For this year’s final Meal of the Week, I count down my top 10 airline meals of 2019. To be clear, these are only the best meals I have enjoyed over the last year, not my top 10 all-time...
My Top 10 Lounges In 2019
![Top 10 Lounges 2019](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cathay-Pacific-The-Pier-2-738x355.jpg)
As 2019 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the 10 best airport lounges I visited in 2019. Note, this is my “top 10” list, but only my...
Drunk British Airways Passenger Breaks Free Of Handcuffs, Assaults Five Flight Attendants
![British Airways Assault](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/British-Airways-Assault-738x355.jpg)
A British Airways passenger has pleaded “not guilty” to assault after a wild flight on British Airways from Houston to London. William Clegg, 30, of London, has been accused of the following transgressions after a disruptive flight on BA: Over-consumption of...
Disturbing EgyptAir Safety Report
![EgyptAir Safety Report](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/EgyptAir-Safety-Report-738x355.jpg)
It has been more than three years since an EgyptAir Airbus A320 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all onboard. A transparent investigation never occurred. Until now. In a leaked document, French authorities cite gross negligence, undercutting the EgyptAir...
Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup = Perfect Airline Meal
![Grilled Cheese United Airlines](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Grilled-Cheese-United-Airlines-1-738x355.jpeg)
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. When done...
Review: United 777-300ER Business Class San Francisco To Sydney
![a seat in an airplane](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/United-Sydney-Mileage-Run-19-738x355.jpeg)
Here’s a rundown of the first half of my whirlwind journey to Sydney, Australia in United Business Class in order to achieve 1K status for 2020…and of course for a proper cup of coffee. I’ve outlined the reason for...
Pilot By Day, Violinist By Night
![Violin Pilot](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Violin-Captain-738x355.jpg)
A pilot’s violin serenade of his flight offers a beautiful look into the joy of loving what you do. It was Christmas Day and passengers were boarding United flight 3705, operated by Republic Airways on behalf of United Express....
The 8-Hour, 85-Mile Lufthansa Flight
![Lufthansa A340 Diversion](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Lufthansa-A340-Diversion-738x355.jpg)
I don’t know how I missed this, but we have another chronicle in the “flights to nowhere” book, only this Lufthansa flight added insult to injury. On December 9th, LH404, an A340-600, took off on-time from Frankfurt (FRA) bound...
The Thrill Of Doing A Mileage Run Again…
![the wing of an airplane above clouds](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mileage-Run-Thrill-738x355.jpg)
I’ve taken many review trips in 2019, but my mileage run to Sydney was something I have not done in years. And it was thrilling. This wasn’t my first mileage run to Sydney. 1o years ago I took my...
Virgin Atlantic’s “Outrageous” Upgrade Scheme
![Virgin Atlantic Unfair Upgrades](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Virgin-Atlantic-Unfair-Upgrades-738x355.jpg)
Earlier this week, I wrote about Virgin Atlantic’s generous upgrade program in effect until the New Year. In short, the oldest person on each flight receives a complimentary upgrade to the highest cabin available. But not everyone is happy...
Breaking: Deadly Crash Of Passenger Jet In Kazakhstan
![Bek Air Crash](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bek-Air-Crash-738x355.jpg)
At least 14 people have died after a passenger jet crashed seconds after takeoff in the Kazakh city of Almaty. Bek Air flight Z2100, operated by a Fokker 100, was carrying 95 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots. Bek...
Hyatt Gifted Me Executive Platinum Status On American Airlines!
![Hyatt American Partnership](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Hyatt-American-Partnership-738x355.jpg)
When my mobile phone rang with a call from Omaha, my eyes lit up. Could it be that I was on of the “chosen” ones to receive free Executive Platinum status with American Airlines courtesy of Hyatt? Yes! Free...
Air India To Indian Government: No More Tickets On Credit
![Air India Government Credit](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Air-India-Government-Credit-738x355.jpg)
Chasing past due invoices, Air India has informed government agencies that it is unwillingly to extend further credit until balances are zeroed. Tickets will no longer be issued on credit to those agencies who owe Rs 10 lakh (about...
European Budget Carriers Will Be Guinea Pigs In Russia
![budget carriers St. Petersburg](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/budget-Carriers-St-Petersburg-738x355.jpg)
It’s actually brilliant. Europe’s top budget carriers–including EasyJet, Ryanair, and WizzAir–have been invited to start service to St. Petersburg, Russia…but there’s a catch. Tourist Boom Coming To Russia’s St. Petersburg In 2020, expect a boom of tourism and cheap...
My 2019 Christmas Reflection
![2019 Christmas Reflection](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-Christmas-Reflection-738x355.jpg)
A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my dear readers. I find myself in Los Angeles this Christmas for the first time in three years. It will be nice to spend the day with my side of...
A Generous Christmas Gift From Virgin Atlantic
![a woman in a red suit standing in a cabin of an airplane](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Virgin-Atlantic-A350-02-738x355.jpg)
The viral story of a young man who gave up his business class seat to a senior citizen has prompted Virgin Atlantic to reciprocate in a big way between now and the end of the year. I wrote about...
All the 2019 Airline Holiday Videos
![2019 airline holiday videos](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-airline-holiday-videos-738x355.jpg)
Christmas has arrived and many airlines have released holiday videos for 2019. I have compiled them into one place for your viewing pleasure. I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. Air Canada Air France American Airlines ...
Caution: Refresh Underway At Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara
![Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara Remodel](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hyatt-Centric-Santa-Barbara-Remodel-738x355.jpg)
The Hyatt Centric in Santa Barbara is undergoing a mutli-million dollar refresh that will bring much-needed upgrades to a historic hotel. I recently took my family to Santa Barbara for the weekend and we stayed, as usual, at the Hyatt...
How My Mileage Run To Australia Nearly Died An Agonizing Death
![Tight SFO Connection](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tight-SFO-Connection-2-738x355.jpg)
Creeping delays, a late evening flight, and a 45-minute connection in San Francisco very nearly doomed my United 1K mileage run to Sydney. All day my flight from Burbank to San Francisco showed on-time, but all day I knew...
Kudos To Alaska Airlines For Sincere Apology
![the tail of an airplane with a face on it](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Alaska-Airlines-Apology-738x355.jpg)
Airlines mess up sometimes. When they do, the reaction is often to shift blame and deflect criticism. But Alaska Airlines did something refreshingly different after a rough weekend in Seattle. A trifecta hit Seattle at the end of last...