AFF on AIR Podcast

Last week, Matt was able to return home to Australia. But some Australians that are still stranded overseas have not been so lucky. In this episode, Matt chats to Australians in Peru and India who have been in lockdown and unable to depart - or even get to an international airport - for several weeks.

This episode also covers the latest news and developments from the past fortnight, and pays tribute to the final Qantas 747 passenger flight to land in Sydney.

 

Episode contents:

1:08 - Fortnightly news round-up

12:05 - Interview with Yasmin Uzunlar (currently in Cusco, Peru)

34:26 - Interview with Max Larkin (currently in Rishikesh, India)

39:14 - Matt's trip back to Australia

44:57 - Repatriation flights

46:38 - The (likely) final Qantas 747 passenger flight lands in Sydney

49:14 - Feedback on Qantas A380 refurbishment program

 

Links:

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

Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar: Navigating Airlines & Frequent Flyer Programs during COVID-19 (16 April 2020)

Yasmin Uzunlar's Youtube channel

 

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

Earn & Redeem Qantas Points on Royal Air Maroc

Earn Qantas Points & Status Credits at BP

Qatar Airways Adds Flights to Australia

Virgin Cancels Most Flights, Tigerair Grounded

Virgin Axes Complimentary Snacks on Domestic Flights

Qantas Switches Off Wifi, In-Flight Entertainment

Qantas, Virgin Close All Domestic Lounges

Qantas Extends Lounge Passes, Qantas Club Memberships

Qantas Cuts Chauffeur Drive Service

Finnair Charging for Business Class Seat Selection

COVID-19 Travel Update: 3 April 2020

It has been a tumultuous few weeks for the airline, tourism and hospitality industries. As the coronavirus outbreak spreads exponentially, many airlines have stopped flying and international borders are being closed at unprecedented rates.

In this extended episode, Matt looks at the implications of the past few weeks on travellers and the airline industry. This episode includes interviews with travel agent Alan Lam, and Henrique Pereira from Draper Startup House in Lisbon - a hostel that unfortunately had to close due to coronavirus after just two days.

 

Episode contents:

1:40 - Fortnightly news round-up

7:50 - Interview with Alan Lam: How to change or cancel bookings affected by coronavirus

22:45 - Interview with Alan Lam: Changes to Finnair Business class fares

25:03 - Matt's story

31:32 - Interview with Henrique Pereira

48:00 - Ask Matt: Award availability, frequent flyer points and aircraft maintenance during the COVID-19 shutdown

 

Links:

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

Draper Startup House

 

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

Qantas Extends Everyone’s Status for 12 Months

Virgin Australia Status Extensions & Status Credit Gifts

COVID-19 Travel Update: 20 March 2020

Qantas Points Club Has Launched

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is having an unprecedented impact on the travel industry - and the world in general. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, travel bans are being introduced and millions have had their travel plans disrupted. In this episode, Matt takes a detailed look at what this all means for travellers.

 

Episode contents:

1:33 - Fortnightly news round-up

10:57  - COVID-19 and its impact on travel

15:13 - Should we be avoiding overseas travel right now?

28:20 - Changing or cancelling a trip due to COVID-19

31:34 - TAP Air Portugal status match

35:31 - Taking advantage of airline award chart loopholes

 

Links:

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

Smartraveller COVID-19 updates

Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak

Bruce Poon Tip addresses coronavirus epidemic in heartfelt message to G Adventures travellers (Travel Weekly article)

Opinion: The world needs travel, and coronavirus is everywhere anyway (God Save The Points article)

IATA advice on country travel restrictions

Credit Card Travel Insurance May Not Cover Coronavirus

Cruising choices with an active Pandemic (AFF thread)

Star Alliance Status Match with TAP Portugal

Airline Award Chart Sweet Spots & Loopholes - upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar

 

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

Virgin Temporarily Shuts Adelaide Lounge

Virgin Australia Removes Velocity Numbers from Boarding Passes

Virgin Australia Group Cuts Capacity, Aircraft

Brisbane Airport’s New Runway Opening on 12 July 2020

Qantas Swings Boeing 787 onto Sydney-Vancouver

Air New Zealand Skynest: Will it Ever Happen?

How to Reinstate Expired Qantas Points

Flybe Collapses, Flights Grounded

Online Travel Agency Fly365 Enters Liquidation

Qantas Releases New Centenary Safety Video

Hawaiian Business Class Sale & Other Deals – March 2020

Qantas Flights to Los Angeles from $719 return

Qantas & Virgin Trans-Tasman Fares at Record Lows

Qantas Frequent Flyer surprised everybody this week by releasing a new Qantas Double Status Credits offer! In this episode, travel agent extraordinaire Alan Lam from Netwave Travel (a.k.a. "madrooster" on AFF) joins Matt to discuss the best Qantas status credit runs, as well as recent changes to the popular Finnair Business class round-the-world fares.

