The news was announced on September 25, 2023, along with details regarding the Australian flag carrier’s recent performance.

According to the carrier, 鈥渇uel prices have increased by around 30% since May 2023, including a 10% spike since August鈥�.

The airlines said this is 鈥渄riven by a combination of higher oil prices, higher refiner margins and a lower Australian dollar鈥�.

If fears are realized, then Qantas鈥� fuel bill will increase by approximately $128 million (AUD $200M) to $1.2 billion (AUD $2.8B) in the first six months of 2024.

鈥淭he Group will continue to absorb these higher costs but will monitor fuel prices in the weeks ahead and, if current levels are sustained, will look to adjust its settings. Any changes would look to balance the recovery of higher costs with the importance of affordable travel in an environment where fares are already elevated,鈥� Qantas confirmed in a statement.

Qantas announced it will also invest a further $52 million (AUD $80M) in customer improvements across 2024 to address a number of customer 鈥減ain points鈥�.

The September market update comes just a few days after Qantas CEO, Vanessa Hudson, apologized to its customers after a 鈥渉umbling period鈥� in the airline精东影业 history.

鈥淭his is going to take time and I ask for your patience. The work is already underway. We鈥檙e putting more people in our call centers to help solve problems faster. We鈥檙e adding more frequent flyer seats. We鈥檙e reviewing all of our customer policies to make sure they鈥檙e fair. And we鈥檙e giving our frontline teams more flexibility to better help you when things don鈥檛 go to plan. That精东影业 only the start,鈥� Hudson said in a video statement on September 22, 2023.

Qantas has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently after it lost a legal battle with a union over the sacking of thousands of ground staff in 2020.

QANTAS WORKERS WIN! The High Court has unanimously dismissed Qantas鈥� appeal over the illegal outsourcing of 1700 workers.

This is a massive victory for the workers who have not stopped fighting for justice since they were outsourced.

— TWU Australia (@TWUAus)

The airline is also being sued separately by the (ACCC) for the airline精东影业 alleged advertisement and sale of tickets for flights it had already canceled.

The Transport Workers鈥� Union (TWU) has called for a complete overhaul of the Qanats board.

High court finds Qantas illegally fired and outsourced workers during pandemic

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

September 13, 2023

This practice involves booking a journey with multiple segments but intentionally missing one or more of those segments to achieve a lower fare. While it might seem like a clever strategy, the question remains: is skiplagging legal?  

In this article, we’ll delve deep into the phenomenon of skiplagging, its implications and its legality.

What is skiplagging?聽

Skiplagging, sometimes referred to as 鈥�hidden city ticketing‘, is a travel hack used by passengers in order to save money on flights. The idea behind it is to book a multi-segment flight ticket including a layover at the traveler’s intended destination, rather than booking a flight directly to it. The passenger then disembarks at the layover point, effectively skipping the remaining segments of the flight. 

For example, if someone wants to fly from City A to City B, they might find that booking a flight from City A to City C with a layover in City B is cheaper than a direct flight to City B. The passenger would then disembark at City B, saving money with a cheaper flight while essentially reaching their destination as intended.

How and why does skiplagging work?聽

Skiplagging works because airlines often price flights based on demand and competition for specific routes. This can lead to situations where booking a longer flight with a layover is cheaper than booking a shorter direct flight to the layover city. Airlines may offer these lower fares to remain competitive on a particular route, even if the layover city is not the traveler’s final destination. 

Skiplagging typically requires careful planning. Travelers would need to research and book the right flight segments, ensuring that the layover city aligns with their intended destination. While it can lead to significant cost savings, there are several factors to consider before attempting skiplagging.  

For example:

Is skiplagging illegal?聽

The legality of skiplagging is a contentious issue. Airlines argue that skiplagging violates their terms of service and disrupts the airline industry’s revenue model. When passengers skip segments of their booked flights, airlines miss out on potential revenue from those unoccupied seats. As a result, certain airlines, such as Delta and American Airlines, actively discourage skiplagging within their terms of carriage.  

