Home Blog Page 51

Extended until 10 June: Velocity’s “record breaking” transfer offer

THL
-
0
Extended until 10 June: Velocity’s “record breaking” transfer offer

Velocity Frequent Flyer has extended its “best ever” transfer offer until 10 June, with up to 40% bonus points available on transfers from credit card and hotel partners, and flybuys – plus some credit card partners are offering additional boosters of 20-30%.

This is a good opportunity to boost your Velocity Points balance if you have a stash of points accumulating with one of the participating partners (note that this offer doesn’t apply to credit cards that automatically accrue Velocity Points).

Here’s how the promotion works.

For credit card transfers, Velocity is offering 15 – 40% bonus points, with the exact bonus size based on the amount of Velocity Points you receive following your partner’s usual transfer rate.

Here are the participating card partners, some of which are offering boosters in addition to the bonus points given by Velocity above:

  • Citibank Citi Rewards accounts – with a 20% booster offered by Citi
  • Diners Club Reward accounts – with an extra 20% booster
  • Bank of Queensland Q Rewards accounts (Platinum credit card holders only) – also with a 20% booster
  • Suncorp Bank Rewards accounts – also with a 20% booster
  • Card Services Rewards Accounts – also with a 20% booster
  • HSBC Rewards accounts (Platinum and Premier credit card holders only) – no booster
  • NAB Rewards accounts – no booster
  • Australian American Express Card Members enrolled in the Membership Rewards program (this offer excludes American Express New Zealand Card Members) – no booster.

Velocity is also offering 20% bonus points for ANZ, flybuys and hotel partners. This includes:

  • ANZ Reward Accounts – with an added 30% booster from ANZ
  • ANZ Business Reward Accounts –  with an added 20% booster from ANZ
  • flybuys
  • Le Club AccorHotels
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Shangri-La Golden Circle Awards
  • Starwood Preferred Guest.

The promotion now ends on 10 June 2018, which means that’s the last day to do a transfer. It usually takes a few days for the points to come across.

I’m a big fan of these kinds of offers, and we’ve been seeing Velocity offer 15%+ quite regularly.

If you want to get a card that earns a flexible points currency for the next time we see this kind of opportunity, my favourite is the Amex Explorer Credit Card: it has a very high points earn rate and lots of other valuable perks, and it’s my go-to card for everyday spend in Australia. Right now, you can pick up 50,000 bonus points.

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

Leaked photos: Air Tahiti Nui’s new Dreamliner cabins and livery

THL
-
0
Leaked photos: Air Tahiti Nui’s new Dreamliner cabins and livery

Last week I wrote about the news that Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now redeem Qantas Points to fly with Air Tahiti Nui on its Auckland and Los Angeles routes. This opens up a handy new way for Australians and New Zealanders to travel to Tahiti and California using their Qantas Points.

Air Tahiti Nui’s fleet currently comprises five old A340s, but these will soon be replaced by four new 787-9 Dreamliners. The first 787 is expected to arrive in October and the remainder by the end of 2019, at which time the advanced plane will fully take over all routes.

A couple of days ago, we finally got a glimpse of what the new Dreamliners will look like, via what appear to be authentic photos leaked on Twitter. First up, here is the aircraft livery: surely one of the beautiful designs in the sky.

And here’s a shot of the business class cabin, which will feature lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 layout.

While 2-2-2 in business class is hardly ideal if you’re a solo passenger at a window seat, I’d guess that most people travelling to Tahiti will be couples or groups going on holiday. The seat is a significant improvement over the airline’s current A340 angled business class seats.

Ait Tahiti Nui is introducing premium economy with its new Dreamliners, which will feature a 2-3-2 layout.

Finally, here’s economy in a 3-3-3 layout, with a standard 31 inch pitch (distance from seat back to seat back).

What do you think? I am definitely inspired to book a trip to Tahiti using my Qantas Points!

