I'm told another way to avoid the APD is to have a domestic leg within the UK as a connecting flight before your long trip home. It's certainly worth looking into instead of being hit up for another $500!

I can't see how fairer' vs 'tough' makes much of a difference, I don't think there's anything in this article that is taking the side of the airlines or saying "Oh no, poor airlines!" or even quoting any airlines complaining. It's just a straight out statement of fact that here are the new rules ...

It doesn't.

Don't reckon so. There's been talk of VA joining Star Alliance for years, back to the John Borghetti days, and it's simply never been something Virgin has ever expressed an interest in. I don't think Virgin's new owners Bain would be interested either, it would be great for us passengers but will...

If you're flying from Seattle or Vancouver wouldn't that be on SQ, so your SIN-AU flight would also be SQ, which has daytime flights?