The tip-of-August round-up of journey information notes the arrival of latest airways into Gold Coast and Cairns, the continued rollout of free WiFi on worldwide carriers, a win for Malaysian Airways financial system class passengers, extra nations providing Australians visa-free entry, a refreshed Sydney Airport lounge and dangerous lounge meals avoidance techniques on the similar airport.
New worldwide flights to Gold Coast and Cairns
Queensland’s secondary worldwide airports have secured some further airways. Hong Kong Airways is working a brief sequence of flights between its dwelling metropolis and Gold Coast between January 17 and February 15, 2025, to check the viability of everlasting companies. The 4 roundtrips per week can be operated by A330-300s which have financial system and a lie-flat 1-2-1 enterprise class cabin.
In the meantime, AirAsia has begun flying between Denpasar and Cairns thrice weekly utilizing A320-200s. The year-round flights began in mid-August. The hyperlink to Denpasar is useful for Cairns residents as a result of plenty of long-haul airways fly into the Indonesian metropolis, and premium cabin fares out of Denpasar into Europe are often far lower than on the identical airline flying to the identical European vacation spot out of Brisbane.
Extra dates set for airline WiFi rollouts
Worldwide airways flying to Australia proceed to schedule free WiFi rollout throughout all cabin lessons. ANA, which flies between Tokyo, Perth and Sydney, already presents enterprise class passengers complimentary WiFi on worldwide flights, however just lately mentioned it could provide the identical to premium financial system and financial system class passengers from March 2025.
Delta, which flies between LA and Sydney and can begin flights to Brisbane in December, is rolling out free WiFi on its Viasat-equipped widebody plane on a route-by-route foundation. Sadly, trans-Pacific flights can be among the many final to get it, someday within the latter half of 2025.
Qantas can also be engaged on its free WiFi providing on worldwide flights and will have it obtainable throughout all A330-200 plane from early 2025 and its A330-300, B787-9, and A380-800 fleet by the top of 25. The A330-200s primarily fly into Asian ports similar to Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Bengaluru, and Hong Kong but in addition seem on the Brisbane – Los Angeles and Brisbane – Auckland routes.
Malaysia Airways presents ‘Chef on Name’ choices in financial system class
Malaysia Airways is slashing its worldwide community over the rest of the 12 months due to operational constraints however it’s not affecting its Australian flights (to this point). On issues WiFi, Malaysia Airways passengers have already got limitless complimentary Wi-Fi. Alas, it doesn’t assist streaming apps.
On issues meals, in a uncommon piece of fine information for financial system class passengers, Chef on Name choices at the moment are obtainable for pre-ordering on Malaysian Airways. Apart from particular diets, entry to menus past the rooster or beef choices on the trolley is often the protect of premium class cabins.
Nonetheless, along with trolley choices, financial system class passengers on flights to and from Australia may pre-order meals similar to nasi lemak with shrimp sambal, e-fu noodles with braised rooster, or basic beef lasagne. Granted, it’s not lobster thermidor, however it’s extra selection in financial system class, and that’s an excellent factor.
Extra visa-free journey choices for Australians
China has just lately started permitting Australian passport holders visiting for enterprise, tourism, household go to or transit functions visa-free entry for stays of as much as 15 days. The rule took impact on July 1, 2024, and covers entry from open sea, land, and airports.
If China appeals however you’re feeling like stretching your wings a bit extra, neighbouring Mongolia now additionally began permitting Australian passport holders visa-free entry for stays of as much as 30 days. Mongolia relaxed its entry guidelines final 12 months.
Barely nearer to dwelling, Sri Lanka is briefly dropping its visa requirement for Australian passport holders from October 1, 2024. The Sri Lankan Authorities needs to see if the six-month visa-free journey generates higher vacationer numbers and extra badly wanted laborious foreign money. New Zealand passport holders are additionally eligible for visa-free journey to China, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka.
Sydney’s Singapore Airways Lounge refresh
Singapore Airways has re-opened its Sydney lounge after a fast overhaul. DMARGE hasn’t had the prospect to provide it a whirl but, however early studies say there’s new carpet and a brand new barista bar, though what was flawed with the earlier one is a thriller. The bogs stay unchanged, as does the buffet, however Singapore Airways already did respectable lounge meals, so the failure to improve shouldn’t be essentially a criminal offense towards humanity.
Until you’re flying in first-class, wherein case you’ve a separate lounge away from the enterprise class and Star Gold riff-raff, DMARGE’s Sydney Star Alliance lounge technique is to move to the Singapore lounge for a chew to eat earlier than swinging subsequent door to the extra expansive Air New Zealand lounge and its above-average bar.
Until it’s a night flight, wherein case the Singapore Airways lounge is closed, and it’s a must to shut your eyes and pray the Air New Zealand buffet tastes higher than it appears to be like. Sadly, it often doesn’t.
