2PAXfly
REX: Renaissance Infrastructure bids for collapsed Regional Express airlines
Regional Express, better known as REX slid into voluntary administration nearly a year ago. This was the result of board member conflict and a failed competition with the big boys on capital city routes. The process of voluntary administration is set to end on 30 June. Renaissance Infrastructure, a USA.-based...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 diverts to Baku again. Medical Emergency
In a déjà vu moment for Qantas, flight QF2 from London to Singapore made an unscheduled landing in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 9, 2025. A passenger suffered a serious medical emergency mid-flight. This marks the second time in recent years that a Qantas Airbus A380 has diverted to Baku. The...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: Runway complete, and Air New Zealand joins opening queue
It won’t start actual operations until late 2026, over a year away, but Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is already drawing a crowd. Today, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, visited to mark the completion of runway construction. That was excuse enough to announce the latest name to join...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Closing down Jetstar Asia after 20 years of operation
Farewell, Jetstar Asia. Qantas has decided to pull the plug on its Singapore-based budget carrier after two turbulent decades. It’s a casualty of Southeast Asia’s hyper-competitive low-cost airline jungle. The last Jetstar Asia flight will taxi down the runway on 31 July 2025. Thirteen Airbus A320s will head back across...
Also on BoardingArea
The Points of Life
Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Approved! Business Next?
And the beat goes on. I applied and was approved for the Barclays Hawaiian Airlines card. 60k points that can be transferred to Alaska for a 2k spend is one of the best offers I have received in a long time. I used my Alaska points to fly to Melbourne...
Economy Class & Beyond
ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group annouce codeshares
As ITA Airways is further consumed by Lufthansa Group, the ties deepen – this time with long-haul codeshares. Passengers will be able to combine flights from Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines with long-haul flights from ITA Airways in a single booking. The codeshare offering will go into effect...
One Mile at a Time
Air India Boeing 787 Crashes After Takeoff, With 242 People Onboard
It’s a tragic day for aviation, as an Air India Boeing 787 has crashed, representing the first-ever crash for the Dreamliner, since it first entered service nearly 15 years ago.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
First Ever Fatal Crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner Brings With it Lots More Questions Than We Have Answers
The tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12 marks the first-ever fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – an aircraft that had several high-profile teething issues but has proven to be a reliable and incredibly safe aircraft. But in the hours...
You Are Travel
Review: Wine & Roses Hotel, Spa & Restaurant (Lodi, CA)
Tl;dr – My review of a one-night stay at Wine & Roses Hotel, Spa & Restaurant in Lodi,…
You Are Travel
Review: Kissel Uptown Oakland – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Tl;dr – If you’re visiting the sunnier side of the Bay, the Kissel Oakland is a solid choice…
You Are Travel
Out in the Old Vines: A Review of Wine Tasting in Lodi, California 
Tl;dr – Lodi is an underrated place to taste wine affordably, particularly if you’re a fan of Old…
One Mile at a Time
MARRIOTT MEDIA: New Ad Network To Monetize Bonvoy Members
Marriott, the world’s largest hotel group, has today announced plans to launch MARRIOTT MEDIA, a media network intended to target the 237 million members of the Marriott Bonvoy program. What are the implications of this for hotel guests and Bonvoy members?
Live and Let’s Fly
Over 200 Killed In Air India 787 Crash In Ahmedabad
A Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operated by Air India tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad (AMD) today, June 12, 2025, en route to London Gatwick (LGW). With 242 people aboard and the jet colliding into a building in a densely populated area, it marks the first fatal accident in the...
Miles For Family
Back from our Family Trip to Peru and Easter Island: Bumpy Start, Awesome Memories
Both Peru and Easter Island (local name Rapa Nui) were on my bucket list for many years, and I finally got a chance to see them with my own eyes. Even better, I got to experience them with my husband and kids. I’m still pinching myself looking at the photos....
View from the Wing
Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: TSA Now Requires IDs For Kids Using PreCheck Alone
If your unaccompanied minor is a seasoned enough traveler to be on their own, they may be seasoned enough to have PreCheck! Make sure they pack their ID, even though they do not usually need one for domestic travel. Continue reading Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: TSA Now Requires IDs...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn Up to 20,000 Bonus Points With Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
You can earn 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points by earning 2,000 points per stay with a minimum of two consecutive nights at greater than 140,000 participating Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide now through Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in addition to the typical five points per dollar you...
Dots, Lines, & Destinations
DLD 538: Looping back
More on partners, plus London and American's premium play and Rome for Alaska
Frequent Miler
Capital One Spark Cash $1,500 Welcome Offer
Capital One has doubled the welcome offer for the Spark Cash Business card. The new offer is good for $1,500 cash back after spending $1,500 within the first 3 months. In addition, the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year. The old offer was $750 after $7,500, so...
One Mile at a Time
Air India Jet With CEO Onboard Diverts To Delhi, Following Crash
Today, we’re seeing absolutely horrifying scenes out of Ahmedabad, as a London-bound Air Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff, with 242 people onboard. While a minor detail in the scheme of things, I think it’s interesting to note a reason that another Air India Boeing 787-8 diverted this afternoon.
