Matty Somewhere

Best Australian Blogs 2014 – Peoples Choice Awards

I received an email the other day from a reader, thanking me for my stories on FreakyFlier and explaining how he has now made a decision to travel to a certain destination on a particular airline with thanks to my reviews. I always feel pretty chuffed when I receive an email of thanks from my…

Where South Meets North. A Day Tour To The Korean DMZ and Panmunjom: Part 2 – Seeing the North

OUCH! %&*# that hurt!… So, what I didn’t finish telling you in part one of my day tour to the DMZ, while I was at Imjingak Park at the lookout, I tripped and fell head over turkey and injured my foot. Hobbling back to the car park, I finally found my coach but I was…

Review: Qantas Airways Sydney to Melbourne Business Class

Many years ago, a few months after Jetstar took to the skies as the low cost carrier offshoot of Qantas Airways, I was travelling with a friend, Business Class, on a Qantas Flight between Melbourne a Sydney. After a few glasses of wine we were having a good old time, laughing at the fact we…

Where South Meets North.. A Day Tour To The Korean DMZ and Panmunjom: Part 1 – Imjingak

“Why would you want to go there? Stay in Seoul…..go shopping!” That was what my Korean born work colleague said to me, with a look of disgust on her face, when I mentioned that during my trip to South Korea I was taking a day tour to the DMZ and Panmunjom – the Demilitarised Zone and Joint…

Review: Tigerair Melbourne to Sydney

Younger siblings – little brothers or sisters, can be annoying, seemingly going about things the wrong way and sometime acting as if they have no idea at all! Then suddenly they grow up, aren’t nearly as embarrassing as usual and work alongside others 🙂 This is what I feel has happened with Tigerair, since Virgin…

The Worlds Largest & Most Extensive Subway System

Am I in New York? Am I about to board the Paris Metro? Perhaps I am in Metropolitan Tokyo waiting for a chikatetsu? – one thing I can say is that we’re not in Sydney!…I am in Seoul, South Korea home to the worlds largest subway system in terms of station and passengers. With 19 lines…

Review: Canberra to Sydney by QANTASLINK on a refurbished Boeing 717 – Business Class

I can hear you now – not another Qantas Review!!! – But stay with me, its small and short – this is actually the regional arm of the airline – QantasLink and I’m travelling on one of their the newly refurbished Boeing 717-200’s in Business Class, something new for the airline. These narrowbodied rear mounted…

Novotel Canberra

So I’ve got this friend right and whenever he stays in a hotel, one of international standard, the first thing he does is order a club sandwich from room service. “You can tell a lot about a place by a club sandwich pet!” he’d insist with a raised eyebrow while regaling me with his latest…

One Day In November – A FreakyFlier Day Trip

Let me take you on a day trip, its not your regular outing but for an aviation enthusiast its going to be a freaky good day! Late last year, when Jetstar received its first Boeing 787 Deamliner, they offered a few sectors domestically to ‘break-in’ the new aircraft and give the Australian travelling public a…

Review: Qantas Airways – Canberra to Melbourne, Economy Class

Isnt it wonderful when you are on a flight and a flight attendant does something out of the ordinary when its a special occasion? This happened to me recently on a flight from Canberra to Melbourne with Qantas Airways. The special occasion was that I was flying from Canberra to Melbourne to take the new Jetstar Boeing…

Review: China Southern Airlines 中国南方航空, Seoul Incheon to Guangzhou, Economy Class

After a wonderful week in Seoul it was time to head home on China Southern Airlines, an airline I had never flown before. After checking my bags in, I spent a few hours in the HUB Lounge and then made my to the departure gate for the first sector to Guangzhou, China, the airlines hub, where I…

Lounge Review: The Qantas Club – Melbourne Domestic Airport

As you know, I love airport lounges! – Almost, just almost – as much as I love flying. Recently I had a guest pass to visit any Domestic Qantas Club Lounge, so before I took off on my first Jetstar 787 flight to the Gold Coast, I visited the Melbourne lounge, What a great way to start this…

Review: QANTAS AIRWAYS – Gold Coast to Sydney, Business Class

“Why do you want to fly Business Class?” my friend Liz asked me the other day. “Huh? Did you seriously just ask me that?” I replied, stunned. Obviously Liz hasn’t flown Business Class very often. Even though this was a short 1 hour 25 minutes sector, one of the many benefits of flying Business Class is lounge access and with…

The Changing of the Guard, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

When I mentioned to fellow Australians I was going to see the Changing of the Guard on my trip to South Korea, I could see the confusion in their faces as I’m sure they were picturing Beefeaters with large cylindrical black fur hats, gallantly dressed horses and all that pomp and pageantry that comes with…

Review: Jetstar Airways – Boeing 787 Dreamliner – Melbourne to Gold Coast Business Class

“We’re flying on a plastic plane daddy?” I over heard the young boy ask his father…. “Well,…um,…kinda” came the reply….. I think the father wanted to explain that the aircraft was made up of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer making the aircraft stronger yet lighter but it might just be a little to much for the youngster to understand….

Lounge Review: The Qantas Club – Gold Coast

The other day a work colleague said to me “I love following your trips on Facebook and seeing what airport lounge you are in each day” Yes O.K, I love airport lounges. They’re a place to sit and relax with some food and a drink and wi-fi, not paying extortionate airport prices for the privilage of eating, away from hordes of people lining up…

Review: 中国南方航空 – China Southern Airlines, Guangzhou to Sydney, Airbus A380, Economy Class (Part 2)

Continued on from Part 1. To summarise Part 1 – I’d spent 3.5 hours in the non transit friendly Guangzhou Airport, boarded the aircraft in a well executed manner, turned down a not so badly priced on board upgrade and asked my seat-neighbour to move from my pre-assigned window seat in order to have the luxury of…

Happy New Year 2014 + 100 Years of Commercial Flights

On January 1st 1914, the first commercial flight took place across Tampa Bay in Florida, USA, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). How far we have come in those 100 years, not only has commercial aviation helped bridge gaps between nations and brought the world closer together – so has the internet….. In…

Merry Christmas 2013 from FreakyFlier.com

When I came accross this picture it reminded me of one of my favourite flight moments of 2013. My ‘fifth freedom’ flight on Lufthansa German Airlines, in Business Class, between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur – Review: Lufthansa German Airlines – Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur Business Class I hope all my readers have a wonderful holiday…

Review: 中国南方航空 – China Southern Airlines, Guangzhou to Sydney, Airbus A380, Economy Class (Part 1)

“WOW! I had no idea we’d be on the ‘double-decker’, isn’t this AMAZING!” my seemingly chatty seat-neighbour said to me as I flashed my boarding pass and pointed, indicating she was in my window seat. She sighed loudly as she grabbed her bags knowing they’d have to be re-stowed in the overhead locker. I had purposely…

Lounge Review: HUB LOUNGE, Incheon International Airport, Seoul South Korea

You don’t have to be flying First or Business Class to enjoy a few hours of drinks, food and relaxation in the luxury of an airport lounge before departure or during a transit. In most civilised airports, including Seoul’s Incheon Airport, there are pay per use lounges open to all travelling regardless of travel class – (unfortunately this…