2PAXfly
RIYADH AIR: What are reviewers’ first impressions
Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier, Riyadh Air, has now carried its first paying passengers in its own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The early verdict from critics is fairly consistent. Riyadh Air looks exceptionally good. It is serving food, drinks and attention at a level many established airlines would struggle to match....
2PAXfly
INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA: Pilot killed and aircraft burned in remote highlands attack
An American pilot flying one of the small aircraft that keep Indonesia’s remote Papuan highlands connected has been killed after his Pilatus PC-6 Porter was attacked and burned at an isolated airstrip. This tragedy highlights the perils of flying into disputed areas, amid political turmoil. Captain Nicholas F. Gosselin was...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: EconomyFlex fares gain free same-day Fly Ahead feature
For those whose business meetings end early and want to get back home sooner, Virgin Australia is extending its Fly Ahead feature to eligible domestic Economy Flex passengers. This allows them to move to an earlier flight on the same day without paying a change fee or fare difference. It...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: New-generation lounges roll out globally, but Sydney is still waiting
Emirates is rolling out a new ‘signature’ lounge concept across its global network, beginning with Munich and Frankfurt and continuing to Manchester, Mauritius and Istanbul later this year. The airline says it will spend more than AED50 million (AU$20 million) on each next-generation lounge. That is a substantial sum. Passengers...
Also on BoardingArea
Miles To Memories
Rakuten Offers 10,000 Bilt Points ($100) Bonus for Citi Strata Elite
There's a new credit card bonus on Rakuten for the Citi Strata Premier, which earns you an extra $100 or 10,000 Bilt Points.
Frequent Miler
Chase Travel℠ Chase Offer: Spend $600 & get $100 back (targeted)
There’s another Chase Offer that offers a $100 statement credit when you book $600+ through Chase Travel℠. This can be stacked with the $250 Edit credits on both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Reserve for Business® cards (assuming you have one that’s targeted). Rethinking The Edit by Chase Travel℠ The Deal...
Live and Let’s Fly
10 American Travel Experiences You Should Have At Least Once
Like many things in life, America is best understood by experiencing it, not merely reading about it. 10 American Travel Experiences Everyone Should Have (At Least) Once Yesterday, I wrote about why the more I travel the world, the more I appreciate traveling in America. Today, I want to be...
View from the Wing
Delta Needs To Win Los Angeles. The Fight With United Is Really About Credit Card Spend
Delta is already the largest airline at LAX, but its Los Angeles push is really about more than adding routes to Newark, Philadelphia, Dulles, Manila, or Asia. United’s long-haul network makes it Delta’s real threat in LA, and the bigger prize is premium relevance in one of the country’s richest...
Miles To Memories
Some Amex Platinum Cardholders Receiving $50 “Saks Benefit Goodwill” Credit
Some American Express Platinum cardholders are reporting a surprise $50 "Saks Benefit Goodwill" statement credit appearing on their accounts.
View from the Wing
Why The Best Rewards Credit Card Is Usually Two Cards, Not One
Most people ask for the best rewards credit card, but the better answer is often a pairing: one card that earns the most in your biggest spending categories and another that earns more than 1x everywhere else. Signup bonuses and benefits matter, but ongoing spending should be judged separately, whether...
Frequent Miler
Rakuten offering $100 cashback or up to 10K Bilt points for Citi Strata Premier® card
For several months, Rakuten has been offering rewards when applying for and being approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, as well as two different Bank of America cards. Now, Citibank is getting into the game. At the moment, Rakuten is offering $100 cashback or up to 10,000 Bilt points...
Live from a Lounge
Air India’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner finally arrives on Mumbai – London Heathrow flights
London Heathrow with Air India got yet another upgrade. You can now get on the newest aircraft, the 787-9 on this route.
View from the Wing
FAA Moves To Override State Rest Rules For Flight Attendants, Saying Safety Comes First
FAA is proposing to override state meal and rest-break rules for flight attendants, arguing that federal aviation safety rules already govern crew duty and rest and that state requirements can conflict with the need for crew to remain available in emergencies. The rulemaking would strengthen airlines’ preemption argument, but unions,...
Miles To Memories
Any Gold At The End Of This Rainbow? Flying Blue Promo Awards Are Here
It's the beginning of the month, which means the Flying Blue promo awards are now available. Get discounted award flights on Air France & KLM.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Save Up to 60% at Select Iberostar Beachfront Resorts With IHG One Rewards
You can enjoy some time relaxing at the beach and spend less money, as you can save up to 60% at select Iberostar Beachfront Resorts with IHG One Rewards at 27 participating resort properties in the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Brazil, and Aruba between today, Friday, July 3,...
