We hope you’ve had a great break and are feeling ready for what’s ahead. Thank you for being part of the Always Business Class community. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next.

We’re back on January 21st, returning to our usual fortnightly release schedule.

Here’s to a big year of great conversations, new ideas, and always turning left.

We hope you&rsquo;ve had a great break and are feeling ready for what&rsquo;s ahead. Thank you for being part of the Always Business Class community. We can&rsquo;t wait to share what&rsquo;s coming next.
We&rsquo;re back on January 21st, returning to our usual fortnightly release schedule.
Here&rsquo;s to a big year of great conversations, new ideas, and always turning left.

Flight hacks, points strategies and real-life stories from the points whisperer — helping business owners Always Fly Business Class.

Flight hacks, points strategies and real-life stories from the points whisperer &mdash; helping business owners Always Fly Business Class.

Always Business Class

Happy New Year from the hosts of Always Business Class.

Is it a scam?
Are points even worth it anymore?
Do you need millions of points to fly business class?

After 150 discovery calls with Australian founders across construction, agriculture, professional services, FMCG and tech, this episode of Always Business Class breaks down the most common myths about points, business class travel, and the Flights Club model.

We unpack the psychology of dynamic pricing, why business class fares to the US are now $10,000+, and how points create a fixed-price alternative in a volatile travel market.

This is not about hacks or shortcuts.
It is about cost versus benefit, systems versus guessing, and using business expenses strategically.

If you are a founder spending money anyway and want more comfort, more flexibility and more meaningful travel experiences, this episode is for you.

Sponsors

Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/

Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Chapters

00:00 Points Equals Flights: The Core Philosophy
02:33 Is Flights Club a Scam?
05:31 Cash vs Points: Two Separate Systems
09:43 Why Fixed Pricing Changes the Game
11:26 Cancellation Freedom and COVID Lessons
13:50 Why People “Can’t Find Seats”
17:35 Using Points Poorly vs Strategically
20:25 The Biggest Earning Myths
27:02 Are Points Worth It Anymore?
37:45 Platinum vs Black Membership Breakdown
42:23 Travel, Joy and Founder Perspective

 

Is it a scam? Are points even worth it anymore? Do you need millions of points to fly business class?
After 150 discovery calls with Australian founders across construction, agriculture, professional services, FMCG and tech, this episode of Always Business Class breaks down the most common myths about points, business class travel, and the Flights Club model.
We unpack the psychology of dynamic pricing, why business class fares to the US are now $10,000+, and how points create a fixed-price alternative in a volatile travel market.
This is not about hacks or shortcuts. It is about cost versus benefit, systems versus guessing, and using business expenses strategically.
If you are a founder spending money anyway and want more comfort, more flexibility and more meaningful travel experiences, this episode is for you.
Sponsors
Join Flights Club:<a href="https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/"> https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/</a>
Accor Plus Explorer Membership:<a href="https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/"> https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/</a>
Chapters
00:00 Points Equals Flights: The Core Philosophy 02:33 Is Flights Club a Scam? 05:31 Cash vs Points: Two Separate Systems 09:43 Why Fixed Pricing Changes the Game 11:26 Cancellation Freedom and COVID Lessons 13:50 Why People &ldquo;Can&rsquo;t Find Seats&rdquo; 17:35 Using Points Poorly vs Strategically 20:25 The Biggest Earning Myths 27:02 Are Points Worth It Anymore? 37:45 Platinum vs Black Membership Breakdown 42:23 Travel, Joy and Founder Perspective
&nbsp;

Is Points Strategy Worth It for Australian Business Owners?

What if the most valuable “capital” you have isn’t travel points or business revenue, but your health capital?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally  sit down with Dr Steven Lum Melbourne-trained medical doctor and Founder of Everlab, to unpack the shift from reactive “sick care” to data-driven preventative health. Dr Lu explains why so many high performers make careful decisions in business, then “shoot from the hip” with health, and how Everlab approaches health like a management consultancy, using data to uncover blind spots and prioritise the highest ROI actions.

They explore the difference between lifespan vs healthspan, why travel can quietly tax your body (sleep, dehydration, alcohol, time zones), and simple strategies that help you land sharper and recover faster, even on long-haul flights.

If you travel for business, lead a team, or want to perform at your best for longer, this one will change how you think.

Guest: Dr. Steven Lu

​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steven-lu-82943825a/
Cofounder, Chief Medical Officer - Everlab

Sponsors:
Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

 

Key topics: healthspan, preventative health, personalised medicine, longevity, jet lag strategy, sleep optimisation, alcohol and sleep score, VO2 max, DEXA, visceral fat, travel performance.

