Qantas unveils good news for Western Australian flyers

Qantas has unveiled some good news for Western Australian travellers - including those in regional centres. 

The state is is to benefit from a multi-million dollar upgrade of QantasLink’s fleet, with the airline announcing upgrades to the onboard experience of its Airbus aircraft and confirming it has secured the initial three Embraer E190s to replace its Fokker 100 fleet.

These investments "will improve comfort and reliability for thousands of residents across regional WA, as well as workers in Western Australia’s critical resources industry", the airline said in a statement.

The airline will begin fitting its fleet of 28 Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft with onboard wifi so customers can keep connected and enjoy the latest hit movies and television shows on their own device via the Qantas Entertainment App.

The airline’s A320s will also be fitted with new seats equipped with USB A/C charging ports and portable device holders.

The first refurbished aircraft is expected to enter into service later this year, with the full cabin and wifi program set to be completed in early 2027.

The three mid-life Embraer E190 jets are expected to begin arriving by the end of the year, gradually replacing afleet of Fokker F100 aircraft.

In total, the airline will acquire up to 14 E190s. 

“This multi-million-dollar investment reinforces our long-term commitment to serving the critical resources sector in Western Australia and connecting regional communities across the state," says QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra.

 
“Not only will it significantly enhance the travel experience for our customers, it will also help us improve reliability and efficiency across our WA network.

“It also builds on Qantas’ commitment to developing Perth as its western hub, including recent investments in new training facilities, infrastructure upgrades at Perth Airport and the launch of domestic and international routes to destinations including Newcastle, Hobart, Johannesburg and Auckland.”

Emirates upgrades its fleet; codeshares with South African Airways

It has been a big week for Emirates Airlines, which has entered a new phase of refitting its aircraft and entered into a new deal with South African Airways.

Emirates' retrofit program sees 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s set to receive cabin innovations including next-generation, fully immersive in-flight entertainment systems and upgraded wifi connectivity.

Emirates will introduce the latest seating designs and a new onboard lounge on 60 A380s, paired with Panasonic's advanced Astrova inflight entertainment system.

“Emirates’ retrofit programme is about continuously elevating standards across our entire fleet," says Sir Tim Clark, the airline's president.

"Working with our long-standing partners, we're taking this commitment a step further with the aim of delivering product consistency at scale, in tandem with next-generation innovations in seating, entertainment, and connectivity being brought into service with our newly delivered fleet.

"Our customers expect an excellent experience every time they fly Emirates, and this investment ensures we deliver on that promise in the years to come, wherever they travel with us.”

Business class on both the A380 and Boeing 777s will receive a major upgrade while Emirates is installing fleet-wide Starlink connectivity.

Meanwhile, Emirates and South African Airways are working towards a reciprocal codeshare agreement, ahead of the busy peak travel season.

With single ticket fares and unified baggage handling, Emirates customers will be able to enjoy seamless access from Johannesburg to three domestic points in South Africa - Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), as well as a further thirteen regional points in Africa including Abidjan, Accra, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, and Mauritius.

The codeshare will enable Emirates to tap into feeder traffic from South Africa, and regionally alongside long-haul connecting passengers from the UK and US.

This builds on the existing codeshare partnership that provides South African Airways customers with access to Dubai on Emirates’ soon-to-be 56 weekly flights from three gateways.

Based in Dubai, Emirates is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates.

 

See emirates.com, flysaa.com or travel agents.

How to reduce your risk of having data hacked

Are you taking risks when you sign on to wifi servers when travelling?

Recent research by cybersecurity experts at NordPass, together with Saily, suggest your data may be at serious risk.

The team says fake wifi hotspots that allow cybercriminals to steal login details - and, in some cases, access saved credit card information - are on the increase.

Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of product at NordPass, says that “workations” made company accounts more vulnerable than ever, while Saily’s CEO Vykintas Maknickas highlights how travellers often connect to “the first wifi they see” without considering security.

Many holidaymakers rely on airport wifi to check emails, log into airline apps with the same password, or, share streaming accounts.

One recurring pattern is the rise of “workations.” Employees working from beaches ski chalets often connected to company accounts via unsecured networks.

"Families on group trips also frequently admitted to reusing the same password across multiple booking apps to keep it simple,” says Arbaciauskas.

He warns fake wifi hotspots set up in airports, hotels, or even beach cafés can look identical to the real thing. Once you are connected, cybercriminals can monitor traffic and capture login details.