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

Fare deal: Jakarta to Milan in business class with Qatar Airways for $1730 return

THL
-
0
Fare deal: Jakarta to Milan in business class with Qatar Airways for $1730 return

Qantas partner and oneworld member Qatar Airways is offering super cheap business class fares from Jakarta to Milan, going for as low as $1730 return.

If you have the flexibility to make your own way to Jakarta (or get a travel agent to arrange additional flights from/to Australia), this is a great opportunity to arrive in Europe in style, and also pocket some handy Qantas Points and status credits in the process.

By my calculations, you’ll get 14,500 points and 320 status credits, which is about halfway to gold status.

As a bonus, fares are available during the peak northern summer travel period and all the way through to November.

You’ll need to hurry, as the sale may not last long.

You can search for fares on the Qatar Airways website – look for days where a one-way fare is ~9,000,000 Indonesian rupiah – or get a travel agent to help.

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

You can now use Qantas Points to fly to Tahiti with Air Tahiti Nui

THL
-
0
You can now use Qantas Points to fly to Tahiti with Air Tahiti Nui

Qantas has opened up access to reward seats with partner Air Tahiti Nui, enabling Qantas Frequent Flyers to travel to Papeete, Tahiti and beyond to Los Angeles, using their Qantas Points.

Previously members were only able to earn Qantas Points on QF marketed / Air Tahiti Nui operated flights.

Now, for the first time, members can book a classic flight reward seat with Air Tahiti Nui on the following routes:

  • Auckland to Papeete (22,500 points in economy; 50,000 in business)
  • Papeete to Los Angeles (28,000 points in economy; 60,000 in business)
  • Auckland to Los Angeles (40,000 points in economy; 84,000 in business)

By adding a Qantas connecting flight from Australia to Auckland, the cost goes up a bit (e.g. from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Papeete via Auckland, you’ll need 28,000 points in economy and 60,000 in business).

I had a play on the Qantas website and found a smattering of dates with business class seats available on some routes (with better availability in economy), but there are some glitches with online searches right now.

For example, some results from Australia to Tahiti came back with routings via Los Angeles or with unnecessary domestic connections within Australia.

Also, the system wouldn’t accept one-way searches departing PPT. I reached out to Qantas about this and a spokesperson advised they are working on these issues.

If you’re trying to compose an itinerary yourself using the multi-city tool, be aware that this may bring up other problems.

My advice is to call Qantas to book if you aren’t able to do so on its website.

Air Tahiti Nui’s fleet comprises five A340-300s, which are currently being phased out in favour of new 787-9 Dreamliners.

The new aircraft will begin services at the end of this year and should fully take over by the end of 2019.

Both types of aircraft feature a 2-2-2 layout in business class (angled, in the case of the A340s, but fully flat on the Dreamliners).

A preliminary design of Ait Tahiti Nui’s new business class seat

Economy in the new Dreamliners will be in a 3-3-3 config, with a standard 31 inch pitch (distance from seat back to seat back).

Customers travelling in business, Qantas Club members and frequent flyers with gold status and above, and their guests, will have access to the Air Tahiti Business lounge in Papeete.

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

Earn triple Qantas Points on hotel bookings until Sunday

THL
-
0
Earn triple Qantas Points on hotel bookings until Sunday

Qantas is offering a generous 9 Qantas Points per A$1 spent on hotel bookings made through its portal until this Sunday. That’s triple the usual earn rate of 3 points per dollar.

This is a great opportunity to boost your points balance if you have a trip coming up.

I generally advise people to use Qantas Hotels only if they’re not chasing loyalty status or claiming loyalty perks with a hotel chain (which would normally require making bookings directly with the hotel), or if they’re not already accumulating benefits with an online travel agent (OTA) loyalty program, like that of Hotels.com, where you can get 1 free night for every 10 booked – effectively a 10% discount.

If you do want to use Qantas Hotels, first compare the prices with other OTAs, as occasionally I’ve noticed that Qantas Hotels can be more expensive.

