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Cathay Pacific to give away ultra-discounted Hong Kong fares

Kris
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Cathay Pacific to give away ultra-discounted Hong Kong fares

After years of pandemic restrictions, Hong Kong is back and eager to reignite travel to the bustling city.

And in that spirit, Cathay Pacific, in collaboration with the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is rolling out a generous initiative as part of the ‘Hello Hong Kong’ tourism campaign.

Cathay Pacific is offering 6,020 heavily discounted economy return tickets for Aussie travellers from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Hong Kong.

And when we say discounted, we mean the base fare is zero. All you have to cover is the taxes and surcharges.

The taxes on a return ticket are currently around $200 per person. We don’t know yet if the fuel surcharge of around $350 will also be added, but regardless, it’s a great deal to travel to Hong Kong for less than $600 return.

So, how can you get in on this exciting offer? The first step is to be a Cathay Pacific member (which you can sign up for free if you’re not one already).

Once you’re a member, you can participate in this offer which goes live on Monday, May 29 at 12pm AEST. The tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with each departure city having its own allocation. You’ll need to act fast.

Each person can only purchase one ticket, so if you’re planning to travel with buddies, each of them will need to be quick to snag their own discounted ticket.

This promotion is only for adults and can’t be booked for children.

These discounted tickets can be used for travel between May 29, 2023, and February 28, 2024, though there may be blackout periods (we don’t know yet).

The minimum stay in Hong Kong with this offer is two days, and you can extend your adventure up to a month if you wish.

The ‘Economy Essential’ tickets (O class) come with a 2x 23kg luggage allowance, and you can earn Asia Miles and Status Points on the fare (or Qantas Points and Status Credits).

They are also upgradeable with Asia Miles.

Keep in mind that all tickets are non-transferable, non-reroutable, and non-exchangeable, though surcharges and taxes are refundable.

Rebooking of the travel date will be subject to a rebooking fee of $460 per transaction.

If you’ve been itching to hit the international skies again and Hong Kong sounds like your kind of place, this could be the perfect time to make your move.

More information is on Cathay’s website here.

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Sydney to London in two hours: is the future of travel via SPACE?

Kris
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Sydney to London in two hours: is the future of travel via SPACE?

Imagine this: You have a business meeting in London tonight, but you’re currently in Sydney. No problem! Just hop on a suborbital flight, and you’ll be in Britain in a mere two hours.

No, this isn’t a plot from a futuristic sci-fi movie. Rather, it’s a very real prospect that could revolutionise travel.

Flying from Sydney to London currently takes a grueling 22 hours on a commercial plane. However, the aviation industry is working on ambitious plans to slash this travel time by more than 90%, as reported by The Times.

How, you ask? By taking a detour through space!

Suborbital flights could make this travel dream a reality, according to a study conducted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Most people can withstand the G-forces of suborbital space flights. This research, published in the Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance journal, indicates that while there may be some physiological responses, the human body can generally tolerate the stressors of space travel.

Dr. Ryan Anderton, CAA’s medical lead for space flight, suggests that suborbital flights could be a reality “a lot sooner than people think… certainly less than 10 years”.

This prediction aligns with the current boom in space tourism, where both suborbital and orbital flights are becoming increasingly prevalent.

But let’s break this down: what exactly is a suborbital flight?

In simple terms, suborbital flights enter space but do not stay there long enough to orbit the Earth.

At the moment, suborbital flights, like those offered by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, come with a hefty price tag of more than £350,000 per seat. But industry experts predict that the costs will decrease as the technology matures, making it an accessible intercontinental travel option for more people.

So, how would these flights operate? Passengers would board a suborbital craft, similar to Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser or Virgin Galactic’s VSS Imagine, at a specially adapted launch site.

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Imagine

After experiencing G-forces four times the force of the Earth’s gravity, the vehicle would enter a period of microgravity.

As the journey concludes, G-forces would peak at six times during the descent for around 10 to 15 seconds.

It’s worth noting, though, that this isn’t a casual stroll in the park. Researchers found that subjects experienced changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output when exposed to space launch-style G-forces.