Skiplagging itself isn’t deemed illegal. However, many major airlines, such as American, Delta, Lufthansa, and United, have policies against its practice. Therefore, passengers who engage in skiplagging are not committing a criminal offense. Rather, they are taking advantage of pricing discrepancies within the airline industry to save money on airfare.

Ethical considerations聽

While skiplagging might not be illegal, it does raise ethical questions. Critics argue that passengers who engage in skiplagging are exploiting airlines’ pricing structures, potentially contributing to higher fares for other travelers in the long run. Moreover, frequent skiplagging could lead to negative consequences for passengers, such as being banned from specific airlines or facing complications with loyalty programs. 

It’s important to note that skiplagging is not without risks. If passengers engage in skiplagging too frequently or in a way that violates an airline’s terms, they may face consequences such as losing frequent flyer miles, being banned from future flights, or having their return flights canceled. Therefore, travelers considering skiplagging should be sure to weigh up the potential benefits against the potential risks.聽

Airlines’ response聽toward skiplagging

Airlines have taken measures to combat skiplagging and protect their revenue streams. Some airlines have sued individuals or websites that promote skiplagging, arguing that these actions breach their terms of service. In one notable case, in 2018, Lufthansa sued a passenger who had used skiplagging to book a cheaper ticket, claiming that the passenger had violated the airline’s terms and conditions. 

To counter skiplagging, airlines have also implemented sophisticated pricing algorithms and booking systems. These systems are designed to identify patterns of skiplagging and potentially penalize passengers who engage in the practice. As a result, it has become increasingly more challenging to execute skiplagging successfully. 

What do travelers need to understand before considering a skiplagged flight? 

Before travelers consider booking a skiplagged flight, there are several important factors they should be aware of in order to make an informed decision. Skiplagging, while potentially offering cost savings, comes with its own set of risks and considerations:

Airlines’ policies聽

Research and understand the terms and conditions of the airlines involved. Some airlines, like Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, explicitly prohibit skiplagging within their terms of carriage. Violating these terms could result in consequences such as loss of loyalty points, being banned from future flights, or even legal action.聽

Potential consequences聽

Consider the potential risks of skiplagging, including the possibility of disruption to your travel plans. Airlines’ algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated at identifying skiplagging patterns, which could lead to complications, such as canceled return flights or other punitive actions.

Frequent flyer programs聽

Be aware that engaging in skiplagging might impact your participation in frequent flyer programs. Airlines may choose to penalize passengers who frequently engage in this practice, for instance by excluding them from earning or using loyalty points.

Booking separate tickets聽

Skiplagging often involves booking separate tickets for multiple segments of the journey. This means you’ll need to retrieve your checked baggage and recheck it for each segment, potentially leading to longer layovers and additional hassle.

Luggage considerations聽

Understand that if you skiplag a segment, any checked luggage might continue to the final destination without you. This could complicate the retrieval of your belongings and potentially delay your travel plans.

Insurance coverage聽

Check whether travel insurance covers disruptions that might arise from skiplagging, such as missed connections or canceled flights due to airlines’ responses to the practice.聽

Time flexibility聽

Skiplagging may require more time and flexibility in your schedule. Delays or changes to flight plans could impact your overall travel itinerary.

Alternative routes聽

Explore alternative flight options and compare prices before deciding to skiplag. Sometimes, direct flights or other routes can offer competitive or even cheaper rates.

Legal and ethical considerations聽

While skiplagging might not be illegal, it does raise ethical questions about taking advantage of pricing discrepancies. Consider the potential impact on the airline industry and your fellow passengers.

Rebooking and refunds聽

Be prepared for the possibility that if you miss a segment intentionally, your return or subsequent flights could get canceled. Check the airline’s policies on rebooking or refunds in such cases.

Travel documentation聽

Ensure you have all necessary travel documentation for any layover or destination where you might disembark. Immigration and customs regulations might apply.

