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Even after the government’s aviation crackdown, Australia will lag behind on flyers’ rights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> When it comes to consumer protections for airline passengers, Australia has long been dragging its feet. The limited protections we do have rely heavily on the general <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/index.php/australian-consumer-law">Australian Consumer Law</a>. The “consumer guarantees” provided in this law only require services to be delivered in the arguably vague framework of a “reasonable time”. That might be okay if we’re just getting a sofa delivered from a furniture retailer. The cost of a late delivery is low. But these guarantees were not tailored to the unique impacts delayed or cancelled flights can have on travellers. Australia’s lack of aviation-specific protections has long been a severe <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">pain point</a> for flyers, only heightened by pandemic disruption. The government’s much-awaited <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">Aviation White Paper</a>, released in full on Monday, promised to address this issue. At the heart of the reforms, Australia will get a new aviation ombud scheme, and a new charter of customer rights for passengers. The recognition that new protections are needed is a step in the right direction. But this once-in-a-generation white paper missed the chance to achieve far more, by moving Australia to the style of consumer protection that have now been offered for 20 years in <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">Europe</a>. <h2>Why is air travel unique?</h2> Airline customers have a reasonable expectation of arriving at their destination, at (or close to) the time published by the airline in its schedule at the time the reservation was paid and ticketed. If this can’t be achieved, they should at least arrive at some amended time that was advised far enough in advance to allow related reservations and bookings to be adjusted. Air travel has to be punctual because it doesn’t have any substitutes. On even a modest deadline, driving from Perth or even Sydney to Melbourne, for example, is not a comparable option. And a passenger’s options to adapt their travel plans diminish as the departure date approaches. In the final days before travel, hotel cancellation deadlines pass and alternative connecting flight options sell out or spike in price. In some cases, travelling to a specific event can become pointless for a passenger if a delay is lengthy enough. <h2>Australia is playing catch-up</h2> In contrast with Australia, aviation-specific protections have long existed in many other developed economies. In the European Union (EU), for example, <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al24173">regulations</a> make clear that airlines have specific obligations and responsibilities in the event of delays, cancellations and denied boardings. This includes the <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">right to compensation</a> of up to €600 (A$988). These protections and the levels of compensation payable for failure to meet specified requirements for different kinds of flights are comprehensively legislated. Canada has a <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-150/index.html">slightly different approach</a> – smaller regional carriers have different obligations to mainline operators. But as with the European regulation, it imposes an obligation to get the passenger to the ticketed destination, or to refund the ticket if the journey has become pointless. The absence of such legislated protections in Australia means we typically have to rely on the goodwill of the airline when things go wrong. <h2>Real action has been delayed</h2> The centrepiece proposal of the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">white paper</a> is to create a new ombud scheme with “the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers and investigate customer complaints about airlines’ and airports’ conduct”. This will replace the existing <a href="https://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx">Airline Customer Advocate</a>. A new charter of customer rights, to be produced by the scheme, will aim to give flyers “greater certainty about what they can expect when flights are cancelled and delayed” and require airlines to be more transparent about their performance. The white paper noted the poor on-time performance of Australian carriers. It also pointed out that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">identified</a> problems with consumer protections for air travel in Australia as far back as 2017. But its proposals offer no real quantifiable or enforceable improvements to consumer rights. Despite the well-established models in comparable countries – many of which have <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">followed the EU’s lead</a> – Australians will need to wait for yet another discussion process to be complete before they see what protections may eventually be introduced. The government’s white paper has largely just kicked the can down the road. At a minimum, passengers on Australian carriers deserve the assurances given to those travelling in and from Europe: in the event of a cancellation or long delay, that they will be transported to their destination on an alternative flight as quickly as possible. They should also be given appropriate meals and accommodation until they can make this onward journey, receive compensation for lengthy delays, and have the option to return home with a full refund if their travel has become pointless.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237469/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/even-after-the-governments-aviation-crackdown-australia-will-lag-behind-on-flyers-rights-237469">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Qantas staff have been condemned for leaving a pet crate abandoned on a Sydney tarmac in torrential rain. An outraged passenger captured the moment she saw the pet carrier, and a trolley full of suitcases, left in the rain at Sydney Airport on Friday, and shared it to social media. Sydney was hit with heavy rain on Friday, with some parts of New South Wales recording a month's worth of rainfall within a single day. After passengers had been loaded onto the Qantas aircraft, the concerned traveller noticed the animal had been abandoned in the rain. "Unfortunately the weather was unavoidable, but this luggage was left out in the open in Sydney for 30 mins and the animals for 15 minutes — one facing the rain," the furious passenger wrote on Facebook. Travellers on the same flight were quick to comment on the woman's post, saying their luggage had arrived soaking wet. "[I was on] on same flight, my luggage came home wet. Thinking a cover in these conditions would be nice," they wrote. Others expressed their concerns for the animal left in the crate in the rain, saying it was "animal abuse" to leave a furry friend in those conditions. "Those poor fur babies," one person wrote. "I'd report this if I saw it. Should have brought this to the attention of ground crew ASAP." A third added, "I'm unimpressed by the luggage but those pet carriers out there is absolutely unacceptable. I'd be fuming if my boy was stuck on the tarmac in a cage in torrential rain, making an already stressful situation even worse." "Disgusting to leave those fur babies out in the rain. Almost animal abuse," another said. A spokesperson from Qantas told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-photo-catches-airline-in-unacceptable-act-id-be-fuming-222149288.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that they are investigating the incident and that the airline "takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously". Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Qantas announces massive overhaul of frequent flyer program

Qantas, Australia's flagship airline, has unveiled significant changes to its frequent flyer program in response to ongoing feedback from millions of members. The announcement, made at the airline's headquarters in Sydney, marks one of the most substantial expansions in the 35-year history of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. During the event, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, alongside Andrew Glance, the newly appointed Loyalty boss, outlined the updates to both the media and select members of the frequent flyer program. These changes aim to address longstanding concerns and enhance the overall experience for loyal customers. A key highlight of the overhaul is the introduction of Classic Plus Flight Rewards, providing members with access to an additional 20 million reward seats for booking flights. Vanessa Hudson said that this expansion is a direct response to member feedback. “The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is an integral part of Qantas and has always been about recognising our customers for their loyalty," Hudson said. "We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them . . . We’re adding over 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new type of reward seat called Classic Plus. It’s one of the biggest expansions we’ve made to the Frequent Flyer program in its 35-year history." With Classic Plus Flight Rewards, frequent flyer members can now access sought-after destinations such as London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore with greater ease, even during peak travel periods. This substantial increase in available seats – 20 million annually compared to the previous 5 million – represents a significant advantage for members seeking to redeem their points for travel. However, it's important to note that while Classic Plus Flight Rewards offer increased availability, they will require more points to book compared to the original program. This announcement follows recent speculation about a major revamp of the frequent flyer program, with Qantas hinting at changes aimed at allowing customers to maximise the value of their points. These changes come in response to feedback from program members, some of whom have voiced frustrations about the devaluation of points and difficulties in securing rewards seats. Qantas' announcement of sweeping changes to its frequent flyer program signals a significant step in the airline's ongoing efforts to prioritise customer satisfaction and loyalty. Images: Qantas