 

 

What if the most valuable &ldquo;capital&rdquo; you have isn&rsquo;t travel points or business revenue, but your health capital?
In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally&nbsp; sit down with Dr Steven Lum Melbourne-trained medical doctor and Founder of Everlab, to unpack the shift from reactive &ldquo;sick care&rdquo; to data-driven preventative health. Dr Lu explains why so many high performers make careful decisions in business, then &ldquo;shoot from the hip&rdquo; with health, and how Everlab approaches health like a management consultancy, using data to uncover blind spots and prioritise the highest ROI actions.
They explore the difference between lifespan vs healthspan, why travel can quietly tax your body (sleep, dehydration, alcohol, time zones), and simple strategies that help you land sharper and recover faster, even on long-haul flights.
If you travel for business, lead a team, or want to perform at your best for longer, this one will change how you think.
Guest: Dr. Steven Lu
​​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steven-lu-82943825a/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steven-lu-82943825a/</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/96899950/">Cofounder, Chief Medical Officer - Everlab</a>
Sponsors:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Join Flights Club:<a href="https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/"> https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Accor Plus Explorer Membership:<a href="https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/"> https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Key topics: healthspan, preventative health, personalised medicine, longevity, jet lag strategy, sleep optimisation, alcohol and sleep score, VO2 max, DEXA, visceral fat, travel performance.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

How to Travel Better, Sleep Better, and Live Longer | Health Capital for High Performers

 What if your travel life got easier overnight? In this episode of Always Business Class, we sit down with Emilie Couton, CEO of Accor Plus, for her first Australian podcast.

Emily shares how a one-way ticket to Thailand turned into two decades across Asia and a leadership career in hospitality, plus the real strategy behind Accor Plus 2.0: simplicity, transparency, instant value, and a membership that blends certainty (lounges, early check-in, recognition) with serendipity (surprise upgrades, experiences, and discovery).

We unpack the perks members actually use, why staycations can be as powerful as international holidays, and how the future of travel is moving toward curated memberships, wellness, and hyper-personalised experiences.

If you travel for business, lead a team across cities, or want travel to feel smoother, calmer, and more rewarding, this one is for you.

Subscribe for more travel strategy, points thinking, and business-class level upgrades to how you move.

In this episode


The “one-way ticket” mindset and why some people never move back


Living in Asia vs visiting: why your travel world expands fast


Certainty vs serendipity: comfort, timing, smooth travel, and surprise moments


How Accor Plus 2.0 was rebuilt with 7,000-member research


Why dining benefits (up to 10 people) can pay back the membership quickly


Why lounges and hotel clubs are an underrated business advantage


Staycations as a reset tool, not a luxury


“Red Hot Rooms” as a new way to choose destinations


Subscriptions in travel, global membership expansion, and what’s next


Wellness in hotels: sleep, recovery, gyms, spa, and partnerships


Airport and travel efficiency tips from a frequent traveller


How curation beats choice overload

Guest: Emilie Couton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliecouton/
CEO, Accor Plus 
Based in Singapore, with 20+ years across Asia and hospitality leadership.

Sponsors:
Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
Accor Plus Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Chapters

00:00 The one-way ticket mindset
00:42 Welcome back: first recording of the year + special guest intro
01:24 Emily’s story: Thailand, Singapore, 20+ years in Asia
03:12 Journey vs destination: two travel philosophies
04:13 Why Accor talent stays: the “family” culture
05:35 Living in-region: Phuket, Bali, and discovering Asia properly
07:41 Why Accor Plus exists and how it fits Flyers Club
09:43 Certainty + surprise: the perfect travel balance
11:31 Staycations: the hidden reset most people miss
13:42 The “club” advantage: lounge access as a business tool
14:56 Status fast-track: 30 nights, Platinum, and instant ROI
18:37 Face-to-face beats Zoom: partnerships and serendipity
20:36 The future: travel subscriptions and global expansion
22:23 Will memberships go global across regions?
24:42 Experiences: chefs, shows, behind-the-scenes access
27:56 Travel hacks: lounges, airports, privacy, fast track
34:36 Points strategy: fixed-value points and keeping accounts active
36:22 Wellness: sleep, gyms, recovery, and where hotels are going
39:40 Choice overload: curation as the real advantage
40:40 Unexpected member behaviour: “Red Hot Rooms” as a travel compass
46:34 The dream state: consistency, scale, and global experiences



 

