2PAXfly
QANTAS: Does Project Sunrise indicate a more premium, lower-volume international strategy, as Joe Aston says?
In an Australian Financial Review opinion piece over the weekend, Joe Aston, author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out, argues that Qantas is changing its international strategy. His core argument is that Project Sunrise is not simply a new pair of ultra-long-haul routes:...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: SUNDAY 5 JULY, 2026
Hello travellers, We are finally home, although we have spent most of the week besieged by builders completing various aspects of our repairs and renovation. The dust has mainly settled and been cleaned away. As with all building work, there are still a few issues and complications to resolve. That...
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...
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
Ugh: Boeing 737 Crashes In Arabian Sea, Plunges 35,000 Feet In Two Minutes
Late on Tuesday night, a Boeing 737 crashed into the Arabian Sea. There’s no such thing as a straightforward aviation accident, and the circumstances surrounding this are particularly strange — the pilots reported navigation issues, and moments later the plane start descending rapidly, only to then climb rapidly, before finally...
One Mile at a Time
Marriott Bonvoy Points Devaluation: Widespread Increase In Award Costs
In recent days, Marriott Bonvoy seems to have implemented a relatively mild but widespread devaluation of points, whereby we’ve seen the cost of award nights at a large percentage of properties increase. The devaluation is significant enough so that it’s probably meaningful for Marriott, but minimal enough so that the...
One Mile at a Time
YOTEL Joining Hilton Honors Program, Planning Huge Growth In Coming Years
A few months ago, Hilton and YOTEL announced plans to join forces, which I’m happy to see, as I’m kind of a sucker for the YOTELAIR concept. There’s now an update, as we have a sense of when this integration will happen — the YOTEL Club program will wind down...
One Mile at a Time
Buy Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles With 80% Bonus, 1.69 Cents Each: Worth It?
Strategically buying miles & points for luxury travel can be a great deal. We’ve just seen the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program launch a new promotion on purchased miles, with an offer to buy miles with up to an 80% bonus, at a cost of 1.69 cents each. While not...
Frequent Miler
What is Delta elite status worth?
Most airlines offer extra benefits to their most valuable customers. If you fly enough with an airline, you can become “elite”. Of course, not all elites are equal. Most airlines have multiple elite tiers to differentiate their valuable customers from their really valuable customers. And, of course, airlines offer the...
Points With a Crew
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card Review – How To Get The Annual Fee Waived
The American Express Hilton Honors Surpass card has outstanding benefits and a hefty welcome offer. If you're looking for a new card to earn Hilton points, make sure you ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Gas Chamber I and Incinerator Room at Auschwitz
Not counting its annexes and 45 satellite camps, the original site of Auschwitz near the town of Oświęcim in Poland is one of the few places on Earth where the horror of what happened during World War II was felt from perimeter to perimeter. Of the 1.3 million people sent...
Frequent Miler
United/Marriott reciprocal promo: Earn 2,000 Marriott points + 1,500 United miles every time you stay & fly
United and Marriott have a longstanding partnership in a few different ways, such as additional bonus miles when transferring Marriott Bonvoy points and elite status with the other program when having high enough elite status in one of the programs. There’s now a limited time new promotion that’s awarding both...
Frequent Miler
Which Hyatt Milestone Reward should I pick? | Coffee Break Ep113 | 7-7-26
Greg earned a 3-night Hyatt milestone reward, which means he’s faced with a choice of what to pick. He’s got 90 days to pick that reward, but he’s whittled away a lot of that time and now just has a few weeks left to decide. Which Hyatt Milestone Reward should...
You Are Travel
Marriott Debuts Yet Another Safari Property – JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp Now Open
​tl;dr – Another opportunity to safari on points. Hello friends, I’m back. Today, Marriott announced the opening of…
Your Mileage May Vary
Changes Are Coming For All U.S. Passports. Here’s What’s Planned
When the federal government announced the limited-edition passport with Donald Trump’s likeness on it, I figured it was a “one and done” for U.S. passports. Turns out passport officials apparently…
The Bulkhead Seat
Lounge Review: Admirals Club® (ORD – Terminal 3, Concourse G)
I flew Alaska Airlines for the first time in 20 years today from Chicago…
Frequent Miler
Southwest sale: Save up to 40% off base fares, no promo code needed
Southwest launched a new sale today that’s giving a discount of up to 40% off base fares. Unusually for Southwest though, this doesn’t require the use of a promo code. The Deal Save up to 40% off base fares on Southwest flights. Direct link to offer. Key Terms Up to...
Miles To Memories
United’s First Class Cornflakes, Delta’s Worst Seat & TSA Security Gets Better!
TSA touchless improves, the saddest first class meal, a crazy Delta seat, America turns 250 & transfer bonuses return.
View from the Wing
Marriott Bonvoy Just Quietly Raised Award Prices: Some Hotels Now Cost Up To 16% More Points
Marriott Bonvoy appears to have quietly raised award prices, with some hotels now costing up to 16% more points. The hidden devaluation matters quite a lot for members using free night certificates.
Points With a Crew
Should you buy IHG points with a 100% bonus?
Buying points can be a great way to boost your balance, but only if makes sense financially! Does the new IHG promotion fit that criteria?
Your Mileage May Vary
Flight Review: Austrian Airlines Economy From Frankfurt To Vienna
Short intra-Europe flights are rarely exciting, and our Austrian Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Vienna wasn’t going to change that. But sometimes that’s the point of a flight review. Just…
Frequent Miler
Avid hiker? Get 50% back on an AllTrails subscription with a targeted Amex Offer
Are you an avid hiker? If so, you’re likely familiar with AllTrails.com which is an excellent resource for hiking trails not only in the US, but worldwide too. AllTrails has a free membership which provides a lot of information that you might need when heading out for a hike, as...
The Bulkhead Seat
Air France Opens New Lounge at London Heathrow Airport
Air France has opened its first dedicated lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) today.…
The Bulkhead Seat
Americans May Soon Be Able to Take Passport Photos at Home
Applying for a US passport could soon become much more convenient. Secretary of State…
Miles To Memories
Paze Promo Credits Start Rolling In, Plus What Options Are Left
Chase and Paze both have two promotions going on, and they clearly didn't think them through at launch.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
6 Places Aboard Airplanes With The Most Germs
Drexel Medicine provides medical care for patients in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area; and it is associated with the reputable Drexel University and its College of Medicine; but there might be little information which is new to you in this article of 6 places aboard airplanes with the most germs and how to avoid them. “Fair...
Frequent Miler
Southwest cardholder promo: Earn 30% bonus points on all spend (Also Companion Pass eligible)
Southwest runs promotions every quarter that reward cardholders in some way. This new quarter’s spending offer has now opened for registration and to celebrate the 30th birthday of Southwest credit cards, they’re offering 30% bonus points on all purchases through the end of September, with all the points also being...
View from the Wing
Hyatt Place LAX Could Become A Data Center, As Rooms For Chips Now More Valuable Than People [Roundup]
A Hyatt Place near LAX may be torn down for a data center. Plus: Rolexes in coach, Southwest’s awful WiFi, automatic VAT refunds, and another Trump resort theft allegation.
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...
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!...