Air travel
Opinion
Tripologist
The pros and cons of ordering the special meal on planes
There are plenty of reasons to order the special meal on a flight – dietary or religious requirements, allergies, or sometimes you just want to get your food quicker.
- by Michael Gebicki
Opinion
Opinion
At last, an airline that lets women avoid sitting next to men
Why not go further? Let me choose to sit away from families with small children and people who whinge about reclined seats.
- by Annabel Fenwick Elliott
‘World’s best business class’ about to get better as upgrade unveiled
Qatar Airways’ business class seats are already more like first class, but the airline’s next generation “Qsuite” will go even further.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★★
Airline reviews
Airline review: The world’s longest flight is an absolute pleasure
If you’re ever going to splurge on a front-of-plane experience, let it be this one.
- by Carolyn Beasley
Opinion
Tips & advice
Nervous flyers tense with fear during bumps. I know, because I am one
We keep our seatbelts firmly done up over our blankets when asleep. We limit toilet breaks to moments when there is no one waiting so we spend less time standing.
- by Lee Tulloch
Like a private jet: Sneak peek inside Qantas’ new first class
At the Airbus factory in Toulouse, we take a look at the new, top-tier seats Qantas will install for its ultra-long-haul non-stop flights to New York and London.
- by John Arlidge
Opinion
Tripologist
Gareth’s suitcase was stolen on a train, but insurers say it’s his fault
Gareth Lloyd and his wife were returning home to Melbourne after a holiday in Spain when a brazen thief started going through their suitcase.
- by Michael Gebicki
★★★★
Hotel reviews
Freshly revamped, Melbourne Airport hotel is an oasis in a concrete jungle
Here’s an excellent place to stay before or after a flight, or during a long stopover at Melbourne Airport.
- by Jim Darby
★★★★★
Airport reviews
South-East Asia’s newest airport is sleek, shiny and cavernously empty
The airport was built to sustain 7 million passengers a year, but is running at about 50,000. Hopefully, it will be a case of build it and they will come.
- by Christine Retschlag
Ten essential travel skills worthy of their own gold medals
From beating the carry-on luggage limit to the perfect travelator dismount, if travel was an Olympic sport, these would be the events.
- by Riley Wilson