In the fast-paced business world we often forget an important maxim: keep your friends close and enemies (in this case, competitors) closer.

Qantas and Air France, however, haven’t forgotten, and yesterday’s renewal of their partnership proves code-sharing is the new cut-throating.

The most important takeaway for Australians is this: more travel options to Europe. Whether or not they are truly “seamless” remains to be seen, but whatever the case: the revamped alliance should significantly improve the red-eye flight experience.

In a press release Qantas said the renewed partnership will facilitate more “single ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage,” as well as “the opportunity to earn points on the new codeshare services.”

The new agreement will see the two airlines codeshare on a total of more than 200 flights per week.

How’s it work? Air France will add its code to Qantas flights between Hong Kong and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and between Singapore and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Air France customers will also have access to codeshare services from Sydney to Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Cairns and Darwin.

In return, Qantas gets to add its code to flights operated by Air France between Singapore and Hong Kong and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, as a continuation of flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Air France eligible customers will also be able to access Qantas lounges in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, and Qantas eligible customers will have access to Air France lounges in Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Patrick Alexandre, Vice President of Commercial Sales and Alliances at Air France-KLM, was pleased to be re-establishing Air France’s deal with Qantas: “Thanks to this agreement, the Air France-KLM group will be able to offer one of the best possible travel solutions for its customers from Europe to Australia.”

“It will also deliver a better travel experience for our Business customers, with connections in Singapore and Hong Kong, two of the most popular airports in the world. This new cooperation confirms our group’s desire to expand in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Alison Webster, CEO of Qantas International, added: “This is great news for our customers who want to travel to Europe via Asia, giving them another option to get to Paris and more opportunities to earn Frequent Flyer Points. The return of this popular codeshare delivers on our strategy of partnering to provide customers with access to an expanded network and more seamless travel experiences wherever they want to fly.”

These code-share flights start on the 20th of July, 2018, and will be available for booking from the 5th June.

RELATED: Virgin Atlantic Unveils ‘Love Suites’ For Couples Who Perform PDA

The post Qantas Teams Up With Air France To Give Aussies More Travel Options To Europe appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Last week, scientists found the longevity of a relationship can be determined by sexual chemistry the first time a couple have sex. In light of this, we decided to interview Heidi Gee, a leading sexologist, to ask how guys can impress their new partners.

With regard to the study, she says sex is just one aspect that influences how long a couple will stay together. However, she does admit, “The chemicals we experience during intimacy create lust, and as humans we want more of what makes us feel good.”

To give yourself the best chance possible of ‘clicking’ with a new partner, Heidi says the most important thing is to be honest.

“Communication is very important when it comes to sex. Ask the person what turns them on, have fun exploring each others bodies and spend time on foreplay.”

She added: foreplay doesn’t just happen in the bedroom. “It starts long before the sex begins, and can include great conversations, compliments, flirting, sexting, kissing, touching or going on a great date. These things all contribute to setting the right mood for sex.”

“Don’t rush or stress about whether you’re turning them on; that can be an erection killer. Communication is the key and play it safe.”

She also advises you, “Make sure your condoms are not past their use-by dates, and within easy reach.” 

And if all else fails and you have underwhelming ‘first time sex’ with a new partner: is there any coming back? Or is your relationship doomed?

RELATED: Study Reveals A Relationship’s Expiry-Date Is Set The First Time You Have Sex

Ideally you would do this the first time round. But, especially if you are trying to make up for a poor first time, communicate! 

“Tell your partner what you want (e.g. ‘I like it when you touch my/it feels good when you kiss my/I want you to lick me here…).

“If something didn’t work the first time try something different.”

She says sex toys or different positions could help. But really: don’t stress. “Just have fun experimenting because sex should be fun. Sex is more enjoyable if you are relaxed and communicate what turns you on.”

So there you have it. Whether you just want to improve your hook-up game, or if you’re nervously awaiting the moment you take a new relationship to the next level, put some of these ideas into practice and you might avoid the sexless fate of 641 Norwegian students.

The post How To Have Better Sex With Strangers, A Sexologist Reveals appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You’re at home alone—reclined in bed—scrolling through Tinder, when you come across someone you actually like. You hesitate, finger poised, before swiping right.

Your phone is on silent, but the familiar jingle rings out. From the living room.

Creepy, no?

