You don’t fly Qantas First Class for the flash; you fly it for the feeling. There’s no gold-plated bling like Emirates, no closing doors or onboard showers. But what you do get is something rarer: space, silence, and the kind of service that makes you feel like the only person onboard. That, and a fillet […]

Read the full article Qantas First Review: 80,000 Points for First Class from London to Sydney… But Is It Worth It? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas’ new group boarding policy made waves when first announced earlier this year. Designed to make the boarding process faster, smoother, and ultimately fairer, our first hands-on experience with the new system during our Christmas travels proved that Australia’s biggest airline isn’t mucking around. Qantas’ Christmas CrackdownReading about these changes in the news media is […]

Read the full article Qantas Ruthlessly Enforcing New Boarding Protocol In Christmas Crackdown on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas and Virgin Australia have decent frequent flyer programmes, and many are members of both. If you buy the marketing spin, your life will get so much better after signing up. It probably won’t, but joining one is an avenue to free flights. Behind the hype, which of Australia’s two top frequent flyer programmes offers […]

Read the full article Virgin Velocity vs Qantas Frequent Flyer: Which Delivers Best Value For Travellers? An In-Depth Analysis on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Breaking out of Qantas economy class and settling in a premium economy seat for the first time is a major milestone. Suddenly, there is significantly upgraded comfort, room to move, no more plastic cups, tasty food and personable service. What’s not to like? But is it worth paying even more to fly further up the […]

Read the full article Qantas Business Class vs Premium Economy: Are The Benefits Worth Double The Cost? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas recently introduced another type of seat redemption opportunity called Classic Plus Rewards in response to strong passenger demand for more redemption availability. Qantas pitches Classic Plus as affordable but not as inexpensive as its Classic Flight Rewards prices. However, it also adds another layer of complexity to the Qantas frequent flyer scheme. This article […]

Read the full article Qantas Classic vs. Classic Plus: How To Maximise Your Reward Flights on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Flying Qantas long-haul can be a painful experience, especially down the back of the plane. But what about those nice seats you passed by on the way to the back the last time you boarded a Qantas flight to London? No, not the business class lie-flat razzamatazz, but those comfy-looking recliners. Say hello to Qantas premium […]

Read the full article Qantas Premium Economy vs Economy: Is The Upgrade Worth It? An In-Depth Analysis on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

October has proved a cracker of a month for Australian flyers, with Qantas now wrapping up a double points/status promotion, announcing network changes, and tweaking their frequent flyer scheme again.Qantas Route Changes: Dallas, Los Angeles, and JFKEarlier this month, Qantas announced changes to its international network in 2025, including putting the A380 back on Sydney […]

Read the full article Qantas Wraps Up Double Points Promo And Unveils Big Changes For Frequent Flyers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qatar Airways will buy a 25% stake in Virgin Australia in a massive shakeup of Australia’s aviation market that will offer huge benefits to Australian travellers.After saying reports of the deal were “rumour and innuendo” earlier this month, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka confirmed the impending buy on Tuesday, October 1. She said it would […]

Read the full article What Qatar’s 25% Stake in Virgin Means For Travellers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

It’s only a few weeks in but already September has seen announcements about new and resuming flights to Australia, as well as one high-profile exit. Overall, it’s a net gain, and the extra capacity gives passengers more choice and puts downward pressure on ticket prices, which is a win for consumers.Emirates to end Singapore – […]

Read the full article Travel Updates: Airlines Add More Flights And Routes on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

The big ticket Qantas long-haul seat redemptions might get all the attention — the jump from economy to premium economy is big, the leap from premium economy to business is bigger — but there’s value to be found in less glamorous seats – the 8,000-point sub-600 mile sectors, which are the entry point for redemptions. […]

Read the full article Using Qantas Frequent Flyer Points: Best Redemption That Only Requires 8,000 Points on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Fiji Airways will become a full Oneworld member in 2025, opening up new opportunities for Qantas frequent flyers and members of other Oneworld frequent flyer programs, including the likelihood of more premium cabin award redemptions to North America becoming available, albeit with a twist.Fiji’s Current Benefits As A Oneworld Connect MemberFiji Airways is already a […]

Read the full article Fiji Airways Joining Oneworld Is Good News For Qantas Frequent Flyers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Hollywood icon and movie megastar John Travolta is known for his passion for aircraft, having owned quite a collection over the years, but the tale of how the legendary actor acquired a Boeing 707 from Qantas is truly one for the books.Even with the skies full of aviation oddities, like the oldest planes that are […]

