AFF on AIR Podcast

The Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) boasts a collection of over 60 aircraft, including a retired Qantas 747, Super Constellation and DC-3s. John Travolta's Boeing 707 will also soon be added to the museum at Illawara Regional Airport, which is open daily to the public. In this episode, Matt chats to HARS President Bob de la Hunty. Also in this episode, the latest frequent flyer news and the plan to get rid of Melbourne Airport's taxi touts.

 

Episode contents:

1:01 - Fortnightly news round-up

4:52 - AFF's 13th annual gathering

7:17 - Interview with Bob de la Hunty from HARS

22:21 - Melbourne Airport's taxi touts

25:22 - Ask Matt: Oneworld Award stopover rules

 

Links:

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

13th Annual AFF Gathering a Success

The History of Airport Slots – Ernst Krolke Speech at AFF#13

HARS website

Melbourne Airport Taxi Touts Scamming, Harassing Tourists

 

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

Qantas Grounds 3 Boeing 737-800s over Pickle Fork Cracks

Australian Government Overhauls Smartraveller Website

American Airlines Adds Christchurch, Auckland-Dallas Flights

Air New Zealand to Fly Non-Stop to New York

Qantas Flies Non-Stop from New York to Sydney

Airline Route Changes from 27 October 2019

Virgin Australia Wins Haneda Approval

Is Qantas Car Insurance a Good Deal?

Velocity 15% EOY Transfer Bonus – November 2019

Earlier this year, German airline Lufthansa tried to sue a passenger that exploited the loophole of hidden-city ticketing by skipping the last flight on their ticket. This case has now finally be resolved in the German courts, and in a victory for frequent flyers, the airline did not win. In this episode Matt chats to Dr Matthias Böse, the lawyer who defended this fascinating case against Lufthansa in the German courts.

 

Episode contents:

1:05 - Fortnightly news round-up

6:05 - Introducing the AFF Community Online Store

7:47 - Interview with Matthias Böse

 

Links:

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

AFF Community Online Store

Lufthansa Loses Case Against Hidden City Ticketer

 

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

Qantas & Velocity Points Are Worth Less Now Than 4 Years Ago

Virgin Business Passenger Refused Diet Coke

Qantas Unveils 100th Anniversary Dreamliner Livery

Qantas Removes Frequent Flyer Numbers from Boarding Passes

Qantas Improves American Airlines Earn Rates

United Suspends Status Challenge, Changes Status Earning

Citibank Withdraws Citi Prestige Credit Card

How to Earn Bonus Velocity Points on Flybuys Transfers

Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan Miles for Singapore Airlines Flights

Qantas and Virgin Australia are fighting over two rare and lucrative new landing slots for Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Meanwhile, four European airlines have gone bankrupt in a matter of weeks as this year's European summer draws to a close. Speaking of summer in Europe, you won't want to miss this fortnight's interview with Bronwyn Turner from Award Flight Assist as she explains how to redeem your frequent flyer points and find award availability from Australia to Europe during the peak European summer season.

 

Episode contents:

0:59 - Fortnightly news round-up

7:43 - The battle for Tokyo Haneda slots

14:07 - Why are so many European airlines going bankrupt?

17:57 - Interview with Bronwyn Turner on summer award travel to Europe

 

Links:

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

Virgin Australia to Fly to Haneda, Partner with ANA

600,000 Stranded as Thomas Cook Collapses

Adria Airways Files for Bankruptcy

When is the Best Time to Book Award Flights? [Airline award seat release times]

 

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

LATAM Exit Leaves Huge Hole for Oneworld

Woolworths Rewards Boosts Qantas Points

First Look: Refurbished Qantas Airbus A380

Virgin Australia Increases Carrier Charges

Virgin Axes Samsung In-Flight Entertainment Tablets

Jetstar Abandons Regional New Zealand, China

Jetstar Adds Flights to Margaret River

The Trans-Tasman Airline Battle

New Beijing Daxing Airport Opens

The ACCC recently released a damning draft report into Australian loyalty schemes, calling out practices that it says may shock consumers and putting loyalty program operators on notice. In this episode, Matt chats to airline loyalty and data expert Mark Ross-Smith about the ACCC's findings and recommendations. This interview covers topics including data privacy, the expiration and devaluation of frequent flyer points, carrier charges and much more.

