I really need to follow my own advice on locking the deadbolt in hotel rooms. Here’s another friendly reminder via an unfortunate anecdote. I spent the night at the Sheraton Milan Malpensa, a great hotel if you have a...
Where Retail Is Thriving: Airports
While malls are shuttering and retail stores are being eaten alive by Amazon, there is one holdout where retail is still thriving: airports. Consider that global travel revenue, which includes duty-free sales at airports, has more than tripled since...
EgyptAir Deploys 787 To London Heathrow To Offset British Airways Cut
EgyptAir has responded to British Airways’ sudden suspension of service to Cairo with increased capacity via its brand new 787-9 Dreamliner. British Airways offered no specific reason for its suspension of service to Cairo for a week, blaming the...
Where Should I Stay In Bali?
I’ve been to a lot of places in the world, but never to Bali. That changes this week. But I need your help in selecting a hotel. I know I’m in the midst of another trip, but I’ve got...
My (mis)Adventures Aboard Ryanair
Hello from Milan. With 12 legs down and only two legs to go on my trip around the world, I thought I’d give you an update on my adventures on Ryanair from Amman to Milan via Bucharest. I last...
DHS Closes LAX Global Entry Enrollment Center Due To Border Deployment
Stretched thin at the U.S. Southern Border, the Department of Homeland Security has shuttered the Global Entry Enrollment Center at Los Angeles International Airport. Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the enrollment center offered in-person security interviews, a...
Hilarious: Air Asia Taunts Garuda Indonesia With New Onboard Photo Competition
While Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air banned onboard photography, Air Asia encouraged it via an onboard photo competition. I love it when Air Asia trolls Garuda Indonesia! In fairness (and credit) to Garuda Indonesia, it has since backed down...
First Impressions: Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class
Greetings from Amman. I’ve flown from Kuala Lumpur to Amman via Bangkok, all on Royal Jordanian. Here’s my first impressions of RJ’s 787-8 in “Crown” business class. First, the B/E Diamond seats are fairly common, available on airlines including...
Review: Etihad A330 Business Class Malé To Abu Dhabi
After a lovely stay at the Park Hyatt Maldives, it was time to head back home. Our first leg would be to Abu Dhabi aboard an A330-200 in business class. As a reminder, I’m in the midst of a...
Shuttle Diplomacy By Qatar Airways Impresses Trump, Roils US Airline CEOs
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker can smile today. He won the battle at the White House. President Donald Trump sided with him…and perhaps for reasons having less to do with the issue itself than over ego. A successful...
How An Airline Shamed An Unruly Passenger
One airline made an example out of an unruly passenger it hopes will convince others to behave. In a headline that seems better suited for the Daily Mail or Sun, UK-based Jet2.com announced: Lifetime ban and £85,000 bill for...
Air New Zealand In Trouble Over Misleading Consumers
A prominent New Zealand lawyer has filed a complaint against Air New Zealand for misleading advertising, prompting a swift policy change. Barrister Michael Wigley is not new to the world of airline law. In 2015, he lodged a complaint...
My Fifth Freedom Flight On Royal Jordanian
Hello from Bangkok, where I’m sitting onboard a 787-8 as I prepare to continue my journey to Amman. Royal Jordanian offers a tag flight between Bangkok (BKK) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) onboard its 787-8 Dreamliner to supplement its service...
Did Delta CEO Chicken Out Of White House Meeting?
A group of CEOs from major airlines in the USA…and one outside the USA, met with President Donald Trump in the White House yesterday to discuss objections over Gulf Carriers and Air Italy. But one vocal opponent was visibly...
As 737 MAX Languishes, United Pushes Boeing For 797
As the future of the 737 MAX remains shrouded in uncertainty, United Airlines is pushing Boeing for further insight on its 797 program. Asked about it during an earnings calls on Wednesday, United Chief Financial Officer Gerry Laderman said:...
Lounge Hopping In KUL
I had a long layover between flights in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and used the time to sample a trio of lounges. I spent the bulk of my time in the Malaysia Airlines Golden Satellite Business Lounge. My last two...
Lufthansa, Our Guardian Of The Environment And Living Wage…
The magnanimous and altruistic Lufthansa CEO, Carsten Spohr, cares so much about the environment and living wages that he wants to ban cheap flights within Europe. What a saint! I’ve been traveling around the world and put this story...
What Surprised Me Most About The Park Hyatt Maldives
I recently published an extended review of the Park Hyatt Maldives, but want to focus on one aspect of my stay that was most surprising: the food. When I envisioned a private island so far secluded from even Malé...
KLM Offers Advice On Choosing The Best Seat To Survive A Crash
We can all be tone deaf…I certainly fall prey to that from time to time. But someone at KLM really needs a lesson in common sense. KLM maintains regional Twitter accounts, including one in India under @KLMIndia. Yesterday morning,...
First Impressions: SriLankan A321neo Business Class
I unexpectedly had the chance to fly SriLankan A321neo Business Class…which was both a disappointment and a pleasure. It was disappointing because my flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur was scheduled to be operated by an A330-300 with reverse...