Local laws聽

Research any local laws or regulations at your layover or destination city, as you might have legal obligations even if you don’t leave the airport. 

Alternatively, you could explore another potential cost-saving option that is free of any consequences from airlines:聽聽

Understanding standby flights: pros, cons, and tips for travelers

• Airport

byRosita Mickeviciute

July 21, 2023

To sum up聽skiplagging

In the realm of travel, skiplagging is a controversial strategy that allows passengers to take advantage of pricing disparities and save money on airfare. While not technically illegal, it nevertheless raises ethical questions about exploiting pricing models and potentially impacting the airline industry’s revenue.  

It精东影业 difficult to pinpoint exactly how widespread the phenomenon of skiplagging is. Tellingly, though, there’s a popular website called skiplagged.com, designed to help the user find cheaper flights. In July 2023 alone, the site received about 3.6 million visitors. United Airlines attempted to take legal action against the website精东影业 creator back in 2015, claiming it constituted unfair competition. However, the judge rejected the airline’s lawsuit. 

Travelers considering skiplagging should be aware of the potential risks, including the possibility of facing consequences from airlines such as loss of loyalty points or being banned from future flights. As airlines continue to adapt and respond to this practice, skiplagging may become increasingly difficult to execute successfully. 

Ultimately, the decision to engage in skiplagging rests with individual travelers, who must carefully weigh the benefits, risks and ethical considerations before deciding whether to utilize this strategy to save on their next trip. 

31 students along with their teachers found themselves stuck at Osaka精东影业 Kansai International Airport (KIX) after finishing a study tour of Japan.

One of the teachers in the group, Dr. Trevor Boffone, took to social media platform TikTok to share the group精东影业 misadventures. 

In the video, Boffone first explained that he had been with 31 students, teachers and parents and they had just finished a tour of Japan with EF Tours, a travel agency specializing in student and educational tours. 

Boffone said that the tour was 鈥渁wesome鈥�, but complications arose when the group checked in at Osaka Airport on August 11, 2023, for their flight back to Houston.

Only a reservation

The group精东影业 first leg of the return flight was from Osaka to Tokyo, operated by Japan Airlines. Then Tokyo to Houston via Dallas with American Airlines.

According to Buffone, agents at Osaka Airport told the group that they were only holding a reservation, but not an actual booking. The segments from Tokyo onwards were permitted. However, their Osaka to Tokyo leg was not ticketed.

鈥淲e had a booking, we paid for it, but American Airlines, evidently, did not send the information to Japan Airlines,鈥� Buffone said.

Buffone said both Japan and American Airlines would not help them. The airlines pointed fingers at one another, and their travel agent, EF Tours, claimed it was the airlines鈥� fault.

The group ended up missing their flight to Tokyo, so the rest of the flight segments ended up being canceled.

An offer that精东影业 not hard to refuse

Buffone said that American Airlines ended up offering them the next available flight out: 13 days later than the original date of departure.

With no offer of food, hotel, or any allowance, the group refused the offer.

A long way home

According to Buffone, EF Tours ended up 鈥渕aking things happen鈥� and made it possible for them to fly home two days later. 

However, arranging a return trip for 31 people proved to be difficult due to seat availability and the proximity to departure date.

So one group ended up with an itinerary that looked like this: Osaka-Bangkok (nine-hour layover)- Munich – Charlotte, North Carolina – Houston. 

The second half of the group also ended up flying home the roundabout way: Osaka-Bangkok-Paris鈥揇allas-Houston.

Considering that the group had already been stuck at Osaka Airport for two days, both itineraries exhausted everybody. 

Buffone eventually reached Houston after 50 hours.

Pad Thai and German Pretzel

Buffone seemed to take his fate in his stride and uploaded a video clip of himself to TikTok, showing that he was having a good time at Bangkok Airport and enjoying a plate of Pad Thai noodles during the nine-hour layover. 

In a subsequent video, Buffone admitted that only the first few hours were fun inside the airport. Exhaustion soon set in and the novelty wore off.

