From 12 October 2025, the European Union will begin phasing in its new Entry/Exit System (EES), which will replace those colourful little passport stamps with digital kiosks, facial images and fingerprint scans. By April 2026, passport stamps will be fully gone across the 29 countries of the Schengen Zone. If...

This is good news if you hate lugging your checked bag through the transit maze at San Francisco International Airport. United Airlines has launched a new baggage screening system that eliminates the dreaded re-check step for connecting passengers. What’s Changing? Until now, travellers arriving in the United States from Australia...

Check your inbox, Velocity members. Virgin Australia has quietly slipped out a double or triple Status Credits promotion – but not everyone’s been invited to the party. Double or Triple Treat This isn’t a blanket offer for all Velocity frequent flyers. Instead, Virgin has taken a targeted approach, selecting an...

From October 1, Taiwan will become another Asian destination requiring Australians to complete a digital Arrival Card, called the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC), before immigration will let you through. Another country, another form Taiwan joins Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand as part of the growing club of Asian countries scrapping paper...

Qantas yesterday (Thursday 25 September) finally launched its first Airbus A321XLRs on domestic routes. My invitation to the inaugural flight must have got lost in the mail. This launch marks the biggest shake-up to the Qantas narrow-body fleet in decades. The new aircraft promise more seats, larger overhead bins, USB-C...

If you hate the middle seat lottery, then Virgin Australia now has a lottery fix. From Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the airline has rolled out Neighbour-Free Seating. This scheme lets economy passengers bid to keep the seat next to them empty. But only on select domestic and short-haul international routes....

A 71-year-old Victorian man has been charged following an alleged indecent assault aboard an international flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne on Monday, 22 September 2025. The man, reported to be Mounir Botros is accused of touching the woman by reaching inside her clothes as she attempted to sleep on...

According to Aaron Wong over at The MileLion, Singapore Airlines has issued a call for tender via its eProcurement portal, seeking suppliers of ‘farmed caviar for Business Class.’ Get back in the queue, Krug and Book the Cook. Singapore Airlines appears to be introducing a touch of fish egg luxury...

Hong Kong International Airport is closing from 6 pm Tuesday, 23 September, until 6 am Thursday,25 September, as Super Typhoon Ragasa bears down with expected fierce winds and heavy rain. Flights in and out will be suspended. If you’ve got Qantas, Cathay Pacific, or another carrier scheduled to pass through...

Cathay Pacific is adding another dot back on its North America route map. From 30 March 2026, the Hong Kong carrier will once again fly non-stop to Seattle, USA. Seattle becomes Cathay’s ninth North American destination, joining Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver....

Consulting firm EY has the AU$10 million task of administering Regional Express (REX) since it went into administration. EY has also been trying to find a buyer for the airline. After over a year in administration and some courtroom dramas, it looks like REX might have finally found a buyer....

From 17 September 2025, you can finally book a seat for your furry companion on selected Virgin Australia flights. The cost, a cool AU$149 per pet, per flight. Australia’s first official Pets in Cabin service is now on sale. Where you can fly with your pet Initially, there are only...