The triple points promotion ends 11:59pm (AEST) this Sunday 27 May 2018. More information is available at Qantas Hotels.

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

Qantas website misquoting prices for some reward bookings [Updated]

THL
-
0
Qantas website misquoting prices for some reward bookings [Updated]

When trying to make a reward booking on the Qantas website last week, I was surprised to come across a glitch that was pricing my itinerary at ~50,000 more Qantas Points than it “should”.

I wanted to fly Toronto to Melbourne in business class, and my initial search for a reward seat on Qantas’ website came up empty.

But after doing some more research, I found several combinations of individual flights that could make this itinerary work, so I tried to compose the itinerary myself using the multi-city booking tool (this is a handy trick for those who aren’t aware of it).

The way this should work, and how it has for me in the past, is that, so long as the transit time between flights in a ‘multi city’ booking is less than 24 hours, they will be treated as connections, and the itinerary will be priced based on the distance travelled, as per Qantas’ award table.

Instead, the Qantas website priced each flight segment as an independent trip – which of course made the whole booking much more expensive.

I was quoted ~180,000 points from memory, when it should have been 128,000.

Yesterday I realised that other people were experiencing the same problem (see this discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum).

There’s no warning or disclaimer on Qantas’ website, despite the fact people may be being overcharged and can avoid this by calling Qantas to book over the phone instead.

If you’ve been overcharged or are planning to make a “multi-city” booking that includes connecting flights, make sure to do so by calling the airline – and, of course, insist that it waives its usual phone booking fee.

Update 24 May: A Qantas spokesperson has advised that this issue has been resolved and the Qantas website is now accurately displaying prices. Qantas also states that, despite the prices being misquoted, members were not overcharged because when members actually booked, the correct number of points was deducted. 

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

Heading to Vivid Sydney? Enjoy these benefits with your American Express card

THL
-
0
Heading to Vivid Sydney? Enjoy these benefits with your American Express card

Sydney’s popular festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, returns next week to mark its 10-year anniversary.

The 23-day festival will run from 25 May to 16 June and will again include a free public exhibition of outdoor lighting sculptures and installations, as well as a contemporary music program and creative industry forums.

American Express once again joins Vivid Sydney as a Vivid Partner, and Amex card members will be able to enjoy a range of perks during the festival.

First up, card members will be able to kick back in the American Express Lounge, located at a new venue – Level 3 at Cruise Bar Roof Top, Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay.

In the lounge you’ll be able to enjoy some complimentary food whilst taking in the views of the harbour and Opera House. Entry is free and card members may bring in one guest (two if you hold the American Express Platinum Card or Centurion Card).

Vivid Sydney is also at Taronga Zoo this year, where it’s shining a light on conservation and the wonders of wildlife with a display of light sculptures. Amex card members have access to benefits like a 10% discount on Lights for the Wild tickets, a complimentary American Express Sky Pass for the Sky Safari Cable Car, and more.

Amex has also released several money-saving offers that card members should save to their accounts pronto:

  • David Jones – get $10 back on purchases of $50 or more in one transaction in-store at participating Sydney-based David Jones locations by 30/06/2018. Limited to the first 50,000 cards to save the offer.
  • Sydney Ferries & Light Rail – get $5 back when you spend $10 or more, in one or more transactions, by tapping your card on Opal reader when you travel on Sydney Ferries F1-F8 or Sydney Light Rail L1. Limited to 30,000 cards.
  • Taronga Zoo – get $10 back when you spend $20 or more, in one transaction, in-person at Zoo shops or participating cafe and restaurants at Taronga Zoo Sydney by 30/06/2018. Limited to 30,000 cards.
  • Dimmi – save $20 when you spend $50 or more at a participating Dimmi restaurant, when you dine between 15 May 2018 and 30 June 2018. Limited to the first 25,000 bookings.

Be quick to save these offers to your card (via the offers tab in the Amex app or this webpage) and check out the T&Cs here.

