In the early days of air travel, its exclusivity bred glamour. Rarely would you see travellers climbing aboard the early passenger jets decked out in anything but a suit with shirt and tie or a dinner dress befitting of the occasion. A lot has changed, with casual comfort being the priority for flyers today. But […]

Read the full article Are We Dressing Too Casually for Flights? One First Class Passenger Says Yes on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Flight attendants have to deal with all sorts of passenger requests. Now, some have taken to the internet to recount some of the more amusing and obscure requests they’ve received. For those accustomed to air travel, arriving sane at your destination turns on an ability to deal with body odour, dodge a cold war over shared […]

Read the full article First Class Passengers Weirdest Requests, According To Flight Attendants on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Airbus may have pulled the plug on its A380 production back in 2021, but the double-decker “superjumbo” will remain a fixture of global aviation for many years yet… and with it comes the thrill of first-class travel done right. A New Kind of In-Flight LuxuryWhen this colossal aircraft first took flight, it opened the floodgates […]

Read the full article Airbus A380 Superjumbo Concepts Reveal The Ultra-Luxury Future Of First Class Air Travel on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Turbulence is increasingly common and never fun. Tracker site Turbli has just revealed the world’s most turbulent flight routes so you don’t have to find out firsthand. It turns out that mountain winds and powerful jet streams are the ultimate recipe for an unsettling ride… 2024’s Bumpiest FlightsSourcing its data from the National Oceanic and […]

Read the full article This American Flight Was Just Named The Most Turbulent Route In The World on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Air India gets a bad rep, maligned by many for its less-than-immaculate cleanliness and customer service records. However, the airline is set to elevate its premium offerings — and give its street cred a much-needed polish — with the introduction of revamped first-class suites on its forthcoming Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X aircraft. This move […]

Read the full article World’s Most Maligned Airline Cleans Up With New First And Business Class Cabins on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A now former Alaska Airlines flight attendant, recently identified as San Francisco native Nelle Diala, is seeking financial support through a GoFundMe campaign after being dismissed from her job for posting a viral twerk video on TikTok. In her own words, the 15-second clip that was filmed at 6am on a Boeing 737 while she […]

Read the full article Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Fired For Making ‘Inappropriate’ In-Flight Video Launches GoFundMe on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

With launch planned for mid-2025, Riyadh Air is readying itself to become Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier, hoping to reach over 100 destinations by 2030. Led by CEO Tony Douglas, the airline promises a state-of-the-art fleet, cutting-edge cabins, and routes that could turn Riyadh into a global hub. Here’s what’s on the horizon for this […]

Read the full article World’s First Alcohol Free Airline Is About To Launch With ‘Mercedes Maybach’ Business Suites on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, had the unfortunate experience of having to dodge a sudden flood of water in the cabin which, after some equally unpleasant investigation, was revealed to have originated in a plane bathroom. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the incident quickly went viral thanks to its unusual circumstances […]

Read the full article American Airlines Mid-Flight Toilet Explosion Is The Stuff of Nightmares on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Budget carrier Frontier Airlines has made headlines today with its new ‘GoWild!’ pass, a quintessentially American all-you-can-fly offer that, the airline claims, provides travellers with unparalleled flexibility and affordability. Priced at an enticing $299 USD for the first year, the pass allows for unlimited flights within the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America […]

Read the full article Frontier Airlines Announces Unlimited Flight Pass, But Is ‘GoWild!’ Worth It? 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!

Big changes are coming to Dallas-based Southwest Airlines starting on December 4th. The U.S. airline is adjusting its cabin preparation procedures ahead of landing, requiring flight attendants to begin preparations at 18,000 feet of altitude rather than the traditional 10,000 feet.Aimed at reducing in-flight injuries among cabin crew which have slowly increased alongside more prevalent […]

Read the full article Southwest Airlines’ Turbulence Changes Will Affect All Americans Who Travel on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

There are quite a few well-travelled flight paths to Europe for Australians, such as Cathay through Hong Kong, Emirates via Dubai, and Qantas through Singapore. But if you’re in the mood to shake things up and make some hearty savings along the way, there are overlooked alternatives into Europe. Here are a few of our […]

Read the full article Cheapest Airlines For Savings On Flights To Europe on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Virgin Australia has moved to shut down concerns its impending marriage with Qatar Airways will gut its existing partnership arrangements and dud its frequent flyers. The airline has submitted a lengthy response to submissions made to the ACCC about the proposed “integrated alliance” that will see Qatar Airways take a 25% shareholding in Virgin and […]

Read the full article Virgin-Qatar Partnership Benefits Outweigh The Bad For Frequent Flyers, Here’s Why on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Spirit Airlines, a pioneer of ultra-low-cost air travel in the USA, has filed for bankruptcy. Announced on Monday 18th November, the carrier known for its no-frills cabin product and customer experience trod a new path in the crowded landscape of US airlines, offering consumers very cheap fares but, as a trade-off, requiring them to pay […]

Read the full article Spirit Airlines Goes Bankrupt, Here’s What That Could Mean For American Travellers 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!

