2PAXfly
QANTAS: Cuts thousands of flight across network
It’s only been a week since I reported that Qantas was boosting its flights to Europe by swapping to larger aircraft and tinkering with schedules. Now, in reaction to further uncertainty about the Straits of Hormuz due to the US/Israeli conflict with Iran, Qantas has quietly cut thousands of flights...
Wild About Travel
Surviving Sakura Cherry Blossom – 12 survival tips
I always said I’d never visit Japan in peak sakura season.Too busy, too expensive, too intense.And then I did. I described my 12 marvellous days yesterday. It was beautiful.It was also crowded, overloaded, and at times exhausting.Here are a few things I did that helped, and that I’d do again....
2PAXfly
QANTAS: First Project Sunrise A350-100ULR jet rolls out
After years of hype, delays and plenty of scepticism, Qantas, or more accurately, Airbus, has rolled out its first ultra-long-haul Airbus A350-1000ULR from the factory in Toulouse, marking a major milestone for Project Sunrise. It’s a timely occurrence, with the current Middle East trauma, that this aircraft could fundamentally change...
Wild About Travel
Marvellous 12 days in Japan
It is a bit of a grim world right now, so I thought I would share a positive, beautiful, and delicious 1000-mile journey through one of my favourite countries in Sakura (Cherry blossom). Despite it being insanely busy, I enjoyed the landscapes, food, museums, shopping, temples, parks, and, of course,...
Also on BoardingArea
View from the Wing
Chase Cut Sapphire Reserve Rewards For Airbnb And Expedia — Now Adds Plum Guide To Chase Travel
Chase cut Sapphire Reserve rewards for Airbnb and Expedia bookings when it overhauled the card last year, pushing cardmembers toward direct bookings and Chase Travel instead. Now it is filling one of the biggest gaps in its own platform by adding Plum Guide vacation rentals, giving Sapphire cardholders a new...
Frequent Miler
JetBlue Polishes its Premium Premier Mastercard | Coffee Break Ep101 | 4-14-26
JetBlue has announced some big changes to its Premier Mastercard, which was previously a real bummer of a card. So when these changes come in “the spring”, will they make the card better, and worth that $499 annual fee? JetBlue Polishes its Premium Premier Mastercard Watch the full episode below,...
The Bulkhead Seat
Mythology-Inspired Hyatt Resort Set to Open on Greece’s Paros Island in September
A new luxury escape rooted in ancient Greek history is set to debut this…
Miles To Memories
Phone Calls on Planes, Hotel Points = DEBT and a Wild United-American Merger Idea
One airline allowing phone calls, how hotel points are big IOUs, AA busses and will United and American merge?
Your Mileage May Vary
Delta Pilot Tried To Honor 102-Year-Old WWII Vet With Water Salute…ATC Shut It Down
A Delta crew wanted to honor a 102-year-old WWII veteran with a water salute—but Pittsburgh ATC had to shut it down. Here’s what happened and why. We don’t have much…
woman shares a day in the job (l) flight attendant helping out passenger (r)
BoardingArea
Detroit Flight Attendant Waits On 19-Year-Old. Then He Has To Be Restrained Mid-Flight. Then She Learns The Shocking Reason Why
“He’s having a breakdown because..."
Frequent Miler
Accor promo: Earn 2X points on stays in USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Panama, & Brazil
Accor has launched a new promotion that’s offering double points for stays of two or more nights in the US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Panama, & Brazil. That’ll be welcome news for those who were disappointed that their separate 2X promotion excluded these countries. The Deal Earn 2X Accor points when...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Says Turnstiles Will Improve Boarding — They May Just Make Flying Worse
American Airlines is installing electronic boarding gates at new DFW gates and pitching them as a way to make boarding smoother, more consistent, and less congested. But these turnstiles do not solve the real causes of boarding delays—and they may leave passengers with less flexibility, less human help, and one...
The Alviator
Review: Vienna Lounge, Vienna (VIE) – My Favourite Priority Pass Lounge Yet?
A review of the Vienna Lounge, a Priority Pass lounge also open to British Airways elites, among others (spoiler – it's surprisingly great!)
One Mile at a Time
Is Booking A Ritz-Carlton Cruise Worth It? My Experience & Thought Process
For so long, I’ve almost exclusively covered airlines and hotels when it comes to the travel front. In recent times, I’ve been warming up more to the concept of cruising.
Points With a Crew
Booking “IHG Rewards Eligible” Hotels via Chase Travel: Sure Feels Like a Scam
Chase Travel has an option where certain hotels are listed as "IHG One Rewards eligible", promising elite benefits even if you book 3rd party. But it didn't turn out quite that way ...
Your Mileage May Vary
This New AMEX Offer Is About As Easy As It Gets: Use Apple Pay 3 Times, Get $10 Back
Taking advantage of AMEX Offers is still one of the easiest ways to chip away at the annual fees on American Express cards. Not every offer is worth your time,…
One Mile at a Time
Good News: $95 Capital One Venture Business Card Replaces Spark Miles
Link: Learn more about the Capital One Venture Business
woman shares cruise experience (l) Royal caribbean cruise (r)
BoardingArea
‘It’s Like Being At Walmart In The Ocean’: Woman Goes On Royal Caribbean Cruise To Puerto Rico. Then She Takes Off From Florida With ‘Unprecedented’ Weather
"Disney cruise would never."
The Alviator
Review: Austrian A320 Business Class (ZRH-VIE)
A review of Austrian's A320 business class on the 1h 20m flight from Zurich to Vienna. Does the airline's catering live up to the hype?
