Wild About Travel
A Rank of the Qantas Safety Videos Over the Years
With Qantas dropping a new safety video, I have had a nostalgic journey over some of the previous videos from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 and have ranked them below. And where do I rate this year’s safety video? Sorry Qantas. It slides into fourth place. My Ratings of Qantas...
Wild About Travel
New Qantas Safety Video-is ten minutes too long?
Qantas, known as “The Spirit of Australia” has been around for more than a century, and in that time it has proven itself to be one of the safest and most dependable airlines in the world. The excellent safety record of Qantas is a reflection of the company’s dedication to...
2PAXfly
BOEING: 737 MAX 9s allowed back in the air. Alaska Airlines takes US$150 million hit
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set the conditions for Boeing to get the 737 MAX 9 rest back in the air. It involves an inspection and maintenance process that Boeing must implement for each of the 171 grounded aircraft to enable them to return to service. What’s more, the...
2PAXfly
BALI: Qantas/Jetstar and Virgin Australia in stouch over extra flights from Australia to the island of Bali in Indonesia
Australia and Indonesia have a bilateral air rights agreement, and additional landing rights have become available. It is the Australian International Air Services Commission (IASC), a government instrumentality, that is the decision maker here. It gets to decide which of the airlines gets what proportion of the roughly 2,500 weekly...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: New safety video featuring destinations it doesn’t fly to
This morning, Australian carrier Qantas released a new safety video featuring a range of Australian destinations it doesn’t serve and, as far as we know, has no plans to fly to. The theme of the safety video, is summarised in the opening narration because it features: ‘…the magic places of...
2PAXfly
ONEWORLD: Alliance wide upgrades available in 2024 on a limited number of airline members
According to an interview between Oneworld’s Customer Experience chief Gerhard Girkinger and ET on the sidelines of the opening of the new OneWorld Seoul Lounge, alliance-wide upgrades using points will be introduced this year. No more specific date or month is foreshadowed. In fact, the report is very thin on...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Istanbul to Melbourne – March 15 start confirmed
Starting with three Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights per week via Singapore, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines will be flying to Australia for the first time. Melbourne will be its first destination in Australia, with a stop in Singapore on the way. Turkish Airlines has more destinations than any other airline....
2PAXfly
MALAYSIA: Australians are now eligible for e-Gate entry and exit. Must register for MDAC.
Previously run as an optional scheme, now Australians entering Malaysia must register for a Malaysian Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) three days before every visit. Registration can be completed only using this Form. What information you need to supply The process is similar to that for other destinations. In Asia, these...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Appoints new Loyalty CEO from within to replace Olivia Wirth
Qantas has appointed Andrew Glance, a company veteran of 22 years, as the new CEO of its Loyalty business unit to replace Olivia Wirth, who was runner-up to replace Alan Joyce as Qantas head. Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson has chosen to appoint from within. Andrew Glance is currently the...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: December 2024 start for direct Darwin to Singapore flights
From December 2024, Singapore will join Denpasar, Bali (Jetstar) and Dili, East Timor, to become the third international destination that the Qantas Group flies to from Darwin. That also means Qantas will go head-to-head with Singapore Airlines, the only other carrier that flies the route. Great for Territorians The advent...
2PAXfly
THAI AIRWAYS: Doubles down on daily flights to Sydney
From 1 April 2024, Thai Airways will commence a second daily service between Sydney and the Thai capital, Bangkok, offering excellent connections to Europe. Continental destinations include Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Zurich. The second daily flight will use a modern Airbus A350, compared to the older and noisier Boeing 777...
Wild About Travel
How to avoid flying the 737 MAX
I have not yet flown the 737 MAX. My rule of thumb is not to fly a new aircraft for a few years so they can “iron the bugs out.” For example, I first flew the 787in 2016, five years after its 2011 launch date. The Boeing 737 MAX was...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Time to prepare for Qantas Double Status Credits promotion
If I had a dollar for every time someone posted on social media Qantas forums ‘When is the next Qantas double status credits promotion?‘, I would be a very rich man. Why Qantas offers Double Status promotions To sell tickets! It’s one of many promotional methods they have available to...
Wild About Travel
Who Went Where? 2023 Busiest Cities, Routes Airports
For all of us who have flown planes, ridden trains or ferries, we have seen it was a very busy year for travel. Some places stood out. Most Visited Cities, 2023 World’s Busiest Domestic Airline Routes OAG have crunched the numbers to find the top ten domestic air routes globally....
2PAXfly
GARUDA: Skyteam Status Match for Qantas premium flyers
The national airline of Indonesia, Garuda, and a member of the Skyteam alliance, is offering a status match to the top tier of its Garuda Miles program for Qantas frequent flyers with Gold, Platinum or above status. The promotion has been running since 1 January 2024 and runs to February...
2PAXfly
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS: Direct Perth to Johannesburg flights return 28 April 2024
Having abandoned the route in the face of the pandemic and bankruptcy, South African Airways (SAA) is set to recommence its direct Perth/Johannesburg route on Sunday, 28 April 2024. Tickets are on sale now. SAA has had a bumpy ride during the 2020s. As early as the end of 2019...