Money & Banking

Luke Davies' final act of kindness for nervous flyer

The colleagues of slain Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies have shared the 29-year-old's final act of kindness for an elderly couple travelling overseas. In one of the last flights before his untimely death, Davies was on a flight from Sydney to Singapore as an elderly woman boarded the plane with her dying husband who was dealing with dementia. The senior couple were travelling to Switzerland so the man could pay one final visit to his son before succumbing to his illness. The caring flight attendant spent the entire eight-and-a-half hour journey, including his break, with the man and his wife as they flew first-class. "The wife had told him [her husband] had severe dementia, and she was really saddened by it because she kept saying he was the most beautiful husband and kindest man, and she was losing him to this cruel disease," Qantas colleague Brooke Walters told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/luke-davies-act-of-kindness-on-one-of-his-last-flights-20240227-p5f84n.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. "She was getting exhausted because every 30 seconds he was losing his memory, like a goldfish, and Luke took it upon himself to care for them constantly." Walters shared how her friend and colleague went above and beyond to care for the elderly man, recalling how he tucked the man into his bed, reassured him amid his confusion and consoled his wife, who was at times upset. "Luke had been told they booked the flight a year and a half ago, but the husband had deteriorated in the last three months really badly, so it was going to be their last trip to see their son, and Luke wanted it to be as comfortable as possible," she said. Ms Walters added that Mr Davies had a love of travelling and was a joy to be around. Luke and his partner Jesse Davies' <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-search-for-bodies-of-murdered-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bodies were found</a> in southern New South Wales on Tuesday, after Constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon turned himself in over the disappearance of the two men, and has since been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged</a> with two counts of murder. Image credits: Instagram

International Travel

Widow "cranky" after Qantas denied late husband's points claim

A widowed grandmother has been left frustrated after Qantas refused to let her claim the 6,800 frequent flyer points in her late husband's account. 72-year-old Rhonda told Yahoo that she reached out to the airline after Brian - her husband of 52 years - passed away in May. Rhonda hoped to claim his frequent flyer points, but was met with a brutal rejection letter instead. While they offered their "sincere condolences", it also stated Qantas' "terms and conditions" didn't allow such a transfer, and Rhonda was asked to send through a copy of Brian's death certificate so they could close his account. "I know it's not a lot of points but it's the principle of it because, damn, you get hardly anything out of it anyway," she told Yahoo. "I just thought it would naturally come to me so, once I told them he passed away, I could've easily gone in and transferred them to myself without telling them but I wanted to do the right thing." Four months later, Qantas announced that from October they would change their policy to allow next of kin to claim frequent flyer points. When Rhonda heard about this, she reached out to the airline again. "I immediately wrote back and said that, 'After hearing the news item, I was under the impression you were now looking at this'," she said. "I haven't heard a word back since. I don't know if they're just ignoring me. "I've just had enough," she added. The grandmother-of-five added that she was "cranky" with the airline. "Everywhere I turn there's a barrier, and what's 6,800 points to them? "They are trying to keep their reputation intact and until I heard that announcement I was done with it. Now I still haven't heard and I am cranky about it," she concluded. Fortunately, after Rhonda shared her complaints with the media, Qantas eventually credited her the points, although she remains unimpressed with the "ridiculous" process. A Qantas spokesperson has also offered their sincere apologies to Rhonda. "Our customer team have been in contact with her to advise that her husbands' points have now been transferred to her frequent flyer account," they said. Rhonda said that she hopes to use the points for a holiday and explore the outback in the iconic The Ghan train next year. Image: Daily Mail/ Getty

Travel Trouble

"Embarrassing" travel pillow frequent flyers swear by

When it comes to travelling in economy, looking glamorous usually takes a back seat, with many people prioritising comfort over anything else. Travelling in cattle class presents its own issues with getting comfy on a plane, especially when sitting in the middle seat. However, a committed frequent flyer has discovered the "travel hack of the year" with an unusual looking travel pillow that means you can get comfy anywhere. “When you got the middle seat for a 13-hour plane ride,” wrote adventurer Annie Wright, 23, in the captions of a viral TikTok testimonial dedicated to the strange-looking, yet in-demand inflatable travel pillow. In the video, which has racked in a whopping 26.6 million views, Ms Wright, a law student in the US, shared footage of herself puffing into the plushy prop that’s offered by <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a>. For Aussies, you can snag the innovative travel pillow from <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kmart</a> for a breezy $18. “I wasn’t sure if I’d like it and omg SO worth it!” cheered Ms Wright in the clip’s caption. “Total upgrade.” This new pillow puts the round-the-neck pillows to shame, as the expandable cushion, designed with an ergonomic 45-degree angle, offers support to the head and neck and inflates in just seconds. Once inflated, users are meant to position the pillow — created with a face cutout at its apex and two arm holes on its sides — on their passenger tray tables and lean forward into a relaxed position. The hot commodity’s details also noted that it can “help you stay away from injury and insomnia, make you rest more comfortable during the journey, easier to fall asleep, and sleep longer,” according to Amazon. According to the online Kmart reviews of the product, one traveller said it was “awkward looking” but “really comfortable” and perfect for long-haul flights. Folks under the #InflatableTravelPillow TikTok hashtag have hailed the headrest the “travel hack of the year.” However, haters of the portable bedding have deemed it an “embarrassment.” “My back just hurts watching this,” said one commenter beneath Ms Wright’s post. “Yeah I have social anxiety I would be too embarrassed to use it,” penned another. But in response to the criticisms, Ms Wright wrote, “People keep saying this [pillow] is embarrassing, but what’s more embarrassing is being caught with your mouth open just knocked out.” Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

From handing out their own flyers, to sell-out games: how the Matildas won over a nation

