Wild About Travel
Champagne Up Front: Thai Drops First, Who Keeps It Alive?
From Railway to Runway Some quick history. The class system in air travel, evolved from the British railways of the 1830s and originally aligned closely with the British Class System. Understanding this evolution from railways to air travel is helpful in understanding the airline class system. In the US, trains...
Wild About Travel
Tintin made me visit Geneva- Enjoying this Swiss Treasure
An introduction to Tintin and his Geneva When I was a child, I was obsessed with the adventures of Tintin, a fictional reporter from Belgium who traveled to almost every continent (we never saw him make it to Australia). On his travels usually accompanied by his dog Snowy, solving crimes,...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: A220 to debut internationally with Brisbane–Wellington NZ flights
Qantas will debut its newest aircraft, the Airbus A220, on a trans-Tasman Brisbane–Wellington, New Zealand international route. From February 2026, the A220 will replace Embraer E190s and some Boeing 737s on the service. The A220s will fly up to three times per week on the route. The announcement marks the...
Wild About Travel
Revisiting the Market Shooting: Memories, Fear and Hope
Today’s post contains images and descriptions about extreme violence. Reader caution is advised. I wrote previously about how I was unwittingly caught up in a mass shooting at Bangkok’s premier market: Or Tor Kor. Its been six weeks since Monday 28 July, a day I will never forget. On that...
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VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: First of Fokker replacement — Embraer E190-E2s arrives in Perth
Mostly hidden from public view, both Qantas and Virgin Australia run associated companies that cater to the private charter industry. In Western Australia (WA), that’s mainly flights to service the mining industry with ‘FiFo’ (Fly in Fly out) workers. Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) has officially welcomed a new era...
Wild About Travel
To The Giddy Heights: I Ride The World’s Steepest Rails
I have travelled extensively across Switzerland, by every means possible (foot, train, tram, bus, ferry, cogwheel railway, aerial cable car, and funicular). Until recently, though, one spectacular ride eluded me: the Stoosbahn, the world’s steepest funicular, connecting Schwyz with the car-free mountain village of Stoos, 1,300 metres above sea level. NB...
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QANTAS: If Alan Joyce had more confidence in his performance, he could have made even more money
I am following up on my previous post regarding Alan Joyce’s final payment. The AFR has pointed out in its Rear Window column that Alan Joyce could have made much more money if he had not sold off 80% of his Qantas shares before he left the airline back in...
Wild About Travel
Round the world in 72 days
After one of the busiest and and stressful years of my life, I’m taking off on a true bucket-list journey that will see me crossing four continents: Asia, Europe, the Americas, and (my home base in Australia), completing the set! This trip will take me back to some familiar favourites — Malaysia, Thailand, Finland,...
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QANTAS: Alan Joyce gets final payout, and Vanessa Hudson pay jumps 44%
Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce is back in the headlines. It’s his final multimillion-dollar payday. The man who led the Flying Kangaroo through COVID lockdowns, mass layoffs, and initiated a reputational nosedive has pocketed AU$3.8 million (~US$2.5 million) worth of shares. That’s after the board slashed most of his...
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QANTAS: Adds 40 flights from Perth to Rome in 2026
On the back of bumper financial results, Qantas is ramping up its European play. It is set to almost double the seats on its popular Perth to Rome service for the 2026 northern summer. The national carrier announced it will extend the seasonal route by eight weeks and increase frequency...
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QANTAS: High Fashion at 35,000 Feet — Rebecca Vallance to design new Uniforms
The last uniform refresh by Martin Grant was more than 10 years ago, in 2013. Today, Qantas announced that Australian designer Rebecca Vallance joins the esteemed company of Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Peter Morissey, amongst others in designing new Qantas uniforms. After a ‘competitive pitch process’ (I’m picturing...
Wild About Travel
I have now flown into Airport #293: Outback Town -Which Airport will be 300th?
I just flew into and out of my 293rd airport: ISA which serves the remote Australian outback town of Mt Isa. I travelled from Brisbane about two hours on Qantas) and back with Virgin Australia. The landing and take off gave excellent views of the town! There are also hops from...
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QANTAS: Double Status Credits promotion now counts for Lifetime Status
In its latest Double Status Credits and Points promotion, named ‘twice as rewarding’, Qantas made a small but significant change in the terms and conditions. Unlike in other promotions, it disqualified the additional status credits earned from being counted towards Lifetime Status. In reversing this decision, Qantas has now affirmed...
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VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Earnings up 28% on full years earnings
Australia’s second airline, Virgin Australia occupying 34% of the market, re-listed on the Australia Stock Market (ASX) on June of this year. In its first public reporting of its full years earnings, it recorded an increase of 28% to $664.4 million. It also predicts a rosy future for increased revenues...
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QANTAS: Surprise ‘twice as rewarding’ Double Status Credits or Points promotion on day stunning profit announced
On the same day that Qantas reports a massive 15% increase in its profit, it decides to ‘give back’ to loyal customers by launching an unexpected ‘twice as rewarding’ Double Status Credits and Points promotion. You need to register via the mobile app and book before Wednesday, 3 September 2025....
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SINGAPORE AIRLINES: KrisFlyer changes — more ways to earn status, dynamic redemptions and points devaluation
If you’re a KrisFlyer member, then buckle up, because you have some new benefits to learn and some mild points devaluation to suck up. Starting in September and running through November 2025, Singapore Airlines is introducing a range of changes to its KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. Some are genuinely useful....