Codeshare agreement a boon for Virgin Australia flyers

A new partnership between Virgin Australia and Link Airways is set to open up more regional destinations for Virgin flyers.

The codeshare agreement will expand Virgin Australia's regional footprint with more than 90 flights per week to be operated by Link Airways, including services to Inverell, Wollongong, and Biloela which are not currently serviced by any other major airline.

Velocity Frequent Flyer members will now be able to earn both points and status credits on 17 new regional codeshare services.

Effective immediately, flyers can book via Virgin Australia's travel agency partners, with fares available on virginaustralia.com from March 2024.

Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members will also earn bonus points and receive an additional baggage allowance when travelling on any Virgin Australia codeshare service operated by Link Airways.

Eligible Velocity members can also access Virgin Australia lounges when travelling on these Virgin Australia codeshare services.

New regional routes available as Virgin Australia codeshare flights include Brisbane-Coffs Harbour, Brisbane-Orange, Sydney-Narrabri, Sydney-Inverell, Melbourne-Wollongong and Canberra-Hobart.

"The announcement in partnership with Link Airways underscores our commitment to delivering great value, flexibility and choice to Australians, and boosting connections for customers living in regional Australia,” said Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley.

“Importantly the partnership is also set to support regional trade and tourism in destinations like Inverell, Wollongong and Biloela, which are not currently serviced by any other major airline."

Link Airways Chief Executive Officer Andrew Major said: “Link Airways is very pleased to join Virgin Australia in announcing this codeshare agreement which will provide significant additional travel opportunities to passengers Australia-wide, particularly those in regional areas.

"Benefits will include better connectivity and more choice for regional customers thanks to Virgin Australia’s expansive route network.”

The perfect time for wine lovers to go for Broke

The 20th anniversary of the Little Bit of Broke festival will be even more special given it coincides with the bicentenary of the tiny Hunter Valley hamlet.

To be held from Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17, the weekend promises wine, food, farm gate produce, live music and lots of fun.

A Festival Kit includes festival entry, a keepsake tasting glass and tasting tokens to which you can add dining, experiences, events, workshops, extra tastings and even transport, all bookable online.

There will be a record number of festival offerings with 17 locations from which to choose.

From dining in a hatted restaurant, picnicking with alpacas, sunset wines and tunes, there are plenty of choices.

Wineries involved include regional star Margan, Nightingale Wines, Whispering Brook, Winmark and Krinklewood.    

The program has just been announced and tickets are on sale now at brokefordwich.com.au.

A hop-on, hop-off bus service will enable festivalgoers to park their cars at the Festival Hub in the heart of Broke and the take the shuttle to different destinations.

The Festival Starter Kit begins at $35 per person with four tastings included, while the Festival Super Kit includes eight tastings for $50.

* Kids enter for free as they do not require a Festival Kit which includes wine tastings that are reserved for over 18 years only.

Convict Bitters add a taste of Australia to cocktails

One of the most versatile drinks additives around are aromatic bitters; which generally come in small bottles and are often used by adding a few drops to change flavour profiles.

Bitters are among the most commonly used ingredients in a bar for a range of popular cocktail recipes, ranging summer refreshers like lemon, lime and bitters, to Manhattans, Martinis, Negronis, Sazeracs, and Old Fashioneds.

Trinidad-based Angostura is the brand leader - and a global presence - but Australia also has its own contender with Convict Bitters.

Aromatic bitters are bitters infused with aromatic herbs, roots, and plant matter used for infusion and to add a freshness to mixed drinks and cocktails.

The purpose of bitters is to balance out the taste of a cocktail. Cocktails primarily contain sweet and sour flavours. By adding another primary taste, bitter, into mixed drinks, a cocktail is given a more complex flavour on the palate.

Say hello, then, to Convict Aromatic Bitters, which are 46% abv and are sold in 250ml bottles.

The story is that the drinks is based on an old convict’s recipe.

Convict Bitters is hand-crafted in Australia using native Australian botanicals including roasted wattleseed, lemon myrtle and Tasmanian pepperberry,

Vibrant, lifted and very delicious. But remember a couple of drops are all that you need.

Convict Bitters retail for around $20 and are distributed by Cerbaco.

See https://www.cerbaco.com.au/

Sophisticated scammers find new ways to get your money

It seems to be a busy time of the year for scammers.

Just this morning my mobile phone pinged, announcing the arrival of yet another scam message designed to part me from my cash.

