If you’ve been itching to get back in the air and explore Australia’s beautiful landscapes or meet with distant friends and family, Qantas and Jetstar have some exciting news for you.

The Qantas Group have announced they are shaking up their flight schedules to align with the reopening plans and latest border assumptions.

In a big win for travelers, the much-anticipated date for travel between Victoria and New South Wales has been brought forward. Instead of waiting until December 1, 2021, as originally planned, the new start date is now November 5, 2021. This shift is based on Victoria’s reopening plan, which is surely music to the ears of those with loved ones across state lines.

Furthermore, Qantas is set to ramp up regional flights within New South Wales from October 25, 2021. Aligned with the State Government’s roadmap, they will boost service to around 40 per cent of pre-COVID levels. It’s a positive step forward as we navigate our way back to normalcy.

However, the news isn’t as rosy for those hoping to fly domestically between Western Australia and Victoria/New South Wales. The restart of these flights has been delayed by two months, now rescheduled for February 1, 2022. This decision is based on current border assumptions. In the meantime, Qantas will maintain five return flights a week between Perth and both Sydney and Melbourne for those with permits to travel.

As for flights between Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and South Australia under Qantas or Jetstar, there are no changes at this time. Once border restrictions are lifted, flights between WA and Queensland are expected to increase, a move that’s eagerly anticipated in the coming weeks.

On the international front, flights are still slated to gradually restart from December 18, 2021, when Australia is projected to reach the National Cabinet’s ‘Phase C’ vaccination threshold of 80 per cent.

There is a temporary reroute, though: the flagship Perth-London service will be rerouted until at least April 2022 due to the latest Western Australia border settings.

Interestingly, Qantas is looking to Darwin as a potential hub for this direct London flight. The airline is currently in detailed discussions with the NT Government and Darwin Airport, especially considering its successful use of Darwin as a hub for repatriation flights to various destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East over the past 12 months.

If this service can’t operate through Darwin, an alternate route via Singapore (Melbourne-Singapore-London) has been planned until at least April 2022.

An official decision on this route is expected in the next two weeks.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Velocity announced today an extension of their Platinum, Gold, and Silver memberships, along with some pretty nifty bonuses for flying with Virgin Australia. This comes just as we can finally see some freedom days on the horizon and international travel is about to take off again.

Now, Velocity is going the extra mile (pun intended) to ensure members not only retain their status but also have more chances to earn and upgrade their membership level. So, when the skies open up, you’re all set to jet-set in style!

Status Extension

For all you Velocity Platinum and Gold members who booked an eligible Virgin Australia flight by 28 March 2021 under Velocity’s 2020 Status Rewards Program, your membership will automatically be extended until 28 February 2023.

Velocity Platinum, Gold, and Silver members with a review date between 30 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 will automatically receive an additional eight-month status extension upon their review date, until at least 1 June 2022.

These generous extensions mean that members can continue to enjoy all the perks that come with their status when flying with Virgin Australia and their partner airlines – things like complimentary upgrades, Fly Ahead, airport lounge access, higher checked-baggage allowances, priority boarding, and preferential seating.

Bonus Status Credits offer

Velocity Frequent Flyer members who fly on eligible Virgin Australia services from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 will get a significant boost to the Status Credits they earn.

This retrospective offer applies to all existing and new bookings, allowing members to earn up to double Status Credits for Economy bookings and up to a 45 per cent bonus for Business Class bookings. And the best part? These bonus Status Credits will automatically pop up in a member’s account after travel, no need to lift a finger!

Status Credits on Reward Seat bookings

In a move that we haven’t seen for almost a decade, Velocity is also planning to reward members with Status Credits on Reward Seat bookings on eligible Virgin Australia domestic flights for travel from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022.

This offer is also retrospective, applying to all existing and new Economy and Business Class Reward Seat bookings.

The Status Credits will be automatically applied to the member’s account after travel.