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fiona-crawford-128832">Fiona Crawford</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> As the Matildas prepare for their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup sudden-death quarter final against France, they have become the hottest sporting property in the country. For example, formerly uninterested major media just days ago <a href="https://sport.optus.com.au/news/womens-world-cup-2023/os61076/matildas-record-shirt-sales-helicopter-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023">hired a helicopter</a> to spy on one of the team’s training sessions. The expensive, paparazzi-style move was designed to gather exclusive footage of the team, particularly of injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr. That conservative media was going to such lengths to gain footage of the team speaks volumes of the starkly different landscape the current Matildas are operating in, and the evolution of a team that’s gone from few resources and relatively anonymity to equal pay and national treasure status. <h2>No longer an afterthought</h2> More people watched the <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup/matildas-set-new-tv-ratings-record-while-sinking-denmark-in-fifa-womens-world-cup-c-11520596">Matildas’ Round of 16 match against Denmark</a> on Channel Seven, the highest rating show of the year to date, than watched the men’s NRL and AFL grand finals last year. Channel Seven is also <a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/channel-7s-extraordinary-matildas-decision-for-world-cup-quarterfinal/news-story/ddd00fa51e40971c940f720be2ad9f0d">delaying Saturday’s news bulletin</a> to broadcast the Matildas’ quarter final, while the AFL will be broadcasting the match in the stadium before the men’s West Coast Eagles versus Fremantle derby. This is all particularly interesting given <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-03/fifa-boss-threatens-women-world-cup-blackout/102295974">FIFA had to castigate broadcasters for undervaluing the broadcast rights</a> in the tournament lead-up. What’s more, Matildas jerseys are <a href="https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-celebrates-landmark-fifa-womens-world-cup-and-record-breaking-success">outselling the Socceroos’ jerseys by two to one</a>. It’s worth remembering they were unavailable to buy until recent years because manufacturers didn’t deem there to be a market for them. More than 1.7 million tickets have been sold, exceeding FIFA’s stretch target of 1.5 million. And the total crowd figure record of 1,353,506 set in 2015 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/womens-world-cup-attendance-record-exceeded-last-16-2023-08-06">had been surpassed</a> with 12 games to spare. That’s a far cry from the Matildas’ early years, when players had to produce and hand out flyers to try to attract people to watch their games, or phone television stations and beg them to broadcast matches. When the team travelled to the 2003 world cup, not a single journalist turned up to the airport press conference. It’s also quite the contrast from the traditional media coverage approach that relegates women’s sport to an afterthought. A <a href="https://news.usc.edu/183765/womens-sports-tv-news-coverage-sportscenter-online-usc-study">30-year study</a> of women’s sports coverage, published in 2021, determined major media generally adopt a “one and done” approach: a box-ticking exercise, providing a token women’s sports story before a succession of in-depth men’s sports stories. <h2>So, how did we get here?</h2> It was 1988 when the intrepid Matildas ventured out to their inaugural “world cup” – a pilot tournament FIFA only staged after <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20190626-ellen-wille-mother-women-football-norway-fifa-world-cup-france">concerted pressure</a> from other organising bodies and women footballers themselves. There were some significant changes considered or implemented – ones that would not have been tabled for the men’s game. Matches were truncated from 90 to 80 minutes; there was some patronising discussion of whether women would play with a <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/fifa-women-s-world-cup-official-history-fifa/book/9781787393530.html">smaller ball</a>; and with the tournament absent any true FIFA badging, the players had to pay $850 each for the privilege of participating. They pulled that fee together by fundraising through lamington drives, car washes, and casino nights. Still, the Australian team quickly made history by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=466728760806708">defeating Brazil</a> in an upset victory in the tournament’s first match, setting the tone for an upwards trajectory. However, the 1995, 1999, and 2003 tournaments were not, by the Matildas’ own standards, considered breakout successes. A harsh red card for Sonia Gegenhuber in the team’s first group-stage match against Denmark in 1995 cruelled the team’s chances from the outset. And 1999 saw <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-26/meet-alicia-ferguson-cook-matilda-wwc-record-fastest-red-card/102272428">Alicia Ferguson awarded the fastest red card in history</a> for an ill-timed tackle two minutes into the game against China. The Matildas’ sustained upward course arguably began in 2007. The World Cup that year was the first womens’ tournament for which SBS broadcast all the games. It also became the first time the Matildas <a href="https://www.matildas.com.au/news/day-westfield-matildas-made-history-2007-fifa-womens-world-cup">progressed to the knockout rounds</a>. Although laundry and internet costs weren’t yet covered, that era also marked the beginning of the players receiving (albeit nominal) daily allowances and playing contracts of up to approximately A$10,000. Administrators were able to leverage that 2007 success into the establishment of the W-League (now renamed the A-League Women’s), the domestic semi-professional football league that helped the Matildas become the first Australian team (women’s or men’s) <a href="https://www.matildas.com.au/news/westfield-matildas-win-afc-asian-cup">to win the Asian Cup</a>. It’s also a development pathway for the current Matildas. 2011 marked the emergence of the Matildas’ “golden generation”, with then-youthful players Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr attending their first Women’s World Cup. All the focus has been on Kerr in recent years, but at the time, Foord was tipped to be the player to watch, and was named the tournament’s best young player. <h2>Striking for pay parity</h2> To understand the groundbreaking success the Matildas are now experiencing, we must look at the lonely stand they took across the road from governing body Football Federation Australia’s office in 2015. They were off contract, unpaid, and without medical insurance. Now lapsed, they had been on contracts of around A$22,000 a year: in the ballpark of Australia’s poverty line. So the Matildas went on strike for two months to draw attention to the imperiled nature of their footballing careers, which demanded full-time, elite-athlete commitment and results, but with part-time, amateur pay. The headlines that followed encapsulated the exasperation many felt (and still feel) at the inequity women athletes experience. This included the <a href="https://junkee.com/the-matildas-have-gone-on-strike-because-oh-my-god-can-we-just-pay-them-properly/65061">Junkee headline "</a>The Matildas Have Gone on Strike Because, Oh My God Can We Just Pay Them Properly?" The Matildas achieved <a href="https://www.matildas.com.au/news/historic-cba-close-footballs-gender-pay-gap">pay parity</a> with the Socceroos in 2019, but the groundwork for that achievement was laid with that 2015 strike. The year 2017 also marked an important moment in the team’s evolution. It was when the team <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/12/matildas-break-new-ground-as-fans-scramble-for-tickets-on-resale-market">sold out Penrith Stadium</a> with a then-record crowd of about 17,000. The crowd figure signalled there was an engaged audience and market there – it had just been under-catered for. Fast forward to 2019. Off-pitch distractions imperilled the Matildas’ group-stage world cup results. The team was steered through the tournament by temporarily installed coach Ante Milicic, after incumbent coach Alen Stajcic had been sacked for reasons still not entirely clear. With the rise of European nations that had invested heavily in women’s football, Australian football had stood still. The Matildas’ opening loss against debutantes Italy put the team under pressure. However, the players then produced the “Miracle of Montpellier”, winning 3-2 against superstars Brazil to salvage their tournament – before being bundled out by Norway on penalties in the round of 16. This year, the media’s initial focus was on Kerr’s troublesome calf and then late substitution decisions by coach Tony Gustavsson. Under pressure following a shock loss to minnows Nigeria, the Matildas recorded a resounding 4–0 victory over reigning Olympic champions Canada. Now, in a few pressure-filled hours, Australia’s most successful football team have the potential to make history: to progress to the semi finals for the first time ever. A win would see Matildas’ media coverage and fandom enter uncharted, euphoric territory. But with record crowds, viewership, and merchandise sales, and with several of their players now household names, in many ways the Matildas will already have won before they even set foot on the pitch.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211338/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fiona-crawford-128832">Fiona Crawford</a>, Adjunct Lecturer at the Centre for Justice, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-handing-out-their-own-flyers-to-sell-out-games-how-the-matildas-won-over-a-nation-211338">original article</a>.