There’s a scene in Jo Nesbo’s Scandinavian thriller, The Thirst, that explores the terrifying ways in which a serial killer might exploit Tinder.

Recently a study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that normal people are doing quite the opposite. In fact; we’re not even using it to have sex.

Researchers surveyed 641 students on their social media activity and sexual behaviour, to be published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. The main finding was this: although most people on dating apps like Tinder are interested in short-term sexual relationships, they aren’t actually hooking up with anyone.

Of the students—aged between 19 and 29—who were questioned, nearly half had used “picture-based mobile dating apps” at some point, and one-in-five were “active users”. Those on apps like Tinder and Bumble exhibited higher levels of “sociosexual orientation,” the scientific term for “interest in sex outside of a committed relationship.”

The good news for wannabe Casanovas is there is a relatively equal number of men and women with this sociosexual orientation. And, even better, those people are generally more active on Tinder. As Gizmodo so eloquently put it: time to “pair up and get indiscriminately f*cking!”

Unfortunately, as Mons Bendixen (an associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Psychology) said in a statement, despite the horny-hornets all swiping away for a hook-up, the amount of sex they had mirrored that of their peers who didn’t use the apps.

“Dating app users don’t have more casual sexual partners than others with the same short-term preference.”

Basically, horny or not, you are no more likely to get laid on Tinder than you are trying to hook up with a stranger at a bar. As reported by Gizmodo; “There are still plenty of people looking, and the venue has changed, but the results have not.”

“Now instead of leaving alone at bar time, people are striking out from the comfort of their own home. Isn’t technology grand?”

According to Cosmo, this should come as a relief.

“It’s not you, it’s… the entire ecosystem of dating apps that’s woefully ineffective at making it easier to get laid.”

The survey also confirmed a few other things like, “Women are more discerning”, and “Men are more efficient.” But we already knew that. What stuck with us was Cosmo’s lipstick nihilism—a fitting conclusion to this saga of sexual frustration:

“You’re no more likely to find someone to bone on an app than you are in your neighbourhood bar. And at this rate, you’re probably equally likely to run into someone you know in each place. Swipe away. Or don’t. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters.”

RELATED: Study Reveals A Relationship’s Expiry Date Is Set The First Time You Have Sex

The post Tinder Is No Guarantee Of Sex, New Data Reveals appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is off and running and so are the movie’s biggest stars. Man of the moment Donald Glover showed up to the premiere in New York overnight rocking a full Gucci suit whilst making a statement out of it: brown isn’t for old guys anymore.

Traditionally reserved for the more senior gentlemen, brown suits are notoriously hard to wear for most guys, but Glover has found a way. Keep it light toned, pare it down with a contrasting v-neck knit or deep cut tee, and polish it off with killer Gucci loafers.

It’s a throwback look to the 70s without going the full bell bottoms. Although this isn’t the first time Glover has pioneered the brown suit. At last year’s Golden Globes he rocked an attention-grabbing brown suede tuxedo which also worked in his favour.

Glover will play Lando in the upcoming Star Wars story alongside the equally stylish Paul Bettany – that British guy who played Vision in Infinity War.

You can check out his looks if you prefer linen suits over brown.

The post Donald Glover Shows You The Secret To Making A Brown Suit Look Cool appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Ah, steak. Where would the human race be today without hunter gathering that very first piece of precious flesh in the name of survival (sorry, vegan guy).There’s no doubting that steak has elevated itself beyond the home grill and onto the world stage in an audacious exhibition of the finest cuts available to discerning diners (looking at you, Saltbae).This is steak but not as necessity knows it. This is steak served as a precious commodity and here’s where to sample the very best of it in Melbourne.RELATED: How To Cook The Perfect Steak

Squires Loft

Widely recognised as one of the most experienced steak houses in Melbourne, Squires Loft retains a fierce reputation amongst its followers – and there are many as Squires Loft have been in business for two decades. The grill masters here let their produce do the talking here with sensational cuts of meat sourced from the local lust pastures of the Western District of Victoria and Gippsland. If you choose this joint you won’t have an issue finding it too since they have numerous locations all over Melbourne. St Kilda Road Towers, 1 Queens Road

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Much like Sydney’s iconic steakhouse, Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill also resides down south to serve up his signature American-style cuts of perfectly cooked steak. The man also has a reputation to uphold so expect only the highest of quality from Australia’s premiere producers including David Blackmore’s Wagyu, Cape Grim, and Minderoo. All meat which enters Rockpool is also dry-aged in-house to ensure absolute control of quality.Crown Entertainment Complex, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

