Earlier today I wrote about United’s surprisingly strong 2018 financial performance. United is clearly pleased about the results and CEO Oscar Munoz wants his employees to know. A FA shared the following note with me she received from Munoz...
United Reports Healthy 2018 Earnings, Rosy Outlook For 2019
United reported healthy fourth quarter earnings and an optimistic outlook on 2019, sending shares soaring in after hours trading. Let’s do the numbers first. Feel free to skip over this portion if you want to find out what these...
Dining Menu At United Polaris LAX Lounge
The new United Airlines Polaris Lounge at LAX offers an a la carte menu in addition to an elaborate buffet. Here’s a look at the menu. First, note that all food and drink is complimentary in this lounge. Tipping is...
Exquisite Meal In Qantas First Class Lounge At LAX
Air France first class passengers use the Qantas First Class lounge at LAX rather than the Korean Airlines First Class lounge. Little has changed from my last visit, so a new review is not necessary. But I do want...
Apple Should Be Proud Of Its Lucrative United Airlines Contract
While United Airlines appears to be in hot water for the leak of information concerning its top corporate contracts, I tend to think this is much ado about nothing. Apple does a lot of business with United Airlines. Wow,...
The Final Boeing 727 Passenger Flight
Earlier this week, the final scheduled Boeing 727 passenger flight occurred in Iran. The retirement of this aircraft from commercial service marks the end of an era. On Sunday, Iran Aseman Airlines operated its final 727 passenger flight from Zahedan (ZAH)...
Review: Virgin Atlantic 787-9 Upper Class London To Los Angeles
While Virgin Atlantic offered excellent service onboard my 787-9 “Upper Class” (business class) flight from London to Los Angeles, everything else about the product left me disappointed. It had been four years since I had last flown Virgin Atlantic...
Passenger Carries Firearm Through TSA Checkpoint And Onto Delta Flight to Japan…
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in Atlanta totally a missed a firearm in the carry-on bag of a Delta passenger, who ended up transporting the weapon to Japan. The unidentified passenger did not deliberately sneak the firearm onboard. He...
Saudi Refugee Flies Business Class To Canada
A teenage Saudi was granted refugee status by Canada and has now arrived in Toronto…in business class on Korean Air. Last week I wrote about 18-year old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who fled her allegedly-abusive family while on vacation in Kuwait...
Rebuttal: Matthew Should Feel Safer in Thailand than Saudi Arabia
Matthew wrote a post earlier this week discussing how he would feel more comfortable in Saudi Arabia than he would in Thailand following an incident with a Saudi national refugee transiting Bangkok to seek asylum. I see it differently....
Leaving Marriott/SPG “Bonvoy?” Here’s Where I’d Move
The Marriott/SPG merger has not gone swimmingly for so many loyal members and some have suggested they are leaving. Where should they stay instead of the world’s largest hotel chain? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
Review: Ritz-Carlton Resort Grand Cayman
As a result of the Marriott/SPG merger, some high-level hotels are priced lower than they will be in the future. Taking advantage of this limited window, we tried the Ritz-Carlton Resort Grand Cayman and secured an Oceanview King. If...
My Day In An Amsterdam Coffee House (Not Coffee Shop)
I’ve been in Amsterdam for over a week and staying my usual hotel, the Hyatt Regency. While I love almost everything about that hotel, the coffee is lacking. Thus, I set out in search of great coffee during a...
Beef Filet Vs. Swordfish In SAS Business Class
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. For this...
How United Reclaimed Its Rank As World’s #2 Airline
By at least one measure, United has surpassed Delta as world’s second largest airline. Under Scott Kirby’s leadership, United has been in expansion mode for the last year. Denver is expanding. Houston is expanding. Chicago is expanding. In fact,...
Lufthansa Overtakes Air France To Become Europe’s Largest Airline
For the first time in 14 years, Lufthansa has reclaimed the crown of largest airline in Europe. Since Air France and KLM merged in 2004, the Franco Dutch airline has held the honor. But in 2018, Lufthansa boosted passengers...
British Airways Faces “Slots” of Criticism For Gambling Ad
This time, the spelling error in the title is deliberate. A pun. But few are laughing at British Airways’ latest ad, which critics argue glamorizes gambling. The British Airways Holidays ad features a happy couple returning to their hotel...
TSA PreCheck Arrives At Tom Bradley International Terminal At LAX
Great news for those who have endured the torture that used to be known as security at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. PreCheck has officially arrived. You might be aware of the secret checkpoint downstairs, which has saved me...
Family Accuses Spirit Airlines FA Of Calling Them “Retarded Jews”
A Jewish couple has accused a Spirit Airlines flight attendant of anti-Semitic behavior onboard a flight from New York to Florida. Spirit says the couple did not follow the rules. Chana and Yisroel Beck were flying from Newark to...
The Real Reason Air France Is Eliminating Joon
It’s not about the market confusion, though it confused customers. It’s not about fleet consistency, though that was problematic. Rather, it’s about a strategic labor gamble by Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith. That’s my take on why Air France...
