United announced on Friday afternoon that they would increase the spending requirement for their 1K (100,000-mile elite) members from $12,000 per year to $15,000. This is an effort to thin the herd as they have too many top-tier elite...
Review: ANA 777-300ER Business Class Tokyo Haneda – Chicago
As part of my Hong Kong status run, I returned home via Tokyo on ANA in business class. Here is my review of the product and service aboard ANA’s 777-300ER from Haneda to Chicago. If you are considering booking...
Review: ANA Business Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda (HND)
My long journey home from a status run to Hong Kong included flights from Hong Kong to Chicago on ANA via Tokyo Haneda. I had a chance to try the ANA lounge and was impressed with the offering. If...
Review: ANA 767 Business Class Hong Kong To Tokyo
As part of my Hong Kong status run, I returned home via Tokyo on ANA in business class. Here is my ANA 767 business class review of the product and service. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for...
Singapore SilverKris Lounge In Hong Kong Disappoints
During my status run to Hong Kong, I returned to the US on ANA in business class and tried my first Star Alliance lounge in Hong Kong, the Singapore SilverKris Lounge. Despite Singapore’s great reputation, it disappointed. If you...
The Road Warrior Life Is Getting Old
During my status run to Hong Kong, I took stock of all of the traveling I have been doing for both leisure and business. In a moment of clarity at the end of my trip, the toll travel can...
Hidden In Plain Sight: Hyatt Globalists Points Worth More
As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I have been missing a value enhancement to my World of Hyatt points that were hiding in plain sight. The following corrects that notion. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Overwhelmed at the Shenzhen Electronics Malls
During my status run to Hong Kong, I took a day trip to Shenzhen, a place I have never been before. Once I found my way into the city, I was on a mission to visit some of the...
Getting From Hong Kong to Shenzhen
During my status run to Hong Kong, I took a day trip to Shenzhen, a place I have never been before. Some of the information I found online was incomplete or incorrect so I wanted to share my efficient,...
Pittsburgh Quietly Losing Routes Despite Additions
Pittsburgh has made big headlines over the last five years as they try to grow their footprint back from near obsolescence. However, as announcement after announcement comes from Steel City, the airport is quietly losing routes too. If you...
Review: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin (Suite)
As part of my United status run this year, I returned to the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin – our home away from home in Hong Kong. There was much to love and much to learn about our...
Review: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui (Suite)
As part of my United status run this year, I decided to try the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui one last time after I hadn’t loved my previous two experiences. The third time was the charm! If...
Counterpoint: Turning Chase’s JetBlue “Lemon” Into Lemonade
Matthew wrote a piece discussing the removal of Chase Ulitmate Rewards partner Korean Air SkyPass and the addition of JetBlue TrueBlue was the equivalent of a car dealer selling a “lemon.” I emphatically disagree, and here’s why I am...
Review: United Polaris 777-300ER San Francisco to Hong Kong
As a lifelong American Airlines customer and frequent Cathay Pacific flyer, United had a long way to go to impress me with their Polaris business class product. They did. Here is another leg in my status run to Hong...
Review: United Polaris Lounge – San Francisco
This year I split my loyalty somewhat between United and American Airlines along with a handful of discount carriers for direct flights. As a result, I needed to make a status run and chose Hong Kong as my destination....
Mileage Runs May Be Dead, Status Runs Still Alive
Mileage runs were the hallmark of travel enthusiasts who found more to gain from unnecessary trips than not taking them. Elite status runs have the same principle but different result, taking unnecessary trips to retain or “level up” your...
What’s Wrong With Japanese Airline Credit Cards?
The US affinity credit card market is excellent for brands and for banks. Several offer excellent bonuses, yet the Japanese carriers are woefully inadequate and offer more points indirectly than directly. What’s wrong with them? If you are considering...
Hotel Standards Still Lag, Updates Needed
I spend a lot of time on the road and nights away from home for work and our own personal trips. More and more, I have found that hotels have failed to update their basic standards and that needs...
Horizon Airplane Stolen – Imagining The Investigation
On Friday night a Horizon Air (Alaska Airlines commuter subsidiary) was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. While details remain incomplete, I imagined the investigation that would follow such an event, here are my thoughts of what has taken place....
Review: Philadelphia International Airport Marriott Hotel
As part of a long journey, I briefly stayed at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott and ended my stay both pleased and disappointed. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com....
