Emirates offers Australian travellers free Dubai stopover

It is not often you get something free from a quality airline, let alone one of the top-ten in the world backed by an oil-rich Gulf State. Emirates are offering Australians travelling to Europe a free stopover in Dubai for a limited time. http://bit.ly/1lHFIEm

As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Dubai, the airline is obviously trying to snare some goodwill from those able to take up this offer. Who, after being lavished with Middle-Eastern hospitality, isn’t going to sing the praises of a stopover in Dubai to friends, family, and business associates?

Photo: Emirates / Australian Business Traveller

China currently has a similar offer – a more generous visa-free 72-hour stopover in certain cities for transiting passengers. Aimed at the business traveller on their way to Europe, China is offering a hassle-free break to your journey. Although China is not offering hotel transfers, a hotel room for one night, and breakfast like Emirates, three days and nights in China is a nice length of time to get out-and-about and familiarise yourself with a new destination. http://bit.ly/1gZgBwa

Tight Arse Travel would not normally fly with a full service airline like Emirates as we detest long-haul flights, and are usually penny pinching on transport costs. That said, the opportunity to break a long journey in a strange and unfamiliar land, and experience a little luxury, might sway us to loosen the purse strings once-in-a while.

Jetstar's new non-stop flights from Melbourne to Tokyo take off

I was intrigued by this piece - http://bit.ly/1iVTC7q - by Robert Upe, The Age's Travel, and Tourism Writer.

Why did he need to fly to Japan? Unlike the 'Flight Tests' in The Saturday Age, he mentions nothing about the aircraft, service, classes, food, and seats. In fact, nothing about the flight at all.

He probably researched the article from his desk, read the press release from Jetstar, and received a free flight to Japan in return for a puff-piece!

Good onya Bob, you win this week's Tight Arse Traveller award - The Golden Pucker.

Photo: Jetstar / The Age