Wild About Travel
Flat Earth Challenge on the remotest flight: Qantas Business Class Non Stop from Sydney to Santiago
Several months ago, I secured a Qantas frequent flier seat up front in business class on @qantas Sydney to Santiago Qantas service. The flight uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the 12-14 hour journey. I redeemed 108,000 Qantas points and paid $300 in taxes for a business flight worth between...
2PAXfly
BORDERS: Digital Australian Travel Declaration trial for arriving travellers
Border Force, who are tasked with protecting Australian borders have announced the trial of an Australia digital Travel Declaration. This will replace the current Incoming Passenger Card for travel between New Zealand and Australia. Currently, the Incoming Passenger Card is completed by all arriving passengers whether they hold an Australian...
2PAXfly
REX: Regional flights guarenteed by Australian Government
The Australian Federal Government is guaranteeing regional flights provided by Regional Express (REX). Travellers with bookings will either get their flights or be eligible for a refund, despite the airline being in administration. The same does not apply to those holding bookings for capital to capital city flights. No guarantees...
Wild About Travel
Santiago: The Heart of Chile
I rank every city I visit based on various factors, including aesthetics, culture, and transport. Santiago, the capital of Chile in South America is the 242nd city of over 100,000 people I have visited. Chile is my 85th country, so I’m pretty confident in my ratings! Location and Orientation Santiago...
2PAXfly
QATAR AIRWAYS: Would I book Business Class just for the caviar service?
The simple answer is ‘No’. I would book Qatar Airways because of their service and cabins, but only if the price was also right. I was brought up in a household where money mattered. My parents had strict rules on what was worth paying for and what was not. They...
2PAXfly
HOTEL: Helicoptor crash at Cairns DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
The pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Queensland in Australia has died, and two others have sustained non-life threatening injuries. Th The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade in Cairns has been evacuated after a twin-engined helicopter crashed into the roof,...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: International changing from Passport first, to Security first
Sydney Airport will change its T1 International Terminal to reverse the order of immigration and security according to a report in ET. Currently, you pass through immigration and passport control, via the automated gates first. Then join the line at the security area to X-RAY your bags, and yourself. Sometimes...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: ‘Explosive’ review of the board. Alan Joyce to lose AU$9.3 million bonus
Today two reports were released by Qantas. The first is the determination of Executive Remuneration. The more colloquial expression is how much pay gets ‘docked’ from former CEO Alan Joyce’s pay packet. The second is the scathing review of Board governance during the latter years of Joyce’s reign at Qantas....
2PAXfly
FIJI AIRWAYS: Launches flights to Dallas from December 2024
Dallas Fort Worth will be the next North American destination for Fiji Airways starting on Tuesday 10 December 2024. DFW will join Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver currently serviced by the Pacific airline. This roughly 13-hour service will operate three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) using...
2PAXfly
SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Sydney SilverKris Lounge to close for refresh
The SliverKris Lounge at Sydney Airport will close on Saturday 10 August for about a month to have its interior refreshed. The lounge current interiors date from December 2013. So well overdue for a bit of a spruce up. Both the First Class and Business areas will be closed. But...
2PAXfly
BRITISH AIRWAYS: Summer will see Boeing 777s with new Business and First Class flying to Australia
From Sunday 27 October 2024 until 30 March 2025, British Airways (BA) will be swapping its normal Boeing 787 aircraft servicing the London to Sydney route for the higher capacity Boeing 777. With over 35% more seats, the upgraded capacity will cater for the swell in traffic during Australia’s summer...
2PAXfly
REX FLYER: Loyalty program. See you again, or goodbye?
It seems like just before REX went into administration it launched a loyalty program called — REX Flyer. That’s actually true. The scheme launched in July and the administrators were called in at the end of that same month. As a member of that REX Flyer program, one of the...
2PAXfly
USA: Australians to get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs
At last! Well, not quite yet. It won’t happen in time for my USA trip later this year. But in 2025, Australians will finally have access to US Globe Entry – which will speed your entry for overseas to the USA, and TSA PreCheck will simplify the process of domestic...
Wild About Travel
Goodbye Rex, the latest Fall of a Notable Australian Airlines- here’s the Aussie failure list!
Regional Express Airlines (REX) is now insolvent and has entered voluntary administration after a disastrous attempt to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia. If you are a ticket holder on their intercity routes, you are best advised to contact Virgin Australia (13 6789), who are accommodating REX passengers. It is...
2PAXfly
REX: Airline goes into administration. What next?
Regional Express (REX) has officially gone into administration as of Tuesday 30 July 2024. The airline has appointed three members of Ernst & Young (EY Australia) as administrators. REX’s regional fleet will continue to fly as scheduled. However, all domestic flights between capital cities have now been cancelled. Virgin Australia...
2PAXfly
REX: Has a thorn in its paw with trading halt
Regional Express Airlines, known as REX, has halted trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today (Monday 29 July 2024). REX sought the trading halt until Wednesday to deal with some boardroom turmoil. It’s dealing with an apparantely disruptive major shareholder. There is also a rumour that it is about...