Read the full article How John Travolta Scored A Free Qantas Boeing 707 And Transformed It Into The Ultimate Celebrity Private Jet on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A decision by Qantas to temporarily divert their Perth to London flights away from trouble in the Middle East highlights the fact that parts of the world are no-go zones for airlines.You might think that urine-stained seats or the unexpected appearance of time travellers might be the biggest of your air travel worries, but geopolitics […]

Read the full article Why Airlines Avoid Russia and Ukraine: The Real Cost Of Flying Over Conflict Zones on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We were lucky enough to fly business class from Sydney to New York City on one of Qantas’ beautiful 787-9 Dreamliners. We’ve had pleasant enough travels in Qantas’ economy seats and pleasantly-surprising travels in their premium economy seats, but this is a game changer. As the carrier gears up for its much-hyped non-stop flights to […]

Read the full article Qantas 787 Business Class In-Depth Review: 24 Hours From Sydney to New York on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Every traveller knows the pain of cattle class: the cramped seating, the pitiful entertainment choices, the nutritional value of warm plastic… and the crying babies. How could we forget the crying babies?Now that you’re feeling sufficiently nauseous, let’s talk about the alternatives. If you’re in for a long flight and you can afford to bump […]

Read the full article Best Premium Economy Seats Compared for Your Next Flight on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A Sydney businessman’s viral LinkedIn post has sparked a heated debate about which of Australia’s major carriers cares for its customers. Last month, a Sydney-based businessman named Pete Murray scribbled an impromptu article on LinkedIn about why he switched from Qantas to Virgin Australia. The article has since received over 750,000 impressions and triggered a […]

Read the full article Qantas vs. Virgin: LinkedIn Post Sparks Loyalty Crisis on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We flew from Johannesburg to Sydney with Qantas in their Premium economy class. Here’s what you need to know.In 1991, Taiwanese international airline, EVA Air was the first to introduce ‘Evergreen Class’. Evergreen Class was later renamed to Premium Economy and has since become the first airline to offer this class of service in the […]

Read the full article Qantas Premium Economy Review: An Experience That Ruined Business Class Forever on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

With the world-beating ‘Project Sunrise’ in the pipeline and some exciting changes to their first-class cabin, you’re going to be hearing a lot more about the spirit of Australia. On a recent trip home from Europe, I flew home on a Qantas Dreamliner in economy class. Here is a breakdown of my flight, and a […]

Read the full article Qantas 787 Economy Review: A Very Smooth Ride For A Low Price on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

DMARGE’s June travel update looks at Qantas and Virgin Australia inflight upgrades, new Singapore hotels, Brisbane lounge changes, and Rex’s Melbourne-Perth route entry.Our end-of-the-month June travel update looks at improvements to the inflight food and beverage offerings on Qantas and Virgin Australia, hotel openings in Singapore, the latest shifts in the Brisbane pay-to-use lounge scene, […]

Read the full article Biggest Travel News & Hacks, July 2024 on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Commercial supersonic flights may no longer be a thing of the past after American-based company Boom Supersonic has confirmed it’s designing a supersonic airliner that’s set to soar the skies before 2030.Cast your mind back, if you can, to 26 November 2003, when the final Concorde plane flew over Bristol, UK on its final return […]

Read the full article Boom Supersonic Aims to Revive Supersonic Travel with New Airliner by 2030 on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Winter might be starting, but that’s no reason to curl up and stay home. There’s a whole wide world to explore out there. DMARGE’s regular end-of-the-month travel update details changes to United’s Brisbane flights, a switcheroo on Philippine Airlines flights to Sydney and Melbourne, new status match and status booster opportunities, lounge closures in Brisbane, […]

Read the full article Thailand Doubles Visa-Free Stay Duration For Travellers: Tricks & Tips For June 2024 on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

This Qantas story in brief: We’re usually Qantas’ biggest fans, signing their praises wherever possible. Whether it’s their classic TV ads making Aussies well up or their world-beating business class, the iconic Australian airline has always been very dear to our hearts. Are they infallible, though? Sadly not.Qantas’ recent decision to raise the cost of […]

Read the full article Qantas Charges $35 For Extra Legroom On Domestic Flights on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Guest writer and gun Andrew Curran returns to DMARGE with his monthly round-up of unmissable tips and tricks for Australian travellers.New flights to South America, ANA confirming its summer return to Perth, lounge news out of Cairns, increased fees for Qantas passengers, airlines soon to exit the Star Alliance program, and a neat status match […]

Read the full article World’s Most Underrated Business Class Returns on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas has rolled out a major change to its frequent flyer program. The launch of Classic Plus Flight Rewards meets frequent flyers halfway — it opens up more redemption seats but at a higher price than the standard but often elusive Classic Rewards price.Ticking off a checklist of customer pain points earlier this week, Qantas […]