“We’ve seen how travellers lean on quick connections to stay in touch with home, work, or entertainment,” said Maknickas. 

“But not all networks are created equal. Choosing a secure, reliable connection can make the difference between a smooth trip and one filled with unexpected cyber troubles.”

Five tips:

# Audit your passwords: Replace any that are weak, reused, or shared over the summer.

# Think twice about wifi: Public hotspots are a hacker’s favourite playground - use mobile data or a VPN.

# Keep accounts personal: Sharing logins may seem harmless, but it weakens your digital defences.

# Secure work accounts: If you worked on the road, reset critical passwords now.

# Use tools that do the heavy lifting: A password manager helps generate and store strong, unique passwords.

# NordPass is a password manager for both business and consumer clients.

Image: Roberto Moreno, Scop.io

Why you need to be cyber alert when travelling

Travellers tend to relax when away from home. They shouldn't.

Many don’t realize that their hotel rooms can be hotspots for digital threats - making seemingly relaxing getaways risky moments for their personal data and devices.

"Cybersecurity doesn’t go on holiday just because you do," says Matas Cenys, senior product manager at Saily.

"Even in your hotel room, hackers can exploit weak spots in public infrastructure and devices to access your information.

"That’s why travellers need to take digital security seriously - especially when relying on unfamiliar networks abroad."

Here are some of the ways devices can be hacked on vacation - and how to stay safe with smart precautions and secure mobile connectivity, as recommended by Saily.

Hotel wifi: Protect your connection
Public wifi can be convenient, but it's also one of the easiest gateways for hackers. In hotels, cybercriminals can exploit network vulnerabilities by either infecting the hotel’s legitimate wifi or setting up fake hotspots that look like official hotel networks but are designed to steal your data. Confirm the correct network name with hotel staff or avoid public wifi by using mobile data via an eSIM service, which provides secure, and affordable internet access.

USB charging ports: Stick to the socket
USB ports in hotel rooms may be convenient, especially for international travelers, but they’re not always safe. Modified ports can enable “juice jacking” - a method where malware is transferred to your phone via the USB cable, allowing hackers to steal passwords, credit card numbers, or even your location.

Smart TVs: Don’t let your screen spy on you
Smart TVs in hotel rooms often come equipped with cameras, microphones, and access to streaming services - and they're sometimes poorly secured. Hackers can exploit these devices to eavesdrop, watch, or capture login credentials.

Automatic connections: Disable and defend
Most smartphones are set to connect automatically to known wifi networks, but this can backfire when you're surrounded by insecure or malicious networks. Devices can reconnect without you noticing - even when you’re not in the room. Turn off auto-connect for wifi and Bluetooth. Enable security apps like firewalls or VPNs.

Phishing scams: Don’t let your guard down
Advanced cybercriminal groups like DarkHotel have been known to target high-profile travellers at luxury hotels with phishing campaigns and malware-laced networks. Their phishing emails are convincing, often highly personalised. Avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading unknown attachments.

# Saily is promoted as an affordable and secure travel eSIM app created by the team behind NordVPN.

Image: Lin Watchorn, Scop.io 

Airalo makes staying in touch overseas easier than ever

Remember the old days when you used to brace for massive overseas roaming charges each time you travelled overseas?

Then came the trend of installing a new local SIM card into your mobile device every time you switched countries.

Now, eSIMs are the way to go - a few clicks on your phone and an eSIM is installed for your destination. Land, click and you are away, at a cost of just a couple of dollars a day.

Running out of data? Easy. A couple more clicks, a couple more bucks, and stay in touch.

I tested out the Airalo eSIM on a 10-day trip to Bali - including some remote locations - earlier this month. I was impressed both with the ease of signing up, and the ability to stay connected in places where I had no wifi access.

Airalo, founded in 2019, came highly recommended by a couple of travel writing colleagues and its PR operative helped set me up on the service. I'm an instant convert

Airalo, which promotes itself as the world’s leading eSIM provider, celebrated a major milestone recently: 20 million users have embraced its fully digital eSIM technology.

The outdated, traditional SIM card industry relies on a plastic-heavy, high-emission supply chain, producing billions of single-use SIMs each year - equivalent to 20,000 tonnes of plastic.

An eSIM emits 46% less CO2 throughout its product lifecycle than a single SIM card.

By eliminating the need for physical SIM cards, Airalo's eSIM technology is helping to reduce the telecom industry's environmental footprint at scale, while offering a more efficient and eco-friendly way to stay connected.