 

Episode contents:

1:09 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:07 - Interview with Mark Ross-Smith

 

Links:

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

AFF Response to ACCC Report on Loyalty Schemes

 

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

Qantas Changes: Where are the Extra Reward Seats?

A List of Qantas Carrier Charges on Reward Flights

Major Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Devaluation

Virgin Australia to Buy Back Velocity Stake

Qantas Downgrade Compensation is Woefully Inadequate

Qantas Eyes New Tokyo Haneda Slots

New Qatar Airways Premium Lounge for Singapore

Europe 2020 Early Bird Sales Have Landed

With less than two weeks until the upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer changes, now is the time to make any last-minute Classic Flight Reward bookings! In this episode, Matt chats to Leon Loganathan about the process of redeeming Qantas points for a Onweworld Award. This episode also includes a segment on the important role of regional aviation, with a focus on a regional airline in New Zealand that does a particularly good job of serving its local communities.

 

Episode contents:

0:53 - Fortnightly news round-up

8:10 - Interview with Leon Loganathan - Oneworld Award booking

21:52 - Interview with Leon Loganathan - Hidden-city pricing

24:34 - Interview with Leon Loganathan - Amex Platinum Charge & Priority Pass lounges

29:53 - Air Chathams & the role of regional airlines

 

Links:

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

Major Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes - June 2019

How to fly around the world using the Qantas Oneworld Award

Norfolk Island Airlines Ceases Flights

Air Chathams Auctions Historic Convair 580

 

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

ACCC Shares “Significant Concerns” Over Loyalty Programs

Economy Downgrade Inadequate, Court Rules

Virgin Australia “My Lounge” Opens in Brisbane

Virgin Australia Reports $315m Loss for 2018-19

BP Switches Loyalty to Qantas Frequent Flyer

United Launches MileagePlus Shopping Australia

Airlines Ban Apple MacBook Computers

Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold Fast-Track

Free Qantas Business Rewards Membership

Later this year, Qantas will decide which aircraft it will use to operate non-stop flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York - a feat it aims to achieve by 2022. In this episode, learn more about the mission Qantas is namimg "Project Sunrise". This episode also includes an interview with AFF moderator "Princess Fiona" about Qantas Platinum One status, mid-air medical emergencies, and more.

 

Episode contents:

1:00 - Fortnightly news round-up

5:42 - Qantas Project Sunrise

13:35 - Interview with Princess Fiona

35:45 - Award travel to Europe during the peak northern summer season

 

Links:

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

Qantas Plans Project Sunrise Test Flights

Upcoming webinar - How to Redeem Points to Europe (8pm AEST on 28 August 2019)

Frequent Flyer Solutions membership options

 

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

Qantas Earns $1.27 Billion Per Year for Sydney-Melbourne Route

Qantas Finally Completes Airbus A330 Refurbishments

How to Redeem Air New Zealand Airpoints for Qantas Flights

Qantas Restaurants Returns: Earn 100 Points Per Diner

Earn Qantas Points at TerryWhite Chemmart

50% Bonus KrisFlyer Elite Miles Offer – August 2019

If you're new to the world of frequent flyer points - or moving to a new country - it can be difficult to know where to start. In this episode, Matt discusses the considerations involved in selecting a new frequent flyer program. Also, you now have just over a month left to redeem your Qantas points before upgrades and premium cabin awards become more expensive.

 

Episode contents:

0:56 - Fortnightly news round-up

6:25 - Ask Matt: Should I stick to Qantas and/or Velocity Frequent Flyer when moving overseas?

