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,...
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...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
How Nick almost missed American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum elite status
All of us enjoy sharing the “wins” in this hobby, from big new card bonuses to a million miles earned from an airline promotion, not once but twice, to the fancy flights and nights. However, we all make mistakes now and then, and I nearly whiffed big time on my...
Live and Let’s Fly
Iranian Drone Hits U.S. Consulate In Dubai As Emirates Flight Restart Spirals Into Chaos
Dubai is trying to return to normal operations, but the reality on the ground…and in the air…is far messier. Just as Emirates began cautiously restarting flights from Dubai International Airport, an Iranian drone struck near the U.S. Consulate in the city, underscoring how volatile the situation remains. Iranian Drone Hits...
One Mile at a Time
Hilton Aspire Card: 5 Benefits That Make This Premium Card Worth It
Link: Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
One Mile at a Time
Which Airlines Have Onboard Bars & Lounges? We’re Down To Six Carriers
While airlines are doing everything they can to squeeze more seats onto planes in economy, in many cases airlines are increasingly allocating more space to first and business class.
You Are Travel
That Time They Let a Cheetah on the Concorde
​tl;dr – The fanfare surrounding the Concorde was ‘extra’. While you are here check out this ​awesome retreat… The post That Time They Let a Cheetah on the Concorde appeared first on You Are Travel.
You Are Travel
Don’t Miss This Southern California Retreat Hosted By Two Lovely Ladies
TLDR; Join Aetheria Movement just after the spring equinox – March 26-29 – for a vacation with a… The post Don’t Miss This Southern California Retreat Hosted By Two Lovely Ladies appeared first on You Are Travel.
You Are Travel
ANA To Show Off Its New Business Class Seat “The Room FX” in the Middle of Tokyo
​tl;dr – If you’re in Tokyo, you can check out the new seat without even flying business class.… The post ANA To Show Off Its New Business Class Seat “The Room FX” in the Middle of Tokyo appeared first on You Are Travel.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Qantas Releases New ‘Back to Basics’ Safety Video That Actually Focuses On Safety
Australian flag carrier Qantas has just launched its latest safety video for 2026, and it looks as if the airline has been listening to aviation safety experts who had slammed its last few attempts, which had been mocked as masquerading as tourism videos. Unveiled with no fanfare whatsoever (in contrast...
Frequent Miler
Wyndham Rewards shopping portal closing on 4/4/26
If you’ve enjoyed having the ability to earn Wyndham Rewards points via its shopping portal, I’m afraid there’s bad news: it’s closing down with effect from April 4, 2026. As you can see from the screenshot above, the Wyndham Rewards shopping portal has a message stating the following: Important Notice:...
Points With a Crew
Why parents of children flying should NOT give “airplane goodie bags” to fellow passengers
Recently there was a story of a couple on their first flight with their baby who gave out airplane goodie bags to their fellow passengers. Should this be the new trend or expectation?
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,...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Longan? What is a Longan?
Breakfast is included at Viroth’s Villa — which is a hotel property of Mr & Mrs Smith and is where I am currently staying in Siem Reap in Cambodia — and part of breakfast was a curious little tan fruit that I personally had never seen before. I searched for this...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
11 Tips on What to Bring to the Pool or Beach When Staying at a Hotel Property
Despite not usually being the type of person who “worships” the sun, sometimes I like to take a day off from actively traveling and simply lounge around the swimming pool — or, if accessible, the beach — to lazily relax when staying at a hotel or resort property... ...but I do...
Frequent Miler
Disney+ gift cards can now be used as regular Disney gift cards
There’s some good news for those who are sitting on a stack of gift cards for Disney+ (the streaming service) having mistaken them for regular Disney gift cards. Going forward, Disney+ gift cards will function in the same way as normal Disney gift cards. Up until now, Disney+ gift cards...
You Are Travel
Hilton Bringing Its Luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts Brand to Australia’s Gold Coast in 202
​tl;dr – Hilton will seek to uplevel the former Versace-branded property. ​Hilton just announced its first LXR Hotels… The post Hilton Bringing Its Luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts Brand to Australia’s Gold Coast in 202 appeared first on You Are Travel.
The Bulkhead Seat
Finally: Delta Unveils Stunning New Sky Club® at Denver International Airport
The Sky Club® at Denver International Airport (DEN) used to be one of the… The post Finally: Delta Unveils Stunning New Sky Club® at Denver International Airport appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
Choice Privileges Pros and Cons | Coffee Break Ep95 | 3-3-26
Choice Privileges is a hotel chain with brands like Clarion, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Radisson Americas etc. In today’s podcast, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of this program. You can find our Choice Privileges complete guide here. Choice Privileges Pros and Cons Watch the full episode below, or...
The Bulkhead Seat
Reminder: Exchange Eligible United MileagePlus PlusPoints before March 31st
In October 2024, United shared that PlusPoints were going to become more flexible and that… The post Reminder: Exchange Eligible United MileagePlus PlusPoints before March 31st appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Your Mileage May Vary
Can You Keep Your Headphones On at TSA? Here’s What Actually Happens
TSA rules don’t clearly forbid it—but scanners, metal detectors, and officers may still have other ideas. You’re packed, prepared, and feeling smug about TSA PreCheck. Shoes stay on, laptop stays…
Frequent Miler
Earn double JetBlue TrueBlue points for Icelandair flights
JetBlue and Icelandair have had a partnership for almost 10 years. At the moment, you can earn double JetBlue TrueBlue points when flying between the US and Iceland on paid flights. The Deal Earn double JetBlue TrueBlue points on flights between the US and Iceland when flying on Icelandair. Direct...
Travel With Grant
A Tale of Two Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Applications
Laura and I applied for the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card hoping for triple benefits, but faced mixed results: I was denied instantly, while Laura’s application was approved after some delays. Curious about the approval process and benefits? Read on! The post A Tale of Two Citi Strata Elite Credit Card...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Summer Travel Misery: American Airlines Slams United’s ‘Reckless’ Tactics at Chicago O’Hare to ‘Flood the Zone’
American Airlines has slammed its arch-rival, United Airlines, over its ‘reckless’ actions at Chicago O’Hare, claiming that United’s plans to increase flights this summer from the busy airport threaten to cause travel misery for millions of passengers. American’s chief operating officer, David Seymour, and chief commercial officer, Nat Pieper, told...
View from the Wing
Singapore Airlines Newark–Singapore Flight Clips a Spirit Jet at the Gate — One of the World’s Longest Routes Sits for 6 Hours
Singapore Airlines flight 21, the 19 hour 10 minute non-stop from Newark to Singapore, struck the tail of a Spirit Airlines plane on Tuesday morning. Video from inside the Singapore Airbus A350-900 shows the damage to Spirit’s tail.
The Bulkhead Seat
Chase Travel Reveals Top Trending Spring Break Destinations for 2026
Chase Travel has unveiled its top trending spring break destinations for 2026 and is… The post Chase Travel Reveals Top Trending Spring Break Destinations for 2026 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
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...
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...