While Air Canada decided to poke fun at Canada itself, WestJet chose to poke fun at Air Canada. In a response to Air Canada’s recent new “travel like a Canadian” ad campaign, WestJet is promising not to treat people...
With Air New Zealand Gone, Will United Double Up On LAX-LHR?
Air New Zealand is abandoning its Fifth Freedom route between Los Angeles and London. Will United step up with a second daily flight? Air New Zealand has served London since 1982. Until a few years ago, Air New Zealand...
While Qantas Teases, Air New Zealand Delivers
Qantas made headlines for its historic nonstop “test” flight from New York to Sydney last Friday, but doesn’t even know if the route is viable. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand has announced that it will serve New York nonstop from...
Should You Always Include Middle Name(s) On Airline Ticket?
Is it always necessary to include your middle name(s) in an airline reservation? In short, no…but it’s still foolish not to. The Guardian shares the story of a passenger who booked with Blue Panorama, an Italian airline operating from...
Thai Airways Cancels Six Routes, Concedes Lack Of Vision
Facing relentless competition and pressure to move from loss to profit, Thai Airways will retreat from six routes in Southeast Asia. Thai Airways will suspend service from Bangkok (BKK) to the following six cities: Vientiane (Laos) Luang Prabang (Laos)...
U.S. Tightens The Screws On Cuban Tourism
The United States is targeting tourism in Cuba with new sanctions on leased aircraft from the USA. Citing its repression of its own people and support for the “illegitimate” Maduro regime in Venezuela, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and...
Will Southwest Really Merge With Alaska Or JetBlue?
Rumors are swirling that Southwest Airlines may solve its lingering Boeing 737 MAX problem by acquiring another airline. I just don’t see it happening. The theory goes something like this. Southwest has over 100 737 MAX on order, with...
Review: Lufthansa Business Lounge Athens (ATH)
Small but serviceable, the Lufthansa lounge in Athens was a nice alternative to the even-more-crowded Aegean lounge nearby. This Schengen lounge is located near gate A25 and available to Star Alliance Gold members as well as Lufthansa or SWISS...
Flight Attendants Faint And AA Flight Diverts After Onboard Chemical Spill
An American Airlines flight from London to Philadelphia diverted to Dublin after fumes from a lavatory cleaning product knocked out two flight attendants and made passengers nauseous. AA729, an Airbus A330-300, took off from London on schedule at 10:15AM,...
The Melodramatic “Guinea Pigs” On 19.5-Hour Qantas Flight…
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’...