While the prospect of space commuting is incredibly exciting, it’s important to remember that it’s still in the early stages of development. There are still many regulatory and safety hurdles to overcome, and it’s unclear how much these flights will cost once commercialised.

But the vision is clear: a world where hopping from London to Sydney in a couple of hours is as normal as catching a train to work.

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Beginner’s Guide to Earning Qantas Points: Simple Tips for Getting Started

Kris
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Beginner’s Guide to Earning Qantas Points: Simple Tips for Getting Started

Do you wish that you could make your travel dreams a reality without breaking the bank?

If the answer is ‘yes’, then collecting Qantas Points might just be the solution you’re looking for.

As Australia’s largest domestic and international airline, Qantas offers a unique opportunity for travellers through its Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalty program.

Not only can you earn points for your flights, but you can also amass points in many other ways, from everyday shopping to filling up your petrol tank.

And, the best part? You can redeem these points for an array of rewards including flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and much more.

If you’re ready to jump into the world of Qantas Points, here’s a simple guide to help you get started.

1. Join the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program

The first step is quite straightforward – you need to join the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

You can do this online through the Qantas website. Usually there’s a one-time joining fee, but we know a way around it. Check out our article on joining the program for free.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive a membership number which you’ll use each time you earn or redeem points.

2. Understand How to Earn Points

The beauty of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is the multitude of ways you can earn points.

Flights

While Qantas flights are an obvious source of points, partner airlines also contribute significantly to your points total.

These include all Oneworld alliance members such as American Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, plus other select airlines like Emirates.

The number of points earned depends on multiple factors like the distance flown, booking class, and your Frequent Flyer status tier.

Credit Cards

Earning points on everyday purchases is by far the most lucrative way to amass Qantas Points.

Every time you shop – no matter how big or small – you can increase your Qantas Points balance.

Many Australian banks offer Qantas-branded credit cards. Some of these come with substantial sign-up bonuses and additional perks like travel insurance or lounge access.

Most points pros hold an American Express card in their wallet, as they generally have the best points earn rates and all-round perks. You can choose from:

You should also consider having a Visa or Mastercard that earns Qantas Points for when Amex isn’t accepted. Every bank offers these, so it’s a question of where you can get the best deal. Qantas’ website has a handy comparison tool.

Fuel

Through Qantas’ partnership with BP, you can earn points every time you fill up or purchase items in store at bp.

To do this, you need to sign up to the BP Rewards program. We’ve written a separate article on this topic, which you can view here.

Qantas Marketplace and Online Mall

The Qantas Marketplace lets you buy both everyday and luxury goods directly on the Qantas website and earn points. The platform includes more than 20,000 products from 900+ premium and household brands.

The Qantas Shopping Online Mall, on the other hand, is a portal where you can earn Qantas Points for every dollar you spend on other retailers’ websites.

It has partnerships with a broad range of retailers, from fashion and beauty to tech and homeware brands.

The way it works is that you visit the Qantas Shopping Online Mall and log in with your Frequent Flyer details, then select a retailer and click on the Shop Now button to be redirected to their website. Shop as normal there and your purchase will be tracked by Qantas, and you’ll earn points on that purchase.

The number of Qantas Points you’ll earn per dollar spent is listed next to each retailer. This can vary widely, and sometimes there are bonus point promotions, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these.

Qantas Wellbeing App

Qantas rewards you for staying healthy.

By linking the Qantas Wellbeing App to a compatible fitness tracker, you can earn points for activities like walking, cycling, and swimming.

You can also earn points for participating in health challenges and learning about healthy habits.

Qantas Wine

Qantas Wine is a popular wine retailer that rewards you with Qantas Points for each purchase.

It has regular bonus points offers on cases of wine, which are the best way to boost your points balance.

From high-quality reds and whites to premium spirits, earning points has never been so delicious.

Other Ways to Earn Points

You can earn points with Qantas’ travel partners. This includes hotels and Airbnbs booked through Qantas Hotels, and car hire with Avis and Budget.

You can also earn points on Uber rides to and from the airport.

Points can also be earned on cruises, holiday packages, and luxury rail journeys.

Qantas’ insurance products are another popular choice, including health, car, travel, home, and life insurance.

As always, compare prices with other providers to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

For the full range of points partners, visit Qantas here.

Using Qantas Points

Redeeming points for flights is the best way to go.

Qantas offers members a growing list of other redemption options: hotel stays, car hire, insurances, gift vouchers, household goods … the list goes on. But these almost always provide less value that spending the equivalent number of points on flights.

There are two ways you can book flights with Qantas Points: Classic Reward seats, which are cheaper but rarer, or ‘Points Plus Pay’ where you essentially purchase a regular cash fare using points. The latter are poor value and not recommended unless you’re desperate!

You can book reward flights on Qantas and any of its partner airlines.

On Qantas operated flights only, you can upgrade from one class to another (subject to various restrictions).

For more info, check out our article on the best uses of Qantas Points.

Summing Up

Whether you’re dreaming of a holiday or just love the idea of being rewarded for your everyday activities, the Qantas Frequent Flyer program offers a world of opportunities.

By understanding the wide range of ways you can earn Qantas Points, you can maximise the benefits of the program.

Our website has a range of detailed tips and guides on earning and using points.

We also recommend signing up for our email newsletter below so you can stay informed on points earning opportunities as they come up!

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How to easily earn Emirates Skywards Miles on hotel stays

Kris
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How to easily earn Emirates Skywards Miles on hotel stays

Emirates is one of the most popular airlines in the world and its frequent flyer program, Skywards, boasts more than 27 million members worldwide.

That’s a lot of people who are earning Skywards Miles on flights and who could also be stocking up on miles during hotel stays.

The easiest way to earn Skywards miles on accommodation is via the airline’s partnership with Booking.com.

Skywards members can earn 1 mile per Euro spent on reservations made via booking.com.

To do this, you must begin your hotel search on the Emirates website, and then you’ll be redirected to booking.com to complete the reservation.

You can’t earn miles by going straight to booking.com yourself – rather you must start the search process on the Emirates website.

Emirates also has a range of direct partnerships with hotel brands that provide alternative (and potentially better) ways to earn Skywards miles.

These partners include the world’s biggest hotel brands, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Intercontinental.

At Hyatt, for example, you can earn 500 Skywards Miles per eligible stay.

At Crowne Plaza, you can earn 2 Skywards Miles per USD spent.

With Marriott, if you’ve linked your Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards accounts, you can ‘double dip’ on points whenever you fly or stay with either company.

Don’t forget, if you have elite status with a hotel group and you want to enjoy your status benefits, you must book directly with the hotel – not via booking.com.

As always, you should compare your options as well the prices on various hotel booking websites to ensure you’re getting a good deal.

By the way, if you have family members who are also earning Skywards miles, you may be able to pool your points to be rewarded faster.

Happy travels!

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Air New Zealand reveals more details about Skynest economy sleep pods

Kris
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Air New Zealand reveals more details about Skynest economy sleep pods

Air New Zealand has revealed more details about its revolutionary new Skynest sleep pods – the world’s first bunk beds in the sky.

This innovative new product will give economy and premium economy passengers a chance to get some much needed shut-eye on ultra long-haul flights.

Passengers will be able to book a ‘bunk bed’ style pod for four hours as an add-on to their existing ticket.

The airline hasn’t finalised the price, but it’s likely to be between $400 and $600.

Air New Zealand Skynest sleep pods

Launching in September 2024, the sleep pods will initially appear on the Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago routes.

The airline’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Leanne Geraghty, says that “North America is the perfect market for Skynest, as it has a premium segment that values comfort and sleep during long-haul travel.”

Each passenger will be limited to one session, with families travelling on the same ticket able to book a session for each person, depending on availability. 

There will be six pods measuring at around 203 cm long and 58cm wide.

They’ll be located between the economy and premium economy cabins.

Skynest visualisation

Each pod will come with a mattress, pillow, sheets and blanket, as well as curtains for privacy.

Bedding will be changed for each customer, of course.

Passengers will also have access to ear plugs, a reading light and a USB outlet.

If the aircraft encounters turbulence, there’ll be a seatbelt in each pod for safety.

Air New Zealand says a four-hour session will be enough to enjoy two sleep cycles.