Flight attendants answer frequently asked flying questions

A flight attendant has shared the answers to a series of every traveller’s burning questions about air travel. In a video shared to TikTok, Virgin Australia crew member Brodie Capron answered commonly asked questions about why carry-on bags have a weight limit and why the window shades have such strict limits. According to Capron, the reasoning behind why carry-on bags can only weigh so much is pretty simple. "That's because the overhead lockers can only hold so much weight," she said. The Melbourne-based cabin crew member also explained why the window shades need to be up for take off and landing, and it has nothing to do with helping your eyes adjust. "It's so that everyone can see the engines and warn the cabin crew if something is wrong," she said. Capron also debunked a common plane myth, ensuring nervous passengers that the water on planes is indeed “safe to drink”. "It is filtered and it is clean," she said. For those who like to enjoy a drink or two while travelling, Capron did confirm that you can in fact get 'more' drunk when flying. "[It's] because of the lower oxygen percentage in the air, the effects of alcohol are greater," she said. "So make sure you make good choices when you're flying." Her video has received over half a million views with many people thanking her for finally answering their burning questions about flying. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Pilot shares why nervous flyers should always book the first flight of the day

A pilot has shared her ultimate travel hack for nervous flyers, revealing why anxious travellers should aim to get the first early morning flight. Morgan Smith, a Boeing 737 pilot, claims that flying in the morning can greatly reduce the amount of turbulence you feel in the air. In an interview with the New York Times, Ms Smith said that morning flights are less likely to be turbulent because of the effects of rising heat. She said, “As the day warms into the afternoon, heat rising off the land increases the chance for turbulence near the ground and turbulence caused by storms.” Morgan also had a couple of other suggestions for those worried about shaky plane journeys, offering some reassurance on the minimal danger of turbulence. She added, “The only thing people should fear from turbulence is possibly spilling their drink on a flight.” “Most injuries from turbulence come from people being out of their seats or not having their seatbelts on when it gets bumpy. So keep your seatbelt fastened, and don’t set your drink on your laptop.” Others have also shared that sitting towards the front of the plane can reduce the effects of turbulence, no matter what time of day you fly. A flight attendant told Sun Online Travel, “For anyone who is really scared of turbulence, my advice would be to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible because it acts like a wave. “What starts as a slight bump at the front of the aircraft can feel much worse by the time it reaches the rear. “Sometimes passengers at the front won’t even be aware of anything, while those at the back get really badly shaken up.” Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

When’s the best time to use frequent flyer miles to book flights? Two economists crunched the numbers on maximizing their dollar value

Traveling during major holidays like Thanksgiving can be expensive, since so many people want to see their friends and families, wherever they might be. It’s especially hard this year with <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL">inflation soaring</a> at the fastest pace since the early 1980s. Airline fares <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUSR0000SETG01#0">were up 43% in October</a> from a year earlier – only a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm">handful of categories increased by more</a>. One way to ease the blow to your wallet or purse is by using frequent flyer miles. While there’s <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/2733384">quite a bit</a> of research on when is the <a href="https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/215872">best time to use cash</a> to buy flights, <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/profile/huseyin-karaca/">we wondered</a> – as travel lovers – if there’s an optimal time to use miles. So with the help of <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HikpvLqt_M8OfXrCXta4rm76Z_JreLJt/view">our research assistant</a>, we investigated this question, with a focus on flights over the Thanksgiving holiday. <h2>Americans return to the skies</h2> The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days to travel in the U.S. Before the COVID-19 pandemic upended travel, the Transportation Security Administration <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus/passenger-throughput">screened 2.6 million people</a> on Thanksgiving eve of 2019, just shy of the 2.9 million record. While the number plunged in 2020 as demand dropped, it picked up to 2.3 million last year and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-thanksgiving-is-expected-to-be-one-of-the-busiest-for-travel-in-decades-11668532148">is expected to return</a> to pre-COVID-19 levels this year. The surge in demand, along with significantly higher jet fuel costs, are key factors in leading to more expensive air fares. To offset these higher costs, <a href="https://newsroom.wf.com/English/news-releases/news-release-details/2022/New-Study-Americans-Lean-Into-Credit-Card-Rewards-to-Offset-Rising-Costs--Including-Travel/default.aspx">many consumers</a> may turn to frequent flyer miles – whether accumulated from other travel or from credit cards – to avoid forking over so much cash. <h2>Frequent flying 101</h2> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10253866.2015.1096095">Frequent flyer mile programs started</a> in the late 1970s after the <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/history/brief_history">federal government stopped regulating</a> airfares. Before the change, fares, routes and schedules for all domestic flights were set by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board. Besides slashing fares, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/airline-frequent-flyer-miles-30-years/story?id=13616082">airlines reacted by creating frequent flyer programs</a>. Texas International Airlines, which ultimately merged with United, and Western Airlines, which later joined Delta, were among the first to institute frequent flyer programs. In a particular airline’s frequent flyer program, you earn miles when you fly with that airline. Many people get miles by using their credit cards as well. These accumulated miles can then be redeemed for free air travel. Frequent flyer programs were designed to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/02634509810199535">build customer loyalty</a>, as they provide a rebate to regular passengers. They are also <a href="https://hbr.org/1995/05/do-rewards-really-create-loyalty">meant to lock travelers</a> into a particular airline – since they have a strong incentive to only fly with that carrier. One downside is that many business flyers go out of their way to use their preferred airline, <a href="https://www.informs.org/About-INFORMS/News-Room/Press-Releases/Study-Finds-that-Frequent-Flyer-Programs-Increase-Cost-of-Business-Travel">which boosts their company’s travel costs</a>. And although airlines use frequent flyer programs to increase customer goodwill, they frequently <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/united-airlines-loyalty-program-status-update">change the rules and rewards</a>, which often <a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/delta-just-announced-a-change-that-will-make-people-very-mad-its-actually-a-brilliant-move.html">frustrates customers</a>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/2733384">Researchers have looked</a> at the <a href="https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/215872">optimal time to buy</a> airplane <a href="https://doi.org/10.1057/s41272-019-00193-7">tickets</a> with cash. In general, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/08/31/best-time-to-book-a-cheap-flight/?sh=23fdd1e72ebc">they have found prices</a> tend to dip anywhere from two months to three weeks before the travel dates. Prices are highest for those who want to book their flights very early, to lock it in, and last-minute travelers booking just before their departure dates. <h2>How frequent flyer miles compare</h2> To see when’s the best time to book with miles, we looked at <a href="https://www.oag.com/busiest-routes-right-now">one of the busiest routes in the U.S.</a> – New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). Each month, airlines have over a quarter of a million seats flying direct on that route. There are about 30 nonstop flights a day, run by <a href="https://www.aa.com/en-us/flights-from-new-york-to-los-angeles">three</a> <a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/flight-deals/united-states-flights/flights-to-los-angeles">different</a> <a href="https://www.jetblue.com/destinations/los-angeles-california-flights">airlines</a>. Starting about three months before Thanksgiving, we collected weekly data from the online booking sites of these three airlines. We tracked the frequent flyer miles needed as well as the price for every coach flight scheduled to take place within one week of Thanksgiving. As miles are not interchangeable between airlines in general, we needed an alternative measure for more direct comparison between different airlines. So we calculated how much a frequent flyer mile is worth by dividing the number of frequent flyer miles needed by the ticket price. We then compared the dollar worth of 1,000 miles, depending on the airline, when the booking was made and the flight date. <a href="http://businessmacroeconomics.com/">Economic theory</a> tells us that when there is lots of competition and the product is almost identical, competition should result in all businesses charging roughly the same price. That wasn’t what we found. In mid-October, Delta was asking 69,000 miles to fly the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. American Airlines was only asking 33,000 miles for roughly the same flight. This means if you have a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-travel-credit-cards/">general travel rewards credit card</a> that lets you use miles on different airlines, it pays to shop around. Just because an airline has a high price in miles doesn’t mean the price will not come down. At the start of November, Delta wanted 69,000 miles to fly at dinnertime on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. A week later the airline cut the price to 53,000 miles. A week after that, it was down to 36,500 miles, a price drop of almost 50% in two weeks. While in general the earlier you book, the better, booking too early can cost you. We found the best time to spend your frequent flyer miles for Thanksgiving travel was to book during the first week of October, which was about eight weeks out. In early October, 1,000 frequent flyer miles were worth over $14 in airfare. The last week of October, about four weeks before Thanksgiving, those same miles were only worth shy of $12. <h2>The best day to fly</h2> As for what is the best day on which to travel to get the most from your miles, there are two answers. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, your miles are typically worth the most, on average $15 per 1,000 miles. This is in sharp contrast to $11 for the day before Thanksgiving. However, flying Thanksgiving Day itself had required the lowest average number of miles, about 27,000 miles. If you haven’t booked flights yet, you may be too late to find the best value in frequent flyer miles. However, while we are still gathering and analyzing data, these tips look like they will hold up for future holidays. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whens-the-best-time-to-use-frequent-flyer-miles-to-book-flights-two-economists-crunched-the-numbers-on-maximizing-their-dollar-value-194893" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Travel Tips

