AFF on AIR Podcast Matt Graham - Australian Frequent Flyer Editor
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- Society & Culture
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AFF on Air is the Australian Frequent Flyer travel podcast featuring tips, tricks and chat for Australian travellers. Keep up with the latest airline, aviation & loyalty program news and learn the best Qantas Frequent Flyer & Virgin Australia Velocity point hacks! Hosted by Australian Frequent Flyer editor Matt Graham, this free fortnightly podcast features interviews with experts from the travel industry.
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Airline Alliances with Mark Ross-Smith
Have you ever wondered how airline alliances or hotel loyalty programs work behind the scenes?
In this episode, Matt is joined by an expert in loyalty programs, former Malaysia Airlines Enrich CEO and current StatusMatch.com CEO Mark Ross-Smith for a chat about the world of airline alliances.
Find out what airlines need to do in order to join an airline alliance such as Oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam, the pros & cons for airlines, and what happens if an airline wants to leave an alliance.
The discussion also covers priority boarding, Qantas lifetime status, the strange relationship between Qantas and Qatar Airways, the latest airline status matching trends, and more!
Episode contents:
1:29 - Fortnightly news round-up
11:41 - Interview with Mark Ross-Smith
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
Frequent Flyer Solutions webinars
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
Qantas Tightens Lounge Guest Eligibility
Velocity’s New Peak & Off-Peak Reward Seat Pricing
Ola Waves Goodbye to Velocity Partnership
Qantas to Introduce Boarding Groups
Qantas Launches Free Wifi on Select International Flights
Virgin Australia Introduces Real-Time Baggage Tracking
Rex Expands Jet Network to Hobart
ACCC Backs Flight Delay Compensation Scheme in Australia
Woolworths Devalues Everyday Extra
Great BA Premium & Business Award Availability to Singapore
Huge Qantas International Network Expansion in 2023
Qantas to Lease Finnair A330s for Singapore, Bangkok Flights
Batik Air Malaysia to Fly Perth-Auckland
Virgin to Fly Boeing 737-700s to Tokyo -
Tonga's First Female Airline Pilot
Matt sits down for an extended interview by Silva McLeod, Tonga’s first ever female airline pilot. After flying for Royal Tongan Airlines, Silva went on to fly in Auatralia for Aeropelican, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and ultimately Virgin Blue, which became Virgin Australia. But the journey from island girl to airline pilot, as Silva tells in her new book, wasn't an easy one.
Also in this episode, it's become easier to get to Hawaii with Velocity Frequent Flyer points.
Episode contents:
1:22 - Fortnightly news round-up
7:22 - Interview with Silva McLeod
52:12 - Redeeming Velocity points for Hawaiian Airlines flights
54:58 - Why Avios are useful for Australians
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
Book: 'Island Girl to Airline Pilot' by Silva McLeod
Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar - Avios for Aussies (8pm AEST on 25 May 2023)
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
United Expands Service to Australia & New Zealand
How to Fly Emirates Premium Economy in 2023
Free Singapore Transit Tours Are Back
ING Bank Removes Overseas ATM Fee Rebates
British Airways Increasing Avios Subscription Prices
Qantas’ Melbourne First Class Check-in Suite to Reopen
Transfer Points to Velocity for a 15% Bonus (May 2023)
Virgin Australia Extends Middle Seat Lottery -
The History of AFF
It's our 100th episode! To celebrate, we're taking a look back at the history of Australian Frequent Flyer forum, which this year will turn 25 years old.
This episode features interviews with AFF's founder Clifford Reichlin and one of the original forum moderators, Lindsay Wilson (QF WP). Today, AFF has over 60,000 members - but Lindsay was the third person to ever join.
Episode contents:
1:10 - Fortnightly news round-up
4:59 - Interview with Clifford Reichlin, the founder of AFF
19:29 - Interview with Lindsay Wilson (a.k.a. forum moderator "QF WP")
33:31 - We're opening the AFF archives
35:20 - Happy 100th episode!
