by admin | Apr 3, 2025 | air travel, airline industry, flights, flying, money
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FURTHER DETAILS: Changes for Qantas Passengers – What It Means for Frequent Flyers
An Australian youngster has revealed his method of traveling at no cost by utilizing Woolworths reward points.
The team at Solo, a business management application by MYOB, interviewed typical Australians to ask them about their top tips for saving money.
One clever buyer mentioned he was making money as
Qantas
frequently used flyer miles using the
Woolworths
Everyday Rewards scheme.
“I mostly purchase gift cards from Woolworths for just about everything, and I utilize the reward points to cover all my expenses related to international trips,” he explained.
‘It’s quite nice since you don’t have to pay for flying.’
Daily Benefits is a customer loyalty initiative managed in Australia and
New Zealand
by Woolworths Group.
Participants can accumulate points within the program by purchasing items from Woolworths, Big W, BWS, MyDeal, Everyday Market, along with partners Ampol and Origin Energy.
Members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program can
convert 2,000 Everyday Rewards points earned into 1,000 frequent flyer points as part of a partnership between the two companies.
Other TikTokers noticed that the guy got twice the number of Woolworths rewards points for spending the same amount using this trick.
“Pause here. Does this mean that if I purchase gift cards and utilize my reward points, then pay for my groceries using those gift cards, I will be able to use my reward points once more?” he questioned.
Other people verified that it was accurate.
One suggested: ‘When purchasing a gift card, scan your rewards card; then again when using the gift card to buy groceries. This way, you can earn reward points twice for the same expenditure,’
‘Another person expressed, “This has completely transformed my life.”‘
The Woolworths Everyday Rewards scheme frequently
provides additional points on certain gift cards but excludes most of them.
However, during promotional periods, customers can earn anywhere from 10 to 20 extra Everyday Reward points for each dollar they spend on qualifying gift cards.
Typically, 1,000 Qantas points are equivalent to approximately $20.
redeeming for flights
.
Frequent flyers can currently
reserve a business class trip from Sydney to Singapore using 68,400 points.
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by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | air travel, flights, flying, news, workers
Flight attendants working for EasyJet out of a major vacation spot are scheduled to go on strike the following week.
The strike is scheduled to begin on April 9 from 10:30 pm to 2:30 am, causing further disruption to air travel for British people planning vacations.
Italy
for some Spring sunshine.
The upcoming four-hour strike scheduled for next week has been organized by the Italian Federation of Transport Workers (FILT), the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), and the Italian Union of Transport (UIL).
Even though the industrial action lasts only briefly, it might result in significant costs for EasyJet and lead to travel disruptions lasting several hours post-action.
Anton Radchenko, who serves as both an international lawyer and the CEO of AirAdvisor, a firm specializing in compensation expertise, suggests that the strikes might trigger a ‘domino effect’ throughout the sector should aircraft be grounded, resulting in flight cancellations.
Mr. Radchenko clarified that even if the flights are only postponed, this could cause subsequent aircraft to also experience delays in their scheduled departures. As a result, travel to and from the United Kingdom might encounter extended holdups.
Mr. Radchenko stated, “Strikes initiated by flight attendants can have highly detrimental effects on an airline’s daily functioning.”
This is due to the fact that flight attendants play a crucial role in the services offered by commercial airlines. They ensure passengers enjoy their flights while also verifying that safety equipment functions correctly and conducting demonstrations of emergency procedures,” he explained.
The Daily Mirror
.
Mr. Radchenko asserts that protests regarding work environment and compensation might turn 2025 into an ‘all-encompassing disaster for airlines’ across the industry.
In last month, visitors traveling through Italy encountered an episode of labor unrest involving easyJet pilots along with employees from Assohandlers, an organization representing baggage handlers and ground personnel at key airports.
Prior to that, a nationwide general strike on March 8 led to significant disruptions in travel.
Last month, employees of Finland’s main carrier, Finnair, also went on strike, leading to the cancellation of 70 flights in a single day.
Mr. Radchenko clarified that passengers can claim compensation ranging from £220 to £520 if their flight gets canceled or experiences a delay of over three hours as a result of strike actions.
He encouraged all travelers experiencing delays or cancellations on April 9 to utilize Air Advisor’s free compensation calculator to determine their potential entitlements prior to submitting a claim.
In a statement to MailOnline, EasyJet said: “We have officially been notified about a four-hour strike involving certain Italian airport-based transportation worker unions on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. This action is anticipated to affect some operations at Milan and Naples airports.”
‘We would like to reassure customers that we are doing all possible to minimise any disruption as a result of the strike action and should any flights be impacted we will be contacting customers directly with their options to help rearrange their plans.’
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by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | airfares, flights, flying, software and applications, Travel
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EXPLORE FURTHER: As a physician, here are the drugs you should definitely steer clear of before boarding a plane
Skyscanner has always been recognized as the destination for finding the most affordable flights, and now they’re providing a new opportunity to secure an even better deal.
The application has introduced a new feature named DROPS, designed to locate return flights that have decreased in price by at least 20 percent over the past seven days.
