WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 7 June, 2027
Greetings again from Canada! I’ve spent just shy of a week in the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
I’ve also had my first experience of Air Canada, and its Express and Rouge brands. I’m impressed on the whole with their Business Class. Less so by their lounges.
What happened last week?
Don’t forget to claim any remaining travel credits with Virgin Australia. You only have until the end of the month to claim and spend. No reprieve for customers, unlike for VA corporate affairs executive Christian Bennett.
Qantas is trialling automated gates on select flights out of Sydney’s T3 and celebrating the first test flight of its still-at-least-a-year-away A350-100ULR Project Sunrise aircraft.
If you are arriving on certain Qantas international flights into Melbourne, you may get to complete a digital Travel Declaration online within the Qantas app. Finally, I have a look in an ‘Explainer’ post at the difference between narrow-body and wide-body aircraft we most frequently see at Australian airports.
Next week
More Canadian travels for me. I have a few more cities to cover before heading back to Sydney.
In the meantime, check your travel insurance is up to date, keep up your vaccinations, and travel safely.
Until next week . . .
EXPLAINER: What’s the difference between narrow-body versus widebody aircraft?
By 2paxfly on 06 Jun 2026 6:30 am
It used to be largely true that wide-body aircraft were for long-haul flights and narrow-body aircraft were for short-haul flights. Bue recently, and especially since the advent of the Airbus A321XLR, that distinction no longer holds. What largely holds is the level of comfort and service provided on the different-sized bodies. Here is an explainer. […] Read in browser »
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Corporate affairs head demonstrates double standards on social media
By 2paxfly on 04 Jun 2026 7:35 am
This story was reported by Hannah Wootton, in the AFR. As you will see, there are now deleted posts involved, making this difficult to verify independently. However, the AFR is a journal of record and demonstrates traditional journalistic ethics, so I am inclined to trust their reporting. Since he’s Virgin Australia’s chief corporate affairs officer, […] Read in browser »
QANTAS: Project Sunrise, test flights start, certification and other delays
By 2paxfly on 03 Jun 2026 7:35 am
On the day Qantas celebrates the successful maiden test flight of the first Project Sunrise Airbus A350-1000ULR, I thought it might be timely to look more closely at the project. Below, I examine publicly available information and other possible reasons for the delay in the aircraft and project launches. The airline’s first Airbus A350-1000ULR has […] Read in browser »
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Last chance to claim Travel Credits from COVID-19 period
By 2paxfly on 02 Jun 2026 11:59 pm
If you still have a Virgin Australia COVID-era travel credit sitting unloved in your digital bottom drawer, it’s your final boarding call. Credits issued for cancelled flights between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022 expire on 30 June 2026. And here is the kicker, Virgin says you don’t just need to book by 30 […] Read in browser »
QANTAS: Trialing automated gates in Sydney at T3
By 2paxfly on 02 Jun 2026 8:00 am
“Computer says no” is coming to a Qantas departure gate near you. The airline is trialling automated boarding gates at Sydney Airport’s domestic Terminal 3, with the machines set to do what gate agents have been trying to do for years: enforce Group Boarding without having to smile through clenched teeth. Qantas trial at Gate […] Read in browser »
BORDER FORCE: Melbourne Airport pilots digital Australia Travel Declaration form with Qantas
By 2paxfly on 02 Jun 2026 1:45 am
Why is it so difficult for Australia to digitise its Travel Declaration card? I certainly don’t know. But apparently, given this is at least the third try, it is. The Australian Border Force is piloting (again) the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form, you know that yellow form we all have to fill out before entering […] Read in browser »
Recent Articles:
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 31 May, 2026
QANTAS: Expands points redemptions on Philippine Airlines
JETSTAR: Consumer protections threaten airline’s existence
STARLUX: Taiwan’s ‘luxury’ airline to fly to Sydney and Auckland
What did you say?