&nbsp;What if your travel life got easier overnight? In this episode of Always Business Class, we sit down with Emilie Couton<a href="https://asia.hsmai.org/team/emilie-couton/" data-ved="2ahUKEwiNh7_B7d6SAxVj2TgGHd9KGUgQFnoECCkQAQ"></a><a href="https://asia.hsmai.org/team/emilie-couton/" data-ved="2ahUKEwiNh7_B7d6SAxVj2TgGHd9KGUgQFnoECCkQAQ"></a><a href="https://asia.hsmai.org/team/emilie-couton/" data-ved="2ahUKEwiNh7_B7d6SAxVj2TgGHd9KGUgQFnoECCkQAQ"></a>, CEO of Accor Plus, for her first Australian podcast.
Emily shares how a one-way ticket to Thailand turned into two decades across Asia and a leadership career in hospitality, plus the real strategy behind Accor Plus 2.0: simplicity, transparency, instant value, and a membership that blends certainty (lounges, early check-in, recognition) with serendipity (surprise upgrades, experiences, and discovery).
We unpack the perks members actually use, why staycations can be as powerful as international holidays, and how the future of travel is moving toward curated memberships, wellness, and hyper-personalised experiences.
If you travel for business, lead a team across cities, or want travel to feel smoother, calmer, and more rewarding, this one is for you.
Subscribe for more travel strategy, points thinking, and business-class level upgrades to how you move.
In this episode
<ul data-start="3986" data-end="4769">
<li data-start="3986" data-end="4054">
The &ldquo;one-way ticket&rdquo; mindset and why some people never move back
</li>
<li data-start="4055" data-end="4121">
Living in Asia vs visiting: why your travel world expands fast
</li>
<li data-start="4122" data-end="4204">
Certainty vs serendipity: comfort, timing, smooth travel, and surprise moments
</li>
<li data-start="4205" data-end="4275">
How Accor Plus 2.0 was rebuilt with 7,000-member research
</li>
<li data-start="4276" data-end="4353">
Why dining benefits (up to 10 people) can pay back the membership quickly
</li>
<li data-start="4354" data-end="4422">
Why lounges and hotel clubs are an underrated business advantage
</li>
<li data-start="4423" data-end="4468">
Staycations as a reset tool, not a luxury
</li>
<li data-start="4469" data-end="4524">
&ldquo;Red Hot Rooms&rdquo; as a new way to choose destinations
</li>
<li data-start="4525" data-end="4598">
Subscriptions in travel, global membership expansion, and what&rsquo;s next
</li>
<li data-start="4599" data-end="4667">
Wellness in hotels: sleep, recovery, gyms, spa, and partnerships
</li>
<li data-start="4668" data-end="4732">
Airport and travel efficiency tips from a frequent traveller
</li>
<li data-start="4733" data-end="4769">
How curation beats choice overload
</li>
</ul>
Guest: Emilie Couton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliecouton/ CEO, Accor Plus&nbsp; Based in Singapore, with 20+ years across Asia and hospitality leadership.
Sponsors:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Join Flights Club:<a href="https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/"> https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Accor Plus Membership:<a href="https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/"> https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/</a></li>
</ul>
Chapters
00:00 The one-way ticket mindset 00:42 Welcome back: first recording of the year + special guest intro 01:24 Emily&rsquo;s story: Thailand, Singapore, 20+ years in Asia 03:12 Journey vs destination: two travel philosophies 04:13 Why Accor talent stays: the &ldquo;family&rdquo; culture 05:35 Living in-region: Phuket, Bali, and discovering Asia properly 07:41 Why Accor Plus exists and how it fits Flyers Club 09:43 Certainty + surprise: the perfect travel balance 11:31 Staycations: the hidden reset most people miss 13:42 The &ldquo;club&rdquo; advantage: lounge access as a business tool 14:56 Status fast-track: 30 nights, Platinum, and instant ROI 18:37 Face-to-face beats Zoom: partnerships and serendipity 20:36 The future: travel subscriptions and global expansion 22:23 Will memberships go global across regions? 24:42 Experiences: chefs, shows, behind-the-scenes access 27:56 Travel hacks: lounges, airports, privacy, fast track 34:36 Points strategy: fixed-value points and keeping accounts active 36:22 Wellness: sleep, gyms, recovery, and where hotels are going 39:40 Choice overload: curation as the real advantage 40:40 Unexpected member behaviour: &ldquo;Red Hot Rooms&rdquo; as a travel compass 46:34 The dream state: consistency, scale, and global experiences 
&nbsp;

Happy New Year from the hosts of Always Business Class.

Always Business Class

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