Here is everything covered in this week’s episode.
US Government Looks Closely at Sanctuary Cities
If you have a US trip planned, this is something you need to watch closely. The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly drawing up plans that could stop Customs and Border Protection from processing flights into major cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
The background is political. The administration of these cities has traditionally not been cooperative with ICE, and it appears the US Government wants to take back control. Airlines are pushing back hard, arguing the economic damage to tourism and logistics would be significant if the plans proceed.
Nothing is confirmed yet, but if you are planning travel to any of these cities (or the US in general for that matter) in the near future it is worth monitoring developments before you book.
Qantas Economy Plus Rolling Out to A330 Routes
Qantas Economy Plus is expanding. Already available on selected 737, A220, and A321XLR services covering some domestic routes as well as New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Bali, it has been announced that it will be extended to A330 flights departing later this year to Asian destinations including Singapore, Tokyo, and Bangkok.
The product gives you up to 40 percent more legroom, priority boarding in Group 2, and first access to overhead lockers. Available to purchase with cash or points, with pricing varying by route. If you are already booked on an A330 to Asia later this year it is worth checking whether Economy Plus is available on your flight if you’re looking for some extra leg room.
Visa Free Travel to Indonesia for Australians
Indonesia is considering introducing visa free access for eight new countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. Australia had visa free access to Indonesia between 2016 and 2020 before visas were reintroduced during the COVID pandemic.
The current visa costs IDR 500,000, between $40 to $50 AUD for a 30 day tourist visa. Given that Indonesia has now overtaken New Zealand as the most popular overseas destination for Australians, this change would be welcomed by a significant number of travellers. Nothing is confirmed yet, but worth watching if a holiday to Bali is on the cards.
This Week’s Deal: Intrepid Travel Up to 30% Off
Intrepid is offering up to 20 percent off trips with a deposit required by June 22. If you are departing in 2026 the discount can stretch to 30 percent depending on what you book. As always, check the fine print as the headline figure varies by itinerary.
Intrepid is particularly well suited to solo travellers or couples and small groups who want the structure of a guided experience without planning everything independently. Having done one of their Morocco trips personally, I would definitely recommend the experience.
Bali Pre-Travel Checklist
If you are heading to Bali soon, there are three things to complete online before you fly. I cover these in a ‘how-to’ in the video above.
- Your e-visa at evisa.imigrasi.go.id,
- The tourist tax at lovebali.baliprov.go.id, and
- Your arrival card and health declaration at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id.
Sorting these before you land saves time and avoids any surprises at the airport.
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New travel Shorts drop every two days covering points and deals, destination guides, trip planning, and the mistakes worth avoiding. Every Monday at 7:30pm AEST The Travel Desk goes live for travel news, the best deals of the week, and your questions answered in real time. Tonight’s replay will stay up if you want to share it.
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