AFF on AIR Podcast

Redeeming Qantas Frequent Flyer points to get to South America is hard enough at normal times, but it's even more difficult when all direct flights between the two continents have been suspended!

Gus Higgins flew from Australia to Argentina in February 2022 on a Oneworld Classic Flight Reward ticket booked with Qantas points, travelling via Europe in Business Class. In this episode, he shares his experience of getting to and visiting South America in this post-pandemic era. He also explains the unique travel money situation in Argentina - a country with high inflation and two very different exchange rates.

 

Episode contents:

1:04 - Fortnightly news round-up

10:11 - Interview with Gus Higgins

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Six Months of Velocity Gold Status with a New Credit Card

Airlines Easily Filling Premium Cabins Without Business Travel

Oneworld Membership of S7 Airlines Suspended

IHG Relaunches Loyalty Program as IHG One Rewards

Nasty TRS Change Reversed

Virgin Australia Restores Arrivals Lounge Access

The Spirits Are Back on Qantas

Opening 9 years behind schedule, the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Germany became the subject of many jokes due to the ridiculous problems that plagued its construction. But now that it's open, what's it actually like to fly out of BER Airport? Matt recently found out and shares his experience on this episode of AFF on Air.

Also in this episode: How the Ukraine war and Russian airspace closures are impacting aviation in surprising ways, Qantas' customer service problem becomes a mainstream issue, and how to find Hawaiian Airlines award availability.

 

Episode contents:

1:17 - Fortnightly news round-up

11:06 - Matt visits Berlin's new airport

16:57 - The war in Ukraine and implications for Australian flyers

28:23 - Qantas' customer service problem becomes mainstream

32:56 - Listener questions: Hawaiian Airlines award availability and credit cards for retirees

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Wendover Productions YouTube video: "The Sanction-Fueled Destruction of the Russian Aviation Industry"

Applying for New Credit Cards in Retirement

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Major Qantas Domestic Catering Problems

Australia to End Pre-Flight COVID Testing

Australian Passport Processing Times Blow Out

Virgin Eyes High-Flying Business Travellers

Virgin Extends Travel Bank Expiry Dates

Rex Winds Back COVID Refund Guarantee

New Qantas Routes from Sydney to Seoul & Bengaluru

Virgin Delays United Partnership Launch

Earn Velocity Status Credits on the Ground in April 2022

How to Earn Points Paying ATO Tax & Bills in 2022

Amex Reopens Australian Airport Lounges

Westpac Altitude, Amplify Axe Malaysia Airlines Enrich Partnership

Redeeming frequent flyer points for an international flight in Business Class can be hard enough if you just want one or two seats. But what if you want to take your whole family on holiday?

Peter Fryar is one of the award travel consultants at Frequent Flyer Solutions, AFF’s sister website. As well as an excellent knowledge of frequent flyer programs generally and experience helping Award Flight Assist clients, Peter has plenty of experience with booking award travel for his family of four. He joins Matt on this episode of AFF on Air to share his tips for families and larger groups looking for award availability on the same flights.

Also in this episode, there are two new status match opportunities with a SkyTeam and a Oneworld airline.

 

Episode contents:

1:27 - Fortnightly news round-up

13:14 - Interview with Peter Fryar

38:00 - Two new airline status match opportunities

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar

Award Flight Assist

ITA Airways Volare status match

Royal Air Maroc status match

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Even Platinum Members Can’t Reach Qantas Anymore!

Singapore Airlines Call Centre Woes

Australia to End Pre-Flight COVID Testing

Singapore Ends Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL)

Many Australian International Routes Resume from 27 March 2022

Singapore Airlines Has More International Flights from Australia than Qantas

Velocity Restores Singapore Airlines Business Rewards

More Qatar Airways Rewards for Qantas Frequent Flyers

Air New Zealand Reopens International Lounges

Qantas Blocking Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights

So far this year on the AFF on Air podcast, Matt has spoken to Australians who recently travelled to Canada, Fiji and the UK during this post-COVID era of international travel. In this episode, Matt talks to Ben Bartlett, an Australian who recently visited Thailand and the Philippines for a business trip.