Airlines continue to tinker with their Australian flight schedules and there’s a run of hotel openings to pique travellers’ interest in this month’s wrap-up of travel news and tips.South Africa flights get a boostBoth Qantas and South African Airways have or are scaling up their flights between Australia and Johannesburg. Qantas has already switched out […]

Read the full article Qantas’ First-Class South African Upgrade & Best New Hotels 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 end-of-August round-up of travel news notes the arrival of new airlines into Gold Coast and Cairns, the ongoing rollout of free WiFi on international carriers, a win for Malaysian Airlines economy class passengers, more countries offering Australians visa-free entry, a refreshed Sydney Airport lounge and bad lounge food avoidance tactics at the same airport. New […]

Read the full article Visa-Free Countries For Travellers: Our Monthly Travel Hacks Roundup on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Many Australian state governments are more than happy to open their chequebooks to attract airlines by offering subsidies and incentives to secure flights. But sometimes, this seems like a waste of taxpayer’s money rather than a sensible strategy to improve connectivity in and out of a particular state?Queensland Government, via its Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, […]

Read the full article State Governments Are Wasting Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars On Airline Subsidies 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!

July closed with a bang as Regional Express (Rex) announced it was heading into administration, but it’s not the only airline cancelling services.On the other hand, some airlines are resuming flights to Australian cities and, as always, there are movements in the hotel loyalty landscape… Here’s our monthly travel roundup. Rex Goes BustRex’s administration is […]

Read the full article Best Travel Hacks And News For August 2024 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!

Etihad 2.0 might be slightly toned down and a little less ostentatious than it once was, but for Australians, it remains one of the best airlines for long-haul flying.Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has had its fair share of ups and downs recently. It spent much of the last decade spending like a drunken sailor and […]

Read the full article Why Etihad’s Return Down Under Is Huge News For Travellers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A flight was forced to divert after severe turbulence injured 30, trapping one passenger in an overhead bin.Turbulence is becoming far more common. Last year we saw one of the first examples of ‘bone-breaking’ turbulence on an American airline, and only last month we heard the tragic news of a Singapore Airlines flight that saw […]

Read the full article Air Europa Passenger Trapped In Overhead Bin After Transatlantic Turbulence on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Here are the airlines offering first-class seats flying out of Australia, and how we reckon they stack up. A first class seat remains the holy grail for many travellers, but most airlines have discontinued the cabin type. Now, just a handful of carriers, including Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Qatar, British Airways, and Japan Airlines, offer […]

Read the full article Which Airlines Offer First Class Travel? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

SkyTeam trails in the Australian market, but Executive Board Member Juha Järvinen says there is no reason not to take a closer look at the program.“It doesn’t hurt to have multiple (frequent flyer) membership cards,” Järvinen said over a wine in Dubai recently. “One basic benefit of being a member is the communications and offers […]

Read the full article SkyTeam Deserves Better Than Being The Third Wheel of Travel on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Cathay Pacific’s Joy Kesselring reveals how business-class menus are crafted to reflect the diversity and preferences of their customers.A few days ago, our founder and head honcho Luc Weisman was lucky enough to fly from Australia to Europe on Cathay Pacific’s legendary business class. While it’s safe to say he was impressed by every aspect […]

Read the full article How Airlines Choose Business Class Menus For Each And Every Route on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

An Australian millionaire bought the most expensive plane ticket ever for the maiden flight of the Airbus A380.Travel has always been an expensive pastime, especially for Australians. If you’re looking to cut costs, we’ve got a tonne of underrated travel hacks at your disposal. However, for one particular Aussie, it seems that this was far […]

Read the full article Man Spends $125,000 On Most Expensive Plane Ticket Ever Sold on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

New research highlights the deadly risks of in-flight alcohol, prompting calls for stricter regulations on in-flight consumption.We all know that drinking a little too much in-flight can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes. Just ask the bloke who urinated in his business class cabin… twice. That’s why our recommended in-flight drink is, and always has been, a […]

Read the full article In-Flight Alchohol Ban Advances After New Research Reveals Effects on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A US airline has introduced UltraBasic fares with draconian restrictions, marking a new low in budget air travel comfort and convenience.With the ongoing news that airlines are scrapping fancy first class seats in favour of the “money-making machine” that is an expanded premium economy cabin class, it should come as no surprise that airlines are […]

Read the full article US Airline’s ‘UltraBasic’ Budget Fares Come with Reduced Carry-On and Seating Options 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!

The recent Singapore Airlines B777-300ER incident highlights that flying is not a risk-free proposition, even though risk remains incredibly slight. Here are the safest aircraft out there. How Safe Is Air Travel?The jet hit “sudden extreme turbulence” over the Irrawaddy Basin and dropped around 5,000 feet in a matter of seconds, killing a British national […]

Read the full article The Safest Aircraft In The World, According To Data 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!

Aussies love travelling to the US, but not all airlines are created equal, and nobody wants to get stuck in a dud seat on a dud airline on a 14-hour flight, even if you jagged a decent fare.There’s no shortage of choice when flying between Australia and the US, and the good news is that […]

Read the full article Flying To The USA: The Best (And Worst) Airlines For Your Trip on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Fifth-freedom flights could be the easiest way to nab a cheap business-class seat that most Australians have never heard of. Put simply, a fifth-freedom flight is a fight between countries A and B operated by an airline not from either country. For example, Qantas flying between Auckland and New York. Because travellers gravitate towards national carriers, fifth-freedom flights can […]

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