2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 18 January, 2026
Hello travellers, Greetings from a very wet Sydney. We’ve been hosting a number of overseas friends. But even more enjoyable is making some reciprocal plans to visit them later this year using our hard-earned Amex Rewards points.  My next trip is a month or so away. It will be to a much...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Air traffic control shortages bring chaos
Dozens of flights have been cancelled, and many more were delayed on Thursday, 15 January 2026, according to the AFR. A shortage of air traffic control staff has triggered the worst disruption at Australia’s busiest airport since the pandemic began. As always, when Sydney sneezes, the entire national air network...
2PAXfly
AIRLINES: passengers behaving badly; are ‘aisle lice’ a thing?
These ‘aisle lice’ are new to me, but I love the term. According to an article in The Guardian, the term refers to passengers behaving badly on an aircraft, specifically those passengers show leap up, grab their bags, and try and streak to the front of the aircraft to be...
2PAXfly
CONSUMER LAW: What to do when your flight is cancelled
Flight cancellations are a fact of life in peak travel periods, when airports and airlines are handling record numbers of passengers. When your travel plans suddenly unravel, whether it’s because of weather, airline issues or some other reason, you need to know what your rights are, what you can claim...
Also on BoardingArea
Pointalize
British Airways Avios: Maximizing Value
Maximize your British Airways Avios. Learn about the new Reward Flight Saver rates, the 40k Iberia sweet spot, and how to avoid the AA devaluation.
PointsMath
IHG Your Year of Travel Sale: Save Up to 25% on Stays
IHG is offering a 25% discount on stays at IHG hotels in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Micronesia, Southeast Asia, South Korea, and the Pacific Islands as part of the Your Year of Travel sale. All bookings under this promotion must be made by 4 February 2026. IHG Your Year of...
Live and Let’s Fly
Alaska Airlines 737-800 First Class Review: New Seats And Exceptional Service
After the Alaska-Boeing event, I flew Alaska Airlines from Seattle (SEA) to Chicago (ORD) onboard a recently retrofitted 737-800 in first class, enjoying a superb flight with outstanding service. Alaska Airlines 737-800 First Class Review (SEA-ORD) I traveled as a guest of Alaska Airlines. While I have historically turned down...
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: NOMAD N1 Portable AC Power Bank
The NOMAD N1 is a power bank that also serves as an AC wall outlet that you can take anywhere. It's on Kickstarter, but only for a few more ...
Economy Class & Beyond
TRIP REPORT: Into Malaysia and the Holiday Inn Express, KLCC – Growing Old In Style
Into Malaysia and off to the Holiday Inn Express KLCC Growing Old In Style Welcome back to Malaysia. It’s time to get into the country and continue this trip as I hit the second hotel of this trip, the Holiday Inn Express KLCC. And what a beauty of a hotel...
One Mile at a Time
American Airlines Instant Cash + Mileage Upgrade Offers Explained: Worth It?
Airlines in the United States have gotten increasingly good at monetizing their premium cabins. They don’t want customers to rely on complimentary upgrades, but instead, they’re trying to condition customers to pay for upgrades, whether it’s with miles or cash.
Travel Codex
Tragic Spain High-Speed Train Crash Leaves 39 Dead
A high-speed derailment and collision near Córdoba has killed 39, injured more, and raised fresh questions about rail safety across Europe. The Night That Changed Everything On A Spanish Rail Line On the evening of January 18, 2026, one of Europe’s most modern railway networks suffered a devastating disaster near...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Spanish Flag Carrier Iberia Slammed For Alleged Price Surging In Wake Of Deadly High-Speed Train Crash
In the wake of a deadly high-speed train crash in the Spanish region of Andalusia on Sunday night, passengers have accused national flag carrier Iberia of price gouging people scrambling to find alternative ways to get between Madrid and Málaga and Seville. Iberia and its wholly owned short-haul subsidiary, Iberia...
Your Mileage May Vary
How Baggage Thieves Choose Which Bags to Steal — And How to Stop Them
There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting at the airport carousel for your bag that never materializes. If you’re lucky, this “mishandling” happened because of a mistake: The airline never got…
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Win a trip for two to Tokyo, courtesy of Coast Hotels and APA Hotels & Resorts, Japan (Open to AK, CA, HI, OR, WA, Canada except QC)
Coast Hotels has brought back their great contest where Coast Rewards members can enter to win a trip to Japan! The contest is open to new and existing Coast Rewards members who complete the entry form by February 28, 2026. If you are not a member of Coast Rewards we...
View from the Wing
Coupon Book Fatigue Is Real—How to Make Amex Platinum and Sapphire Reserve Not Feel Like Work
Premium cards have turned into coupon books, and the fatigue is real—especially when you’re doing math and chasing tiny monthly credits to justify a huge annual fee. The trick is to treat Amex Platinum and Sapphire Reserve differently: cover the fee with credits you’d use anyway, value the lounge network...
ATX Jetsetter
United Airbus A321neo Loses Wheel After Hard Landing in Orlando
A United Airlines Airbus A321neo lost a wheel after a rough landing at Orlando International Airport (MCO). The post United Airbus A321neo Loses Wheel After Hard Landing in Orlando appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
The Bulkhead Seat
Lufthansa Expands 100th Anniversary Fleet With Special Liveries on Airbus A320neo and A350
Lufthansa is adding to its distinctive 100th anniversary fleet with two additional aircraft repainted… The post Lufthansa Expands 100th Anniversary Fleet With Special Liveries on Airbus A320neo and A350 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
One Mile at a Time
Limited Time Citi Strata Elite Card 100K Points Online Welcome Bonus
Link: Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite Card
View from the Wing
The Peninsula New York: My First Stay at a $1,000 Cash Rate—Worth It
I’ve redeemed points for resorts and received upgrades to rooms with $2,000+ sticker prices, but this was my first time on a cash rate at a $1,000 all-in The Peninsula New York. The renovation has the place feeling current, the base room is unusually large for the city, and the...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
IHG Winter Sale: Save At Least 15% in Europe, India, South Asia, Africa, or the Middle East
With the IHG Winter Sale, you can save at least 15% on room rates at participating hotel and resort properties in Europe, India, South Asia, Africa, or the Middle East through Saturday, October 10, 2026... ...but you must... The post IHG Winter Sale: Save At Least 15% in Europe, India, South Asia,...
Miles For Family
Bilt 2.D’oh, New Chase Sapphire Rules and More
Happy Monday and MLK Day! Bilt 2.D’Oh. Why you should be cautious of their new cards setup: If you can stand any more news about the new Bilt 2.0 rollout, this post on Frequent Miler explains the new changes that were rolled out after the 2.0 rollout and provides more analysis...
Frequent Miler
Office Depot/OfficeMax: Buy $300+ Mastercard Gift Cards, Save $15
Office Depot and OfficeMax stores have returned with their profitable gift card deal on Mastercard gift cards. The Deal Buy $300+ Mastercard gift cards at Office Depot/OfficeMax & get $15 off instantly. Key Terms Valid 1/18/26-1/24/26 Limit 10 per household/business (different stores may try to impose various limits that don’t...
Live and Let’s Fly
Influencer Turns Air France La Premiere Into A Film Set, Then Cries Racism When Confronted
An “influencer” passenger turned an Air France La Premiere first class suite into a film set, then tried to reframe a reasonable privacy request as something far uglier. CEO Films In Air France La Premiere, Calls Passenger Racist When Asked To Stop In an era of narcissism-validating social media, we...
One Mile at a Time
Buy Alaska Atmos Rewards Points With A Big Bonus: Worth It?
Often buying points strategically can be a good value, and Alaska Atmos Rewards (formerly known as Alaska Mileage Plan) is one of my favorite programs to buy points from, both thanks to the frequency with which the program sells points, and what a good deal award redemptions can be.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Emirates Ditches ‘Fake Meat’ as Airline Goes Back to Basics With Vegan Meals
Just 12 months after announcing it was experimenting with “innovative” vegan ingredients, like a rather sinister-sounding “lookalike solid egg substitute” and fake meat from California-based Beyond Meat, the Dubai-based airline Emirates now says it’s taking a “back to basics” approach to vegan cuisine. Doxis Bekris, the mega-airline’s Vice President of...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Emirates Ditches ‘Fake Meat’ as Airline Goes Back to Basics With Vegan Meals
Just 12 months after announcing it was experimenting with “innovative” vegan ingredients, like a rather sinister-sounding “lookalike solid egg substitute” and fake meat from California-based Beyond Meat, the Dubai-based airline Emirates now says it’s taking a “back to basics” approach to vegan cuisine. Doxis Bekris, the mega-airline’s Vice President of...
The Points of Life
Kingston-San Juan: 2 Copa Flights, 2 Lounge Reviews
Do you remember how I arrived in Jamaica (see Puerto Rico to Jamaica: Oh No, Not Spirit!)? The journey home was also inefficient. Fortunately, I was flying business on Copa, an underrated carrier for comfort in these parts. In Kingston, the first stop, after a Red Stripe, was the Priority Pass...
Economy Class & Beyond
China Southern Airlines to return to Helsinki
Chinese carrier China Southern Airlines is to launch a route between Beijing and Helsinki after a five-year break. The route is a resumption of one that was operated five years ago, as conditions have improved enough for China Southern to take an interest in the destination. China Southern will operate...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Air Traffic Control stinks! Sewage smell overwhelms control tower
Air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport were forced to work through overpowering sewage odours during the peak 2024–25 holiday travel period. Some staff were reportedly dry heaving at their desks while managing aircraft movements according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald. Incident logs from Airservices Australia show the...
2PAXfly
HOTEL REVIEW: Bring boltcutters? Picton Waterfront Apartments, New Zealand
Our New Zealand holiday continued once we arrived in Picton and alighted from the Interisland ferry, picked up our hire car and made our way to the Waterfront Apartments, ready for our four-night stay, with a view straight down Picton harbour. Car Hire Just a note, that another visitor, who...
Wild About Travel
Johannesburg: First encounter with the City of Gold
Firstly, three fascinating facts about Johannesburg for your next Trivia Pursuit Competition: I flew to Johannesburg expecting not to like it, but there is something about its youthfulness, energy, hustling, humour and beauty that got to me. I rate all the cities I have visited or lived in, and Johannesburg...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: To reverse decision on Premium Economy?
Turkish Airlines could be seriously exploring the return of premium economy to its aircraft cabins. That would fit with the carrier plans to operate some of the longest flights in its history, including nonstop services between Istanbul and Sydney. That’s a development worth the attention of Australian travellers. Premium Economy...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New Year, means time to plan for the next Qantas Double Status Credits & Points promotion
Each year since at least 2018, Qantas has offered a Double Status and Points promotion in February or March. Sure, it has offered similar promotions on other dates, but February/March are the most consistent and reliable. To that end, with the second week of the new year coming to a...
2PAXfly
CATHAY PACIFIC: Anniversary marks 2026 as 80 years in the air
Cathay Pacific has launched its 80th-anniversary celebrations for 2026, marking eight decades since the airline’s founding in 1946. The anniversary program is being rolled out under the theme ’80 Years Together’. The biggest indicator is an aircraft painted in retro livery. The birthday celebrations were formally launched at a Hong...
2PAXfly
STARLUX: Takes delivery of first A350-1000
Starlux Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first Taiwanese airline to operate Airbus’ largest long-range twin-engine aircraft, a fleet milestone that has implications for Australian travellers flying long haul via Asia. The aircraft, registered B-58551, was handed over at Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters before operating a...
2PAXfly
2026: What’s new in the sky for Australian travellers
There are some interesting changes in aviation for 2026. It’s mainly about longer flights, that get you there moe quickly. It’s also about flying quieter and more comfortably for those uninterrupted very long hours. Most of these innovations have already been announced, but I thought at the beginning of 2026,...