Buffone posted another video when he reached Munich, munching on a pretzel while giving updates.

Missing luggage

Buffone later posted another video clip from Houston, where he updated his followers with the news that he was home. 

He also said that American Airlines ended up losing one of his bags.

Flight reservation vs flight ticket

Based on comments left on Buffone精东影业 video posts, the incident is not an isolated case. 

One person who identified herself as a travel agent said that American Airlines has been doing the same for many of her clients: booking passengers, but not actually ticketing them.

Many passengers are given a confirmation number or a PNR (Passenger Name Record) when they book a flight. That does not necessarily mean that they are holding a confirmed ticket.

An electronic ticket number is what passengers should look for as an indication that they are good to go.

Woman tears down Volaris check in counters at Mexico airport over ticket refund

• Airlines
• Civil Aviation

byJean Carmela Lim

July 7, 2023

A family lost thousands of dollars and had their flights canceled after unknowingly speaking to an imposter pretending to be a Southwest Airlines ticket agent.

Megan and Kevin Morgan were vacationing in Maui with their 8-month old when they decided to cut their holiday short and return home to California due to the raging wildfires. 

Megan told the that she googled the contact number for Southwest Airlines in order to change their return flight date.

Unbeknownst to Megan, hackers have been changing airline customer contact numbers on Google, so that when customers ring, they find themselves speaking to an imposter acting as an airline agent or employee. 

The person to whom Megan spoke informed her that there would be a $200 change fee to alter their flights.

She refused, did not provide her credit card details, and ended the call.

Moments later, Megan received an SMS from Southwest Airlines to say that their flights had been canceled.

Using their reservation numbers and names, the scammer was able to cancel their bookings online, and immediately used the credit to book flights for someone else. 

The Morgans were forced to stay two more nights in Maui, and purchased new tickets to return home with Hawaiian Airlines, costing them $3,400.

“We are disheartened to learn that a customer was taken advantage of by someone impersonating one of our employees,” Southwest said in a statement to . “Our customer engagement team is in touch with the customer to learn more as well as offer assistance, and we are investigating the matter internally.”

American Airlines discloses data breach after phishing scam in employee email

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

September 20, 2022

This is what staff of Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris discovered when one of its customers had a meltdown after learning that her travel agency had not properly issued her flight ticket.

Maria Guadalupe, aged 56, arrived at  Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City to check in for her Volaris flight. 

To her dismay, she was informed that the flight reservation she鈥檇 made through a travel agency did not appear on the airline精东影业 system.

Things escalated when she found out that the airline would not give her a refund, and told her that she needed to take the issue up with her travel agency.

Guadalupe then went on a rampage, going behind the check in counters, thrashing and throwing equipment down on the floor. 

The frenzied destruction was captured on video by one of the witnesses at the airport, and uploaded on social media. 

In the video, Guadalupe can be heard shouting in Spanish, 鈥�’If you don’t want to, don’t give me the money back. I don’t give a f***. But that’s going to cost you.鈥�

In total, the 56-year old destroyed four computers and four scanners.

Police were called, and Guadalupe was arrested near the airport精东影业 terminal exit. 

Volaris issued a statement that has been published by several media outlets.

It reads: 鈥淎 passenger reacted violently when she was notified that she had to complete the purchase of her flight. Apparently the lady had tried to make the payment with several credit cards without success, causing our fraud prevention system to issue a security alert.鈥�

Volaris pressed charges against Guadalupe, accusing her of damaging equipment as well as disturbing the peace.

Spirit customer charged with attempted murder after putting cop in chokehold

• Airport
• Aviation Safety

byJean Carmela Lim

July 4, 2023

The online flight booking tool is testing out a price guarantee program that will pay customers money if the price of a flight goes down after it is booked through the service.

In a company, Google精东影业 vice president of travel products Richard Holden said, 鈥淲e鈥檝e all thought to ourselves: Should I book now in case the price goes up tomorrow? Or should I wait in case there精东影业 a better deal next week?鈥�

Currently, Google Flights allows users to see whether current fare prices are low, typical, or high compared to historical averages.