Traveling For Miles
Sometimes Dave Ramsey gives stunningly bad advice
Generally speaking, I don't really care what Dave Ramsey has to say because I'm not his target audience, but I start to care when he chooses to make statements which are factually incorrect, and when he starts to give out advice which has the potential to be detrimental to someone...
woman shares airline issue (l) American airlines (r)
BoardingArea
North Carolina Woman Boards American Airlines Flight. Then They Make Everyone Deplane After Waiting For 7 Hours
"Unfortunately at this time, the flight is..."
Live and Let’s Fly
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Shuts Down For July 4th Flyovers And Fireworks
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will effectively shut down for much of July 4th as Washington, DC celebrates America’s 250th birthday, a rare and rather dramatic reminder that DCA may be the most convenient airport in America until the federal government decides it needs the airspace. Reagan National Airport (DCA)...
Frequent Miler
Current Amex Offers
This post is designed to show current Amex Offers. If you have any Amex cards, even authorized user cards, then you’re eligible to sign up for offers when you log into your Amex account. If you’re planning to shop or book travel, check this page to see if an Amex...
Points With a Crew
This Is the Miles and Points Book You Definitely Need to Have
I enjoy reading, but it’s not often that I get to read a book that is so tied in to one of my own pursuits. After all, there is no book about trying to visit every county in the United States. Though I suppose there are (lots of) books about...
Your Mileage May Vary
5 Travel Hacks That Are A Waste Of Time (Yet People Still Swear By Them)
If you spend any time reading travel websites or scrolling through social media, you’ll eventually come across someone promising a travel “hack” that’ll save you money, get you an upgrade…
Miles To Memories
High Society on the Hill – The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club Highlights
The Historic Cavalier Hotel is holding up quite nicely since it's 2018 reopening. Here's how our recent stay turned out.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
FAA Moves to Block Flight Attendants and Pilots From Claiming Mandatory Meal Breaks
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to block flight attendants and pilots from claiming mandatory meal breaks under local State laws, such as California’s generous Labor Code, which grants employees who work for more than five hours an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break. Several U.S. airlines, including American Airlines and...
View from the Wing
How To Optimize Credit Card Rewards Without Driving Your Spouse Crazy
The best credit card rewards strategy is the one your household will actually follow. After years of trying to optimize every purchase, my wife and I are down to a simple two-card system for her: Amex Gold for groceries and restaurants, and Bilt Palladium for almost everything else. The alternative...
Travel Points Playbook
Manufacture Hyatt Elite Nights for 1300 Points per Night…With a Catch
World of Hyatt has several overlapping promotions running right now which could stack to enable manufacturing elite nights…
Frequent Miler
Earn $450 bonus with a new US Bank checking account
US Bank has another promotion for new Bank Smartly checking accounts that offers up to a $450 bonus with fairly simple requirements. This deal is available in states within US Bank’s footprint and requires signing up for online banking and making at least two direct deposits within the first 90...
One Mile at a Time
Unpublished Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge For Gold & Platinum
Marriott Bonvoy is the world’s largest hotel loyalty program. What many people don’t realize is that the program has an unpublished status challenge offer. With this, you can unlock either Bonvoy Gold or Platinum status by staying a certain number of nights in around three months, and it’s definitely a...
Miles To Memories
Say What?! Get 27,500 Bilt Points For Signing Up For A No Fee Bank Of America Card
Rakuten is offering an extra bonus when you apply for two no-fee Bank of America credit cards. Earn up to $275 or 27,500 points.
2PAXfly
QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices
More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door
Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website....
2PAXfly
VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: No First Lounge for London. Premier dining room instead
The original plan was to have a new First Class Lounge at London’s Terminal 3. It was to be ready for the debut of the Project Sunrise flights. Qantas has quietly shelved those plans, to the indignation of premium frequent flyers and passengers. Instead, the airline will refurbish and enlarge...
2PAXfly
CHINA AIRLINES: More flights to Australia from October, 2026
Taiwan’s China Airlines is increasing flights to Australia from late October, giving travellers more non-stop choices between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Taipei. The headline act is Sydney, where China Airlines will lift its Taipei service to daily from 25 October 2026. Melbourne follows on 28 October with a fifth weekly...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Lounge pass rules change from 1 July 2026
From Wednesday 1 July, Qantas will tighten the rules governing Complimentary Lounge Invitations, ending the long-standing ability to transfer a pass to any other Frequent Flyer member, regardless of whether they are travelling with you. If you have a stash of passes, you only have days to give them away!...
Wild About Travel
concordes at last
She was the most beautiful aircraft ever created. She was the fastest passenger aircraft ever to fly. She was created through the cooperation of two countries, and the technology that came with her is still being used, with the breakthroughs she sparked continuing to impact aviation today. One fatal crash...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 28 June, 2026
Hello travellers, Well, I’m in Sydney, but not quite home yet. If you have ever had a renovation done, you will understand. I have spent the last week at a Meriton Suites in central Sydney. It’s been a mixed experience. Living in central Sydney has some great advantages, especially on...