Thailand began reopening to tourists in late 2021, with entry to Thailand available via either the Test & Go or Sandbox programs. The Philippines just reopened to tourists in February 2022. So, what’s involved in travelling to these countries right now, and what’s it like once you get there?

 

Episode contents:

1:21 - Fortnightly news round-up

11:04 - Interview with Ben Bartlett about travel to Thailand & the Philippines

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Thailand Test & Go & Bangkok in Feb 2022 (trip report by BensAdventures)

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

New Zealand Reopens to Australians on 13 April 2022

How to Attain Qantas Frequent Flyer’s New Green Tier

Jetstar Resumes Flights to Bali

Qantas Int’l Business Lounges Reopen 27 March 2022

Greater Benefits for Qantas Business Rewards Members

Qantas Keeps Hanging Up on Customers

Yet ANOTHER Huge Increase to Emirates Carrier Charges

Last Chance to Redeem Velocity Points for Delta Flights

30% off Selected Qantas Economy Classic Rewards

The Latest KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes Deals

Phil Hawkins has worked in loyalty programs for 25 years, and was most recently the Chief Operating Officer at Flybuys in Australia.

In this episode, Matt chats to Phil about some of the things he's learned during his career in loyalty. Find out what happens behind the scenes, what makes a good (or bad) loyalty program, and why elite status tiers wouldn't work for a retail loyalty program like Flybuys.

 

Episode contents:

1:16 - Fortnightly news round-up

9:48 - Interview with Phil Hawkins

33:47 - Matt travels to Switzerland

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Overview of Australian State & Territory Entry Requirements

Qantas Continues Status Extensions Until December 2022

Virgin Boosts Status Credits Until 30 June 2022

Singapore Airlines Returns to Darwin & Cairns

Qatar Airways Privilege Club Switches to Avios

Nasty Change to Australia’s Tourist Refund Scheme

AFF on Air continues with its series of podcasts looking at what it’s like travelling to different destinations around the world as international borders open up again.

In this episode, Matt speaks to two Australian frequent flyers who recently travelled to the UK. One of them flew to London with Qantas via Darwin, while the other flew with Japan Airlines via Tokyo. Unfortunately, one of this episode's guests did get COVID-19 while in the UK, but this person still doesn't regret going for a second!

 

Episode contents:

1:15 - Fortnightly news round-up

13:15 - Interview with Andrew Holland about travelling to London

25:12 - Interview with AFF member "scoobs214" about travelling to London

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar

Scoobs214's trip report on flying Japan Airlines to London

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Digital Passenger Declaration Replaces Australia Travel Declaration

Singapore Removes COVID Testing for Transit Passengers

International Airlines Not Returning to Brisbane

Bonza Reveals First 25 Routes

Cheap Flights to Europe from $606 Return

Sneaky Change to Qantas Flight Credits

Velocity Reinstating Singapore KrisFlyer Transfers “Shortly”

Virgin Australia Delays Sydney-Canberra Restart Again

Qantas Bound for Broken Hill

Many Australians are understandably a bit wary of travelling overseas at the moment in case they catch COVID-19 while they're away.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to Australian Frequent Flyer forum moderator Bill MacCubbin (whose AFF username is "straitman") on a recent trip to Fiji. But it wasn't really a horror story at all - Bill recovered quickly, was looked after very well and didn't have too much trouble eventually coming home. In fact, even with the benefit of hindsight, Bill says he would do the trip again.

In this episode of the AFF on Air podcast, hear first-hand from Bill about his experience travelling to Fiji in January 2022.

 

Episode contents:

1:30 - Fortnightly news round-up

9:28 - How to earn KrisFlyer status until 2025 by transferring points from your credit card

13:12 - Interview with Bill MacCubbin

28:32 - Feedback from last episode

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Our Fiji trip Jan 2022 - trip report by straitman

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Qantas Delays Santiago Relaunch

Qantas Schedules Daytime Los Angeles-Brisbane Flights

No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class

New Qantas Reward Code Enables BP Redemptions

Qantas Refunds Incorrect Carrier Charges

Qantas Redemptions on Bangkok Airways Still Coming

World of Hyatt Didn’t Extend Status Into 2022

Although many Australians would like to travel overseas over the coming year, many are holding off for now. That's totally understandable - there are still so many unknowns and risks involved with overseas travel in 2022. But is it really that scary out there?