Now, Google Flights is taking things up a notch by monitoring a customer精东影业 ticket price until the day of departure. If the airfare goes down between the time of flight purchase and departure, Google will send back the fare difference via Google Pay.

鈥淣ow you can book with the confidence that you鈥檙e not missing out on a great deal,鈥� Holden said in the blog post.

This feature is currently being piloted on flights departing from the United States.

Google Flights鈥� test feature could potentially be helpful after it is forecasted that economic uncertainty coupled with increasing labor shortage and operational costs will contribute to .

Commercial aviation capacity shortages in 2 years will lead to rising tickets prices

• Aviation Economics & Finance
• Civil Aviation

byGediminas 沤iemelis

March 31, 2023

To help revive its tourism industry, Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 airline tickets to foreign tourists.

Why is Hong Kong giving away free tickets?

In 2019, prior to the pandemic, Hong Kong , almost 8 times its current population. In 2021, there were 91,000 arrivals, and in 2022 it increased to 604,564.

Even though it has relaxed its entry requirements, the strictly enforced restrictions that Hong Kong had in place for nearly three years battered its tourism industry, which is making a very slow recovery. 

As a result, Hong Kong is giving away free tickets to jumpstart tourism back to its glory days. 

鈥嬧�婽he tickets, worth $254.8 million in total, were first purchased by the government in 2020.

How can one win tickets to Hong Kong?

The campaign will kick off on March 1, 2023, and most of the tickets will come from three Hong Kong-based airlines through various promotional activities, including lucky draws, 鈥榖uy one, get one free鈥� promotions and games.

The participating airlines are: Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and Hong Kong Airlines.

Those who wish to enter the draw can register on the respective airlines鈥� websites. 

Who will get the free tickets first?

The Hong Kong airport authority said that the tickets will be given away in phases, by region:

March 2023 – Southeast Asia

April 2023 – Mainland China

May 2023 – Northeast Asia and other markets

The tickets will be in economy class and passengers would be responsible for applicable taxes, fees and surcharges. Further details on the scheme can be

Hong Kong to give away 500,000 air tickets to lure tourists back to the island

• Civil Aviation

byJean Carmela Lim

October 7, 2022

IAG, which owns British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, said trading during the third quarter of 2022 was better than expected and bookings for the rest of the year are normal. 

鈥淔orward bookings remain at expected levels for the time of year, with no indication of weakness, and accordingly our fourth quarter expectations remain unchanged as of today,鈥� the group said in a brief statement to the stock exchange on October 13.  

Thanks to the strong summer performance, IAG said it expects a pre-exceptional operating profit of approximately 鈧�1.2 billion ($1.17 billion) for the third quarter to September 30, 2022.  

Summer 2023 bookings 

Meanwhile, low-cost carriers easyJet and Ryanair delivered some positive news too.  

easyJet gave an update on its financial results for its financial year, which ends on September 30, 2022. While it is predicting a loss before tax of between 拢170 million and 拢190 million ($190-$213 million) for the year as a whole, it returned to profit in the final quarter, which covers the key summer period. In the fourth quarter, easyJet expects headline earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be between 拢525 million and 拢545 million.  

For the first quarter of the new financial year, the budget carrier said UK capacity during the peak travel periods such as October half terms and Christmas was back to pre-pandemic levels. 鈥淏ookings continue to progress well with load factors ahead of the same point in FY19 and yields remain robust,鈥� easyJet commented in the October 13 statement.  

Further ahead, chief executive Johan Lundgren said passengers were already snapping up tickets for summer 2023.  

“Our summer 23 season went on sale last week and we were filling the equivalent of more than four A320 aircraft a minute in the opening hours demonstrating the continued demand,鈥� Lundgren commented.  

Despite current challenges, is there growth ahead for European aviation?

• Civil Aviation

byVictoria Bryan

October 4, 2022

Trading down? 