Frequent flyer discusses the biggest sins of travelling

A frequent traveller has shared what she believes are the biggest sins of travelling. Posting a series of videos on TikTok, frequent flyer and travel influencer Tinx bluntly exposed the “worst things” people can do in airports and on planes. The 32-year-old regularly flies between London and New York to visit family, and understands that having to deal with the annoying behaviours of fellow passengers is not an easy task. Now Tinx, whose real name is Christina Najjar, has voiced her frustrations with her followers, revealing the “worst” behaviours that make for “awful travellers”, while urging anyone who is guilty of such sins to “take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror before you travel again.” While there are many things travellers can do that annoy their fellow holiday-goers, Tinx said being “unprepared” is the worst travel sin of all. “Let's begin with people that are unprepared at the front of the security line. It's a security line, you know what's coming, and yet there are still people who are fumbling around with their laptop like a child who forgot their homework.” "'Do I have to take off my jacket?’ Yes, spoiler alert, you always have to take off your jacket. Please keep the theatrical water chugging to the Uber,” she joked. Next up, Tinx trashed the “gate crowders” for their lack of awareness. “Next, let's discuss the gate crowders, they haven't even put up our flight on the little digital board and you're crowding around the gate like it's the stampede from The Lion King, grinding your foot into the ground like you're about to run with the bulls,” she said. “Aside from the fact that you're in group five, I got to tell you buddy, we're all going to the same place, we're all getting on the same plane.” Lastly, the influencer explained her anger at the other passengers who are “a**holes” when it comes to the overhead bins. “It always baffles me with the bins because it's very simple, just don't be an a**hole.” “Put your overstuffed away suitcase and your ugly little personal item in the seat in front of you,” she said. Many of Tinx’s viewers agreed with her travel qualms, with the comments being flooded with additional faux pas that get under the skin of frequent flyers. One user said, “How about those who as soon as the plane is stopped and the seatbelt sign is off they rush to the front of the plane.” Another commented, “What about the people that go back and forth in the aisle trying to choose a seat that suits their preference while other people are boarding?” Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

The long-haul mask hack frequent fliers swear by

When travelling, it is recommended that switching to disposable masks (either P2 or KN95) in the airport or on the plane will give you the best protection against viruses and other nasty particles. These game changing masks are not cheap, but $45 for a packet of 25, but these PPE Tech disposable P2 masks, are Australian made and owned, and come with one genius attachment. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/Mask-hack2.jpg" alt="" width="674" height="337" /> When traveller Jen Hewit opened the box for the first time, she found a small packet of plastic hooks inside, before she had her ‘aha’ moment. Jen had realised these hooks are, in fact, little ear-loops that allow you to hook the straps through so that they sit at the back of your head, rather than your ears. And if you prefer to wear a cloth mask, then you can still use these hooks with your own reusable one, given that the straps are stretchy enough. If you find yourself stuck on a long-haul without them, Jen recommends using her Dad’s own secret DIY hack: place the mask straps over the speakers on the airline’s headphones and your ears won’t feel like they’re about to fall off. Will you give this trick a go? Let us know on your next trip abroad. Image: Getty

Travel Tips

Teacher kills 9-year-old handing out “Save The Planet” flyers

While handing out homemade 'Save the Planet' flyers on the street, a nine-year-old girl was kidnapped, tortured and stabbed to death by a teacher, according to Russian police. Sofia Zhavoronkova’s head was “smashed” and her face and body “disfigured” after she was lured home by Ulyana Lanskaya, 40, an English language tutor. Hundreds attended the girl’s funeral, many in tears, said local reports in Vologda. Sofia hand wrote the flyers in a notebook with 'save the planet 'announcements', which she handed out to strangers with her friend Alla. One read: “Do not throw rubbish on the ground, because you are polluting nature.” Lanskaya - now remanded in custody - had seen the girls distributing the messages to passers-by and praised them for their green initiative. “Well done, girls, come on, I'll buy you something tasty,” she told them, according to the mother of the other girl. Alla was told by the teacher to go home - unharmed - before she is alleged to have attacked and killed Sofia. The woman took the girls to a cafe for cake, and bought sweets and ice cream for them before allegedly luring them to her home. “Sofia came up with the idea of handing out flyers. She herself wrote them on sheets from her notebook,” said Alla's unnamed mother. Lanskaya is reported to have been distraught after the authorities barred her from raising her own son and daughter, and said Sofia looked like her own child. The teacher had repeatedly claimed her healthy daughter suffered from cancer and needed urgent medical treatment, and had reportedly threatened her child with a knife. After Sofia’s death, police detained Lanskaya on a train heading towards Arctic port Murmansk. She confessed to carrying out the murder, said Russian law enforcement. Later in court, wearing military garments, she said, “I confessed because I'm very ill. I feel unwell, I don't have so long to live.” Despite her claim, investigators say there is no evidence she is terminally ill. During the court proceedings, Lanskaya admitted to inviting the girls to her flat “for tea”. She was covered in slash wounds and her head was “a broken, bloody mess”, reported Vologda-Poisk media. Sofia was reported missing and a huge police search started with 272 volunteers in Vologda city, with the girl’s mother Anna Zhavoronkova, 32, making an emotional appeal on social media. Police eventually located her friend after volunteers scanned CCTV footage and saw the girls together. The friend told them the address where she last saw Sofia, as police went to Lanskaya's house. Lanskaya was absent but police broke in and found Sofia’s body. Her throat had been slit and head battered with a blunt object, say police. A local said Lanskaya "is an intelligent woman, with an education" and “she used to be a tutor in several foreign languages." She was remanded in custody for two months pending the murder investigation. At the funeral, hundreds of mourners carried flowers in the tragic girl's memory. A local report said, “People are silent, do not talk at all. Everyone is crying." “Even men, leaving the church, step aside, light a cigarette and wipe away their tears.” One weeping woman said she came because “my granddaughter is the same age”. Image credits: East2West/Australscope

