2PAXfly
QANTAS: New search tool allows region-to-region Classic Rewards search across partner airlines
Qantas is promising to roll out a major upgrade to how members search for Classic Reward seats in March 2026. It could dramatically improve your chances of finding low-points Classic Rewards redemptions. Over at ET they have seen a preview, and this is what they found. Region-to-Region search The new...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Frequent Flyer changes evaluated, and when they roll out
Qantas is billing these largely status-related changes as a ‘new era’ for Frequent Flyers. Here’s what’s coming, what I think of it, and when it will arrive. Read on to find out what it means if you’re chasing Silver, protecting Gold or sitting comfortably at Platinum. March 2026: A better...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: What happens on a seasonal direct flights to Vegas, stays in Vegas.
What happens in Vegas no longer requires a stop in Los Angeles. From 29 December 2026, Qantas will launch the first-ever nonstop flights between Australia and Las Vegas, with a seasonal Sydney–Las Vegas service running through to 12 March 2027. For Australian travellers, that means skipping the usual US gateway...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Sweeping overhaul of Qantas Frequent Flyer program. The good and the bad
Qantas is making it easier to earn Status Credits without setting foot on a plane, but there are positives and negatives. As part of its sweeping overhaul of the loyalty program, the airline will lift the annual threshold required to retain status, even as it introduces rollover credits and more...
2PAXfly
UNITED KINGDOM: New rules for British/Australian dual nationals. What to do if your travelling soon
If you’re a British dual national with travel to the UK booked this week or next, this issue isn’t theoretical, it’s immediate. From 25 February (today), the British Home Office requires airlines to verify that British citizens board with a valid British passport (or a foreign passport carrying a certificate...
2PAXfly
MELBOURNE AIRPORT: $4.5 billion international terminal expansion
Melbourne is about to get a bigger front door to the world with plans for a $4.5 billion expansion of its international terminal. The project will expand check-in areas, baggage halls, and aircraft gates. These innovations are all aimed at easing pressure on Australia’s largest 24-hour airport. In January 2026,...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Cuts Doha flights on Qatar jets as bookings lag
Virgin Australia’s high-profile partnership with Qatar Airways is facing an early recalibration, with several Australia–Doha services reduced across late summer and autumn schedules. The services are operated by Qatar aircraft but sold under Virgin’s code, allowing passengers to earn Velocity Status Credits on long-haul sectors from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: ‘Twice as Rewarding’ Double points and Status Credits promotion drops. Book by 2 March 2026
Well, we all knew it was coming, and I predicted it could be this week, a few days before the half-yearly financial results are announced, and here it is. Time to unearth that strategy, and book your flights to earn double Status Credits or Double Points. If you still need...
2PAXfly
DISEASE: Measles alert issued for Sydney Airport and two flights
Travellers passing through Sydney Airport, both its domestic and international terminals, are urged to monitor for measles symptoms. This alert comes following confirmation from NSW Health of multiple exposure sites, including two specific flights. The number of current exposure locations has now reached 55. Flights exposure Passengers on Jetstar Flight...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 22 February, 2026
Hope your weekend has been as enjoyable as mine, with a bit of theatre and a picnic. Below is a summary of the stories that appeared in the 2PAXfly blog over the last week. NEW ROUTES 2026 #3: Korean Air’s new Prestige Suites for Sydney By 2paxfly on 21 Feb...
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026 #3: Korean Air’s new Prestige Suites for Sydney
Korean Air has introduced the Prestige Suites 2.0 in Business Class for flights out of Sydney on its 787-10 Dreamliners from November 2025. I’m doing a series of posts on new routes in and out of Australia. Some are actually new routes, and some are new in the sense of...
Wild About Travel
Riga: The Baltic Capital That Punches Above Its Weight
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Riga. I’d heard it described as “small,” which completely undersells it. This city punches above its weight. Great architecture everywhere, working markets, good food, more affordable than much of Europe, and centeuetsi if history you can still see and feel on every street....
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026: Cathay Pacific returns to Adelaide November 2025
This seasonal route actually recommenced on 11 November 2025 and runs through until 27 March 2026. I’m including it, since it is very recent, and it will appear seasonally, returning in 2026 Introduction For years, Adelaide travellers learned to accept the ritual of having to haul their suitcases to Sydney...
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026: Turkish Airlines plays long game—Australia’s almost-direct route to Europe
There are some exciting developments of routes that Australians can take between East Coast Australia and Europe. Some are non-traditional, some use newly available ultra long haul aircraft, and some are just airlines with extra aircraft expanding their route structures to add the continent of Australia to their network. This...
Wild About Travel
Understanding Cabin and Fare Classes to Unlock Airline Miles
As a frequent flier, I hold status in three programs: Virgin Australia, Qantas (oneworld), and Turkish (Star Alliance), and I juggle credits across all of them. I need to know, actually, how many miles I am getting or not getting when I am booking flight choices. For example, last year...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIANS: Where and what kind of trouble they get into overseas
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has just released its State of Play report for the period 2023-24 period. The facts sheets make for interesting reading. It shows that Australians request consular services mostly when they get into trouble in Thailand (827). Second comes Indonesia (546), followed by the...