2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 15 March, 2026
I’m back in Sydney after spending nearly a week at the Adelaide Festival and catching up with friends and relatives. I also got to experience the new Economy Plus seats in row 5 on a Qantas B737, with extra legroom. It’s good.  I’m now putting the final touches to my...
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026 #6: Malaysia Airlines’ A330neo one of the smartest ways to Europe
There was a time when booking Malaysia Airlines to Europe felt like choosing price over style. The airline did the job, but it rarely turned heads. That view may have changed with the arrival of the Airbus A330neo across Australian routes. Commencing its rollout in 2025, with full deployment by...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Settles COVID flight cancellation class action for AU$105 million
Qantas has agreed to pay $105 million to settle a class action brought by passengers whose flights were cancelled during the pandemic, potentially delivering compensation to hundreds of thousands of customers. The settlement relates to flights scheduled between 1 January 2020 and 1 November 2022, when global travel collapsed due...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 and First Class dropped from Melbourne to LAX, also 787 changes
Melbourne is losing its Qantas Airbus A380 to Los Angeles. From 25 October 2026, the airline will remove the superjumbo from the route, switching the service to a daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner instead. Currently, the QF93/QF94 Melbourne–Los Angeles flights operate with a mix of aircraft. The Airbus A380 runs twice...
Also on BoardingArea
Points With a Crew
4 Reasons to Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you are starting out in the world of credit card miles and points, and aren't sure which card you should get - here are 4 reasons it should be the Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 344
Ellis Feaster features audio clips of classic radio airchecks throughout the decades — with a seemingly special concentration on the glory days of radio when it was arguably most popular in the city of New York — which includes this video of the tragedy of Jane Dornacker, who died in...
Frequent Miler
Stranded in Qatar during a missile strike, unhappy Bilt users, Capital One originating cards on Discover, and poor man’s first class (Saturday Selection)
Throughout the week, our team shares articles they’ve stumbled upon which may interest our readers, even if they might not otherwise merit a full post. Here are some of the posts we found interesting this week: Stranded in Qatar during a missile strike, unhappy Bilt users, Capital One originating cards...
The Bulkhead Seat
2026 Weekly Review: March 14th
Greetings from Tampa. I’m home for the weekend after spending the week in Orlando…
Your Mileage May Vary
This Might Be the Strangest Piece of Luggage We’ve Ever Seen
I’ve been traveling regularly since the early 1990s. I had my favorite piece of luggage ever, in the form of a Samsonite Silhouette EZ Cart, and man, that thing went…
Altitude Yes
Guide to American Airlines Flagship Lounges
American Airlines currently operates five Flagship Lounges, and offers several different ways to access them. The post Guide to American Airlines Flagship Lounges first appeared on Altitude Yes.
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 15 March, 2026
I’m back in Sydney after spending nearly a week at the Adelaide Festival and catching up with friends and relatives. I also got to experience the new Economy Plus seats in row 5 on a Qantas B737, with extra legroom. It’s good.  I’m now putting the final touches to my...
The Bulkhead Seat
Washington Airports Reopened Friday Night After Overheated Circuit Board Triggered Shutdown
Last night, I wrote about the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halting flights at…
View from the Wing
Austin Airport Security Lines Ran Outside The Terminal — But The Real Problem Was TSA, Not The Shutdown
Security lines at Austin-Bergstrom stretched outside the terminal before dawn Friday, and plenty of travelers assumed the partial government shutdown was already disrupting screening. That wasn’t it. The real problem was a predictable surge from Spring Break and the tail end of South By Southwest colliding with slower TSA procedures...
One Mile at a Time
Weekly Review: March 14, 2026
I hope everyone is having a nice weekend so far (other than everything going on in the world). I’m currently on my first cruise in over 20 years, and that wraps up tomorrow, so I’ll share my thoughts once off. I understand the airline and hotel industry like the back...
