Guide to scoring cheap flight deals with Google Flights, how to book a Qantas business seat on points and 8 composition tips for better people photos
Insider Letter #036
š Hey friends,
Happy new year!
Welcome to the first Travelling Lens Insider Letter for 2026!
In case youāre new here, this is where every fortnight I send you a carefully curated letter of all things travel, travel photography and points & miles.
Now, onto this weekās letterā¦
āļø Travel, Points and Photography
š° Itās the start of 2026, and itās never too early to make travel plans! Google flights is my first port of call when it comes to looking for flights. This is an in-depth guide on how to use Google Flights to get cheap flight deals.
šAs the family flight-booker and booking 50+ flights in 2 years, Iāve honed my flight research and booking into these exact 4-steps š
āļø Qantas frequent flyer program dominates the credit card game in Australia. Iāve flown in Qantas business and economy, domestically and internationally, and recently international first class. You can always expect a down-to-earth Australian style service and a track record for passenger safety. Hereās how you can book a Qantas business class seat on points from the US.
š³ Want to take points and miles to the next level? Listen to these two points experts talk about the mindset shifts you need to become more savvy with travelling on points and some advanced strategies to earn and spend your points.
šø If you like taking photos of people when you travel, try one of these 8 simple techniques to help improve your portraits and photo compositions.
In case you missed it š
Lounge Review: Qantas Los Angeles International First Lounge
Flying from Los Angeles to Sydney in Qantas First Class starts well before boarding.
Flight Review: Qantas Airbus A380 First on QF12 (Los Angeles ā Sydney)
Flying between Los Angeles and Sydney is one of the longest flights Iāve taken at 15+ hours non-stop.
I Visited the Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge at Sydney Airport After an Early Morning FlightāHereās My Honest Take
Early-morning flights are brutal.
šø This Week in Notes
Your credit cards, points, and miles. All in one place.
If youāre a frequent flyer or are just getting into the points and miles game so you can travel for cheap, keeping track of your points and miles can feel overwhelming.
Iāve been using Notion to easily organise everything related to points and miles. So, if youāre looking a simple and flexible system to do just that, join the waitlist to be the first to know when my Points Hub PRO in Notion becomes available.
š Substack Finds
Boston is one of my favourite US cities we visited when living in the US. Filled with so much history, culture and food. Itās an expensive city, but you can find so much great food without breaking the bank. It was also joy to photograph the architecture of the city too. Shannon from The Gomes Guide shares a fantastic foodie guide to Boston that I wish I had before my trip.
If youāre based in the US, make business credit cards a part of your points and miles strategyāitās one of many strategies you can use to earn endless points. You likely qualify for a business card, even if you think you donāt. Our substack resident expert The Point | Rachel Lipson shares 10 tips on US business cards.
While youāre cold and hibernating in the northern hemisphere winter, start dreaming and planning your next epic road trip! Gretchen | Adventure Travel is my go-to substack adventure traveller. She shares her extremely detailed guide to help you how to plan your perfect road trip.
š Travel Reading
This is a heavy one.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.
As a health professional working in a hospital setting, this book really resonated with me. The miracles of modern day medicines has prolonged life and extended the aging process for many especially in first world countries.
This book explores what patients truly want in their final years of life and what medicine typically offersāoften itās not a longer life, but a better quality of life, so they can do more of what they enjoy.
Whether itās having the clarity of mind to spend focused time with loved ones, or having the mobility to travel to far flung places theyāve always dreamed of.
Written by a surgeon who has been on both sides of the coināa doctor caring for patients, and a son grappling with end-of-life decisions of his father.
If you have the means and ability, it makes you feel grateful to still be here travelling, reading, writing and sharing moments with friends and family.
š¬ Final Words
Creating memorable experiences is a smart use of your time and money.
Iām on a mission to help you create memorable travel experiences, capture personal documentary-style travel photos and get the most out of your points & miles so you can see the world more often (and in comfort!)
Got a question? Send me an email or a direct message, Iād love to hear from you!
If you enjoyed this, comment, restack or share it with one personāthatās the best compliment I could receive from you.
Your friend,
Janice
I'm a travel writer, photographer, points & miles optimiser and Notion Consultant. To get in touch, email hello@travellinglens.co.
p.s. Want to an easy & organised way to plan your next trip? Get my free Travel Hub trip planning system in Notion.
Thanks for sharing my Boston food recommendations! It's definitely one of my favorite U.S. cities too!