San Telmo

For an authentic Argentinian twist on a classic steak, the place to hit up is San Telmo in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The grill masters here utilise imported Argentine charcoal called Parilla to give their cuts a unique smokey flavour that is their signature. All the beef at San Telmo is pasture-fed and sourced from O’Connors including their premium dry aged rib eye.14 Meyers Pl, Melbourne

La Luna

The secret to Adrian Richardson’s beef is the dry ageing which spans for 60 whole days before it reaches the hot plates. Variation is also the winner here with everything from the modern European classic rump to rib eye to a 200g Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon. Those up for a real challenge can take on the 900g steak served on the bone.320 Rathdowne St, Carlton North

Steer Bar & Grill

You want options and sophistication? You’ll get it at Steer Bar & Grill with over 30 different cuts of meat on offer in a lavish dining environment. The variation in flavour and cuts are carefully sourced from numerous regions to ensure every cut of steak earns its place on the menu. It’s not the most affordable on the list but it’s definitely an experience.

15 Claremont St, South Yarra

The Dutchess

Head upstairs Duke’s and you’ll be greeted with Dutchess, an eatery which also serves up some serious steaks in an elegant setting. Their sizes of steak range from small at 150g to their largest at 1.1kg with cuts consisting of pasture-fed, Cape Grim to dry-aged Tasmanian beef that’s full of flavour.The Duke Of Wellington, 146 Flinders St, Melbourne

Longhorn Saloon

Like the others on this list, Longhorn Saloon only serves up serious steaks with a Tex-Mex twist. Headed by the Balleau brothers, diners can expect the best in eye fillet and New York Strip cuts that are grain-fed and certified Angus. There’s even a selection of cuts from the Hunter Valley with a generous dose of equally delectable sides to accompany any wine or cocktail.118 Elgin St, Carlton

Want More Meat?

Check out out expert’s guide on how to cook the perfect steak at home as told by two professional chefs. Alternatively, hit up the places where to find the most amazing steak in Sydney.

The post Best Steak Restaurants In Melbourne 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Yes: Paris is the city of love. But it also has a seedy underbelly. And after plumbing the wine-soaked depths of Booking.com—reading the (hilarious) horrific experiences that have befallen unwitting tourists there—the usually airy-fairy saying, “There’s no yin without yang”, has been put into sharp relief.

Now, of course there’s going to be the occasional cheapskate who expects Ritz-level treatment for 30 euros a night. Those kinds of tourists are easy to spot. Case in point: Saeed, (presumably) a Persian prince from Iran.

Saeed complained that his budget hotel in the heart of Paris, “Was too old and (the room was) too small for two people, the bed was uncomfortable and the toilet was old and too small,” concluding the place was not fit to stay in, “even for one hour”.

These reviews tend to be picked apart by locals, like Alex from France, who said, “Listen, this not the Ritz but a 2 star (1 actually) hotel in south Paris…. It’s a low cost hotel for overnight or a few days so you can attend to your business meetings or just visit Paris. Period.”

However: it’s not these reviews we are interested in. From makeshift brothels to (almost) outdoor dunnies you have to pay (even in the middle of the night) to use, the reviews you’re about to read paint a picture of Paris that would make the Mona Lisa cry.

Alexander from Greece, our first victim, had this to say:

“The worst hotel I have ever visited in my hall life!!! DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY!!! Uncomfortable mattress if there was a mattress under the dirty sheets… There was even a gum stuck on the blanket!!! Stinky hotel, stinky room!!!! I sprayed everywhere with my perfume in order to cover the smell!! If I had time I would have called to the tourist police, but I didn’t!!!”

Although he stayed at the same hotel, ‘Anonymous’ from Iran was more upbeat. Negatives: “Bad smell, cold, not clean.” Positives: “Money.”

Elizaveta from Russia, however, got more (or less?) than she bargained for from the city of romance.

“The hotel room was very unclean—layers of dust on the floor and on the ceiling; no sound isolation at all—the evenings were a nightmare—living on the 6th floor you could hear people snoring on the 1st floor; the blankets had holes from cigarettes; hot water starts running after 5 minutes; a tiny litter bin in the bathroom is emptied once every 3 days.”