For those who've been stuck inside Australia for the past two years, it can be difficult to imagine what life is actually like outside the country at the moment. So over the coming months, Matt will be chatting on the podcast to Australians who've recently returned from different parts of the world about their travel experiences.

In this episode, Matt speaks to Daniel Kavan who recently returned from Canada. Daniel and his family had a bit of a disastrous trip home, although thankfully, that wasn't directly due to COVID!

 

Episode contents:

1:49 - Fortnightly news round-up

12:23 - Interview with Daniel Kavan

38:27 - Round-the-world award tickets

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar - "Fly Around the World using Points" (25 January 2022)

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Qantas to Drop Medical Clearance Form for Past COVID Cases

Qantas A380 Returns to Service

Stuck in Fiji: The Big Risk of Omicron Travel

United’s 2022 MileagePlus Status Match Challenge

IHG Rewards Platinum Elite Status Fast Track

Singapore Airlines Pauses Expiration of KrisFlyer Miles Until 2023

Velocity Extends Platinum Upgrades on Choice Fares

Free Qantas Seat Selection (With a Catch)

In the final AFF on Air podcast episode for 2021, Matt is joined by the owner of Australian Frequent Flyer Clifford Reichlin for a chat about the challenges of running a travel website during a pandemic - when nobody can travel.

Also in this episode, how to get an upgrade when flying with Qantas or Virgin Australia, and a potentially clever hack to get two free nights at Accor hotels.

 

Episode contents:

0:54 - Fortnightly news round-up

10:37 - How to upgrade your flight on Qantas or Virgin Australia

24:13 - Interview with Clifford Reichlin

39:05 - Listener question: Is it worth joining Accor Plus in Indonesia?

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

How to Upgrade on Virgin Australia for $50

The Qantas Call Centre is a Disgrace

Guide to Accor Plus Membership

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Overview of Australian State Border Restrictions

Border Rules Tightened Over Omicron Concerns

Virgin Partners with Link Airways on Sydney-Canberra Route

Westpac & St George Credit Cards Cap Qantas Points

Earn Flybuys Points at Bunnings & Officeworks

Earn Velocity Status Credits on Hertz Car Rentals

Qantas Corrects Accor Earn Rate Error

How to Buy & Redeem Avianca LifeMiles

As the international border reopens, some Australians are starting to book overseas trips using their frequent flyer points. But post-pandemic award travel is a bit different - the pandemic has turned award availability on its head, and Australians are also using their points to travel to different places than before.

In this episode, Matt chats to James Green from Frequent Flyer Solutions about what’s changed for people using their points to book international flights in and out of Australia. Matt also takes a deep dive into some of the arbitrage opportunities to save significant amounts of points by using alternative frequent flyer programs to book Qantas and Virgin flights.

Plus, Matt provides an overview of which Australian states & territories are now open, when the rest are expected to open, and the current COVID-19 requirements for interstate travel.

 

Episode contents:

1:10 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:47 - One by one, Australian states are reopening for quarantine-free travel

14:29 - Where to get a COVID-19 test for travel

17:02 - International border update

19:11 - Interview with James Green: Using points to book international flights in 2022 & new post-pandemic award flight trends

30:30 - Listener question: Opportunities for arbitrage when redeeming frequent flyer points

39:26 - Round-up of loyalty program promos expiring soon

 

Links:

AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions

Overview of Australian State Border Restrictions

New Zealand Will Reopen to Visitors from May 2022

Where to Get a Pre-Flight COVID-19 Test in Australia

Award Flight Assist

Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar: Fly Overseas on Points in 2022 (8 December 2021)

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

New Qantas Frequent Flyer Green Tier Rewards Sustainability

Qantas & Accor Launch Loyalty Program Partnership

Optus Dials Up Qantas Points

Rex Adds Brisbane to Relaunched Jet Network

How to Get a $32 Jetstar Business Class Seat Upgrade

St George Credit Cards Cap Qantas Points

Qantas Routes India Flights via Adelaide

Qantas Gold Status Fast Track is Back!