For more information on the Status extension and Status Credit flight bonuses, visit velocityfrequentflyer.com.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

In light of ongoing travel restrictions and lounge closures around Australia, Qantas is once again extending paid Qantas Club memberships and some complimentary lounge invites issued to customers.

Qantas Club memberships purchased with money or points and due to expire on or after 30 June 2021 have been given a seven month extension, as have partner memberships and annual guest cards. The extension will be applied in October this year.

Qantas will not be re-issuing new Qantas Club membership cards and recommends you download the Qantas App to view your digital card which can be presented to the lounge team upon arrival at eligible airport lounges.

Complimentary lounge passes issued on or before 30 June 2021 and still valid as of 26 August 2021 will also receive a seven month extension.

Unfortunately this does not apply to lounge invites given to members for attaining or retaining silver status or via the Points Club Program.

If you have an eligible pass, the extension should now be visible on the Qantas website.

For more information about these extensions, visit Qantas here.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Qantas is rolling out a new campaign in appreciation of all COVID-19 vaccinated Aussies, for their part in helping the country step out of lockdowns.

The Australian airline is giving a big ‘thank you’ to the vaccinated community with some pretty cool rewards.

Starting from tomorrow, all fully vaccinated, Australian-based Qantas Frequent Flyers who are 18 years old and above will have the chance to claim a reward.

Just hop onto the Qantas App and choose one of three options. You could grab 1000 Qantas points, 15 status credits (which can give you a boost in moving up from Silver to Gold, and even Platinum tiers), or even get a $20 flight discount for your next Qantas or Jetstar flight.

Once you’ve claimed your reward, you will be automatically included in a mega prize draw. The winner gets to enjoy a year’s worth of flights, accommodation and, wait for it… free fuel!

There are ten mega prizes to be won, with one winner selected from each state and territory and two more winners as part of a national TV campaign.

Each lucky winner will get a year’s worth of flights that will take them to over 60 destinations around Australia. Free accommodation is part of the package too, in any of the 345 Accor hotels, resorts and apartments, which include renowned names like Sofitel, Pullman, Peppers, Mantra, Mercure, Mövenpick, Novotel and Ibis. And the cherry on top? Free fuel from any of bp’s 1,400 service stations across the country.

These winners will also have the chance to jet off to any Qantas and Jetstar international destination when borders start to open. Imagine the possibilities!

So how can you get in on this action?

Australians can claim their points, status credits, or flight discounts and be automatically entered in the mega prize draw by downloading the Qantas App (from the App Store or through Google Play).

You’ll need to use your Medicare app to access and upload your COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate and then select your reward of choice. Don’t worry about your certificate information; it will be deleted once verification is complete.

So, for all you adventure seekers, this is a golden opportunity to make the most out of your COVID-19 vaccination. After all, it’s not every day you get rewarded for doing your part in a pandemic. Safe travels, folks!

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Virgin Australia has overhauled its economy airfares to introduce three new fare types – Economy Lite, Economy Choice and Economy Flex – along with a new, simplified business class fare.

Following a review of fares, pricing and bookings which found that 30 per cent of customers did not use their checked baggage allowance, the airline is introducing an Economy Lite seat-only fare, giving travellers the option to remove the unwanted cost of checked baggage from their ticket price.

There’s also no seat selection with this fare type unless you’re a Platinum frequent flyer, it’s not upgradeable, and it doesn’t count as an eligible sector for earning Velocity status (though you’ll still earn points and status credits, albeit at a reduced rate).

Economy Lite seat selection can be purchased for $7-$10 until 3 hours before departure, when all remaining seats become available to select for free.

Travellers will continue to receive 23 kilograms of checked baggage and seat selection when they book an Economy Choice or Economy Flex fare.

Economy Choice will also offer bonus points and status credits and booking flexibility for changes up to 14 days prior to departure without paying a fee.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s included with each fare.

And here are the frequent flyer inclusions.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

In some uplifting news for frequent flyers, Qantas has announced that it will be extending its status support offer for top-tiered Frequent Flyer members who might be facing a possible tier downgrade.