You can contact Alan by email: alan [at] netwavetravel [dot] com.

 

Episode contents:

0:44 - Fortnightly news round-up

7:53 - Interview with Alan Lam - Qantas Double Status Credits offer

27:15 - Interview with Alan Lam - Finnair Business Class fares to Europe

38:36 - Interview with Alan Lam - flight changes & cancellations due to coronavirus

 

Links:

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

Qantas Double Status Credits Offer – February 2020

The Ultimate Guide to Qantas Double Status Credit Runs

Finnair Business Class Sale from Australia to Europe

 

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

Alaska Airlines to Join Oneworld Alliance

Qantas Frequent Flyers Retain LATAM Benefits

Rex Complains to ACCC as QantasLink Adds Regional Flights

Qantas Group Cuts More Flights in Response to Coronavirus

Cathay Pacific Cuts Service to Australia in March 2020

South African Airways Slashes Routes in Fight for Survival

Buffalo Airways is not your typical airline. Based in Yellowknife, Canada, Buffalo Airways operates an incredible variety of historic aircraft such as the Douglas DC3 in some of the world's harshest flying conditions. It's no wonder Buffalo Airways was the subject of the popular television show Ice Pilots NWT.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Buffalo Airways pilot Viktor Babcan in Toulouse, France. Toulouse also happens to be the home of Airbus and is where Airbus manufactures its Airbus A380 aircraft... at least, until production stops in June of this year!

 

Episode contents:

0:57 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:13 - Touring the Airbus headquarters & Final Assembly Lines in Toulouse

10:18 - The end of the line for the Airbus A380

16:41 - Interview with Viktor Babcan

 

Links:

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

Personal Consultation service from Frequent Flyer Solutions

 

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

Virgin Australia Withdraws from Hong Kong

Qantas Suspends All Flights to China

Airlines Cancel Flights, Offer Waivers Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Earlier Award Seat Access for Qantas Silver Frequent Flyers

LATAM Airlines Now Leaving Oneworld on 1 May 2020

Qantas & BP Launch Partnership with up to 100,000 Bonus Points

Qatar Airways Opens Singapore Premium Lounge

Emirates to Begin Singapore-Penang Flights

Ethiopian Airlines is Building its Own Airport

Ever wondered what it's like to be a road warrior, flying from Melbourne to Sydney every week or internationally multiple times each month? On this episode, AFF member "Sprucegoose" - a Qantas Platinum One frequent flyer - joins Matt to discuss the ins & outs of frequent travel, from airline lounges to tackling jetlag.

Episode contents:

1:06 - Fortnightly news round-up

9:07 - Earning points through credit card churning

13:35 - Interview with "Sprucegoose"

40:23 - Feedback on epic train journeys

Links:

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

Upcoming Webinar: Credit Card Churning in 2020 (8pm AEDT on 29 January 2020)

Frequent Flyer Solutions training program

Frequent Flyer Solutions personal consultation service

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

New Virgin Australia Basic Economy "Light" Fares

CommBank Unveils Ultimate Awards Credit Card

Bankwest Devalues Qantas Transaction Account

Secure Parking Ends Qantas Points

Royal Air Maroc Joining Oneworld on 1 April 2020

QantasLink Launches Sydney-Ballina Flights

Citilink to Fly from Melbourne's Avalon Airport to Bali

Trivago Misled Customers, Court Rules

In this episode, we take a brief detour from the aviation discussion to talk about train travel! There's something nice - perhaps even romantic - about long-distance train travel. Around the world there are lots of famous train journeys such as the Orient Express and Trans-Siberian Railway, but there are also a couple of famous trips right here in Australia. This episode features an interview with an AFF member who has just completed one of them; the Indian Pacific train from Perth to Sydney.

 

Episode contents:

0:58 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:22 - The world's most famous train journeys

11:29 - Long-distance train travel in Australia

16:33 - Interview with klm597 (a.k.a. Stewart) on the Indian Pacific train journey

35:37 - Ask Matt: Frequent flying and the environment

40:00 - AFF bushfire appeal

 

Links:

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

Create an AFF account

A Transcontinental Send-Off to the Decade (klm597's trip report)

seat61.com - an excellent train travel resource

AFF Bushfire Appeal 2020

 

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

Qantas Passengers Can Now Use TSA PreCheck

Qantas Raises Service, Credit Card Fees

New 2020 United Status Match Challenge

Virgin Business Class Catering Cutbacks

Velocity Carrier Charges on Reward Flights [Updated 2020]

Skybus Axes Velocity Points

Qantas Schedules A330s on QF9/10 from Melbourne-Perth

If you're a little bit short of the next airline status tier, a status run can get you over the line. In this episode, learn about the best status runs with Virgin Australia, Qantas and the three major alliances. This episode also includes the latest frequent flyer news and an extended interview with AFF moderator JessicaTam about her incredible British Airways status run.