14:15 - Ask Matt: How to choose the right frequent flyer program for travel to Japan?

19:42 - Preparing for the Qantas Frequent Flyer changes

25:00 - Air New Zealand's new safety video

 

Links:

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

ANA Launches Perth-Tokyo Flights

Upcoming webinar - Qantas Changes: Maximise Your Points (8pm AEST on 14 August 2019)

Award Flight Assist

 

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

Qantas Dreamliner for Sydney-Santiago Route

Tap On to Sydney Trains with a Credit Card

Complimentary Hilton Silver Status with Selected Amex Cards

Qantas Trials New Bali Lounge

ANZ Rewards Removes Online Points Transfers

They say that if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel! In this episode, Matt chats to James Green about the importance of travel insurance, and what to look out for when purchasing or claiming on a travel insurance policy. Also, ever wondered what goes into an airline safety video? This episode includes some of the world's best and worst airline safety demonstration videos.

 

Episode contents:

0:58 - Fortnightly news round-up

4:52 - Airline safety videos

10:54 - Interview with James Green on travel insurance

27:12 - The unique travel insurance policy of Belarus

28:20 - AFF social gatherings

 

Links:

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

20% off Columbus Direct travel insurance for AFF GOLD members (note - this thread is only visible to AFF GOLD subscribers)

AFF Gathering #13 in SYD on 18 - 20 October 2019

Air New Zealand safety video (2019)

Air New Zealand safety video (Lord of the Rings - 2014)

Qantas safety video (2016)

Turkish Airlines safety video (2018)

 

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

Final Approval for Qantas, American Joint Venture

New Qantas Chicago, San Francisco Flights on Sale

Canada Introduces Air Passenger Protections

Qantas Implements Two-Factor Authentication

Earn Velocity Points for Ola Rides

Free Lounge Access with Singapore’s Changi Transit Programme

Learn how to fly around the world using your Qantas Frequent Flyer points as Matt chats to James Green, an award travel consultant at Frequent Flyer Solutions. This episode also includes the latest frequent flyer news and discussion on redeeming Alaska Airlines miles.

 

Episode contents:

0:45 - Fortnightly news round-up

4:10 - Interview with James Green

38:52 - Ask Matt: Redeeming Alaska Airlines miles to the USA

 

Links:

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

Major Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes – June 2019

How to fly around the world using the Qantas Oneworld Award

Award Flight Assist

 

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

Singapore Airlines Upgrades KrisFlyer Gold Lounge

No More Velocity Points for Restaurant Bookings

Qantas Points Off the Menu at Rockpool Restaurants

New Regulations Threaten Regional Aviation

Virgin Australia Launches Lighter In-Flight Magazine

Last week, Qantas announced a major shake-up to its Qantas Frequent Flyer program. In this episode, former Head of Loyalty at Malaysia Airlines, Mark Ross-Smith, joins Matt to discuss the changes, why Qantas announced them and what this all means for frequent flyers.

 

Episode contents:

1:05 - Fortnightly news round-up

4:07 - Overview of Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes

8:48 - Status challenges (upcoming webinar)

10:38 - Interview with Mark Ross-Smith - changes to Qantas award availability & pricing

22:49 - Interview with Mark Ross-Smith - lifetime Qantas Platinum status

30:33 - Interview with Mark Ross-Smith - Qantas Points Club

 

Links:

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

Major Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes – June 2019

Qantas Frequent Flyer forum on AFF

American Airlines Status Challenge Unlocks Qantas, Oneworld Perks

Webinar: How to earn top-tier Airline Status using Status Challenges (1 July 2019)

 

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

Qatar Airways Named World’s Best Airline in 2019

New Westpac Altitude Velocity Rewards Program

Fiji Airways Ends Adelaide Service

Delays to Virgin Australia Los Angeles Flights

Last Chance to Book Aer Lingus Award Flights