Legal

Qantas offers biggest ever rewards for vaccinated passengers

Qantas is now offering a new rewards campaign for fully vaccinated passengers including Qantas points, status credits and discounts – as well as entry into the draw to win a year’s worth of flights and accommodation. This prize is the biggest ever giveaway from Qantas, instigated as a reward to thank fully vaccinated passengers for their role in helping during the pandemic. Qantas rewards members will automatically be entered into this mega prize draw, where ten winners will win a year’s worth of flights, accommodation and fuel, including international destinations when borders are open. There will be one winner selected from each state and territory, and two winners will be from a national TV campaign. It all starts on Tuesday From Tuesday, double-jabbed Australian frequent flyers over the age of 18 will be able to claim their reward through the Qantas app – a choice of 1000 Qantas points, 15 status credits, or a $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the vaccine rollout was critical for the travel industry because it breaks the cycle of lockdowns and protects public health. “Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it,” said Joyce. “As the national carrier, we want to recognise those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community. “This is one of the biggest giveaways we’ve ever done. The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry and our own Qantas Group team members means we have a clear vested interest in the success of the vaccine rollout.” Qantas wants to thank Australians for getting vaccinated Joyce said by getting the nation’s vaccine rate up to 70 or 80 per cent would mean thousands of people could return to work. “Now is the ideal time to say thank you to Australians for stepping up and protecting themselves and others,” he added. Speaking to the Sunrise program on Monday morning, Joyce said he hoped the airline’s incentive program would encourage other businesses to offer rewards. “We know other companies are looking at how they recognise people who have got the vaccine, and we think more will follow,” he said. The announcement comes after Qantas has mandated vaccinations for its front-line workers. Qantas cabin crew, pilots and airport workers all need to be fully vaccinated by November 15, 2021 and the remainder of employees by 31 March 2022. Joyce said a fully vaccinated workforce for Qantas would not only safeguard workers, but protect customers and communities. “It’s clear that vaccinations are the only way to end the cycle of lockdowns and border closures,” he said. Photo: Getty Images

International Travel

Which crimes are most frequently detected in Australia?

The common populist phrase ‘if you do the crime, you should do the time’ suggests that those who commit criminal offences should be caught and prosecuted – regardless of how trivial or outdated the offence may be, or how futile or costly it is to put this ‘zero tolerance’ approach into practice. An example of an offence which many consider unjustifiably costly and futile to prosecute is <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/criminal/offences/drug-offences/drug-possession/">the crime of drug possession</a> – whereby ‘zero tolerance’ policing has done nothing to deter would-be offenders, has cost billions of dollars to enforce, and has led to a range of other socially undesirable consequences, including the stigmatisation of drug users, the reluctance of those whose use detrimentally affects their lives to seek medical help and a thriving black market with all the associated violence and health risks – including the dangers of low-grade drugs that contain potentially deadly fillers. But what are the most frequently detected crimes in Australia? And which offences tend to go unreported and undetected? The most frequently detected offences <a href="https://www.crimestats.aic.gov.au/facts_figures/2_offenders/">National statistics</a> suggest that the most frequently detected offence-types in the year 2016/17 were: 1. Drug offences – 81,160 2. Acts intended to cause injury – 78,421 3. Theft – 78,093 4. Public order offences – 61,198 This does not necessarily mean that these are the most common offences committed, just that they are the most frequently detected. In fact, there is research to suggest that certain driving offences such as <a href="http://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/traffic/offences/drink-driving/">drink driving</a> or negligent driving (eg failing to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians or other motorists) may be more common that all of those above, but they are less likely to be detected. A factor in detection rates is also that many assault offences – which come under acts intended to cause injury – <a href="https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi409">are committed in view of the public</a>; a situation where police are most likely to be called. A factor relating to the detection of drug offences is the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395918300756">pro-active detection policy of police</a>; which is signified by the heavy presence of police and drug detection dogs at music festivals and other venues. So as statistics can be skewed by a range of factors, the statistics on detection should not be equated with prevalence of offending. Hidden crimes Many types of crime go unreported to police which makes it difficult to estimate their prevalence or to identify perpetrators. There are many reasons why someone may not want to report a crime to police including a belief that they won’t be taken seriously, a reluctance to dob in a friend or relative or concerns about re-victimisation either by the criminal justice system itself. <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4530.0~2016-17~Main%20Features~Sexual%20assault~10004">Victimisation surveys</a> attempt to bridge the gap between reported crime and the actual rate in the community. These surveys find that the rate under-reporting depends a lot of the type of crime committed. Whilst 90% of motor vehicle thefts are reported to police, only 39% of sexual assaults are reported. Under-reporting of sexual assault has been well documented globally. The reasons for under-reporting <a href="https://aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/non-reporting-and-hidden-recording-of-sexual-assault-an-international-literature-review.pdf?v=1509677779">differ between surveys</a> but include wishing to deal with matters privately, feelings of shame and embarrassment and fear of not being believed by police. Some advocates point to low rates of convictions as being a cause of reluctance by sexual assault victims. In Australia, only 1 in 6 reports to police of rape and less than 1 in 7 reports of incest or sexual penetration of a child <a href="http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/projects/sexual-offences/sexual-offences-final-report">result in prosecution</a>. Other offences with low detection rates Physical assaults have notably low reporting rates, with only about half of such incidents being reported to police, usually because the victims view the crime as trivial or not worth reporting. Domestic violence is noted as being one of the most underreported categories of crime globally. Domestic violence under-reporting is driven by a number of complex <a href="http://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/134467/1/Content.pdf">factors</a> from financial or familial dependence to normalisation of violence and self-blaming. Moreover, vulnerable communities such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as sex workers, are known to under report crimes due to a general distrust of police and the criminal justice system. Unsolved crimes Even when crimes are detected by, or reported to police, identifying offenders can be difficult if certain barriers to investigation exist. There are no independent national statistics on the number of unsolved crimes in Australia. But, generally, the data indicates that a large number of reported crimes go unsolved, particularly property crime and theft. A lack of (cooperative) eye-witnesses or CCTV footage of a crime, very little physical evidence and little connection between perpetrator and victim are all common factors likely to mean a crime goes unsolved. An <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.569.1433&rep=rep1&type=pdf">analysis</a> of ‘solvability factors’ for homicide in Australia undertaken in 2001 found that unsolved homicides were more likely to involve a single victim, to have involved the use of a firearm and to have occurred in a non-residential area. Police factors in unsolved homicides included failures by police to rapidly secure a crime scene and a lack ample resources devoted to the investigation. Generally, crimes committed between strangers are difficult to solve, particularly if there is no clear motive that can narrow down potential suspects. Finally, perpetrators that have no prior criminal record are less likely to come to the attention of investigators making it less likely for them to be identified. So, not all crimes are equal when it comes to being caught. Written by Ugur Nedim and Jarryd Bartle. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/which-crimes-are-most-frequently-detected-in-australia/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Legal

