Australia is looking to curb credit card costs to help businesses but that comes at the cost of frequent flyer points and Qantas bottom line. A Push to Lower Costs for Businesses The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is...
Photo Essay: Springtime In Sydney
I recently spent a day in Sydney, Australia and want to share a photo essay from my springtime afternoon walk through the city. Springtime In Sydney Photo Essay After arriving in Sydney around 6:30 am, I made my way...
Booked! An A380 Australia Trip On Qantas
My tree issue at home has prompted a lot of trip cancellations, but I was not about to let first class award space on Qantas go, even if that meant the briefest of trips to Australia. Booked: A Round-Trip...
How Australia Justifies Blocking Qatar Airways Expansion
The way I see it, there is a pretext and a subtext to explore in analyzing the “context” of a recent decision of the Australian government to deny a bid from Qatar Airways to expand service to Australia. Australia...
True Story: Woman Fined $1,800 For Not Declaring Subway Sandwich At Customs
Australia takes the importation of food very seriously. Don’t try it…even a half-eaten Subway sandwich you bought at the airport. One woman learned the hard way with an $1,800 fine for failing to declare her chicken sandwich. Woman Fined...
United Airlines Announces New Service To Brisbane, Australia
United Airlines will add a new dot to its international route map with year-round service between San Francisco and Brisbane launching the fall, a sign of United’s deepening partnership with Virgin Australia. United Airlines Will Launch Brisbane – San...
Australia International Arrivals Experience (2022)
A friend of mine flew to Australia earlier today and shared his international arrivals experience with me, which I found so immensely helpful I want to share it with all of you. Entering Australia right now is still pretty...
Novak Djokovic Flies Home On Emirates + Flydubai After Deportation From Australia
Tennis star Novak Djokovic has returned to his native Belgrade via Emirates to Dubai connecting on Flydubai to Belgrade after a judge upheld the Australian government’s decision to revoke his visa and deport him. Djokovic is unvaccinated. Novak Djokovic...
Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Detained After Australia Revokes His Visa After Arrival Into Melbourne
Novak Djokovic, world’s number one tennis payer, flew halfway around the world only to encounter border officials who revoked his visa and detained him upon arrival into Melbourne, Australia. Officials downplay politics but the revocation comes after public fury...
Don’t Get Your Hopes Up About Traveling To Australia…
Fresh speculation about travel to Australia has made headlines in recent days after the Premier of New South Wales indicated his state, which includes Sydney, would re-open to international visitors starting on November 1st. But don’t get your hopes...
Australia Reverts To Its Penal Colony Roots
To my brothers and sisters in Australia, I can only offer you my heartfelt condolences. Being a prisoner in your own country is a sad reality and it looks like there is no end in sight. While the government...
Qantas Signs Own Death Warrant With COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
Qantas, the Australian flag carrier, announced this week that they would require all travelers on its flights to have a COVID-19 vaccine. A move that would surely be Qantas’ undoing. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Outrage In Australia After Nicole Kidman Dodges Mandatory Hotel Quarantine
Australia requires all incoming international travelers to quarantine for 14-days upon arrival at a hotel under close supervision…unless you are Nicole Kidman or other well-connected celebrities. That has sparked outrage across Australia, but is Kidman really the one to...
Is Qatar Airways Forcing People To Buy Business Class Seats If They Want To Travel To Australia?
Australia currently caps international arrivals at 50 passengers per flight, no matter how large the aircraft is. This has created a potential business opportunity for Qatar Airways (and every other airline serving Australia): buy business class or stay behind…...
Fabulous First Class Award Option To Australia Returns
Japan Airlines (JAL) is restoring first class service to Australia, representing a remarkable opportunity to enjoy first class using miles. As of September 1, 2020, Japan Airlines will add a daily 777-300ER flight between Tokyo Haneda and Sydney. The...
United Slashes Flights To Australia
United Airlines will reduce its Los Angeles and Houston flights to Sydney during the Australian winter. Citing lower demand during the northern summer season, United will serve Sydney four times weekly from Houston and three times weekly from Los...
Vivid Sydney, A Spectacular Light Show
My stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney happened to coincide with Vivid Sydney, a spectacular annual light show. Vivid Sydney is an “annual outdoor lighting festival with immersive light installations and projections in Sydney.” It began in 2009 as...
Where to Eat Near Park Hyatt Sydney
Earlier today I published my review of the Park Hyatt Sydney, a tremendous waterfront hotel in Sydney. But I know many of you are like me: you love nice hotels using points, but don’t want to spend the money...
How I Scored an Amazing Upgrade at Park Hyatt Sydney
It was a dark and stormy night in Sydney. We had checked in late to the Park Hyatt Sydney after our train ride from Canberra and were cold. Small problem. Our heater in the room didn’t work. And the...
Canberra to Sydney by Train
My uncle and I had a disagreement: I wanted to fly, he wanted to take a train. Spoiler alert: we took the train. This review covers my train trip from Canberra to Sydney. It wasn’t that I was opposed...
