The US Senate has passed a bill to end the longest federal government shutdown in the history of the country, prompting praise from United Airlines. Shutdown Progress Finally Moves In Senate, United Praises Vote As Aviation Strain Peaks The...
Trump Threatens Unpaid Air Traffic Controllers, Offers $10K For “Patriots”
Aviation safety meets political brinkmanship in the form of an erratic social media post by President Donald Trump on air traffic controllers. “Get Back to Work, NOW!” Trump Orders Unpaid Air Traffic Controllers Back To Work, Dangles $10K Bonus...
Drunk On Vodka At 35,000 Feet, A United Flight Attendant Was 10X Over The Legal Limit
We assume the people responsible for our safety at 35,000 feet are sober. This story is an uncomfortable reminder that isn’t always true. A drunken flight attendant incident on a United Airlines transatlantic flight reminds us that aviation demands...
My Suite Stay At St. Regis Bangkok
I’m a free agent this year when it comes to both hotels and airlines, so I branched out and tried the St. Regis Bangkok this time instead of a Hyatt property. These former Starwood properties in Southeast Asia tend...
Review: Ethiopian Airlines Q400 Economy Class
From Addis Ababa to Awassa, I flew on a de Havilland Dash 8-400 operated by Ethiopian Airlines in economy class. At only 133 miles, it was a very short and uneventful flight. Ethiopian Airlines Q400 Economy Class Review (ADD-AWA)...
Review: Ethiopian Airlines Domestic Lounge Addis Ababa (ADD)
Ahead of our flight to Awassa, we spent about an hour in the Ethiopian Airlines Lounge in the Addis Ababa domestic terminal. Ethiopian Airlines Domestic Lounge Review – Addis Ababa (ADD) While Ethiopian operates two lounges, a Cloud 9...
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...