This comes as a sigh of relief for travelers who, due to Australia’s ongoing border closures and domestic lockdowns, are finding it hard to accumulate the required Status Credits to maintain their membership status.

Qantas Frequent Flyer program comprises of five membership levels, starting from Bronze and culminating at Platinum One.

Each level comes with its own set of perks and benefits, with the offerings increasing as you ascend the ladder.

The difference between maintaining your Platinum status or dropping to Gold, or from Gold to Silver, can be significant in terms of member benefits.

In November last year, Qantas made a similar offer to its members who were at risk of dropping a tier.

Given the persistent travel challenges, it makes sense for the airline to extend this lifeline again.

This announcement by Qantas means that all Australian and New Zealand based tiered members (Silver and above) with a membership year ending on or before June 2022 can breathe a sigh of relief.

By simply booking an eligible flight before the end of their membership year, for travel until June 2022, they can secure their status for another year.

Once this offer is activated, Qantas will also roll over eligible Status Credits that members have earned this year into their new membership year.

This means that not only can members maintain their status, but they won’t lose out on the Status Credits they’ve managed to accrue in this challenging year.

At a time when the travel industry is facing unprecedented challenges, and travelers are having to adjust their expectations and plans, it’s heartening to see Qantas taking steps to support its most loyal customers. While the journey may be bumpy, it’s clear that Qantas is doing its best to ensure its frequent flyers don’t lose their wings.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Virgin Australia’s US partner Delta is cutting access to its domestic lounges for Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers from 1 September.

To date, Velocity Gold and Platinum members have been able to use Delta’s Sky Club lounges before taking a domestic US flight.

From 1 September 2021, they’ll only have access to Delta lounges when travelling in Delta One class (available on a limited number of routes), when departing on an international Delta flight or before a domestic flight that connects to an international one on the same day.

Delta’s definition of “international travel” excludes flights to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau or Saipan.

While few Aussies are travelling to the US right now, this change will sting when international travel recovers.

Delta Sky Club access for Australians who hold the American Express Platinum Card remains in place, so getting this card is a workaround for affected travellers.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Perth Airport has a new pay-to-enter lounge catering to charter and regional flights operated by Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines and Rex from Terminal 2.

A handy airside connector means other Virgin Australia passengers from Terminal 1 travelling interstate or within WA can also use this space.

The lounge is operated by Swissport International Ltd, which recently acquired the No1 Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The new Perth Aspire lounge offers comfortable seating and a relaxing atmosphere for 120 guests.

Given most customers are expected to be FIFO workers, the opening hours are currently 4am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Visitors enjoy complimentary food and drinks, including hot and cold meals as well as snacks.

Complimentary beer, wine and spirits are also on offer from 10am.

Lounge amenities also include a variety of digital magazines and newspapers, charging facilities, televisions, and free Wi-Fi.

Bathroom facilities are in the Terminal just outside the lounge.

To celebrate the opening of the space, travellers can take advantage of a special entry price of $22 during August, with standard pricing at $44 if purchased online ($49.50 walk up).

The lounge is expected to be added to the Priority Pass and DragonPass membership programs in time.

“We are excited to bring our renowned Aspire lounge brand to Perth Airport. It will make travelling for our guests as relaxing as possible. Our lounge products are carefully designed to meet the unique and evolving needs of our airport and airline partners,” says Brad Moore, Swissport’s Managing Director Australasia.

“The remote area workers that frequent Perth’s Terminal 2 will have access to a peaceful new space for socializing and dining, adding some extra comforts to the start of their journey,” he added.

“Pay-per-use lounges are becoming more popular at airports around the world,” says Perth Airport Chief Commercial Officer Kate Holsgrove. “It is great to be able to open the new Aspire Lounge to our regional passengers as a place to escape the hustle and bustle before their flight.”

A second Aspire lounge at Perth Airport’s Terminal 1 will launch later this year catering to international passengers.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter: