A small cadre of travel journalists and bloggers was invited to take part on the 19.5-hour nonstop from New York to Sydney on Friday. I’m chuckling at how seriously some of them took it. Angus Whitley of Forbes flew...
Boeing Digs Its Own Grave
Credibility is a peculiar thing. It takes years, sometimes decades to build, and can best lost in an instant. The ongoing 737 MAX sage has already cost Boeing most of its credibility, but somehow Boeing found a way to...
How A JetBlue Gate Agent Truly Gamed The System
A former JetBlue gate agent faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for an elaborate yet simply-executed fraud scheme. Tiffany Jenkins was an enterprising gate agent for JetBlue in Boston. She hatched a plan to save...
Dangerously Addictive Lobster Mac & Cheese On United
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. Like many,...
Why I’m Seriously Considering An American Express Centurion (Black) Card
It’s not for the points. It’s certainly not for the status. But I am seriously considering an American Express Centurion Card, more popularly known as the AMEX “Black” card. For many years, I’ve chuckled at clients who put tens...
Watch An 84-Year-Old Challenge TSA Agent To Push-Up Contest
It’s nice to smile once in a while, especially when talking about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The challenge of an 84-year-old Army vet provides exactly that opportunity. Lieutenant Colonel Maggie DeSanti was flying to Washington, DC on an...
Europe’s Fastest Growing Airline…I’ve Never Heard Of it
I like to stay up-to-date on airlines from all over the world, but admit Europe’s fastest growing airline took me by surprise. In fact, I had never even heard of it. I’m talking about Pobeda, a low-cost subsidiary of...
Wow: Turkish Lounge In Istanbul Is Not The Only Game In Town…
I recently did something I had never done before. I flew out of Istanbul and it wasn’t on Turkish Airlines. That meant a whole new lounge experience. Recently, I was in Istanbul for a couple days on business and...
Why Asiana Faces A Punitive 45-Day Ban At SFO
South Korea’s Supreme Court was clear: actions carry consequences. And for troubled Asiana, that means a 45-day ban in service to San Francisco (SFO). In July 2013, Asiana Flight 203 undershot the runway at SFO, crashing after the 777-200ER’s tail...
Delta Upgrades ALL Passengers To First Class On Delayed 757 Flight
Would an upgrade to first class make an extended delay a little more bearable? Rene’s Points shares of a story that will make you smile that took place on Delta flight 1013 from Atlanta to Orlando on Wednesday. Due...
My Fuel Surcharge Settlement Check Arrives From British Airways…10 Months Late
An unexpected envelope arrived at my house this morning…it was only 10 months late and not even addressed to me. I’ve written about the British Airways fuel surcharge settlement in the past. In short, a lawsuit contended that British Airways’...
JetBlue’s Win-Win Marriage Of Convenience With Norwegian
I’m not saying that JetBlue wants Norwegian to collapse…but let’s just say that the new marriage of convenience raises some questions. A friend of mine, around 30 at the time, once was asked who he was looking for in...
Review: Berlin Airport Club (TXL)
Berlin Tegel’s Terminal A Priority Pass lounge is tiny. But I suppose it beats the oft-crowded gate areas at TXL. Rather than spend my entire time in the nearby Lufthansa Lounge, I also checked out the nearby Priority Pass...
Serial Stowaway Marilyn Hartman Strikes Again!
Serial stowaway and folk hero Marilyn Hartman is losing her touch. She didn’t even make it past the TSA checkpoint in her latest caper. I’m just going out on limb, but I think Hartman was emboldened by the recent...
Spectacular Deal: Flying Blue Special Edition Promo Awards
A special five-day sale offers incredible discounts on many Air France and KLM routes when using Flying Blue miles. Each month Air France offers Promo Awards, but once in a while it offers “Special Edition” Promo Awards that offer...
Alaska Airlines Violates Our Trust…Again
Overnight, Alaska made two substantial changes to its MileagePlan program, resulting in many partner awards pricing significantly higher today than yesterday. I’ll say it bluntly: Alaska Airlines violated our trust once again and should be ashamed of itself. As...
Mysterious Eastern Airlines Announces New Flight From New York…Again
Eastern Airlines announced new service from New York to Guayaquil, Ecuador set to begin this December. But a number of questions still surround this mysterious airline. The new service, subject to government approval, will start on December 05, 2019...
Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Berlin (TXL)
Lufthansa’s aging but adequate Senator Lounge provided a productive environment for my long layover in Berlin Tegel. This lounge really has not changed since I first visited it more than a decade ago. Neither has TXL…for decades. There is...
Woman Who Sued Emirates Over Water Denial Loses Big
An Australian woman who sued Emirates, claiming they refused to give her enough water onboard, has lost her case. She now faces staggering legal fees. I wrote about the case earlier this year. Lina Di Falco was traveling from...
United’s New California-Themed Livery
United Airlines has unveiled a new California-themed livery now gracing the surface of a Boeing 757-200. The livery is the work of Tsungwei Moo, a San Francisco-based artist who won United’s “Her-Art-Here” contest in association with the National Museum of...
