2PAXfly
THAI AIRWAYS: Baggage changes. What you need to know
Baggage rules are changing at Thai Airways. In a major move, the airline is changing from weight-based allowances to a piece-based system, with weight and dimension limits for all passengers from 2 March 2026. Whatever class you are flying in first, business or the cheapest economy fare, your checked bags...
Wild About Travel
What the new US entry rules really mean.
This week, media and travellers are reacting to a new US proposal that would greatly expand the data the US collects from applicants under the ESTA Visa waiver program. In this post, I delve into what it means for those of us who use visa‑waiver travel to go to the...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Power banks banned from todaym 15 December. What you need to know
From today, Monday 15 December 2025, Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink has banned the use of portable power banks on all flights. Qantas group airlines are joining a growing list of airlines responding to a sharp rise in lithium battery fires in cabins and lounges worldwide. You’ll still be allowed to...
2PAXfly
BORDERS: Visa Waiver Program to require social media, phone numbers and IP history from Australians
Australian travellers who want to head to New York at Christmas, or Coachella in spring, or to trek through the Grand Canyon may soon face a very different pre-departure checklist. It could soon include handing over five years of social media accounts, five years of phone numbers, and 10 years...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A380 wing panel peels on first flight out of mothballs
Qantas’ big, shiny, triumphantly returned Airbus A380 has been unceremoniously benched in Los Angeles after part of its left wing peeled apart on its first commercial flight back in service. This happened after news releases only a few days ago with Qantas chest-beating about the superjumbo’s grand return after a...
2PAXfly
QATAR AIRWAYS: Surprise CEO dumping without explanation. Why?
In a surprise move a few days ago, Qatar Airways has replaced its chief executive with immediate effect. This is the second leadership change in just a couple of years after Akbar Al Baker relinquished his 27-year reign. The Gulf carrier appointed Hamad Ali Al-Khater as its new Group CEO...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: International flights return to the Gold Coast (OOL). Fly direct to New Zealand 3 times a week
In a win for Gold Coast travellers, Qantas is bringing back overseas flights from the Gold Coast (formerly Coolangatta) Airport for the first time in almost five years. Qantas will launch Gold Coast to Auckland services from 16 June 2026. This will reconnect Queensland’s beach capital with New Zealand three...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New Auckland International Lounge opens in New Zealand
Qantas is scheduled to open its new Auckland International Lounge on 17 December 2025, just in time for the Christmas rush. Unlike the old space (which was in desperate need of attention), the new lounge features a 60% larger footprint and can accommodate more than 370 passengers. Qantas has combined...
2PAXfly
HEATHROW: A car park robbery turns into a full-blown airport emergency
If you’ve ever felt that Heathrow’s Terminal 3 car park was a little too chaotic on a normal day, Sunday morning took things to an entirely new level. A woman was robbed of her suitcase inside a lift at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 car park. The attackers deployed what police believe...
2PAXfly
DELTA AIRLINES: Starts Melbourne to LAX flights from today
Starting today, Saturday 6 December 2025, Melbourne’s long-haul travellers have a new way to cross the Pacific. Delta Air Lines has officially launched flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles. That makes the route a three-horse race alongside Qantas and United Airlines. It’s the first time an Airbus A350 has flown...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Melbourne to Honolulu flights stop from 31 January 2026
Well, that didn’t last long. Qantas’ much-touted return to the Melbourne–Honolulu route is ending after just nine months, with the final flight set for January 31, 2026. The official explanation? “Soft demand” both ways across the Pacific, according to ET. This comes after the airline quietly slipped the route into...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Final A380 returns, back in the air 1 January 2026
Just in time for the Christmas travel crush, Qantas has wheeled its tenth and final Airbus A380 out of long-term storage and back onto the Sydney tarmac, nearly 2,000 days since it last touched Australian soil. Yes, the superjumbo Paul McGinness (named for one of the airline’s founders) is back,...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: ‘Champagne for Lulu.’ You can now get Bollinger in First Class
Qantas is rolling out a fresh wave of upgrades to its A380, and currently only First Class cabins. From December, First passengers will have a new dining program, brand-new Aesop amenity kits, redesigned pyjamas, upgraded Champagne with Bollinger, and dine-on-demand, dressed up as ‘wellness. The retrofit is part of Qantas’...
2PAXfly
AIRBUS: A320 software glitch triggers chaos at Australian airports and internationally
If you turned up at an airport this morning expecting a routine Jetstar hop to Melbourne, Hobart or Adelaide, chances are you walked straight into a scene that looked more like the chaos of Boxing Day sales. Airports were filled with long queues, cancelled flights, confused announcements, and a whole...
2PAXfly
INDIA: Qantas and Jetstar plan sub-continental expansion with new jets
Australia’s fast-growing demand for travel to India is about to be met with renewed enthusiasm from Qantas and Jetstar. As both airlines usher in new long-range aircraft, they’re preparing to expand their presence on routes to the subcontinent significantly. For travellers, this means more nonstop flights, more modern cabins, and...
2PAXfly
FLIGHT DEALS: Black Friday & Cyber Monday flight deals: Domestic & International
It’s that time of year again, when Australians pretend Black Friday is a local tradition, and not a marketing festival imported from the USA. Airlines are gleefully landing on the day, too, since they have never been shy about taking advantage of any marketing opportunity. But seriously, some are dropping...