Marius from the UK had only this to say, “Regretful,” before suggesting:

“My guess is some opportunistic ppl took over the hotel and did no investments in it in the past 20 years.”

One outlier, Sebi from Romania, didn’t mind it, saying, “If the price is low, it is ok.” Unfortunately he seemed to be the only satisfied customer, with Arun from the Netherlands calling it a last resort.

“May be a good place if you have no other option.”

Nicholas from the UK stayed in an even dodgier location. In fact, the stains on the floor, curtains and skirting boards were the least of his worries. “The location of the hotel is in an extremely rough area, police were arresting people daily, and I (6ft 2in man) didn’t feel safe at night.”

“The hotel was also being used as a makeshift brothel with people checking in at 3am for sex, which you could hear through the extremely thin walls of the room, then noisily checking out at 5am… I know Paris is the ‘city of love’ but this just takes the biscuit.”

Oh and, “The sign on the door says phone reception in case of fire or emergency, but there isn’t even a phone in the room.” Awkward.

NomadTranslator from Canada began their review somewhat cryptically: “Pay for a shower in Rue Daguerre”. What does that mean? Well, the rooms came with a sink only, and a shared bathroom and toilets.

“Was told had to ask for the key to the bathroom downstairs and pay 4 EUR to have access to the shower. Could not see myself having to dress first to go downstairs to the reception to get a key nor to PAY extra money to take a shower. Also no soap provided in the room nor face cloth.”

At least that explains the, “Bedsheet with a large remnant of a brown stain.”

So if you’re heading to Paris this July: maybe hit up Airbnb.

RELATED: 10 Best Airbnb’s In Paris

The post The Most Hilarious Reviews Of Paris' Worst Hotels appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Men who call Sydney home are a special breed. Cultured. Driven. Flashy. And probably a little too proud about where they’re from. What they lack in subtlety though they make up for with endless bouts of sun all year round.Lest we forget, a sun-kissed coast line doesn’t give you a hall pass to rock board shorts and thongs all year around.If you live in Sydney these are the essential wardrobe items that every man needs to avoid heat-stroke, hyperthermia or embarrassment all year round.

Dressing For Business In Sydney

Sydney is home to the country’s largest business district so it’s a no-brainer when it comes to suiting up for the daily grind. “A lot of guys try to get away with wearing their summer suit all year round. They’re standing at the bus stop in winter freezing their tits off” says Sydney’s go-to stylist, Jeff Lack.The right approach to combating the Sydney cold (which really isn’t that cold according to those from Europe) is through the use of layering and quilted blazers.“Properly tailored ones are good for Sydney business guys. If you’re wearing a tie you can still look smart but be warm during the colder season.”“Lightweight cashmere or merino sweaters in v-neck can also work if you’re always in a collared shirt.”Come summer time crack out the linen suit, ditch the tie, un-button two buttons and you’re good to go.The takeaway pieces:

• Quilted blazers
• Cashmere or merino sweaters in v-neck or crew neck
• Linen suits

Dressing Casual In Sydney

There’s a common stigma around town that dressing casual means dressing shit. Not the case.Sydney tends to be an eccentric city when it comes to style and there’s not many rules, but there are trends. For the moment at least those trends cover blue denim, hoodies, puffer vests and the timeless denim shirt for men.“Double denim is common in Sydney,” says Lack.“We have a long trans-season here and our winter is quite short; we only have  8 – 10 weeks of cold weather so the rest of the time we have an in-between where it’s cool at night and warmer during the day.”Layering is thus your friend. You can easily pull this together with anything from marle grey tees, white tees, selvedge denim and ripped and washed out blue jeans. A crew neck sweater with cool print is also ideal for Sydney’s colder days where casual wear is the flavour.During the warmer seasons there’s only one definitive garment that men need in their wardrobe: the linen shirt. Linen is woven in a way that it allows air to pass through easier. It’s also a nicer texture when compared to cotton or polyester so make this bad boy your staple piece and it will repay you during Sydney’s gnarly heat waves.“Sydney guys suck at shorts,” adds Lack. “They’re usually too tight. Shape is good but it should be tailored, not sprayed on like the bodybuilder guys do.”The takeaway pieces:

• Double denim
• Marle grey or white tees
• Linen shirt
• Fitted shorts (tailored, not too tight)

