PrivatAir and Lufthansa have ironed out their differences and reached a new partnership agreement. Thus, Lufthansa’s plan to fly an Airbus A319 between Frankfurt and Pune, India will now merely be a stopgap. Over the last week, I have poked...
Three Twists In The Ryanair “Staged Photo” Story
Yesterday I wrote about a viral picture of a Ryanair crew forced to sleep on the floor in Malaga Airport after a weather diversion. Ryanair claimed, via chief operating officer Peter Bellew on Twitter, that the whole thing was...
As Another Airline Collapses, Which One Will Fail Next?
Cobalt, a low-cost carrier based in Cyprus, is the latest airline in Europe to fail. But it will not be the last. Who is next? Visit Cobalt’s website and you’ll be met with this lovely page: Cobalt regrets to...
Restaurant Dumps Priority Pass At LAX
It was only the week before last that I offered a review of Campanile, a restaurant in Terminal 4 at LAX. At the time, Campanile was Priority Pass’s latest addition. But the restaurant has quietly been removed from the Priority...
Oscar Munoz Offers Insight On United’s 30% Profit Surge
After reporting a 30% increase in profit even with a higher fuel bill, United Airlines finds itself in a strong position. United’s stock is up 24% this year. Meanwhile, Delta has dropped 5% and American has dropped 36%. Although...
Is Ethiopian Airlines Abandoning LAX?
Here’s a mystery perhaps we can solve together. I book Award Expert clients on Ethiopian Airlines to/from Africa all the time. The airline is very generous in releasing award space and has an unparalleled route network within Africa. It...
Ryanair Dismisses Viral Photo Of 737 Crew Sleeping On Airport Floor
Ryanair is calling a viral photo of a 737 crew sleeping on the floor of Malaga Airport “staged” and misleading. And while I am usually a harsh critic of Ryanair, I’m somewhat sympathetic to its argument. The picture below,...
United Airlines Adds 22 New Routes, Cuts Three Of My Favorites
United Airlines is adding 22 new domestic routes in 2019 as it continues its robust domestic expansion. At the same time, it is retreating from a pair of routes from Los Angeles that face fierce competition plus a surprising...
A Family of Nuts: Korean Air CEO Indicted
There are all sorts of jokes I can make about the Cho family in South Korea, the powerful chaebol that owns Korean Air. But this is no laughing matter. South Korea has been conducting some “house cleaning” since a...
What’s A Longhaul Economy Class Meal Like On United Airlines?
I wound up in economy class on a recent flight from Los Angeles to London on United…by choice…and want to report back on the latest meal service. Meal service began shortly after takeoff. Rather than start with drinks and...
Scary: United Seriously Threatening Passengers Who Skip Flights
I wish this was a joke, but it appears that United Airlines is harshly cracking down on those who exploit so-called “hidden city” ticketing to save on ticket prices. Let’s understand how realistic the threat is. Briefly, United (and...
Lufthansa Puts Lipstick On A Pig
If ever the “lipstick on a pig” metaphor were appropriate, this is the case. I recently wrote about the new service Lufthansa will operate between Frankfurt and Pune, India. The route has traditionally been operated by a Privatair 737,...
Review: Amtrak Empire Builder (Superliner Bedroom)
My journey from from Portland, Oregon to Whitefish, Montana aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder service was not what I expected, but still enjoyable. After arriving from Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight, we had about an hour before continuing our...
Review: Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge Portland Union Station
While certainly more private than the station itself, the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Portland, Oregon is hardly a compelling highlight. You’ll find the lounge toward the left side of the station, as you enter. Coffee and water are available....
I’ll Get The New Amex Gold Card, But Not Yet
There has been a lot of hoopla about the the new American Express Gold Card. Here are my thoughts on the new card. First, let’s review the benefits. On the spending side, you’ll see a nice return on purchases...
Emotional Support Squirrel Lady Is Suing Frontier Airlines
A passenger who was thrown off a Frontier Airlines flight for refusing to part with her “emotional support” squirrel now vows to sue the airline. Passenger Cindy Torok relies on her emotional squirrel, Daisy, to deal with her anxiety. She`ll...
Air Italy Loans An A330 To Finnair It Leased From Qatar Airways
Air Italy just proved that there is a still a role for middlemen in the aircraft leasing business. Last month, a Finnair A330-300 (registration # OH-LTS) was clipped by a high loader (those vehicles that load baggage or catering onboard) at...
Qatar Airways’ Smug CEO Vows To Prove Critics Wrong
I don’t need to take any lessons because actually I will teach them lessons. -His Excellency, Akbar Al Baker Qatar Airways has experienced a difficult year, recently reporting a $69 million loss after years of profitability. The Doha-based carrier’s...
Medical AND Mechanical Issue Force Diversion Of AA Flight
An American Airlines’ flight bound for China was forced to divert after experiencing both a medical emergency and mechanical problems in-flight. Talk about an unlucky flight… AA263 from Dallas to Beijing departed DFW on time at just past 11:00 A.M....
Photo Essay: Stunning Los Angeles Union Station
Yesterday I wrote about my Amtrak experience from Los Angeles to Portland aboard the Coast Starlight. Today, I want to focus on the beautiful station my journey began in. Los Angeles Union Station opened in 1939, consolidating LA’s two...
