The Park Hyatt Beijing is showing some signs of wear, but remains an excellent choice for a luxury hotel in the heart of China’s capital city. After arriving from Helsinki on Finnair, we proceeded to the hotel via taxi...
Medical Emergency on My AA Flight
Last night I flew from Los Angeles to New York on AA…and encountered a medical emergency onboard that led to a lengthy delay and removal of a passenger. We pushed back on time and FAs screened safety the video....
737 Skids Off Runway, Dangles on Cliff
A scary moment for passengers onboard a Pegasus Airlines 737-800 that skidded off the runway, down a muddy embankment, and nearly into the sea. Check out this startling video–it honestly makes my palms sweat just watching it: The Boeing...
United Airlines CEO Reflects on MLK Day
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) day in the United States. United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz penned a fitting tribute to the late civil rights leader. Here’s his note to employees shared by a FA friend: In 1968,...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 14, 2018
I’ve just begun my next trip…it will be a busy week and much of it is still unplanned. It has been a relatively quiet week in industry news, with Alaska and Virgin now operating under a single certificate. A...
Dear Lufthansa, Please Don’t Ruin Your Beautiful Livery
Rumors are swirling that Lufthansa will introduce a new livery next month. My message to Lufthansa: leave it alone. When I defended Lufthansa’s five-star ranking recently based upon my own travel experiences over the years, I was clearly in...
EL AL’s “Supernatural” Safety Video
EL AL is out with a clever new safety video that involves a bit of magic and a bit of slight of hand. I’ll give the airline credit for creating a gripping safety video. Watch the video first: I’m...
The Secret Life of Virgins: Virgin America Farewell Video
Virgin America is now a relic of history, at least officially. The airline ceased to be an independent airline on January 09, 2018, losing its unique call sign and now ushered into the fold of Alaska Airlines. The two...
United Airlines has a New “President” of California
United Airlines has named Janet Lamkin as President of California. Her duty will be to build the brand in the Golden State. This appointment occurred in November, but was not widely publicized. I’m writing about this because she sent out...
JFK Airport Under Investigation by Former DOT Secretary
Let’s start with a joke, in the form of a press release from the Port Authority of New York, which controls New York City airports. The Port Authority is committed to providing the highest standard of service to all...
How Shall I Get Back to LA from Ho Chi Minh City?
My Qatar Airways 777-3ooER Qsuite flight is right around the corner. But I have nothing booked home… This is a review trip and I’m not planning on spending any time in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a lovely city...
Review: Finnair A350 Business Class Helsinki to Beijing
Finnair surprised me, in a very good way. My A350-900 flight in business class from Helsinki to Beijing was exceptional. The ground experience, however, could use a little work. After spending some time in both the Finnair Business Class...
Cathay Dragon Pilot Scams $29K in Flights from Air Canada
A Cathay Dragon pilot has been ordered to repay over $29,000 and perform 20 hours of community service in punishment for scamming free flights from Air Canada. Marc Anthony Tacchi is Canadian but lives in Hong Kong and flies...
Airline Smashes 300-Year-Old Musical Instrument, Blames Passenger
I am a bigger risk taker than most when it comes to checking valuable items, but I’d like to think I’d draw the line somewhere before checking a 300-year-old viola valued at $200,000. One woman didn’t…and Alitalia blamed her...
Was SWISS First Class Worth It?
It has been nearly two weeks since my trip from Zürich to Los Angeles in first class. Many have asked me, now that I’ve had time to reflect, was it worth it? Let’s put aside the lawsuit for a...
Chinese Cyber Police Block Marriott’s Website for Disrespecting China
Cyber Police from the city of Shanghai have blocked Marriott’s website and mobile app for one week, punishing the hotel chain for “disrespecting” Chinese Sovereignty. Marriott sent out a Mandarin-language survey to Chinese consumers which listed Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet,...
Review: Almost@Home Lounge Helsinki (Great Priority Pass Lounge)
I visited the Almost@Home lounge while transiting through Helsinki (HEL) just to grab a few pictures, but ended up liking it more than the crowded Finnair lounge. This is a great lounge option in Helsinki for Priority Pass members. The...
This Airport Lounge Has a Stylish Sauna
The sauna is a central part of Finnish culture. Fittingly, Finnair offers a sauna for guests of its business class lounge at Helsinki Airport. Located between the business class and “Premium” lounges in the non-Schengen area, the sauna area...
Review: Finnair Business Class Lounge Helsinki (HEL)
The Finnair Business Class lounge in Helsinki offers a great selection of food and fast wi-fi, but it does get crowded. You’ll find the lounge near Gate 36 in the non-Schengen area. As you enter the lounge, you’ll turn...
United Airlines Adds Eight New Domestic Routes
United Airlines is bolstering its domestic route network with eight new flights starting this summer. As part of President Scott Kirby’s plan to focus on growing the domestic route network, United will pinpoint cities such as Bismarck, Dayton, Madison,...