Are you a frequent flyer? Solar storm radiation can be harmful

Space weather <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">impacts</a> many modern-day technologies. But one of the most concerning – and least reported – space weather effects is the increased radiation exposure to passengers on commercial long-distance flights during so-called “<a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">solar radiation storms</a>”. The NASA-funded Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation System (<a href="http://sol.spacenvironment.net/~nairas/">NAIRAS</a>) is the computer system tasked with providing a real-time data-driven climatology of the aviation radiation environment. Recently, a series of papers published in the journal [Space Weather] estimate that when NAIRAS was turned off during the US government shutdown last year – which went into effect just as a solar radiation storm began – <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">500,000 people</a> received increased radiation doses. It has also been estimated that this event is likely to eventually result in four cancer-related deaths. What is a solar radiation storm? Disturbances on the surface of the sun are commonly the cause of geomagnetic disturbances here on Earth; such as power grid faults/failures and increased errors in GPS navigation and positioning. Associated with some of these solar disturbances is the ejection of extremely fast plasma into the solar wind that, when aimed directly towards the Earth, causes the onset of increased geomagnetic and ionospheric activity. The Earth-bound solar energetic particles ejected into the solar wind eventually penetrate into the Earth’s magnetosphere. When inside the magnetosphere, they orbit the planet across the Earth’s magnetic field lines until they are scattered by various complicated magnetospheric processes and interactions. Once scattered, these solar particles then travel down the magnetic field lines until they impact the Earth’s upper atmosphere, where they are effectively absorbed. The penetration depth of these particles primarily depends on their kinetic energy, which is governed by their mass and velocity. The less energetic particles are stopped by the Earth’s atmosphere typically between 100 and 400km altitude, causing the well-known <a href="http://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html">aurora</a> in the northern and southern high-latitude regions. The atmosphere increases in density exponentially as the particle falls. This normally prevents particles penetrating to lower altitudes where they are harmful to living organisms. The more energetic particles, called “solar energetic particles”, caused by these solar disturbances can <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~barrel/index.html">penetrate</a> to below 10km, near of commercial flights. During such events, the danger posed by the increased radiation levels is easily averted by decreasing the cruising altitudes of the aircraft. Pilots can also divert their flight paths to areas less affected by the increased radiation levels (more equatorward latitudes). Several chest X-rays worth of radiation The aviation radiation monitoring performed in real-time by computer systems such as NAIRAS can effectively be used to issue such warnings to aircraft. This will help remove the threat posed to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe during such space weather events. The geomagnetic activity levels associated with the solar radiation storm that occurred during the US government shutdown were only minor (a minimum <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">Dst</a> of -54nT). This means the technologies normally classified as being <a href="https://theconversation.com/divert-power-to-shields-the-solar-maximum-is-coming-11228">vulnerable</a> to extreme space weather events are not likely to have been significantly affected. The solar energetic particle levels observed by <a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/satellite/goes/index.html">geostationary satellites</a> classifies this as an <a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">S2</a>solar radiation storm. It lasted more than 24 hours, and took about four days to fully subside (see video below). Some controversy exists around the exact method used by the scientists of the first <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">study</a>into this event. There has been doubt around the estimation of the number of eventual cancer fatalities related to this solar radiation storm. Even though the radiation levels air travellers were exposed to during this event are much higher than they might have been had an appropriate warning been issued, they were still comparatively low – on par with the dose that one would receive from a number of chest X-rays. Arguments put forward by some <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001074/abstract">researchers</a> err on the side of caution. They indicate that some people who would be considered more vulnerable to increased radiation exposure (such as frequent flyers and unborn children) should have access to this radiation monitoring information. This would enable them to make educated decisions about appropriate air travel times in much the same way that non-urgent X-rays may be postponed during pregnancy. <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001061/abstract">Other researchers</a> have erred on the opposite side, with the view that the radiation doses during this event were too small to be considered a serious threat. Independent of whether or not this particular space weather event exposed air travellers to dangerous levels of radiation, these studies are in clear agreement that increasing radiation monitoring is a must in the future. This is especially important for the aviation industry, and the provision of such information must not be hindered by short-term political partisan interests. Written by Brett Carter. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-you-a-frequent-flyer-solar-storm-radiation-can-be-harmful-28775">The Conversation</a>.

Travel Tips

The more you eat, the further you fly

The more you dine out, the more points you will be able to save up for flights and upgrades under a new initiative by the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. As of Thursday, travellers can receive rewards by making reservations at select restaurants in Australia and around the world. Members of the loyalty program will be able to earn 100 points per person for every booking made in one of the 18,000 restaurants across 12 countries. The new point system, which was launched in partnership with restaurant booking platform Quandoo, came after Qantas ended its agreement with Dimmi and Rockpool Dining Group restaurants. “We know how much our frequent flyers like to dine out, so rewarding them with Qantas Points for eating at their favourite local restaurant or somewhere special while they are on holiday is going to be a real drawcard,” said Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth. “Food and wine constantly rank as some of the top interests for our members … the ability to now earn points for booking restaurants overseas is a great addition to people’s travel experience and helps get them closer to their dream trip.” Frequent Flyers can start earning points by booking through the platform on August 15. The announcement follows the airline’s rewards program overhaul in June, when the airline unveiled that it will make more reward seats available while increasing <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/qantas-unveils-tasty-frequent-flyer-change/" target="_blank">the number of points required to upgrade to a premium cabin</a>. Qantas said the changes represented the biggest transformation that the Frequent Flyer program has seen in its 32-year-history. The loyalty program overhaul, which affects its 12.7 million members, will be rolled out over the next 12 months. Qantas’ collaboration with Quandoo came after Virgin Australia <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/velocity-opentable/" target="_blank">ended its restaurant booking partnership with OpenTable in July</a>. Members of the airline’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program are no longer able to earn 300 points for every table booking made on the OpenTable platform.

Travel Tips

The $7 Kmart item Aussie frequent flyers are swearing by

Kmart has quickly become the place to shop amongst frequent flyers for the discount travel gear it continues to offer. From suitcases to sleep masks, the discount department store is bound to have everything you need to ensure that your next flight is a comfortable one. However, there's one item that has caught the attention of jet setters: The $7 TSA lock. <img style="width: 500px; height: 375.385px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828652/31da6dde9bd62f91b69012793a4f0d4a.jpeg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/be2422dc28ba47c6adfccb804107076f" /> Photo source: Kmart An essential when travelling to the US, a TSA lock is a lock that airport security officials can open if they want to do a random luggage check. If they choose your luggage, they leave a note inside saying that they’ve checked your bag. Airport convenience stores sell these locks too, but you’ll be paying a lot more than $7 for it. Kmart have a range of products that are bound to help you when you’re travelling abroad. The range includes packing cubes, digital scales or a double USB charger. However, just because it’s cheap from Kmart doesn’t automatically mean that it’s the cheapest option available. It’s important to do your research in order to get the best bargain.