Lundgren said easyJet was well placed to meet the uncertain economic backdrop. “easyJet is Europe’s largest operator at primary airports with one of the strongest balance sheets in the aviation industry. We face the uncertain macro-economic environment with many strengths through our brand, network and business model which enable us to provide low fares to millions despite the rising cost of living.” 

Ryanair, Europe精东影业 largest airline, also sounded positive. Chief executive Michael O鈥橪eary told the Reuters news agency that bookings for fall and Christmas were ahead of pre-pandemic levels.  

鈥淎t the moment they are surprisingly strong, we thought they would begin to ease off but actually forward bookings into the mid-term and into Christmas are stronger in terms of volume and pricing than they were pre-COVID,鈥� O鈥橪eary was quoted as saying in the interview on October 13, 2022.  

O鈥橪eary added that he believed travel demand was being supported thanks to people having saved up money during the pandemic. He predicted that disposable incomes would be hit later into the European winter, but that people would trade down to lower cost airlines.  

IAG will publish full third-quarter results on October 28, 2022, while easyJet will report its full-year results on November 29, 2022.   

Flybe collapsed in March 2020 after rebranding and restructuring plans fell through. Now it plans to return, hoping to take advantage of a post-COVID-19 recovery in demand for travel. 

鈥淣ext week is going to be an exciting time for customers and communities that have been waiting to hear from us about low fares, new routes, and new destinations鈥攁ll of which are being timed to coincide with the restart of the economy and a return to normalcy after two difficult years for all,鈥� Chief Executive Dave Pflieger said in a statement.  

The regional carrier, which Pflieger promises will be 鈥渘ew and improved鈥�, will be based out of Birmingham (BHX), and eventually intends to operate a fleet of 32 De Havilland DHC-8-400 turboprop aircraft.  

Flybe also announced that Belfast City Airport (BHD) will be its second base and that it 鈥減lans to rapidly grow, create more jobs, and add more flights as the summer progresses鈥�. 

Flybe took delivery of its first Dash 8-400 aircraft in November 2021. It has previously detailed plans to lease 12 of the planes from Nordic Aviation Capital. 

There are several start-up airlines due to commence operations this year. However, European low-cost long-haul carrier Norse Atlantic Airways just delayed its launch and the start of ticket sales, citing uncertainties linked to the war in Ukraine and rising oil prices.  

Low-cost long-haul Norse Atlantic delays launch as war in Ukraine hits demand

• War in Ukraine

byVictoria Bryan

March 15, 2022

Singapore精东影业 vaccinated travel lane scheme allows travelers to enter the country on designated flights from certain countries without the need to quarantine. Testing requirements are still in place, however.  

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced on December 22, 2021 that it was taking steps to 鈥渕anage the inflow of VTL travelers and mitigate the risk to the Singapore community鈥�.  

Therefore, with effect from 2359 local time on December 22, 2021, Singapore will not permit any new ticket sales on designated VTL flights until 2359 local time on January 20, 2022. From January 21, 2022, the CAAS will cap total ticket sales at 50% of the allocated quota.  

鈥淐AAS will continue to closely monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and adjust the measures to protect travelers, airport workers, air crew and the community,鈥� the authority said in a statement.  

Which countries are in the VTL scheme? 

The active VTL countries are currently: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Maldives, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Plans to extend the VTL scheme to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have already been deferred due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. 

Many countries around the world have moved to tighten testing and entry restrictions as a result of the emergence of Omicron, first detected in November in South Africa.  

It remains to be seen how the latest wave of COVID-19 infections and the Omicron variant will affect the Singapore Airshow, due to take place in a shortened format with no public days from February 15-18 2022. 

However, several other major trade gatherings have already been affected by Omicron. The World Economic Forum has postponed its annual January meeting in Davos, Switzerland until mid-2022 and tech companies have said they will not be sending employees to the Consumer Electronics Show, due to take place from January 5, 2022 in Las Vegas. 

Germany restricts arrivals from Britain over Omicron variant聽

• Civil Aviation

byVictoria Bryan

December 20, 2021