Sam Chui
A Preview of Changi Airport Terminal 5
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5 is expected to bring an ambitious capacity boost of 50 million passengers, to a total of 140 million passengers per year when this terminal is ready for operation in 2030. As such, the structure will be bigger than any of its existing terminals, while keeping...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
United’s Flight Attendants Coulds Be Forced to Stay in Budget Hotels… Here’s What’s Going On
Flight attendants at United Airlines fear they could soon be forced to stay in low-end budget hotels after the Chicago-based carrier wrote an important change into a tentative labor agreement. The tiny change could spell a disaster for the flight attendant union, which is fighting to convince its members to...
One Mile at a Time
EL AL Sued Over Wartime Price Gouging, Illegal & Immoral Behavior
EL AL is facing a class action lawsuit, as it’s being accused of wartime price gouging. Is this just basic economics, or is itimmoral and illegal, as the lawsuit suggests?
TravelUpdate
Refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve could be launched next week
As per sources, the refreshe Chase Sapphire Reserve could be launched as soon as some time next week, with changes going into effect soon.
View from the Wing
Touch A Flight Attendant Bag, Get Thrown Off: American Airlines Passenger Booted In Overhead Bin Dispute
Blogger JT Genter of Award Wallet writes that he was kicked off of an American Airlines flight from New York JFK to London Heathrow on Monday after moving someone’s bag from the overhead bin above his seat in premium economy. Continue reading Touch A Flight Attendant Bag, Get Thrown Off: American...
Eye of the Flyer
Earn $1,800 Cashback with a New Capital One Offer!
Capital One cranked up the promotional reward for one of its credit cards — and meeting the minimum spending requirement can net you almost $2,000 cashback. New members can earn (Learn here how to apply for this promotion.) The card’s earning structure is pretty straightforward: Earn 2% cash back on every...
Sam Chui
Air India Boeing 787 Crashes Shortly After Takeoff
On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India. The Boeing 787-8, with registration VT-ANB, was operating Flight AI171 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Flight AI171 reportedly departed Ahmedabad at 13:39 local time with 242...
Miles For Family
ICYMI: June 2025 Transfer Bonuses
I usually publish a list of available transfer bonuses each month at the beginning of the month. However, since I was traveling in Asia the past few weeks, I hadn’t yet done so for June. So, in case you missed it from around the web, here at the June 2025...
View from the Wing
First-Ever Boeing 787 Crash: Air India Flight To London Goes Down Minutes After Takeoff
After a brief, steep climb to roughly 625 feet, the aircraft issued a mayday, lost radio contact seconds later, and came down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar district. Continue reading First-Ever Boeing 787 Crash: Air India Flight To London Goes Down Minutes After Takeoff...
Wild About Travel
Riding the Spectacular Flåm Railway
National Geographic Traveler magazine called the Flåm Railway one of the top 10 train journeys in Europe. Lonely Planet went even further, naming it the best train journey in the world. It was definitely one of the most beautiful—and steepest—railways I have ever ridden, and I will always remember my...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Bain Capital to be the winner in airline sale
We have known that Virgin Australia was set to re-enter the share market by listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) fairly soon. Well the prospectus dropped on Friday night before the long weekend. A lot in the prospectus is to be expected. But, the measure of reward for past...
2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Too much style? Naumi Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand
We arrived from the airport a little after midnight. The Naumi Hotel has entrances on two different streets: Cuba Street and Dunlop Terrace, which is parallel to Cuba Street. Cuba Street is the main entrance. Things apparently happen in doubles at the Naumi, as there are actually two hotels, one...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: two new destinations in Southeast Asia — Da Nang in Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia
Emirates has officially launched new routes to Da Nang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, via Bangkok. That gives it 23 destinations in Southeast Asia. Both services, inaugurated on June 2 and 3, respectively, are operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The flights Below are the details of the new flights on...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: ‘Pick Your Bonus’ double status or points promotion
Virgin Australia’s latest ‘Pick Your Bonus’ promotion offers Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer members a choice. You can choose between double Velocity Points or double Status Credits on eligible flights. This is a timely opportunity following recent program changes that have made attaining higher status tiers more challenging. It could...
Wild About Travel
Bergen is Bloody Beautiful
Bergen: Norway’s Fjord-Framed Gem There are some cities I like, some I love, and some that just smack you in the face with their wow factor. Hence the language in my headline’ Surrounded by seven mountains and nestled beside deep blue waters, Bergen’s scenery is more than spectacular. Founded in...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Stock market (ASX) comeback about to take off
Virgin Australia is heading back to the ASX (Australian Stock Exchange). Five years after crashing into administration and being rescued by private equity firm Bain Capital, the airline is relaunching itself on the sharemarket. Its banking on a $2.3 billion valuation and strong interest from investors keen to board early....
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: More Boeing 737s for Mount Isa and Townsville
Virgin Australia is doubling down on regional Queensland, announcing a major boost to its Mount Isa and Townsville routes with increased deployment of its Boeing 737 fleet. The move, effective from late July 2025 for Mount Isa and from November 2025 for Townsville, is set to deliver more seats and...