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Biggest overhaul in 32 years: Qantas announces major changes to its Frequent Flyer program

Qantas has just made the biggest announcement in the 32-year history of its Frequent Flyer program, with massive changes benefiting the customer into paying less fees and having access to more seats along with the opportunity to earn points while on the ground. Speaking to the media on Thursday, CEO Alan Joyce and divisional head Olivia Wirth made the revelation which will affect 13 million members. It is expected for the changes to take place over the next 12 months, with the airline investing $25 million into the scheme. The biggest changes will be access to more seats, with over 1 million seats reserved for Frequent Flyers. Destinations that will benefit the most will be London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Singapore. Another plus is reduced fees and carrier charges when redeeming points. If you’re someone who tends to travel in economy, you will now be using less points for a Classic Rewards seat. But if you prefer to fly first class, business class and premium economy, then the news is slightly bleaker as you will be paying an increased fee of 15 per cent – which is a first for the airline. You will also be paying more for an upgrade to a premium cabin – up to 9 per cent. “While the points required for business class seats on international and domestic flights will increase slightly, it is the first increase in 15 years and the product has improved a lot in that time,” said Mr Joyce. “There’s a lot about the Qantas Frequent Flyer program that our members tell us they love but there are also areas of the program that have increasingly come under pressure as a result of rapid expansion,” added Ms Wirth. “What we’re announcing today is all about investing more into the heart of our program, the member experience.” However, the most exciting change is the new “Points Club” program which helps members earn points when they aren’t up in the air. The club is comprised of two tiers and entry gained based on members meeting an annual criteria. Once travellers gain access to the exclusive club, they will receive lounge entry and bonus star credit, as well as bargain deals across their “partner” network. “The combination of the new Points Club, the introduction of our most elite tier in Lifetime Platinum, and the increase in seats across our network means the revamped program should offer something for everyone,” said Ms Wirth.

Travel Tips

6 tips for low-risk travel hacking

<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international/5-clever-travel-hacks-to-try-in-australia/">“Travel hacking”</a> is the practice of seeking to reduce or eliminate travel expenses by systematically making and acting on a plan to accumulate frequent flyer miles and points – usually with specific travel goals in mind. Often, travel hackers accomplish their goals by accumulating airline credit cards that subject them to high spending limits. For the undisciplined, this can be a high-risk type of behaviour. There are multiple pitfalls to overcome. For starters, it’s tempting to spend beyond your means in pursuit of miles and points. Failure to pay your balance in full can result in interest payments that exceed the value of the benefits the card offers. Not only that, there is usually a brief time limit imposed for collecting the sign-up bonus offered by the credit card company. Additionally, these cards usually have annual fees; experienced travel hackers typically cancel the cards before the fees come due. But if you aren’t that organised, you might forget to cancel the cards and have to pay the fees. These aren’t the only pitfalls associated with the usual approach to travel hacking, but they’re a few of the things that can compel people to ask, “Is travel hacking really worth it?” If that were the only way to engage in travel hacking, the answer for many people might well be “no”. Fortunately, this risky approach is not your only choice. It is totally possible to get started with travel hacking using methods that are far less risky. Let’s discuss 6 tips for low-risk travel hacking: 1. Use E-commerce portals for retail shopping Some airlines offer frequent flier miles or other rewards through their branded e-commerce portals. One example is the <a href="https://www.americanairlines.com.au/i18n/aadvantage-program/miles/partners/retail-and-dining.jsp">Aadvantage Program</a> offered by American Airlines. If you want to send flowers to a friend, buy tickets to a theatrical production, or make a purchase from any of 850+ participating retailers, you can earn frequent flier miles redeemable for flights, upgrades, rental cars, hotel rooms and other travel perks. Some of the associated offers are from retailers you probably shop with anyway. 2. Dine out Offers change frequently, but you can often find opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles or advantage points when you eat at participating restaurants. For example, if you eat at <a href="http://qantas.rockpooldininggroup.com.au/">Rockpool Dining Groups’ restaurants</a>, including Spice Temple, Rockport Bar & Grill or Fratelli Fresh, you can accumulate Qantas points to redeem on a future trip. Depending on the restaurant you choose, you could receive 1-2 frequent flier miles for each dollar you spend on dinner at the restaurant. 3. Take advantage of fuel card loyalty discounts Fuel cards offer you a convenient way to pay for your fuel purchases while you’re on the road. Whether you’re taking off on a road trip or you’re renting a car at your travel destination, you can take advantage of <a href="https://www.fuelcardcomparison.com.au/p/getting-most-out-fuel-with-fuel-card-loyalty-discounts/">fuel card loyalty discounts</a>. Each fuel card is different. After you sign up for a fuel card, typically you could expect to receive a few reward points for each dollar you spend at the fuel pump using your card. Depending on the fuel card, the reward points you receive might be redeemable for special deals or discounts. Be sure to read all the fine print to determine what benefits you’d receive from signing up for each fuel card you’re considering. As compared against airline credit cards with initial high spending requirements, most fuel cards don’t seem all that risky. Unlike credit cards, some fuel cards don’t even require any interest payments. However, fuel cards are not entirely risk free. Be aware that some fuel cards do charge monthly fees, annual fees, transaction fees and / or late payment fees – so be aware of the terms of service before applying. Pay particular attention to what fees you’ll be required to pay. Once you’ve begun using a fuel card, be sure to keep up with paying the bills as they come due to avoid late payment penalties. 4. Ride with Uber <a href="https://www.qantas.com/au/en/book-a-trip/uber.html">Uber and Qantas</a> have teamed up to offer you frequent flier miles when you take certain actions associated with their services. For example, signing up with Uber for the first time through Qantas’ portal can earn you 2,000 frequent flier miles. You can also earn points if you use the Qantas app for booking Uber rides to or from eligible Australian airports. The number of points you earn depends on your level of membership in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. 5. Buy a new mobile phone and try a new mobile plan Thinking of buying a new mobile phone or switching mobile providers? <a href="https://www.vodafone.com.au/plans/qantas">Vodafone and Qantas</a> are offering up to 20,000 Qantas Points for new Vodafone accounts. To earn the points, you must participate in at least one of the eligible offers these companies are making available. You could buy a new phone plus sign up for a SIM Only Plan or a Red Plan -- or you could sign up for a new Vodafone Plus Plan. New business accounts are eligible to earn greater numbers of points. You can also receive a free membership in the Qantas Frequent Flier Membership Program if you sign up through Vodafone’s link, scoring you a savings of $89.90. 6. Pay your energy bills on time <a href="https://www.redenergy.com.au/qantas/residential">Red Energy and Qantas</a> have partnered to offer you Qantas points for paying your electricity and gas bills on time. If you have a Red Energy account, or you want to open a new one, you’ll have to link the account to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account to be eligible to earn points under this programme. If you’re interested in travel hacking, it can be appealing to start with these sorts of low-risk offers. The points and benefits from these types of offers might not accumulate quite as quickly as they would if you were to use airline credit cards. However, you can see there are substantial amounts of frequent flier miles and other travel perks on offer through various low-risk programmes such as these. If you want to enjoy substantial savings on a trip you plan to take, it’s definitely worth considering all of these tips and offers.

Travel Tips

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The $7 Kmart item Aussie frequent flyers are swearing by

Biggest overhaul in 32 years: Qantas announces major changes to its Frequent Flyer program

6 tips for low-risk travel hacking

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