 

Episode contents:

1:00 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:16 - Status runs

14:19 - Interview with JessicaTam

36:13 - Ask Leon: Amex Platinum card benefits

38:26 - Ask Matt: Podcast recommendation

39:52 - The hilarious Berlin airport board game

42:10 - Recap of 2019

 

Links:

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

Upgrade your AFF account

Switching from Qantas to British Airways Executive Club

23 into 21 does go (JessicaTam's trip report)

Melbourne Christmas dinner - 21 December 2019

Christchurch dinner - 7 March 2020

Singapore lounge crawl - 7 June 2020

 

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

Qantas Expands Air France/KLM Flying Blue Partnership

ACCC Releases Scathing Final Report into Loyalty Programs

Qantas Forces Business Passenger to Accept Downgrade

Jetstar Pilots’ Strike Cancels Many Flights from 13-15 December 2019

El Al to Trial Direct Melbourne-Tel Aviv Flights

Virgin Australia Brisbane-Tokyo Flights on Sale

Cathay Pacific Changes Asia Miles Expiration Policy

Alliance-Wide Upgrades Coming to Oneworld?

Qantas Opens Singapore First Class Lounge

Many Australians join Qantas Frequent Flyer by default. But even if you fly with Qantas regularly, you could benefit by using the British Airways Executive Club frequent flyer program instead. In this episode, Matt also discusses the new Uber Rewards loyalty program, earning Qantas points for Uber rides and a bizarre experience using Uber in India.

 

Episode contents:

0:53 - Fortnightly news round-up

9:00 - Why British Airways Executive Club could be a good alternative to Qantas Frequent Flyer

18:05 - Uber launches its own rewards program

25:55 - Ask Matt: How to find cheaper one-way international flights

29:19 - Ask Matt: Earning KrisFlyer elite miles on Virgin Australia flights

 

Links:

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

Upgrade your AFF account

How to Earn British Airways Executive Club Status

The British Airways Oneworld Multi-Carrier Reward

Upcoming Webinar: Oneworld Alternatives to Qantas Frequent Flyer (8pm on 11 December 2019)

Earn Qantas Points for All Uber Rides + Uber Eats Orders

 

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

BP to Switch from Velocity to Qantas Points on 1 February 2020

Qantas Mulls New Benefits to Reward Long-Term Loyalty

Upgrade Delta Flights with Virgin Australia Velocity Points

ANA, Japan Airlines Add Sydney-Haneda Flights

LATAM Exit Leaves Huge Hole for Oneworld

Qantas A380 Reconfiguration Adds 7% Revenue

Qantas Vows to Fix Priority Boarding

Cheap Business Class: Europe to Australia from $2,400 return

Price War: Direct Flights to Los Angeles from $881 return

Airlines seem to love married segments, but for frequent flyers and travel agents they can be extremely frustrating. Sometimes you'll find an award seat on a flight you want to book, only to find that it's not actually available if you add on a connecting flight to your final destination. Married segments are also why airlines will sometimes charge a higher amount if you remove one or more flights from a booking!

In this episode, Alan Lam (a.k.a. madrooster) joins Matt to explain what travellers need to know about married segments, as well as a wide range of other topics including an unusual way to fly to London with Qantas that could be cheaper than flying via Perth or Singapore.

 

Episode contents:

0:45 - Fortnightly news round-up

6:32 - Interview with Alan Lam: About fare classes

11:02 - Interview with Alan Lam: Recent changes to earn rates with Qantas, American Airlines, Japan Airlines & Alaska Airlines

19:12 - Interview with Alan Lam: Everything you need to know about married segments

31:12 - Interview with Alan Lam: Booking a Qantas ticket to Europe via South Africa

35:51 - Interview with Alan Lam: United MileagePlus program changes

 

Links:

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

Join Australian Frequent Flyer for free

What are Married Segments?

 

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

Qantas Commits to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Points with Optus

Pick Up Your Coles Shopping at Melbourne Airport

Virgin Australia Suspends Melbourne-Hong Kong Route

Qantas Axes Sydney-Beijing Flights (Again)

Qantas Reduces A380 Flights to Hong Kong