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
A little bit of moderation in Dubai. (historical trip report from 2013)
A Brief History of Qantas Frequent Flyer
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
Fiji Airways Launches Canberra-Nadi Route
Hilton Honors Status Match Challenge
UK Air Passenger Duty: How to Avoid Paying Hundreds
Qatar Airways Quietly Extends Privilege Club Tiers (Again)
Last Chance to Earn Qantas Points with Quandoo -
Bonza Launches Flights in Australia + Qantas Double Status Credits
The AFF on Air podcast is back! While we were taking a summer break, a brand new airline called Bonza launched flights in the Australian market.
In this episode, Matt chats to the CEO of Bonza Tim Jordan to find out what's involved in starting a new airline in Australia, how the launch has been going, why the airline doesn't offer website bookings and what's next for Bonza's route network.
Also in this episode: Qantas has released a new Double Status Credits offer, and how to be notified when airlines release new reward seats.
Episode contents:
1:05 - Fortnightly news round-up
10:31 - Interview with Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza
34:19 - Qantas' latest "double status credits" offer
38:46 - Listener question: How to get alerted when airlines release new award availability
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
Matt's Bonza flight review
Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar - Everyone Loves an Upgrade (29 March 2023)
Make the Most of Qantas’ New Double Status Credits Offer
"oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
Buy & Redeem Virgin Atlantic Points for SkyTeam Flights
Qantas Expands China Airlines Redemptions Beyond Taipei
Emirates Restores Melbourne-Singapore Connection
Virgin Australia Business Flyer Status Match
Qantas Fixes Ongoing Reward Flight Ticketing Failures
These Are Etihad Guest’s New Award Charts
New International Lounge Opens at Adelaide Airport
Qantas Invests in New & Upgraded Lounges
New KrisFlyer Round-the-World Award Booking Service Fee
Citibank Cards End Emirates Skywards Transfers
Croatia is Now Part of the Schengen Area
Qatar’s New Mandatory Travel Insurance Requirement
Earn 250 Status Credits or 30,000 Extra Points with a Velocity Credit Card -
Where's All The Award Availability?
Struggling to redeem your frequent flyer points for flights? Matt chats to James Green from Award Flight Assist about the current situation with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines award availability out of Australia.
If you want to redeem your frequent flyer points to book an overseas trip, find out where to look for seats in this podcast.
Episode contents:
0:56 - Fortnightly news round-up
7:26 - Interview with James Green
28:30 - An update on Qantas Classic Reward seat availability
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
Qantas A330s Bound for Bali Over Summer
Singapore Airlines Releases First Saver Awards to Melbourne
Fly to South Africa via Paradise for $3,545 Return in Business Class
Beware of Virgin’s All-Economy 737s and A320s
Qantas Club Reopens in Rockhampton
You Can Now Convert Cathay Asia Miles to Marriott Points -
Air Canada's Underrated Frequent Flyer Program
In this episode, find out why Air Canada's Aeroplan program deserves more attention from Australian frequent flyers! Plus, learn how to supercharge your Coles Flybuys and Woolworths Everyday Rewards points.
Episode contents:
0:59 - Fortnightly news round-up
12:43 - Air Canada's Aeroplan program
23:00 - New Star Alliance credit card
27:09 - How to supercharge your Flybuys and Everyday Rewards points
Links:
AFF on Air Discussion thread - a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
Air Canada Aeroplan Adds Two Unique Airline Partners
New HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card in Australia
Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar - "Air Canada Aeroplan: A Hidden Gem" (23 November 2022)
Flybuys Hacks to Earn More Flights for Shopping at Coles
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
Does Australia Need EU-Style Air Passenger Protections?
Qatar Airways’ Bizarre Daily Melbourne-Adelaide Flight
Australia-USA Flights at 50% of Pre-COVID Capacity
How Finnair Is Reinventing Its Business Model
T’Way Air Launching Sydney-Seoul Flights
Use Qantas Points to Fly on Bangkok Airways
Jetstar Moving to Terminal 4 in Singapore
Customer Reviews
Very informative podcast!
Topics are interesting. News is timely. Host is warm and accessible. Well done!