Colours Work In This City

What stands out is Sydney men tend to wear colour. Faded blue jeans are a standout staple piece in the Sydney man’s wardrobe but when it comes to tops,  “pink, green, burgundy have all been big colours last season,” says Lack.“Tons of blue in particular whether it’s navy, indigo or baby blue.”The takeaway pieces:

• Variation of blue hue
• Bold Hawaiian shirt
• Bright colours (not outrageous)

Footwear Around Town

When it comes to Sydney footwear, men are spoilt for choice. It all depends on the outfit you’re going for but Lack says that all Sydney guys should have a clean pair of white sneakers in their arsenal.“Sydney is more white sneakers with washed-out ripped jeans,” says Lack.If it’s a suit-up affair, go for the trusty double monks shoes. For all other occasions including casual affairs a decent pair of boots will do the job nicely.The takeaway pieces:

• White sneakers
• Biker boots
• Military boots
• Double monk strap shoes

Live In Melbourne?

RELATED: How To Dress Like A Melbourne Local

The post A Stylist Reveals The Secret To Dressing Like A Sydney Local appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If the name sounds familiar then you wouldn’t be mistaken. Baume is the new spinoff brand from Swiss watchmaker Baume & Mercier that will focus on delivering modern pieces that offer a level of customisation and sustainability never before seen in the Richemont watch group.

And before we get into the technical details, it’s notably affordable with prices starting from as little as US$540. Baume have been able to achieve this price point thanks to the use of quartz and Japanese mechanical Miyota movements alongside eco-friendly materials like straps made of natural and upcycled materials – think cork, linen, cotton, Alcantara and PET plastic.

In a bid to carve out its own identity amongst a younger generation, Baume’s watches will not feature any precious metals or animal materials. All of the models will feature an aluminium case in place of stainless steel and there’s also a distinct crown at the 12 o’clock mark as opposed to the conventional 3 o’clock mark.

Currently the watches are designed in Geneva and assembled at a Richemont facility in the Netherlands. There are plans to erect more manufacturing locations where the watches will be sold so that product transit and carbon footprint can be further reduced.

Baume will launch with two collections for now: the Iconic Series and the Custom Timepiece Series. The Iconic will feature a 41mm case paired with upcycled materials and a Miyota automatic movement which affords a 40-hour power reserve.

The Custom timepiece meanwhile will come in various styles with a 41mm small seconds variant, a 41mm retrograde variant, a 35mm moonphase model and a 35mm small seconds option. The customisation of these pieces can be further modified with an array of case options, hand finishes, straps and caseback.

You can check out Baume’s online configurator now to design your own watch. A word of warning, it’s pretty addictive.

The post Baume Is Richemont's New Affordable Watch Brand That's Fully Customisable appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If a lunchtime meat pie or a post-workout Maccas are part of your ‘high-protein’ diet, scientists have bad news for you.

The latest CSIRO Healthy Diet Score survey, which investigated the diets of 200,000 Australians, revealed that people with ‘low-quality’ diets got eight times more of their protein from junk food than people with high-quality diets—and were more than three times as likely to be obese.

This survey serves as a reminder that, “Not all foods that contain protein are good for you,” CSIRO Principal Research Scientist Professor Manny Noakes points out.

“Our research also shows that many people are not getting their protein from healthy foods.”

Another problem is that most Australians are far from an average weight. As reported by Gizmodo, more than 60 per cent of us are “overweight or obese,” and our understanding of protein could be a contributing factor.

Processed foods like pies, burgers, pizza with processed meats, chicken nuggets, sausages, cakes, ice cream and biscuits, were the second highest contributor to protein intake for people with low-quality diet scores.

On the other hand, people with higher-quality diets got their protein from whole foods, including chicken, red meat, fish, eggs, milk, cereals, nuts and yoghurt. For this group, junk food only accounted for about three per cent of their total protein intake.

Not only is this healthier in itself, but, “Higher protein-healthy meals help to control appetite and can help to reduce the urge to indulge in junk food,” Professor Noakes said.

This means that research into the affordability of whole-food based protein is important, as well as making the CSIRO’s January recommendation that we eat “At least 25 grams of protein at each main meal to help control hunger and enhance muscle metabolism,” public knowledge.

RELATED: Lebron James’ Ketogenic Diet Could Be Your Ticket To Becoming A Shredded Beast…But At What Cost?

The post Scientists Confirm The Beloved Meat Snack That's Sabotaging Your High-Protein Diet appeared first on DMARGE Australia.