For all the details about Amex’s partnership with Vivid, check out: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/vivid/

If you’re not yet an Amex card member, check out our favourite cards and offers here. 

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

Review: Thai Airways 737 domestic business class (“Royal Silk Class”)

THL
-
0
Review: Thai Airways 737 domestic business class (“Royal Silk Class”)

When booking a trip from Bangkok to Koh Samui recently, I had the choice of flying with Thai Airways or the boutique airline Bangkok Airways.

I ended up choosing the former as it’s a Star Alliance member and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was offering business class seats for only $100 more than economy (~AUD$300 in business class or ~AUD$200 in economy, one way).

I was intending to fly economy, since the flight only lasts an hour (I can cope for that long!), but the small price difference made me reassess those plans.

Not only would business class be more comfortable, but I’d also get lounge access and a bigger baggage allowance, which I actually needed.

So, after mulling it over briefly, I decided business class was good deal and booked a seat at the pointy end of one of Thai Airways’ 737-400s.

So, was the extra cost worth it? I think so!

Here’s my combined review of the flights to and from Koh Samui.

The pre-flight experience  

Check-in at both Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Koh Samui Airport were a breeze, with dedicated business class check-in counters and no queues, followed by a fast track through security.

At Bangkok airport I relaxed in the spacious and comfortable Thai Airways domestic business class lounge.

It comprises a dining space with a solid selection of drinks and snacks, and a quieter garden-themed area where a small selection of drinks was available (but note that alcohol is not served in the lounge).

On the return leg, I enjoyed the delightful Blue Ribbon lounge at Koh Samui Airport, which is actually operated by Bangkok Airways but welcomes Thai Airways business class passengers and Priority Pass members.

The Koh Samui lounge comprises one moderately-sized space (pictured above), with a range of tasty self-service snacks and drinks available, as well as an a la carte drinks service (no alcohol, but fresh coconuts!).

The Bangkok lounge was moderately busy, whereas the Koh Samui lounge was relatively quiet.

In Bangkok, oddly, there were no boarding announcements in the lounge, while in Koh Samui one of the staff personally informed me when boarding commenced for my flight.

The cabin and seat

The 737 business class cabin has 12 seats arranged in a 2-2 layout across three rows, with a curtain separating the cabin from economy (where the layout is 3-3).

Upon boarding, there were plenty of Thai Airways’ trademark colours on display, especially in the economy cabin (it’s not often that you board a plane to find the business class seats looking a bit drab compared to economy!).

Row 3 (business class) and row 4 (economy) 

The 737 business class seat

On both flights, the planes were showing their age, with a lot of wear and tear in the cabin and seats.

The recliner seats are 20 inches wide with foot rests and modest leg room (seat pitch is 36 inches) – but that space quickly evaporates when the person in front reclines.

Not much leg room when the person in front reclines

On both flights, staff requested (and enforced) that passengers not recline their seats during the meal service so the tray tables stored in the armrests could be used.

There was no in-flight entertainment, except perhaps music (I neglected to try it out).

The seat controls – indicative of the aircraft’s age!

The dining and service

I was warmly greeted by the friendly crew upon boarding and offered a drink of water, orange juice or iced tea.

The crew also handed out cold towels on the first flight and warm towels on the second.

Despite it being such a short flight, a hot meal was served, which was a noodle dish in both directions.

On the first flight, the main dish was accompanied by a mango bubble tea while on the second flight I enjoyed a delicious whipped cream, orange and pistachio dessert with my main.

Lunch on the first flight

Lunch on the second flight

The crew finished the meal service by offering coffee and tea.

Summing up

I enjoyed the short 737 business class flights, even though the planes were old and a bit shabby.

The service and meals were excellent, and I appreciated the priority check-in, lounge access and extra baggage allowance.

If you find yourself flying domestically with Thai Airways, a modest price difference between business class and economy could make business class a good deal, especially if you value the extra perks that come with business class.

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

1...505152...63Page 51 of 63