2PAXfly
QANTAS: Bed bugs bite passengers on Perth–Rome flight, grounding Dreamliner
Passengers on a Qantas flight from Perth to Rome on 9 October, 2026 had an added inflight experience: bed bugs. The incident forced the airline to ground the affected Boeing 787 Dreamliner, cancel the return flight and accommodate stranded passengers in Rome. Not quite the premium experience passengers might expect....
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Air New Zealand partnership ends in April 2027
Qantas and Air New Zealand are ending their eight-year codeshare partnership. The arrangement ends on 7 April 2027. The change will affect frequent flyers who use Qantas Points, earn Status Credits or enjoy lounge access when travelling domestically within New Zealand. This move comes as Air New Zealand renews its...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: How to earn double Status Credits or Points and grab 40,000 bonus Points
Virgin Australia has launched two new Velocity Frequent Flyer promotions, offering members a choice between double Status Credits and double Velocity Points on eligible flights, plus a separate opportunity to collect 40,000 bonus Points when booking a holiday package. Both offers launched on Monday 12 October 2026, but the booking...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 11 October, 2026
Hello travellers, Greetings from Paris! After spending a week or so in London catching up with friends, I’m now in Paris. I lost a very long-standing friend to cancer this week. It’s naturally made me resolve to make the most of the life I have left. What happened last week?...
Also on BoardingArea
Economy Class & Beyond
TRIP REPORT: From the Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck – Kevin Get’s a Little Seoul and Tokyo
From the Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck TRIP REPORT: Kevin gets a Little Seoul and Tokyo  Free is a good thing – especially when it comes to observation platforms. Let’s head up in the world and explore the view of Tokyo from the Metropolitan Government Building. When Life Gives You...
Travel Points Playbook
Southwest Didn’t Kill Companion Pass — It Killed the Best Way to Earn It
Southwest dropped a huge Rapid Rewards announcement today with a completely redesigned elite program coming in 2027. There…
Your Mileage May Vary
Things That Could ONLY Happen In A Small Town (And People Have Stories)
From neighbors who know absolutely everybody to local traditions that would leave city dwellers scratching their heads, Reddit users shared some of the funniest, strangest and most heartwarming things they’ve…
One Mile at a Time
Amex Stops Automatically Pooling Membership Rewards Points On New Cards: Why?
Amex has updated its Membership Rewards terms so new cards get separate rewards accounts that you can link manually. It's minor if you pay attention, but the motive is unclear.
Miles To Memories
Earn Up to 100X on Hilton Stays with New Amex Offer
American Express has a new Amex Offer for Hilton cardholders, offering up to 100X points when booking a Hilton stay.
Traveling For Miles
World of Hyatt elites can now fast-track to Aeroplan status (here’s what it takes)
Almost exactly three months after Hyatt and Air Canada announced a partnership (of sorts) between their two rewards programs we finally have the final piece of the puzzle because Aeroplan has unveiled its status challenge for World of Hyatt elites. So, was this worth waiting for or is it like...
Frequent Miler
Is Amex about to tank one of its best Platinum perks?
Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) is a “luxury” hotel booking program available to both business and consumer Platinum cardholders. When booking hotels through FHR, cardholders enjoy a suite of valuable benefits and, in most cases, also qualify for elite credit and benefits when staying at chain hotel properties. Both...
The Bulkhead Seat
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Upgrade International Dining With New Celebrity Chef Menus
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are introducing new premium cabin menus this fall. They…
Miles To Memories
Rove Adds JetBlue TrueBlue as 1:1 Transfer Partner, Launches 20% Bonus
Rove has added JetBlue TrueBlue as its 22nd transfer partner, with 1:1 transfers and a limited-time 20% bonus available through November 14, 2026.
One Mile at a Time
Southwest Rapid Rewards Overhaul: New Elite Tiers, Companion Pass Changes, Partner Awards, & More
Southwest is overhauling Rapid Rewards in 2027, with three new elite tiers, Companion Pass bundled into Platinum, credit card spending counting toward status, and new partner airline options.
Traveling For Miles
JetBlue opens BlueFirst bookings ahead of a December launch (promo fares available through 16 October)
JetBlue Airways has put BlueFirst, its new domestic First Class, on sale, so travelers on JetBlue routes where Mint isn’t offered can now book a premium seat for flights from December. The first flights connect Boston and Fort Lauderdale, and JetBlue is marking the occasion with a handful of introductory fares...
Your Mileage May Vary
Credit Card Review: Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
There’s a Marriott Bonvoy American Express card you won’t find on AMEX’s application page. You can’t sign up for it, there’s no welcome bonus, and American Express isn’t trying to…
Frequent Miler
Rove adds JetBlue as its newest transfer partner
Rove continues to expand its travel partner portfolio at a blistering pace. In the last year, the rewards program has added transfer partnerships with Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Frontier, Copa, and Virgin Atlantic. Now, Rove has announced yet another new airline transfer partner: JetBlue TrueBlue. Transfers to...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes: Save 30% on select KrisFlyer award flights (Oct 2026 edition)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer’s famous Spontaneous Escapes have been released for October and offer 30% off select award flights. These are the airline’s monthly discounted award flight offers that are only open for booking for the last few weeks of this month for travel in the following month. As is typically...
Points With a Crew
American Express® Gold Card Review – Benefits Galore!
The American Express® Gold Card comes with a solid welcome offer, outstanding earning potential and benefits on travel and other purchases that make it definitely one that you should consider as you are applying for your next card
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta Air Lines Is Giving Delta One A Major Upgrade Beyond The Lie-Flat Seat
Delta Air Lines is refreshing its Delta One business class experience with new meals, better drinks, updated amenities, and more control over dining and rest. I like the direction and these are improvements passengers can enjoy without waiting for an aircraft with new seats. Delta One Refresh Brings New Dining,...
Miles To Memories
MTM Diamond Is Getting Yet Another Glow Up With Additional Shows & Perks
We are bringing some new MTM Diamond shows to the group along with some other exciting news. Check it out, and come join us!
The Bulkhead Seat
Southwest Overhauls Rapid Rewards With New Platinum Status, Companion Pass, and More
Southwest Airlines is making huge changes to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program by introducing…
Traveling For Miles
Lufthansa’s first Airbus A350-1000 will fly to Tokyo Haneda
Lufthansa's first Airbus A350-1000 is due to arrive in Munich from Airbus in Toulouse in mid-November. Its first passenger flight is scheduled for 3 December 2026, from Munich to Tokyo Haneda. Shanghai and Singapore will follow in the weeks after that, according to Lufthansa, but it hasn't given dates for...
View from the Wing
United Flyers Transfer Miles For Free By Closing A Pool—Avoiding More Than $700 In Fees
A United flyer needed 45,000 miles from their sister for an upgrade, but transferring them would have cost more than $700. They moved the miles for free by creating a mileage pool, having the sister leave the pool, and then closing it. The miles landed in their personal account, available...
One Mile at a Time
Southwest “Icon Lounges” Opening At 11 Airports, In Partnership With Chase
Southwest has revealed its lounge network will be called Icon Lounges, shared the first rendering, and named four opening airports, with at least seven more planned.
View from the Wing
Southwest Overhauls Rapid Rewards—New Loungee, Elite Tier And Partner Awards, But A Much Harder Companion Pass
Southwest is adding Silver, Gold and Platinum status, premium cabin partner awards and Icon lounges. But card bonuses will stop counting toward Companion Pass, two fares will earn fewer points, and companion pass because part of the elite tier structure rather than separately earned.
Frequent Miler
American Express Blue Business Plus / Business Cash: 50K / $500 bonus after $5k spend
New welcome offers are available for the Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash cards, giving the opportunity to earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points or $500 after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. That isn’t the best offer that we’ve seen for either card, but it...
The Bulkhead Seat
JetBlue Launches BlueFirst™ Domestic First Class With Fares Starting at $249
JetBlue has started selling BlueFirst™, its new domestic First Class product, with introductory fares…
2PAXfly
AIR INDIA: First Class arrives in Sydney as Delhi flights jump to 11 weekly
Air India is giving its Sydney to Delhi service a substantial upgrade, introducing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with First Class suites and increasing flights from seven to 11 per week. The expansion begins on 5 December 2026, with the larger Boeing 777 initially operating selected services before replacing the Boeing 787-8...
2PAXfly
TRAVELLING: Sometimes, whether you mean to or not, you end up in the thick of it. Paris edition.
I’m in Paris at the moment. The other night me and the husband decided to head to the opening night of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung at the Opéra Bastille. Sometimes you just want to hear five harps playing in a large orchestra. We knew there had been student protests in Paris recently...
2PAXfly
AMEX CENTURION LOUNGES: Sydney and Melbourne close temporarily for refurbishment
American Express is temporarily closing both of its Australian Centurion Lounges this month, leaving some cardholders without their usual pre-flight sanctuary at Sydney and Melbourne international terminals. The Sydney Centurion Lounge at T1 closes from Tuesday, 6 October 2026, reopening on 20 October. Melbourne’s T2 lounge also closes on 6...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 4 October 2026
Hello travellers, Greetings from London! I’m here in the United Kingdom thanks to a bunch of credit card points transferred to Cathay Pacific before the conversion was devalued. Two flights to get here: one on an A350, and the other on a B777 with Aria Suites in Business Class. What happened...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Near-miss spike puts air traffic control staffing under scrutiny
Sydney Airport’s air traffic control problems have moved beyond delays and cancellations. New safety data shows a sharp spike in runway and taxiway conflicts. That concers controller staffing, overtime, and fatigue now under close scrutiny. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) recorded 11 ground-confliction incidents at Sydney during July and...
2PAXfly
DISASTER AVERTED: FlyDubai flight plunges during cockpit struggle with Australians on board
An interesting side note to this near disaster. There were two Australians among 174 people aboard the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that plunged violently during an extraordinary cockpit attack before passengers and crew helped regain control of the aircraft. SMH is reporting that Sydney business couple Steven...
Wild About Travel
I am entitled to climb: On Travel, Disappointment and Learning to Hear No
Raises uncomfortable questions about what we think travel owes us, and provides tips on managing expectations and disappointment.
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 27 September, 2026
Hello travellers, Why is it that the week before you are heading out on a big international trip, you get anxious? Is it because you need to tidy up the house and garden because you have someone house-sitting? Is it because you have failed to book an important train trip...