There’s hysteria. Then there’s common sense. And as we try to make sense of what is hysteria and what is not, a big question is whether senior citizens should fly. Sadly, that question has become a political issue. The...
United Airlines Suspends 13 Routes
In April, United Airlines will suspend service on 13 routes and reduce service on 170 more as coronavirus fears continue to depress travel demand. Last week, I wrote that United planned to cut April international capacity by 20% and...
Ouch: Thai Airways A330 Rips Off Tail Of Private Jet
A Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 jet ripped off the tail of a Gulfstream IV jet in Laos, rendering both aircraft unserviceable. The accident occurred yesterday as TG575 was preparing to depart from Vientiane (VTE) to Bangkok (BKK). During initial...
American and United Match Delta’s More Flexible Change Fee Waiver
American and United quickly matched Delta’s decision to further loosen its change fee waiver, a move that was long overdue, but nevertheless better late than never. Up until this point, the “Big 3” U.S. airlines have used change fee...
Now Open: American Express Centurion Lounge Los Angeles
The American Express Centurion Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is now open and looks great. American Express Centurion Lounge LAX Hours + Location Hours of operation will be daily from from 6:30AM until 11:00PM. While not surprising...
Review: United Airlines 737-900 First Class
What is traveling across the country on a 737-900 like in United’s domestic first class on one of its longest transcontinental fights? My TAP Air Portugal ticket only got me as far as Boston. From Boston, I booked a...
United’s New Schedule Change Policy Is Indefensible
Over the weekend, United clandestinely updated its schedule change policy in a dramatically customer-unfriendly way. There is no justification for the policy change. None. New United Schedule Change Policy Up until Saturday, a schedule change that resulted in an...
Lufthansa Grounds Entire A380 Fleet. Is Air France Next?
Last week, I reported that Lufthansa was considering grounding its entire Airbus A380 fleet. It’s now official: all 14 Lufthansa A380s will soon be grounded. Who’s next? Air France? British Airways? Aero Telegraph (via OMAAT) reports it viewed an...
United Won’t Loosen Premier Qualifications (Yet), But Will Extend Status Matches
United Airlines will not loosen the requirements to re-qualify for premier status in 2021…yet. But it will give travelers participating in a status match challenge more time to complete the challenge. United is sending out a lot of email...
United Airlines Attempts to Assuage Our Fears
United Airlines reached out to every MileagePlus member with an email on COVID-19, meant to assuage fears and calm frayed nerves. The letter, written by outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz, talks about United’s current travel waiver, how aircraft are cleaned,...
Airlines Warn Of Wasteful “Ghost Flights” From London Heathrow
Airlines are seeking a waiver from Heathrow’s “use it or lose it” slot during this time of weakened travel demand. Absent that, expect a lot of empty flights to/from London Heathrow in the days and weeks ahead. LHR “Use...
Lufthansa May Ground A380 Fleet, Slash Capacity By 50%
Citing unprecedented cancellations and anemic new bookings, Lufthansa is considering grounding its entire A380 fleet as it explores a massive cutback in flights. Coronavirus concerns have prompted thousands of passengers to cancel or postpone travel. The problem is so...
Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class
Business class on Turkish Airlines is always a pleasure, but the A321neo is such a wonderful alternative to the business class product offered by most European competitors. I booked my ticket from Frankfurt to Atlanta via Istanbul using 55,000...
Warning: Singapore Will Jail You For Lying About Travel
As nations around the world work to battle the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, Singapore is not messing around: don’t even think about lying about where you have been. If you do, you face jail time and a hefty fine....
Finnair Platinum Wing: One Of World’s Best Airport Lounges
I had a chance to visit the Finnair Platinum Wing in Helsinki and quickly ascertained that this is one of the nicest airport lounges in the world. It was truly a pleasure to spend several hours here. Access is...
Split Decision: Mother Found Guilty Of Beating SWISS Pilot While Grandma Walks…
Earlier this week I shared about the mother-daughter duo who were arrested for assaulting a SWISS Air captain over a hand baggage disagreement. A London court just adjudicated the case. Henrietta Mitaiare, 23, and Mary Roberts, 53, were traveling from Zurich...
Want To Hang Out With Me In Washington, DC This Weekend? (FTU)
Frequent Traveler University is returning to Washington, DC this weekend. FTU is a full day of expert-led sessions on trending travel topics and manufactured spending. It’s not only a venue to learn, but one to network with like-minded folks...
MI6? CIA? Mossad? I Leave My Seatmate Guessing
I had fun with my seatmate on a recent Turkish Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Istanbul, who thought I was a spy. As I shared in my first impressions post, the aircraft swapped from an A321 to an A321neo...
Leaked Memo: United Airlines Responds To Coronavirus
United Airlines will tackle weakened travel demand by reducing or suspending more routes, offering unpaid leave, freezing all non-essential hiring, and postponing raises for non-union employees. In a lengthy memo to United employees, outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz and incoming...
Why Delta CEO Skipped White House Meeting…Again
Delta CEO Ed Bastian ruffled feathers by missing a White House meeting with President Donald Trump last July. Yesterday, airline CEOs again convened at the White House. Yesterday, Bastian was again missing. This time, though, no one is questioning...