The lights will slowly come on at the end of each session to wake up passengers, with a gentle poke from the crew for anyone who sleeps through this.

As frequent flyers know, this isn’t the first time Air New Zealand has tried to innovate in the economy space. The airline will continue to offer its Skycouch product, which lets solo or multiple travellers book an entire row, with extendable seats and padding providing extra comfort.

Air New Zealand Skycouch

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Last chance to earn 1,000 bonus Velocity Points with Ola

Kris
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Last chance to earn 1,000 bonus Velocity Points with Ola

Virgin Australia’s partnership with the rideshare app Ola is coming to an end on 28 May 2023, according to a statement released last week.

The tie-up launched in 2019 and gave Velocity Frequent Flyer members the chance to earn points on every ride.

Velocity members could earn:

  • 2 Points per $1 spent on eligible rides to and from selected airports (plus a bonus if you’re a Silver, Gold or Platinum Velocity member)
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other Ola rides
  • 1,000 bonus Points on the first ride if you’re new to Ola.

You now have until 28 May 2023 to earn points.

Velocity states that “any members who were eligible for points made on Ola rides prior to 28 May 2023 will receive their Velocity Points in accordance with the offer Terms and Conditions.”

The 1,000 point bonus for new customers is such an easy way to boost your points balance and really worth doing.

To score the bonus, you need to:

  • download the Ola app and register as an Ola user, or already be a registered Ola user and have not already ridden with Ola
  • enter a valid Velocity membership number in the “My Profile” section of the app to ensure the Velocity and Ola accounts are linked, and
  • book and complete your first Ola ride before 28 May 2023.

More info is available on Velocity’s website here.

Virgin’s arch-rival Qantas continues to maintain a partnership with Uber, which lets customers earn Qantas Points on airport rides, plus 2,000 bonus points for new users.

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How to pool your family’s Emirates Skywards miles

Kris
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How to pool your family’s Emirates Skywards miles

Taking the family on a trip with Emirates and keen to pool all those Skywards Miles you’ll earn?

Or perhaps you’ve got multiple family members earning miles ‘on the ground’ with Emirates’ commercial partners and you want to consolidate them.

By pooling all those miles into one account, you can potentially enjoy rewards faster.

The way to do this is via Emirates’ My Family program, which allows eligible family members to pool miles earned by:

  • flying with Emirates, flydubai and airline partners
  • spending with Emirates’ bank, hotel, car rental, retail and lifestyle partners
  • transfers from conversion partners.

Emirates Skywards has a global membership of over 27 million and all members are eligible to join ‘My Family’, including children.

Each account can have up to 8 family members including a nominated Family Head.

Immediate family members are eligible to join a pool, which includes the following:

  • Husband / Wife / Domestic Partner
  • Son / Step-Son
  • Daughter / Step-Daughter
  • Mother / Step-Mother
  • Mother-in-Law
  • Father / Step-Father
  • Father-in-Law
  • Brother / Sister
  • Granddaughter / Grandson
  • Domestic Helper (!)

The Family Head is responsible for creating the My Family account, adding members, removing members, making travel bookings, redeeming Skywards Miles and all other day-to-day account management.

Any member aged 18 or above can register as the Family Head.

A member can pool up to 100% of their miles earned and the nominated contribution of miles from each member can be adjusted at any time.

You can only pool future miles earned. Any miles you already have when you join a family pool will remain in your individual account.

Similar to individual Skywards Miles, the pooled miles will be valid in the My Family account for three years.

Tier Miles (for earning status) will continue to be credited to your individual account and cannot be contributed to My Family.

You can spend the Skywards Miles pooled in your My Family account on Classic Reward Flights and flights purchased using Cash+Miles. You can also use them for Upgrade Rewards at check‑in if you’re travelling with the Family Head.

In addition, you can donate miles to support good causes, or spend them with retail and lifestyle partners and Skywards Exclusives events.

Finally, you should also consider if you’re better off crediting miles earned with Emirates to a partner loyalty program.

For example, if you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, you can opt to earn Qantas Points when flying with Emirates, whether that’s an EK flight number or a codeshare flight with a QF flight number (you’ll earn more with the latter – check with Qantas’ calculator).