This one was ostensibly from Australia Post, although the poor grammar, Americanisms and strange address were a giveaway for anyone bar an idiot in a hurry.

It read: Australia - Post Center: Your parcel has not arrived, need timely verification, please click on https://aupost.dazifan.com or will be refunded!

And, of course there was a handy link for me to click on. No thanks. Blocked.

Then I was reading the morning paper to be alerted to another fraud: Australian Open Fans Targeted by Scammers Selling Fake Tickets

This one involves deceptive online websites that mimic official ticket distributors, using very similar URLs to dupe fans into buying counterfeit tickets or divulging personal information.

This week I have also received several emails from suspicious-looking email addresses seeking to confirm accommodation that has been "booked" with me.

They go along these lines: Greetings, I would like to book a Single Standard Room, for the dates from March 4, to March 8, 2024. Could you please confirm the current availability and share information on the pricing? Thanks.

You respond, as most decent people would, saying there has been an error and that you do not have accommodation.

But they persist: Hi! I've booked a room successfully, but my card hasn't been charged. Despite the confirmed reservation, I'm concerned about a potential cancellation. Could you check my details through the provided reservation page link? Your support is greatly appreciated!

How polite. But if you are silly enough to click on the link your computer will be uploaded with malware. 

Let's be careful out there people.

 

New festival targets lovers of premium spirits

So you really like your gin, whisky, vodka and rum?

Here's a date for the diary: the new Sydney Spirits Festival will run from May 10-12 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney Cove.

The inaugural event is promising the largest and most diverse gathering of its kind in Australia, showcasing 148 brands spanning whisk(e)y, gin, soju, schnapps, rum, agave, vodka, vermouth, grappa, tequila, liqueurs, fortified wines, and more.

Among the unusual flavours will be German and Japanese gin, American peanut butter whisky, Greek vermouth, Brazilian cachaça, and Australian gold medal-winning negronis.

Highlighting the festival will be appearances by renowned figures in the spirits industry including Tasmanian whisky pioneer Bill Lark, Geraint Gee David (above) from Buffalo Trace Distillery, an American bourbon expert, and Mikey Enright of Hickson House, who will showcase his award-winning gin and whisky. Also look out for rising Hobart stars Taylor and Smith Distilling. 

The festival will also feature a range of culinary experiences including Japanese noodles, Mexican tacos, gourmet oysters, and more, while Schibello Coffee Café will offer brandy cannolis with premium coffee.

The festival will be organised into five three-hour sessions and all spirit samples are included in the ticket price, with bottles available for purchase. Complimentary tote bags and tasting glasses will be provided.

The six food stands will feature cuisines designed to complement popular spirits while masterclasses on bourbon, whisky, gin, rum, vermouth, and negroni, will cost $40 each with a limit to 40 tickets per class.

General Tasting Sessions are priced at $80 per person with Premium Any Session tickets available for $120.

For more details and to purchase tickets visit www.sydneyspiritsfestival.com/

Qantas to fly from Darwin to Singapore

Qantas has unveiled plans for a new international route that will shave several hours of flying time for anyone travelling from Darwin to Europe.

Qantas today announced it is launching a second international route from Darwin, with direct flights from the Northern Territory to Singapore. It currently only flies from Darwin to Dili, in East Timor.

Starting in December, the new Qantas flights will add more than 60,000 seats on the route each year and provide visitors to Australia with a gateway to access to Top End travel experiences.

The flights will provide a direct Qantas option to Singapore and also a connection to London on QF1, as well as other destinations across Europe or Asia with partner airlines.

Qantas customers travelling from Darwin will save around five hours in flying time by no longer having to fly via other Australian capital cities to get to London.

Launching on December 9, 2024, flights will initially operate five days per week with the dual-class Embraer E190 aircraft, increasing to daily from March, 2025.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said: “We’re thrilled to be offering our customers another new international route out of Darwin and strengthening the important trade, business and tourism links between Australia and Singapore.

“The direct service is not just great news for Territorians wanting to visit Singapore, but also for those travelling to London, Europe and across south-east Asia, with connections to popular destinations like Phuket and Kuala Lumpur with our partner airlines, saving hours of travel time."

Qantas has a long history of flying between Darwin and Singapore, with Darwin being the final Australian stop-over on the original Kangaroo Route from Australia to London in 1935. More recently, Qantas last operated direct flights between Darwin and Singapore in 2006.

Fares start from $690 return and are available from today via qantas.com or through travel agents.