Available exclusively through the revamped app, this feature can help vacationers save both time and up to several hundred pounds when making flight reservations.
To secure these discounted fares, all users need to do is visit the DROPS tool and enter their departure location.
The application goes through an extensive database of travel costs to identify the most significant decreases in flight prices, which must be at least a 20 percent reduction for destinations around the globe.
For instance, when MailOnline Travel examined the situation,
Skyscanner app
, and utilized the DROPS tool to search for flights in May 2025. We discovered routes from New York to
Gatwick
For £404, which is £315 less than £719.
We likewise discovered a returning flight to Ibiza from
London
The price at City Airport decreased by almost £200, dropping from £830 to £639.
There were significant discounts on other flights to various European cities departing from London’s airports as well.
We discovered savings of up to £68 for Krakow, with flights available at an incredible price of £48.
Fare for flights to Pisa was decreased by £87.
People traveling from Birmingham and Liverpool airports might also benefit from significant discounts.
Fares for flights departing from Birmingham to Verona this month have decreased by £153, whereas tickets heading to Alicante in April showed a reduction of £45.
Regarding the new tool, Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, stated: “Our aim is to assist budget-savvy travelers in discovering and reserving their upcoming crucial journey effortlessly and with assurance.”
‘Using DROPS, they gain effortless access to fantastic deals right at their fingertips, ensuring they get great bargains.’
The feature from Skyscanner that scans as many as 80 billion prices daily can be found in version 7.135 of their application available on the app store.
Read more
by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | air travel, aviation, civil aviation, flights, flying
Ryanair is seeking £5 million in damages from Britain’s air traffic control authority following disruptions affecting approximately 700,000 passengers. The incident occurred because an off-site engineer was unable to log in due to forgetting his password.
The technician tried for over an hour to access the system remotely and resolve a malfunction at the National Air Traffic Service.
He found it difficult to log in from afar as the system had malfunctioned, thus refusing to acknowledge his password.
The specialist finally got into his vehicle and started driving toward the Southampton headquarters during the August 2023 bank holiday weekend.
However, due to traffic jams, his trip lasted for 95 minutes, by which point flights were being canceled across the nation.
Ryanair claims NATS
It took three hours for the company to be notified about the issue.
resulting in 1,000 of its flights being delayed or canceled.
The airline based in Ireland has charged NATS with neglect and is demanding approximately £4.52 million as compensation, along with covering legal expenses and interest on damages.
The Sun reported
.
The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, criticized NATS engineers during a discussion at the time, saying they were lounging ‘in their pajamas at home’ over one of the most hectic holiday periods of the year.
He characterized the managers at NATS as ‘numpties,’ stating that they were responsible for the ‘breakdown’ of the system and had neglected to provide adequate warnings to airlines.
Last year, a report issued by the Civil Aviation Authority urged technicians to operate from the headquarters indefinitely.
As numerous vacationers found themselves stranded at airports or aboard planes, experts turned to a remote senior engineer for guidance. However, this individual also struggled to comprehend the root cause of the systemic failure.
Ultimately, four hours following the original incident, a call was made to Frequentis Comsoft, the system’s German manufacturer, leading to the identification of the problem.
Once resolved, the backlog had grown so large that numerous passengers didn’t board their flights for several days afterward, resulting in vacations being shortened or canceled entirely.
The investigation revealed that the NATS system failed when attempting to
devise an unconventional flight path from Los Angeles to Paris that includes entering British airspace.
.
This occurred due to two ‘waypoints’ on the route — Devil’s Lake in North Dakota and Deauville in France — having identical three-letter codes.
The system got perplexed as the initial flight plan seemed to indicate it would exit UK airspace for Deauville even before arriving.
In just 20 seconds after getting the plan, both the primary processor and its backup shut down as they were unable to resolve what seemed like an impossible path.
The flight plan processing subsequently switched back to a manual system, which led to a decrease in the hourly handled flights from 800 to only 60.
The investigation report stated: “The repercussions of the failure were significant. The CAA approximated that more than 700,000 travelers and individuals faced disruptions due to the issue, which persisted for multiple days, leading to substantial financial and emotional impacts.”
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | air travel, airline industry, flights, flying, Travel
From the cabin temperature to disruptive passengers sitting nearby, various factors can cause anxiety among nervous fliers, according to a recent survey.
Larger seating, meditation applications, and calming music are alternative features that could assist in easing travelers’ anxieties.
Selecting the appropriate airline can significantly impact your experience. By examining safety records and onboard amenities, a luggage storage company
Bounce
has listed the top airlines suitable for passengers who experience anxiety during flights.
Three of the top 10 spots were held by European airlines.
What causes discomfort for passengers during flights?
Bounce polled more than 2,000 travelers to identify which elements of air travel have the biggest effect on passengers during their trips.
More than 50% of travelers mention loudchildren as an issue.
turbulence
Make their flight experience unpleasant. This figure is more than twice as high as the number of individuals who find crowded airplane restrooms distressing.