Qantas doesn’t permit family pooling but you can transfer points between family members for free.

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How to access the best airport lounge (which may not be the one your airline sends you to!)

Kris
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How to access the best airport lounge (which may not be the one your airline sends you to!)

Let’s be real, airports can be a drag. Whether it’s a long layover, a delayed flight, or just the general hustle and bustle, we could all use a little escape from the chaos.

Enter the world of airport lounges.

If you have status with an airline or fly in business or first class, you’ll likely have access to a lounge at the airport.

Sometimes, though, you’ll have a choice of several lounges – but, unfortunately, your airline won’t tell you that.

When you check in for your flight, the airline will direct you to a specific lounge, which will be one that it operates or has an arrangement with.

But not all lounges are havens of comfort and glamour – in fact, some are barely a step up from the chaos of the terminal.

So if you do have other, nicer options, it pays to know about them. It can really enhance your travel experience.

Airline partnerships and alliances 

One way you can access multiple lounges is where your airline has a partnership or alliance with other carriers that includes lounge access rights for each other’s customers.

For example, Qantas is a member of the oneworld alliance and Qantas passengers in business or first class, and those with gold status or higher, can access other oneworld airline lounges, no matter which airline they are flying with.

This includes lounges operated by Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and others.

This came in handy when I flew out of Singapore with Cathay Pacific in business class once.

First, I popped into the Cathay lounge, which is where the airline sent me, but found it very uninspiring, with boring decor and food and beverage options.

The uninspiring Cathay Pacific lounge in Singapore

So, I quickly turned around and went to check out two other oneworld airline lounges: the very pleasant British Airways lounge, which was quiet and a great spot for a drink, and then the Qantas lounge, which I liked most and where I ended up dining.

The very pleasant British Airways lounge in Singapore

Qantas lounge Singapore

Another example of an airline partnership that includes reciprocal lounge access benefits is the Qantas and Emirates tie-up.

Passengers travelling with Qantas in business or first class or those with elite status can use an Emirates lounge at many (but not all) airports, and vice versa (note that Emirates isn’t part of oneworld, rather Qantas and Emirates have a separate partnership).

I take advantage of this when flying out of Melbourne, which has a mediocre Qantas international business lounge compared to the much nicer space and superior food and drinks offered by Emirates upstairs – though the Emirates lounge isn’t always open.

Emirates Lounge Melbourne Airport
The gorgeous Emirates lounge in Melbourne

On the other hand, when flying out of Sydney in Emirates first class, I opted to relax in the Qantas First Lounge instead, which is much more stylish and with better food and drinks options. It’s one of the world’s best lounges.

The stunning Qantas First Lounge Sydney (image source: Qantas)

Different airlines and alliances have different rules about lounge access, and in some airports there are exceptions to the normal rules, so you need to do your research ahead of time.

Unfortunately some airlines don’t publish lounge access rules very prominently on their websites, but you can find the information elsewhere using google.

Credit cards and lounge networks 

Some premium travel credit cards offer complimentary lounge access as a perk.

For example, my American Express Platinum Card provides access to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 140 countries, including the world’s biggest lounge network, Priority Pass.

When flying out of Bangkok with Etihad Airways in business class once, I didn’t like the third-party lounge Etihad guests were directed to, so instead enjoyed the gorgeous Oman Air business and first class lounge nearby, which is a Priority Pass lounge – so access was free with my Amex Platinum Card.

The beautiful Oman Air lounge in Bangkok

Similarly, when flying Singapore Airlines business class from Perth, instead of visiting the cramped and stuffy (with no natural light) Singapore Airlines lounge, it’s much nicer to relax in the nearby independent Aspire Lounge, where I also get free access with my Amex Platinum Card. 

Aspire Lounge Perth

If your card doesn’t come with access to independent lounges, then you may still be able to enjoy them by paying a one-off fee or getting a membership. Costs vary, and whether it’s a good deal really depends on your travel plans and preferences. 

The bottom line is this: since the airport lounge is an important part of the travel experience, research your lounge options ahead of time so you can enjoy the best possible start to the trip. Your airline isn’t going to do this work for you, no matter how much you paid for your ticket.

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