch Up to 3.5 Hours
Amidst a government shutdown that affects only the Department of Homeland Security, where TSA screeners will have to work while waiting for congress to pass funding before they're paid, we're starting to see more employees failing to show up for work. That's having a significant affect on security...
One Mile at a Time
Citi AAdvantage Business Card Authorized User Rewards Explained
Link: Learn more about theCiti / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
Points With a Crew
How to Buy Statue of Liberty Tickets (without getting SCAMMED)
I’ve been to New York City a couple of times with a few of my kids, and one of the things that they all want to do is visit the Statue of Liberty. Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist trap, but it’s also an iconic part of New York...
Your Mileage May Vary
Is Earning More Points Worth Giving Up Cell Phone Protection?
Earning points on recurring charges, like your cell phone bill, is one of the easiest ways to build up rewards without changing your spending habits. Just set your monthly bill…
Miles To Memories
Lesson Learned – I’ll Now Do This on Every Premium Class Award Booking
Better late than never! I'm improving my air travel strategy by adding this step to the my premium class award booking process.
The Bulkhead Seat
Spring Break and Shutdown Trigger Massive Airport Security Lines
Travelers across several major US airports are facing extremely long security lines as the…
The Bulkhead Seat
Kansas City International Airport Evacuated as FBI Investigated Potential Security Threat
Passengers were evacuated from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) earlier today after authorities received…
Economy Class & Beyond
Qatar Airways adds additional flights from Doha, UK Government to add repatriation flights – Travel Update
Updated 19:30 8th March. . Information Correct at the time of publication.  Qatar Airways‘ scheduled flights still remained hampered with the closure of Qatari airspace. However, yesterday, the airline was able to operate flights out of Doha, following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and the opening of...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Houston Hobby Warns Passengers To Brace Themselves For THREE HOUR Waits to Get Through TSA As Shutdown And Spring Break Travel Collide
Houston Hobby Airport is warning passengers to brace themselves for TSA wait times of three hours or longer, as strained staffing levels from the continuing partial federal government shutdown collide with the Spring Break travel rush. On Sunday morning, frustrated travelers took to social media to share photos and videos...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Khua Kao in Luang Prabang in Laos. Restaurant Review.
Khua Kao in Luang Prabang in Laos is an open-air restaurant that offers “a taste of Laos”; so we decided to try it. The restaurant is on...
View from the Wing
Kansas City Airport Evacuated After Reported Bomb Threat — Passengers Ordered Onto the Tarmac as Planes Were Held
Kansas City International Airport was evacuated Sunday after a reported bomb threat, with police and K-9 units sweeping the terminal as passengers were rushed out onto the tarmac. Aircraft already on the ground were held on taxiways and some passengers were offloaded, triggering widespread delays across the airport.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Was Cabin Baggage a Factor in Scary Near Miss at Brussels Airport When SAS Airbus A320 Attempted To Take Off From Taxiway?
Passengers hauling “substantial” amounts of cabin bags onboard an SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320neo at Brussels Airport could have been a factor in a potentially catastrophic near miss when the pilots attempted to take off from a taxiway last month, it has now been revealed. New details of the events leading...
One Mile at a Time
Review: Etihad First Class Airbus A321LR (KTI-AUH)
For the next portion of my Iceland to The Residence via Cambodia trip, it was time to fly Etihad Airways’ Airbus A321LR first class on the 6hr40min flight from to Phnom Penh Techo (KTI) to Abu Dhabi (AUH).
Your Mileage May Vary
How Early Should You Arrive at the Airport? The 2-Hour Rule Doesn’t Always Apply
Travel numbers remain strong across the industry. Hotels are filling up, rental cars can be hard to find, and airports continue to see huge numbers of passengers despite high airfare…
Miles To Memories
New American Airlines Targeted Promotions For Bonus Miles & Loyalty Points
There are some new targeted American Airlines promotions that are hitting accounts that you should be aware of.
View from the Wing
Citi Brought Back the Best AAdvantage Business Card Offer — 75,000 Miles and the $99 Fee Waived For 12 Months
Citi has its best-ever offer for the AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard — 75,000 miles after $5,000 spend and no annual fee the first year. Lots of approvals reported.
Live and Let’s Fly
Spirit Has a Bankruptcy Plan But Fuel Prices Threaten It All
Spirit’s bankruptcy exit plan cuts debt by billions and shrinks to 94 planes. But surging fuel prices from the Iran conflict could derail the whole thing. Spirit Airlines has been through a lot. Two bankruptcy filings in under a year, a failed merger with JetBlue that a federal judge torpedoed,...
2PAXfly
DISRUPTION: Middle East carriers and airports in chaos. What to do if you are travelling soon
What follows is practical advice for those travelling by air via the Middle East who will be affected by the conflict generated by the attacks on Iran. Background Escalating conflict in the Middle East has triggered major airspace closures and cascading flight chaos. Gulf hubs including Doha, Dubai and Abu...
Wild About Travel
Flying via the Middle East right now. Practical tips, not panic, for travellers.
Are you about to fly internationally? With a Middle Eastern airline or to, through or over the Middle East? Many airlines and transit hubs are affected, with flights paused, rerouted or heavily delayed across the region. Check your specific airline and route for the latest status before you travel. Before...
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...
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...