2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Paul Jones NOT in the running for CEO says Virgin
UPDATE: How prescient of me! On the same day as I published the post below (7 February), Virgin Australia issued a media statement covered in the Australian Financial Review: ‘Virgin Australia has caved to government and union pressure over the search for its new chief executive by ruling chief customer...
Wild About Travel
Malaysia’s Jungle Railway: From the Heart of the Country to the Sea
The Jungle Line (Malaysian East Coast Railway) was one of the most stunning and enjoyable train rides ever! Time flew by, and I got off the train feeling like I had completed an adventure. Summary Yesterday, I outlined how to ride Malaysia’s rail system. The country has two main rail...
Wild About Travel
How to get around: Exploring Malaysian and Kuala Lumpur Transport Networks
Malaysia spans approximately 1,300 km (808 miles) from north to south and 800 km (497 miles) from west to east, covering around 330,803 km² (127,724) square miles. This is about the same size as Finland, Norway, and Vietnam. It is slightly bigger than New Mexico in the USA and Victoria...
Wild About Travel
New Month, New Travels, New Challenges— One Unforgettable Border Crossing
My busy travel schedule kicks off this month! This year, I will visit Brazil, China, Colombia, Finland, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, South Africa (first time!), Switzerland and the USA amongst a few other places. January has included air and rail journeys through Malaysia and Thailand… January included a stingray attack...
2PAXfly
DELTA AIRLINES: Launches subsidised seasonal route between Melbourne and LAX
Starting in December 2025, Delta Air Lines will add Melbourne to its global network as a government subsidised seasonal route. Delta is one of the world’s largest airlines. It’s large domestic footprint in America will allow Australians to transfer to Delta flights across the USA. Delta will be the third...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Cancels direct flights between Adelaide and Darwin.
The three-times-per-week Adelaide and Darwin route was scheduled to restart operations on 22 June this year. This was for the Top End’s popular winter tourism season. A Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed the route was ‘indefinitely suspended’. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro is naturally outraged. In an interview with ABC...
Wild About Travel
Being Captured by Captivating Krabi: Thailand’s Cultural and Natural Paradise
I just had to share some photos from my recent trip to the southern Thailand province of Krabi, where I spent a few days. Located along the Andaman Sea coast, Krabi offers visitors picturesque islands such as Phi Phi Islands, Railay Beach, and Ao Nang. The province is known for...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: T-80 rule now becomes T-24 – to find the best domestic seats with more leg room
Recently, well, in the second half of 2024, Qantas changed the T-80 rule to T-24. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Let me explain. T-24, formally T-80 is the number of hours before your flight that Qantas releases seats normally reserved for their most premium customers. Qantas changed the T-80...
2PAXfly
AMERICAN AIRLINES: Helicopter and Bombadier CRJ700 crash outside Ronald Reagan Airport, Washington DC. At least 18 dead
Emergency services have recovered at least 18 bodies from the Potomac River following a tragic midair collision between a passenger jet and an army helicopter near Washington DC. The accident occurred as the passenger jet was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Details of the Collision The...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New uniforms to arrive in 2027
Qantas has a long association with infamous Australian and international designers. It’s scouting for a new designer to produce its next uniform collection, which will debut in 2027. Part of the process is consulting with its 17,000 staff. It’s been more than a decade since the current uniforms designed by...
2PAXfly
ON-TIME-PERFORMANCE: The war on punctuality performance—Qantas v Virgin Australia
For some time, Australia’s domestic airlines have been fighting over the prize for the most reliable on-time performance. This week, however, the war has come to an absurd conclusion (I wish that were the end!) with warring press releases from Australia’s two major domestic airlines: Qantas Group and Virgin Australia....
Wild About Travel
80 Years Later: Why we must remember the Holocaust
Today, 27 January, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. This day is now recognised as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. I have now visited three Nazi-era concentration camps: Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg (1936–1945), Auschwitz (1940–1945),...
Wild About Travel
From Tiny Slips to Big Stories: Boarding Passes Remind Me of 2024 Adventures
While sorting through my 2024 travel souvenirs today, I gathered these boarding passes from most of my flights from last year. These are tiny and powerful reminders of my incredible adventures built around the 99 flights with 29 airlines I took last year to 28 countries. Some people collect postcards,...
2PAXfly
REX: Australian Government to become biggest shareholder in failing regional airline
It’s a weird one, but there is reason in this apparent madness. The Australian government will spend AU$50 million to become the biggest stakeholder in Regional Express Airlines (REX). It will purchase the stake from PAG Asia Capital. This will make the Australian Government the airline’s biggest creditor, thus giving...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Loyalty changes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
Ugggh! More changes to the Qantas loyalty scheme. These are rarely good. More like bad or ugly. What is presented as advantage, ends up having a very big downside. Lets have a look at the changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalty scheme announced today. Changes cover Qantas, Jetstar and...
2PAXfly
KOALA AIRLINES: Beaten before it even starts?
Koala Airlines promised to be a disruptor and to take on Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia on Australian domestic routes. Today (2:15 pm AEST, 22 January 2025) it faces winding up proceedings. Wealth Creation Pty Ltd brings the action in the Victorian Supreme Court. It looks like Koala Airlines might...