Read the full article What Qantas’ Frequent Flyer Changes Mean For Ticket Prices on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Australia’s most beloved airline, Qantas, may have been snubbed from a list of the Best First Class Airlines, but plans for the coming year could see them reinstated in the premium travel top spot. Following hot on the heels of news that Qantas is slashing business class fares for domestic journeys, the carrier has been […]

Read the full article Qantas First Class Snubbed By Airline Critics, But Iconic Carrier Has An Ace Up Its Sleeve on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

New and ongoing status match offers, more countries opening their airport e-gates to Australian travellers, Qantas business class price drops, new and resuming routes, and discounted lounge access are among the travel hacks currently available and making life easier for frequent flyers.Airline status matches for Australian travellersStatus match opportunities for Australia-based travellers continue, with Star […]

Read the full article Qantas Slashes Business Class Fares: Australian Travel Hacks Roundup For April 2024 on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Airlines are experts at slapping fresh paint on an aircraft and refreshing the cabins to make old airframes look new again. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this because well-maintained aircraft (and Australia’s aircraft maintenance regime is second to none) can keep flying for years. But you might be surprised to know how old some of […]

Read the full article Qantas & Virgin’s Oldest Planes That Are Somehow Still In Service on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Things can get really messy when you have a long flight ahead of you. For instance, a plane ride from Australia to Africa can last for 14 hours or even more if there’s a delay. After sleeping, eating, or keeping busy on the flight for that long, you’re bound to want to shower. Such a […]

Read the full article Showers In First Class Cabins: Which Airlines Have Them And Which Do Not on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas have had a tumultuous few years, at least in regards to their public image. A massive post-pandemic boom combined with the controversies surrounding — and eventual replacement of — former CEO Alan Joyce, bred mixed feelings about the brand. However, a statement from new CEO Vanessa Hudson could be set to turn that right […]

Read the full article Huge Changes Coming For Qantas Customers According To New CEO on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Frequent flyer points are a form of currency and, like all currencies, have a value. However, whereas it is reasonably easy to know the value of the Aussie dollar, Alan Kohler doesn’t give a nightly update of frequent flyer point values on the 7.00 pm news… Qantas Frequent Flyer is the big daddy of Australian […]

Read the full article How Much Are Frequent Flyer Points Actually Worth? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Aussies love a loyalty program, and airline frequent flyer programs are no exception. Over 15 million people are members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) program, while Virgin Australia’s Velocity program has signed up almost 12 million customers…But let’s not beat around the bush here: these programs are not created to benefit customers. They are […]

Read the full article How To Make Frequent Flyer Programs Work For You on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Flying long haul to and from Australia is expensive, especially in premium cabins on the best airlines. But… if you’re prepared to fly to a neighbouring country to pick up a long-haul business class flight, you can save serious money.‘Positioning’ into another airport to pick up a cheaper flight is a tried and true tactic […]

Read the full article Positioning Flights: How To Get Cheap Business Class Tickets on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Does Australia need more airlines flying in? Hell yeah it does, if you go by the reactions of everybody except the Qantas C-suite crew to last year’s Qatar Airways fiasco…Is Australia Calling for More International Airlines?The Australian government’s decision not to let Qatar put on more flights to Australia’s busiest airports caused a storm of […]

Read the full article Travel Insiders Reveal The Airlines They Want To See Fly Down Under on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Two photos of Sydney Airport, taken 38 years apart, show how one part of Sydney has changed surprisingly little since the 1970s. Sydney ain’t what it used to be (see: Vice’s recent piece: An Oral History of the Rise and Fall of Sydney’s Once-Magical Club Scene, if you don’t believe us). According to popular belief […]

Read the full article Then & Now: Sydney Airport Photos Taken 38 Years Apart on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Qantas has caused uproar this week by kicking a Vietnam Veteran out of a business class seat he had booked and paid for so that one of their own pilots could travel in luxury to his next flight. Qantas is renowned for having one of the nicest business-class offers in Australia, so it’s no surprise […]

Read the full article Vietnam Veteran Stephen Jones Booted From Qantas Business Class So Young Pilot Could Enjoy Luxury Seat on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Luxury travel is evolving rapidly, but nothing has ever reached the lofty heights the iconic Concorde once attained. Now, however, experts have identified the airline set to be its successor. You might think that this all-business-class airline or even the first-class-only challenger carrier is set to become to next big thing in luxury air travel, […]

Read the full article Qantas’ Non-Stop First-Class Flights Poised to Redefine Luxury Air Travel on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!