Just a quick follow-up to my post last month about unexpectedly keeping Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status longer than expected. I rarely stay in Marriott/Starwood properties but received Marriott Gold status as a benefit of my 1K status on United....
A Tangential Ad Campaign From Lufthansa
Lufthansa has released a series of finely-made videos that have absolutely nothing to do with airline travel, save for the fact that they take place in countries that Lufthansa serves. I still enjoyed watching them. A series of four...
“Drop Everything! Evacuate Immediately! The Plane Will Explode!”
Passengers on an Air China flight to Los Angeles were serenaded with a wonderful warning: “Drop everything! Evacuate immediately! The plane will explode!” On Monday, Air China flight 983, operated by a Boeing 777, took off from Beijing toward...
Passenger Charges Obese Seatmate $150 To Sit Next To Him
Clever or cruel? That’s the debate over a man who charged his obese seatmate $150 to avoid being bumped off a flight. On Reddit, a man asked, “AITA for making an obese man pay me cash to take up...
AAdvantage Elite Members Win Big, But World Of Hyatt Members?
American Airlines and Hyatt announced a new partnership today which will launch later this year. The new partnership will allow double dipping; American Airlines AAdvantage elite members will earn Hyatt points plus AA bonus miles for every Hyatt stay....
British Airways Debuts Its Next Retro Jet (And It’s A Stunner)
British Airways has revealed the second in its series of heritage liveries, this time a reminder of the British European Airways (BEA) era. The Airbus A319 arrived in Heathrow yesterday from Shannon, Ireland with fresh paint. It soon made its first...
Review: United Airlines 757-300 First Class Honolulu To Los Angeles
Your choice of aircraft matters greatly when flying to Hawaii. While widebodies will generally result in premium cabin lie-flat seating on American, Delta, Hawaiian, and United, narrowbody aircraft usually feature only recliner seats. Since I reviewed my Hawaiian Airlines...
Delta Pilot Leaves Handgun Sitting In Cockpit
I’m certainly prone to leaving mobile phones and passports behind on airplanes, but handguns? One Delta pilot went home but forgot the handgun, leaving it sitting in the cockpit for cleaning crews to find later. We don’t have the...
Southwest Wages War Against Its Mechanics
Southwest Airlines has sued its mechanics’ union, alleging that the union is engaging in an illegal work slowdown. For the last few weeks, mechanics have taken far more aircraft out of service than usual, citing maintenance concerns. Southwest has...
Thai Airways Fails To Innovate, Loses Big Again
It is no surprise that after promising profits for 2018, Thai Airways ended up losing far more than expected. This is Thai Airways after all, where there remains eternal optimism in king and insanity. While Thailand is still mourning...
Salad Is The Safe Choice In Domestic First Class
When it comes to meals in domestic first class in the USA, life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get. That’s why salad, whatever the form, is usually the safest choice. Order...
Review: The Willard Suite At The Willard InterContinental Hotel Washington, DC
Last week I wrote about why the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC is my favorite hotel in the District. This review focuses on an incredible suite upgrade I received during my last visit. Please read my reflections on this...
Paid Upgrade To First Class on SWISS Award Ticket
Here’s an interesting data point for an airline that very closely guards its first class cabin. When available, SWISS offers reasonably-priced paid upgrades to first class. You just have to ask… I recently booked an Aeroplan (Air Canada-issued) award...
Now I Am Convinced JetBlue Is Starting Service To London…
Just a follow-up on my post yesterday about an “important” JetBlue announcement coming on April 10th. Now I’m even more convinced JetBlue will announce service to London. Recall, the email stated: Save the Date JETBLUE ALL HANDS Join us for...
Review: Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge Honolulu (HNL)
I had a chance to visit the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu before my flight back to Los Angeles. This Priority Pass lounge isn’t much, but worth a stop if you have the time. For whatever reason, I...
Review: Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 First Class Los Angeles To Honolulu
Hawaiian Airlines offers a friendly, comfortable product onboard its A330-200 in first class. My flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu certainly put me in the Hawaiian mood. I used points to book my ticket. The ticket was $500, which...
Yes, Passengers Are To Blame For Poor Airline Service
Are passengers’ insatiable urge for cheap fares to blame for poor airline service? Bill McGee, a former Consumer Reports Travel Editor and FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, thinks the answer is NO. In a column for USA Today, he argues that consumers...
Will JetBlue Announce Service To Europe On April 10th?
JetBlue has hinted about service to Europe for years. Will the big announcement finally come this spring? Yesterday, JetBlue employees received the following “Save the Date” e-mail: Save the Date JETBLUE ALL HANDS Join us for a chat about...
I Simply Don’t Understand Alaska Airlines…
Alaska Airlines has debuted its new first class seat to replace the spacious seats on the ex-Virgin America Airbus fleet. Frankly, the seat is disappointing and Alaska’s strategy is perplexing. Alaska will refresh the interiors of the Airbus fleet in...
United Restores TAP And Thai Award Space But Leaves Out Singapore Airlines
United Airlines has restored online award availability for TAP Air Portugal and Thai Airways. Singapore Airlines, however, is still missing. It was a welcome relief to see Thai Airways and TAP Air Portugal award flights on united.com last night....