The Bulkhead Seat
The Resort at Kapalua Bay is Being Converted Into a St. Regis to Bring the Brand Back to Hawaii
My favorite part of the Marriott portfolio is the St. Regis brand. Marriott announced…
Points With a Crew
Should you buy Choice points with a 30% discount? (Deal Ends Sunday)
Choice Hotels is offering a discount on buying points. Buying points can be a great way to boost your balance, but only if it makes sense for your patterns of earning and redemption. Does this new promotion fit that criteria?
Your Mileage May Vary
The Hotel Housekeeping Habit That Drives Me Crazy Every Time
When staying in a hotel, I try to make my room feel more “homey.” I’ll unpack things immediately, keep my stuff organized instead of just throwing it all over the…
Miles To Memories
Magnifique! Why I’m Loving the Air France Card Refresh Even More Right Now
The Air France Card refresh was a net positive, but a recent experiment worked out for the best sooner than I expected.
You Are Travel
Pop that Bubbly? – World of Hyatt’s Offering Pre-Arrival In-App Upgrades & Adds-ons
tl;dr – Hyatt is sending out targeted in-app pre-arrival upgrades and add-on offers. ​While checking in on an…
Miles To Memories
Caesars Vegas CRAZY Bidding War, MGM Match Returns & Resorts World’s Bougie New ALL-INCLUSIVE!
Titans fighting it out over Caesars, Resort World brings a bougie all-inclusive, MGM status match returns & Cromwell begins to transition.
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
GHA DISCOVERY Status Match Opportunity from Airline, Hotel, Cruise programs & Credit Cards
GHA DISCOVERY’s paid status match opportunity has returned for the first time in 2026. This iteration of the offer continues to be open to elite members of airline, hotel and cruise line programs as well as holders of credit cards in select regions. The offer also provides additional D$ to...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Three Sisters Walk in the Blue Mountains of Australia
The Three Sisters Walk in the Blue Mountains of Australia is a paved path which visitors can take to the Three Sisters Aboriginal Place, which is a natural rock formation that is recognized as a place of special cultural significance to Aboriginal people. A stone archway stands at...
Economondo
Are They as Bad as I Remember? Heathrow to Beijing Daxing on a China Southern A350
Come with me as I fly China Southern for the first time in eight years on a cheap flight from London to Beijing
View from the Wing
American Airlines Closed Customer Service Counters For Good But Left The Sign Up — So Stranded Passengers Lined Up For No One [Roundup]
American Airlines shut down airport customer service counters, but at Washington National the counter and signage were still sitting there when flights were canceled — sending passengers to line up for help that no longer existed. Also a Delta passenger’s lost $9,000 watch, Finnair blowing up a Hawaii award sweet...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Southwest Airlines Passenger Goes On Wild Rampage At Dallas Love Field, Seriously Injuring Police Officer and Assaulting TSA Agents
A Southwest Airlines passenger faces the threat of being jailed for up to 20 years after he assaulted two TSA agents at Dallas Love Field Airport and seriously injured a police officer when he turned up at the security checkpoint without a valid REAL ID. US Attorney for the Northern...
Points With a Crew
17 Tech and Travel Deals at Amazon This Weekend
Some decent Amazon weekend deals on travel and tech gear going on this weekend, including headphones, luggage, locks, packing cubes and supplies, travel books and ...
Your Mileage May Vary
The Tiny Triangle on Airplane Cabins Most Passengers Never Notice
Some people travel a lot. And I mean A LOT. They probably already know about all the “little things” about airplanes, like: Why plane windows are so small, why they’re…
Miles To Memories
(Reminder) 5% Categories & Quick Activation Links For Q1 2026
Here are the 5% Categories For 2026's 1st Quarter with easy access activation links for every major card. Double check you are all set!
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026 #4: Delta Airlines East Coast to Los Angeles on A350 with Delta One Business Class
Delta began operating its new A350 aircraft to Melbourne late last year, giving travellers a third option, alongside Qantas and United, for direct flights to Los Angeles. The airline now flies from Melbourne and Brisbane three times a week, and daily from Sydney. Its Delta One Business Class seat has...
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,...
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...