Frequent Miler
Hidden, targeted spending offers on cobranded Barclays cards: Get 5 or 10 extra points per dollar
Barclays is once again targeting some of its cobranded cardholders with spending offers awarding bonus points or miles on purchases. Unlike normal though, you’ll have to go hunting for the offers yourself. The Deal Barclays is targeting some cardholders with offers including: 5 additional points per dollar on all spend,...
Miles To Memories
More Issues With Bilt Cash? This Time With Walgreens Redemptions
There are some Bilt Cash Walgreens redemption issues you need to be aware of this month. The resolution from Bilt is not my favorite either.
View from the Wing
American Airlines Now Lets Private Jet Customers Buy Their Way To Elite Status
American Airlines has a new private jet partnership that lets customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points, creating a new path to elite status outside traditional airline flying. It is a small deal for American financially, but a much bigger one for TLC Jet—and it also undercuts the airline’s own...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn a Mystery Bonus AAdvantage Miles by Shopping in April
Effective through Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11:59:59 in the evening Eastern Daylight Time, you can earn bonus American Airlines AAdvantage miles — in addition to the standard AAdvantage miles earned — during the Mystery Bonus campaign at the AAdvantage Shopping portal by spending a minimum of...
From The Tray Table
What Air New Zealand’s $495 Skynest bunk beds are actually like
Air New Zealand is offering something for passengers that no airline has ever done before. Putting bunk beds…
Frequent Miler
(Reminder) Ouch: Citi decreasing transfer ratio to Choice Privileges and Preferred Hotels iPrefer on 4/19/26
Update 4/14/26: Just a quick reminder that there are only a few days left to take advantage of the current, higher transfer ratios when transferring Citi ThankYou points to Choice and Preferred Hotels. ~ One of the major advantages that Citi has enjoyed in recent years has been some standout...
Live and Let’s Fly
Man Snaps At Kid Kicking His Seat On Alaska Airlines Flight…Did He Go Too Far?
Fed up with a noisy child kicking his seat on an Alaska Airlines flight, a man turned around and addressed the child directly. But did he go too far? Alaska Airlines Passenger Had Enough Of The Kid Kicking His Seat And Took Action In a video titled “I made them...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Man Faces Threat of 12 Years in Prison After Being Arrested For a Horrific Sexual Assault on a Perth-Bound Flight
An Indian national faces the threat of being sent to prison in Australia for up to 12 years after he was arrested on suspicion of carrying out a horrific sexual assault on a Scoot Airways flight from Singapore to Perth, Western Australia, on Monday. The 52-year-old suspect was arrested almost...
Your Mileage May Vary
MCO Is Trying To Fix Its Biggest Problem—And It Might Actually Work
A new staffing program at Orlando International Airport aims to keep TSA lines moving—and make the experience a little less chaotic. Love it or hate it, MCO has a reputation…
Wild About Travel
Gulf Aviation After the Ceasefire: What Travellers Need to Know Now
A two-week ceasefire for Iran was announced on 7th April. On 9th April, several Gulf governments reported a full day without any new missiles or drones. The UAE’s defence ministry said the country was “free of any air threats” that day, after weeks of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles and...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Leadership shake-up. Why?
A recent leadership overhaul at Turkish Airlines has sparked industry attention. Here’s a clear breakdown of what we know as fact and what is informed speculation. The interest in this story stems from Turkish Airlines’ recent commencement of non-stop flights to Istanbul from Australia. A flight I recently took, and...
2PAXfly
THAILAND: Travel insurance for tourists may become compulsory
Thai authorities are moving toward making travel insurance mandatory for all foreign visitors, as hospitals struggle with rising unpaid medical bills from tourists. It’s not law yet, but according to the Bangkok Post, the direction for travellers is clear, so Australians should take note. Why Thailand is cracking down The...
2PAXfly
NEW ZEALAND: Top of the South Island, what we did and ate in Picton, Havelock and Blenheim
We had three nights/four days at the Picton Waterfront Apartments, and were mainly interested in rest and relaxation. We also did a little sightseeing, and winery wining and dining. This post is a short summary of some of those activities. Hope it gives you an idea of what you can...
Wild About Travel
Sendai: The City of Trees
A 90-minute hop from Tokyo on Japan’s fastest train, the Hayabusa Shinkansen, brings you to Sendai, the city of trees! My critique of many Japanese cities is that they have a lot of concrete and asphalt, and not much green space. In the 19th century, Sendai’s local ruler encouraged tree...
2PAXfly
EUROPE: New EES entry system for Australians
From April 10, a major overhaul of border control across much of Europe comes into full effect, replacing the familiar passport stamp with biometric data, digital records. I experienced this when entering the Czech Republic at Prague Airport in March, and it was surprisingly efficient. It’s called the Entry/Exit System...
2PAXfly
LOYALTY: Airline programs now worth billions. Qantas in top 10
If you’ve ever wondered why airlines seem more interested in selling points than seats, a new global report puts some serious numbers behind that suspicion. According to the latest On Point Loyalty Top 100 report, airline loyalty programs have evolved into multi-billion-dollar businesses, and for Australian travellers, that shift is...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Launch of new reward seats search tool
Earning points is easy. Finding a decent reward seat, especially in business class, is where things usually fall apart. Virgin Australia is promising to fix that, with a new calendar-based Reward Seat search tool rolling out across its website and app. The airline is calling a ‘step change’ in how...