Hilton may add a Diamond Reserve tier with big spend rules. Here is how it stacks up to Marriott Ambassador and what it means for Aspire cardholders. Hilton’s Next Move At The Top Hilton Honors is reportedly cooking up...
Hyatt Hotels: Relying On Chase Deal as Growth Levels Off

Hyatt posts a small RevPAR gain, plans big asset sales, and leans on a richer Chase partnership while demand signals look flatter across the industry. Setting The Table Hyatt’s third quarter (2025) reads like a mix of steady progress...
California Candidate Says Ground Billionaire Jets

Katie Porter says cut private jets, not commercial. With a 10% flight reduction looming from the shutdown, is she right about where to trim? FAA Reduction: Why Airlines Are Being Told To Fly Less Because of the ongoing government...
Three Moments In Taiwan That Stole My Heart

I want to share three stories from my time in Taipei that made me fall in love with Taiwan all over again. A Wonderful Culture: Three Stories From My Visit To Taiwan Taiwan is not at all like Mainland...
Starlux A321neo Business Class: My Luxe Journey To Bangkok

Hello from Bangkok, where I just enjoyed a very pleasant flight on Starlux onboard an A321neo in business class from Taipei. I’ll give you an overview of the flight here, with a full review coming in the weeks ahead....
FAA Orders Mass Flight Cuts But Refuses To Share Safety Data With Airlines

After the COVID-19 nightmare, I would have hoped that one thing we learned was to be more transparent with data, not just insist that it was true. Yet the Trump administration is justifying widespread flight cuts due to safety...
Ethiopian Customs Tried To Tax Our Electronics More Than They Were Worth

After arriving in Ethiopia, we ran into an interesting but disappointing setback at the Ethiopian Customs Office at Bole Addis Ababa International Airport. A Customs Mess In Addis Ababa Airport Ethiopia is still a developing nation and while the...
Detroit Airport Wants A Cigar Lounge. Critics Call It Dangerous…I Call It Smart.

Many airports have banned smoking entirely, but now Detroit may go in the opposite direction with a new cigar lounge under consideration—and I think that’s a positive step. Detroit Airport’s Planned Cigar Lounge: A Win for Travelers, Not a...
Review: Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 Business Class

After an unexpected upgrade, I enjoyed a restful overnight journey from London to Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 in “Cloud 9” business class. Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 Business Class Review (LHR-ADD) You can read about my operational upgrade...
Crazy: Rep. Nancy Mace Sues American Airlines After Being Called Out For Her Vulgar Conduct

U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R – SC) is threatening to sue American Airlines and Charleston Airport for defamation, claiming the carrier falsified records to discredit her gubernatorial campaign. Rather than a valiant effort to defend her character, this is...
FAA Orders 10% Flight Cuts At 40 U.S. Airports: Full List

Nearly every major U.S. hub is about to feel the squeeze as the Federal Aviation Administration mandates flight reductions, putting pressure on both travelers and carriers. FAA Orders 10% Flight Cuts at 40 U.S. Airports Amid Shutdown. Here’s The...
Starlux Lounges In Taipei: A Tale Of Two Lounges

Starlux now has two lounges in Taipei and I visited both of them ahead of my flight to Bangkok. While both Galactic Lounges are excellent in their own away, they really felt like two different worlds. Starlux Lounges TPE...
Steak Dinner In Taipei At Le Blanc

The rain finally cleared and since I had hung out at the hotel all day, I thought I’d go out for dinner. I found a great steak restaurant in Taipei called Le Blanc, a popular local hangout with excellent...
My Operational Upgrade To Business Class On Ethiopian Airlines

For the first time in many years, I scored an operational upgrade from economy class to business class, this time on Ethiopian Airlines on a flight from London to Addis Ababa. I’m not sure I have a repeatable strategy...
As United Airlines Slashes Flights, CEO Scott Kirby Promises No Impact To International Longhaul Routes

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has sent a note to passengers warning of schedule reductions but promising neither longhaul international flying nor hub-to-hub flights will be adversely impacted. United Airlines CEO Explains Upcoming Schedule Reductions, Assures Flyers Key Routes...
A Rainy But Relaxing Day In Taipei At W Hotel

It’s raining in Taipei, but it has been a relaxing day to catch up on work and have a spa day at the W Hotel. The Starlux flight arrived before dawn and the sun was only just starting to...
Safety Move or Political Pressure? FAA Orders 10% Flight Cuts Nationwide Amid Shutdown

Every day that the shutdown continues, its strain on U.S. air travel becomes harder to ignore. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a 10% reduction in scheduled flights across 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, claiming that...
Wow: My Stellar 14-Hour Flight On Starlux A350 Business Class

Hello from Taipei, where I’m relaxing after a 14-hour journey from Los Angeles to Taipei onboard a Starlux A350 in business class. My flight was phenomenal and I want to offer my first impressions here, then will offer a...
Review: Lufthansa Lounge London Heathrow (LHR)

The Lufthansa Lounge in London Heathrow is functional and practical for Star Alliance flyers departing from Terminal 2A and had a surprise that made me laugh out loud. Lufthansa Lounge London Review (LHR) During my long day in T2,...
Review: United Global Services Lounge London (LHR)

I spent most of my London layover in the so-called “Global Services” section of the United Club, which (eventually) will no longer be a separate section but instead merged into the rest of the lounge. If you visit today,...

