Fiji Airways first A350-900 XWB. Photo: Supplied THE ROUTE Sydney to Nadi, on the new plane’s delivery flight, ahead of its inaugural commercial flight. THE AIRCRAFT A $US320 million Airbus A350-900 XWB (extra wide body), the first of two to join the Fiji Airways fleet before Christmas. The airline will offer a daily A350-900 service from Sydney […]
Chinese Chicken Salad. Photo: Supplied THE PLANE Airbus A-330 THE ROUTE Sydney to Honolulu THE LOYALTY SCHEME Hawaiian Airlines’ program is called HawaiianMiles. The airline also has a points partnership with Virgin Velocity. Lie-flat seats. Photo: Supplied CLASS Business class, seat 3J. DURATION An overnight flight of 9 hours and 45 minutes GOING GREEN At the […]
There are no lie-flat seats in Jetstar’s business class. Photo: Supplied THE ROUTE Gold Coast to Seoul, South Korea THE AIRCRAFT Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner LOYALTY SCHEME You can earn points on Qantas Frequent Flyer depending on the type of fare you’ve booked. There are just 21 seats in three rows in the business cabin. CLASS Business, […]
LATAM Premium Business Class. Photo: Ignacio Galvez THE ROUTE LA802, Sydney to Santiago THE PLANE Boeing 787-9. Previously, LATAM used the 787-8 on the indirect service via Auckland, but it’s now using the newer 787-9 for all flights (direct and indirect) from Sydney. THE LOYALTY SCHEME LATAM Pass. LATAM is part of the Oneworld alliance, which includes Qantas. LATAM Premium […]
Nok Air. Photo: Alamy THE PLANE A Canada-built Bombardier Q400 twin-prop, also called a Dash 8, one of six in the Nok Air fleet. Nok means bird in Thai so the nose of every Nok Air plane is painted yellow to look like a beak. THE ROUTE Ranong in southern Thailand to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, the city’s low-cost airline hub. […]
The correct way to watch something on a plane: With headphones. THE ROUTE Sydney to Manila THE AIRCRAFT Airbus A330-300 LOYALTY SCHEME Mabuhay Miles (mabuhay is a Filipino greeting) earn points for Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights or hotels at PAL destinations only. Philippine Airlines’ A330-300 aircraft. Photo: Philippine Airlines CLASS Mabuhay (PAL’s business class) DURATION […]
This appears to be a new aircraft since it’s spotlessly clean. Photo: Supplied THE ROUTE Johannesburg to Jamestown (St Helena Island) THE AIRCRAFT Embraer E190 THE LOYALTY SCHEME Airlink is a member of parent company South African Airways’ (SAA) Voyager program. SAA code shares with Virgin Australia, allowing the latter’s Velocity Frequent Flyer members to […]
An Airbus A320-200 passenger jet, operated by South African Airlines (SAA), takes off from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Photo: Waldo Swiegers THE ROUTE Perth to Johannesburg THE AIRCRAFT Airbus A330-200 THE LOYALTY SCHEME SAA Voyager members can earn points and access all membership benefits on any Star Alliance airlines or Virgin Australia flights. […]
Business class meals on SAA. THE ROUTE Perth to Johannesburg THE PLANE Airbus 340-300 THE LOYALTY SCHEME Voyager. South African Airways (SAA) codeshares with Virgin Australia, allowing the latter’s Velocity Frequent Flyer members to earn and redeem miles and status credits on eligible flights. Miles can also be earned and redeemed on eligible flights with other […]
Economy class. Turkish Airlines ticks all the boxes for a great overnight flight. Photo: Supplied THE PLANE Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300, one of 33 in the airline’s fleet THE ROUTE Singapore to Istanbul CLASS Economy, window seat 31K Turkish Airlines. Photo: Chad Slattery LOYALTY SCHEME Miles & Smiles, part of the Star Alliance network. It’s […]
The dessert trolley on a United Airlines flight. Photo: Wayne Slezak United Airlines dessert trolley. United Airlines dessert trolley. United Airlines’ Polaris business class seats. Pecan tart and other assorted desserts on United. Photo: Kylie McLaughlin The cheese plate. Photo: Kylie McLaughlin United’s amenity kit, featuring products from Sunday Riley. Photo: Kylie McLaughlin Tomato soup […]
Find out what you’re in for with our Flight Test airline reviews. Photo: AP Taking a flight? Find out what to expect from your seat, service and route with our comprehensive airline reviews. A AirAsia X, Airbus A330, economy class AirAsia X, Airbus A330, premium flatbed Aircalin, Airbus A330neo, premium economy Air Canada, Boeing 777-200LR, […]
FlyDubai Boeing 737-800s takes off. Photo: Supplied THE ROUTE Flight EK2216/FZ735 Dubai to Almaty (Kazakhstan) THE AIRCRAFT FlyDubai operates a fleet of Boeing 737-800s (it also has 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft, but these remain grounded, restricting the airline’s capacity). CLASS Economy, seat 15C (aisle). THE LOYALTY SCHEME FlyDubai shares Emirates’ Skyward Miles […]
Business class on board Vietnam Airlines’ 787 Dreamliner. THE ROUTE VN773, Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney THE PLANE Boeing 787-900 THE LOYALTY SCHEME Lotus Miles, compatible with SkyTeam alliance Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Photo: Chad Slattery CLASS Business, seat 1D (aisle) DURATION 7 hours, 35 minutes GOING GREEN Vietnam Airlines is renewing its […]
Taiwan’s largest airline, China Airlines, is grounded after all pilots were put into quarantine to stop a COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: iStock Taiwan will quarantine all pilots for its largest carrier China Airlines for 14 days as it tries to stop an outbreak of COVID-19 among its crew, effectively grounding the airline, the health minister said […]
The Rex 737 at Melbourne Airport prior to take-off on the first Melbourne-Sydney flight. Photo: Sam Dagostino THE ROUTE Melbourne to Sydney THE AIRCRAFT Boeing 737-800 LOYALTY SCHEME The airline doesn’t have a loyalty program but plans to introduce one. A section called “Rex Flyer” is on the airline’s website but isn’t currently accessible. Masks […]
Economy seats on Alliance’s Fokker 70. THE ROUTE Melbourne to Gladstone, via Brisbane. Gladstone is the jumping off point to Heron Island, which you can reach by ferry (two hours) or by seaplane and chopper (25 to 30 minutes). An easy bus service connects passengers to the ferry port. THE AIRCRAFT Boeing 737-800 to Brisbane. Virgin codeshare […]