Let’s start with the obvious – when has an airport ever opened by its predicted due date? Exactly. So I’m thinking Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) might open sometime in 2027? The alternate view expressed by the builders is that they are currently on schedule . . . How Qantas...

NO, step back! Velocity is NOT going for full-on dynamic award pricing. It is however changing how many points it will take to redeem for flights to, as it claims, make it ‘faster to redeem’. Or, at least, that’s the claim. The catch? Yes, Veronica, of course, there is one....

Just a warning here that this is an industry piece, that may not have the charmingly amusing quality of my normal writing. However, there is an underlying sense of outrage, that you might share, or at least find engaging in a schadenfreude kind of way. Introduction The Australian Competition and...

Australia’s most loved-to-be-hated airline Qantas has released its’ long-term’ strategy for the next seven years through until 2030. It’s vowing to implement customer service improvements, a strong commitment to sustainability, and earn even better profit margins on flying, particularly internationally. On the first investors’ day since the COVID-19 pandemic, current...

ET is reporting that Qantas is introducing a bag tracking service on its App, just as Virgin Australia is trialling one in theirs. Hence the ‘me-too’ pun in the heading. The addition to the Qantas App is expected before the end of 2023. When flying resumed as the pandemic calmed...

As regular readers will know, I am a boy from Adelaide originally. I frequently visit my hometown to catch up with friends and family. But not on REX yet. I did have a trip scheduled in their first weeks of flying. But a change of plans and then the pandemic...

This is an odd one, recorded by Lucas Baird in the AFR. Apparently, two Bonza branded Boeing 737-8 MAXs are in full Bonza purple paint job. Replete with a ‘Here for Allstralia‘ tagline on their sides, flying out of Warsaw’s Chopin Airport. The original report seems to be from Piotr...

I recently reported that Virgin Australia has been trialing a baggage tracking functionality within its App. Australian Frequent Fllyer reports that the trial has been broadened and the App updated. Australian airlines are a bit slow to this solution, with it already being adopted by overseas airlines including United Airlines,...

We all know that Bain Capital is preparing Virgin Australia for an IPO in the second half of this year. Interestingly, although Virgin claims that has nothing to do with it, it is wiping some perceived, if not actual, liability from its books. If you are a Velocity Frequent Flyer...

We have had plenty of warnings that Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO is going to go out with a bang in terms of financial results. Looks like he is on track, with Qantas today (Tuesday 23 May 2023) reporting an estimated pre-tax profit of between AU$2,425 million – AU$2,475 million for...

If you sign up for the Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer program, then you will get free basic WiFi, basic enough to operate WhatsApp, Messenger, and other similar text-based messaging services. So whatever membership level you are; Blue, Silver, or Gold, you get free messaging access in all classes. More than...

With international demand at 84%, Qantas is upping its game to service this growing need for seats. It’s going to provide more flights to destinations like Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo. It’s launching two new international routes from Brisbane – Wellington in New Zealand and Honiara in the Solomon...

To solve some of its on-time problems, Jetstar is looking at laggard passengers as well as its own processes. From Tuesday 23 May, you are going to have to do things 10 minutes earlier than before. Previously . . . Jetstar currently allows you to arrive up until 30 minutes...