2020 has been a tough year for many Australian tourism businesses. But few parts of Australia have been affected as badly as Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The island was still recovering from a disastrous summer bushfire season, which destroyed almost half the island, when the coronavirus crisis hit. With borders now closed, the island’s economy which relies on tourism is struggling. In this episode, Matt takes a close look at how these dual crises impacted Kangaroo Island and its people.
In this episode, Matt also discusses what it’s like flying around Australia at the moment, the future of Virgin Australia and the hierarchy of Qantas award availability.
Episode contents:
- 1:00 – Fortnightly news round-up
- 9:50 – The future of Virgin Australia & the risk of getting squeezed by Qantas
- 15:50 – What’s it like flying with Qantas & Virgin at the moment – both on the ground and in the air?
- 20:22 – How Kangaroo Island has dealt with two crises this year, and how its tourism industry is affected
- 28:00 – Ask Matt: Qantas award availability when using AAdvantage or Alaskan miles
Links:
- AFF on Air Discussion thread – a dedicated AFF thread to discuss the podcast and ask questions
- Virgin’s “Hybrid” Strategy is Fraught with Risk
- Great Food & Service at Reopened Qantas Lounges
- Upcoming Frequent Flyer Solutions webinar: Australian Domestic Travel Tips & Tricks (9 September 2020)
Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:
