Hello travellers,

We are finally home, although we have spent most of the week besieged by builders completing various aspects of our repairs and renovation.

The dust has mainly settled and been cleaned away. As with all building work, there are still a few issues and complications to resolve. That means another slightly disrupted week.

What happened last week?

The Qantas PR machine has been active as always. Customers with COVID credits are being contacted about their compensation; the proposed new First Lounge at Heathrow is now a dining space; the LAX First Lounge is closed due to water damage; and Qantas has changed the rules for Lounge Pass use.

Middle East airline Riyadh Air has now commenced flights, and we summarise reviewers’ opinions as Emirates rolls out newly refurbished Lounges. China Airlines from Taiwan is increasing its frequencies to Australia, and VietJet is rumoured to be making a bid to start a domestic airline in Australia.

A pilot has been murdered in West Papua, Indonesia, and Virgin Australia has broadened its Fly Ahead facility to include Economy passengers who purchased flexi fares. 

Next week

No travel for me next week. We have some house reorganising to do.

I promised to start the Canada reports, but they have been delayed until this coming week.

In the meantime, check your travel insurance is up to date, keep up your vaccinations, and travel safely.

Until next week . . .

Stephen

2PAXfly

RIYADH AIR: What are reviewers’ first impressions

By 2paxfly on 03 Jul 2026 5:03 pm

Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier, Riyadh Air, has now carried its first paying passengers in its own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The early verdict from critics is fairly consistent. Riyadh Air looks exceptionally good. It is serving food, drinks and attention at a level many established airlines would struggle to match. Its crew appear warm, professional […] Read in browser »

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA: Pilot killed and aircraft burned in remote highlands attack

By 2paxfly on 03 Jul 2026 9:21 am

An American pilot flying one of the small aircraft that keep Indonesia’s remote Papuan highlands connected has been killed after his Pilatus PC-6 Porter was attacked and burned at an isolated airstrip. This tragedy highlights the perils of flying into disputed areas, amid political turmoil. Captain Nicholas F. Gosselin was operating the Associated Mission Aviation […] Read in browser »

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: EconomyFlex fares gain free same-day Fly Ahead feature

By 2paxfly on 02 Jul 2026 2:49 pm

For those whose business meetings end early and want to get back home sooner, Virgin Australia is extending its Fly Ahead feature to eligible domestic Economy Flex passengers. This allows them to move to an earlier flight on the same day without paying a change fee or fare difference. It is a genuinely useful improvement, […] Read in browser »

EMIRATES: New-generation lounges roll out globally, but Sydney is still waiting

By 2paxfly on 01 Jul 2026 9:16 am

Emirates is rolling out a new ‘signature’ lounge concept across its global network, beginning with Munich and Frankfurt and continuing to Manchester, Mauritius and Istanbul later this year. The airline says it will spend more than AED50 million (AU$20 million) on each next-generation lounge. That is a substantial sum. Passengers will measure these lounges’ success […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: COVID credit class action means more than a million customers will receive payout notices

By 2paxfly on 30 Jun 2026 3:35 pm

More than one million Qantas customers are set to receive notices explaining how to claim compensation. These customers were issued flight credits, rather than refunds, for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firm Echo Law began contacting eligible customers on Monday, 29 June. This follows Qantas’ March settlement of a long-running class action. The […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: Flooding closes LAX First Lounge, premium dining moves next door

By 2paxfly on 30 Jun 2026 11:54 am

Qantas’ Los Angeles First Lounge has been temporarily closed by flooding, according to the Qantas Lounge page. That means the closure of one of the best overseas lounge experiences for premium passengers on the long trek to Australia. The airline has not set a reopening date on its lounge website. However, ET reports the closure […] Read in browser »

VIETJET: launching Australian airline to rival Qantas and Virgin

By 2paxfly on 30 Jun 2026 10:59 am

Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is reportedly seeking the approvals needed to launch an Australian subsidiary, in a move that could create a new domestic competitor for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. According to reporting by Ayesha de Kretser in the Australian Financial Review, VietJet has approached the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) about obtaining an […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: No First Lounge for London. Premier dining room instead

By 2paxfly on 29 Jun 2026 10:43 am

The original plan was to have a new First Class Lounge at London’s Terminal 3. It was to be ready for the debut of the Project Sunrise flights. Qantas has quietly shelved those plans, to the indignation of premium frequent flyers and passengers. Instead, the airline will refurbish and enlarge its existing two-level London lounge. […] Read in browser »

CHINA AIRLINES: More flights to Australia from October, 2026

By 2paxfly on 29 Jun 2026 9:30 am

Taiwan’s China Airlines is increasing flights to Australia from late October, giving travellers more non-stop choices between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Taipei. The headline act is Sydney, where China Airlines will lift its Taipei service to daily from 25 October 2026. Melbourne follows on 28 October with a fifth weekly flight, while Brisbane gains an […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: Lounge pass rules change from 1 July 2026

By 2paxfly on 29 Jun 2026 8:49 am

From Wednesday 1 July, Qantas will tighten the rules governing Complimentary Lounge Invitations, ending the long-standing ability to transfer a pass to any other Frequent Flyer member, regardless of whether they are travelling with you. If you have a stash of passes, you only have days to give them away! The passes, often referred to […] Read in browser »