Well the big news finally hit this week.  An Open Skies agreement has been reached between the US and Australia to let US and Australian based airlines fly between the US and Australia, to any destination, as many times as they like!  You may not know this but this has been a tightly guarded priveledge between Qantas and United Airlines for as long as I can remember. Qantas currently holds the majority of the market sending 51 flights a week across the Pacific.   And because there is barely any competition is it costs more to fly 14 hours to California than it does to fly 22 hours to the UK.  We already know that budget airlines “V Australia” and “Jetstar” will start flying to the US, but I’m sure we will see any more competition on the trans-Pacific route in the future bringing lower fares.  I’m not sure I would want to fly for 14 hours in a budget carrier though.
Also, while I’m talking trans-Pacific…  Qantas is rumored to soon start selling tickets on the new A380 to the US for when they take delivery of the first units later this year.  Qantas are also about to remodel the frequent flyer program in May.  It most likely means that it will cost more points to redeem flights. So I am thinking of booking anotehr US trip on points before May for later this year.