Randomly assigned seats make nearly one in every three individuals uneasy. Women are more prone to feeling discomfort about this arrangement, with over 31 percent expressing unease, as opposed to fewer than a quarter of men.
While serving too much
alcohol
Only approximately one in five individuals find this issue troubling. Concerns over heavy alcohol serving increase more than twofold as people get older. About one in every six persons within the 18-24 age group feels uncomfortable because of this, whereas nearly a third of those aged 65 and above share these worries.
The top airlines globally for anxious flyers
Based on the survey findings, Bounce identified the aspects within an airline’s control that contribute to enhancing passenger comfort.
The firm evaluated leading airlines based on various criteria such as Skytrax rating for assessing the performance of flight attendants, data related to seating arrangements, and the level of assistance provided to travelers.
Singapore Airlines tops the list with flawless reviews.
safety
One notable aspect is its economy class seat width of 47 cm, the broadest among the top 10, providing greater space for comfort during lengthy trips.
Although Singapore Airlines does not have a specific nervous flier support program, it still offers various amenities.
in-flight
Meditation Playlists: Our selections feature specially crafted Spotify playlists with natural soundscapes along with calming instrumental collections known for their gentle beats.
In the second position, Korean Air offers one of the most spacious economy class seats with a pitch of 82.5 cm. Additionally, it shares top honors with Singapore Airlines for safety, achieving a flawless 7/7 score, along with receiving a commendable 5/5 rating from airlines reviews.
Rounding out the top three is Cathay Pacific, headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
Similar to the leading airlines, this carrier does not have a specific program for anxious fliers, but it provides calming playlists on board to assist with stress relief.
Nevertheless, this airline stands out among the top three as the sole one with an official collaboration with the mental health application called Headspace. This alliance enables them to offer meditation services aimed at alleviating anxiety for their passengers.
passengers
while in the sky.
The top European air carriers suitable for anxious fliers
The London Luton Airport-headquartered easyJet secured the sixth spot in the ranking. The airline’s seat width is only slightly narrower than that of the top-ranked carrier, Singapore Airlines, which has a width of 45 cm.
EasyJet stands out with its support program for anxious fliers. The Fearless Flyer course can be taken online and is conducted by both a specialist in phobias and an experienced easyJet captain.
British Airways ranks ninth. Despite having a review score of just 3 out of 5, it boasts a flawless safety record.
The
airline
Additionally, it provides a support program. The Flying with Confidence courses, conducted at various locations globally, are led by British Airways pilots and cabin crew members, assisted by a clinical psychologist.
SWISS concludes the list at number 10. The airline boasts spacious seats in economy class and holds a rating of 4 out of 5. Although SWISS lacks a specific program for anxious fliers, passengers can utilize the meditation and sleep app called Headspace.
In what ways can airlines enhance passengers’ comfort levels?
Alongside these features,
airlines
can take steps to make passengers feel more comfortable in the air, the report found.
According to the survey, most travelers do not concern themselves with physical facilities such as noise-canceling headphones or pillows and blankets.
Rather, amiable cabin crew are at the top of passengers’ preference list for comfort, with seat choice coming in as a close second.
Availability of Wi-Fi and in-seat power outlets are highly appreciated, particularly among younger travelers.
by admin | Mar 31, 2025 | flights, russian, tourists, Travel, vietnam
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) has noted a significant rise in the number of Russians visiting Vietnam, extending beyond just the fall and winter months to include trips during May holidays and summer breaks.
Head of ATOR Maya Lomidze cited multiple reasons for the increase, such as accumulated demand from previous years, the reinstatement of direct flight options, and the enhancement of the ruble’s strength.
She mentioned that Vietnam is expected to rank within the top 10 summer travel spots, possibly even breaking into the top five.
Direct flights between Russia and Vietnam have been restarted following an extended pause caused by the Covid pandemic.
Aeroflot from Russia initiated direct services to Nha Trang on March 22, whereas Vietnam Airlines intends to commence regular flights connecting Moscow and Hanoi beginning in May.
Moreover, Russian companies Azur Air and Pegas Touristik are increasing their charter flight operations.
The Russian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Timur Sadykov, has shown confidence that the reinstated flight connections will not just restore but also exceed pre-pandemic tourist numbers, thereby enhancing mutual ties even more.
As reported by the travel website Travelata.ru, interest in group tours to Vietnam rose by 5% in March compared to February and saw an increase of 9% in February relative to January.
According to data provided by Sletat.ru, tour sales between February 1 and March 18 increased threefold compared to the previous year.
In March, Level.Travel saw their tour sales quadruple, with Vietnam becoming the quickest-expanding destination, outpacing Thailand, Indonesia, and neighboring nations.
Yandex Travel saw a 49% rise in airline ticket purchases for trips to Vietnam compared to the previous year, with tickets costing an average of 81,000 RUB (more than $950).
In the meantime, the hotel reservation platform Ostrovok reported a 25% increase in bookings in Vietnam starting from early March, accompanied by an 18% surge in the average daily rate to approximately 5,100 RUB.