“Reaching 20 million users is more than a business milestone - it’s a clear signal that the world is ready for a more sustainable way to stay connected,” said Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Airalo.

“Every eSIM activation represents less plastic waste, fewer carbon emissions, and a step toward a greener planet." 

Unlike traditional SIM cards, which require swapping and often get lost or discarded, eSIMs are fully digital and easily manageable through your own device.

This flexibility allows travellers to switch between eSIM plans and countries effortlessly, without worrying about physical cards or compatibility issues.

Current offers include unlimited data for 10 days in 42 countries in Europe with Airalo Eurolink for $58.50.

To learn more visit www.airalo.com.

MSC promotion solves a major cruise issue

There are two components of cruising that can cause unpleasant surprises when you are ready to disembark.

One is the cost of wifi, which can be extortionate if you have not done your homework, the other your booze bill if you have neglected to sign up for a drinks package.

MSC Cruises has a solution for both issues with its All In Plus promotion.

Valid on selected sailings from April 2024 to November 2024, guests can enjoy an included Easy Plus Drinks package, which offers a wide selection of classic cocktails and frozen drinks, spirits, wines by the glass and beers, as well as soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, hot drinks and more.

In addition, the promotion includes unlimited wifi for two devices per cabin.

The deal is available for sailings across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean.

One such trip is an East Mediterranean aboard MSC Armonia (top image).

Departing Venice, Italy on October 28, 2024 and sailing over seven -nights to Dubrovnik in Croatia; Kotor in Montenegro, and Corfu and Zakynthos in Greece, as well as Bari before returning to Venice, this cruise is priced from $1,439/ NZD$1,549 per person, including drinks and wifi for the first two guests per cabin.

The MSC Cruises All In Plus promotion is valid for selected sailings from April 2024 to November 2024. The promotion will run until March 31, 2024.

Call 1300 028 502, NZ 0508 4278 473 or visit www.msccruises.com.au www.mscrcruises.co.nz

Emirates boosts its free in-flight wifi

Emirates has upgraded its in-flight wifi so that every passenger can potentially enjoy free wifi even if they are flying on a cheap economy ticket.

Only one issue: you have to sign up the Emirates Skywards scheme to be eligible, Travel Mole reports.

The upgrade means an additional 30,000 economy class passengers will get access to complimentary wifi every week.

The airline says it has invested more than US$300 million in onboard connectivity.

All Emirates Skywards members in every class can now enjoy some form of free connectivity.

Skywards members enjoy free app messaging and first class passengers will now have unlimited free internet if they are Skywards members.

Silver, Gold and Platinum Skywards members get free wifi in business class.

Platinum Skywards members have complimentary internet access in all classes.

Emirates sees an average of 450,000 inflight wifi users per month.

Patrick Brannelly, SVP Retail, IFE said: ” In March we delivered about 55% more data per customer session."

Emirates will also offer new high-speed broadband by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, on new Airbus A350 aircraft from 2024.

Wifi charges and enforced gratuities soar

If there is a rort that will extract more money from travellers then US "hospitality" businesses will find it.

Think the outrage of "resort fees" - where you have to pay for stuff you don't want and will not use. Or early check-in fees, late check-out fees, or room service charges on top of already excessive menu prices.

Cruise lines are experts at charging for extras: making you pay for gratuities even though the staff might not offer great service, and demanding extortionate fees for internet usage.

Florida-based Carnival Cruise Line has just hit its customers with a new year double whammy: increasing both its internet charges and gratuities.

Beginning with embarkations on January 16, Carnival's premium wifi package will cost $18.70 per day, up from $17. That's US dollars, so $27.70 in Australian dollars, or close to $300 for a 10-day cruise.

Carnival will charge $17 per day, up from $14.45, for its "value" package and its "social" package will cost $12.75 per day - but only includes access to social media and airline websites.

Gratuities for suites will increase on April 1.

Carnival will charge each guest $18 per day, up from $16.60. For standard staterooms, daily gratuities will increase to $16 per person, up from $14.50 per person.

I prefer to reward staff individually for great service, but enforced gratuities are an accepted part of the cruise business.

This is the second time in less than a year that Carnival has increased gratuities.

Norwegian Cruise Line also recently boosted its tip charges, increasing gratuities to between $25-$20 per day.

It is well worth bearing these extra charges in mind when booking a cruise.

Image: Julia Xian, Scop.io