After a restful flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Doha and a shower and panini in the Al Mourjan Lounge, it was time to board the 14-hour longhaul to New York City. Electronics were carefully searched at the...
The World’s Most Powerful Passport is Now in Asia
Earlier this year I wrote about the most powerful passport in the world, which at the time was Germany. While Germany remains a very powerful passport, it is no longer the world’s most powerful. That honor now belongs to...
Why is Air Berlin Blaming Etihad for its Failure?
Air Berlin is seeking damages from Etihad for “letting” it become insolvent. No folks, this is actually not some sick joke. This is true. Air Berlin is demanding at least 10 million euros, blaming Etihad for “letting” it become insolvent. The...
New 747 Amenity Kits on United Airlines
United Airlines is rolling out commemorative amenity kits in honor of the Boeing 747, which will be retired after a special final flight next month. The attractive tin amenity kits will contain the usual toiletries and skincare products, but...
Who is Luc Bondar, United’s New VP of Loyalty?
Yesterday, Luc Bondar was named Vice President of Loyalty at United. He will start his new job on November 01, 2017. But who is he? Does his background reveal anything about the future of MileagePlus? Bondar is Australian and...
United’s Latest Innovation Highlights Another Innovation Needed
Good news for United Airlines customers–if you’re connecting on a partner carrier you can now use your United app to retrieve those boarding passes. That may not sound like much, but marks a huge step forward for ease in...
Review: Park Hyatt Zurich (Junior Suite)
The last time I reviewed the Park Hyatt Zurich was in 2011. Six years later, not much as changed. In the case of this property, that is a good thing. The hotel is located in the heart of Zurich...
A Restful Flight on Qatar Airways A330 Business Class
By the time it came to board my Qatar Airways flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Doha, I was exhausted. I had slept poorly all week and just wanted to have dinner, watch a movie, and nap on...
Review: SWISS Senator Lounge Zurich (ZRH)
Located next to the beautiful first class lounge, the SWISS Senator Lounge in the E-Gate (non-Schengen) area of Zurich (ZRH) is worthy of a visit. It’s a huge lounge, built to accommodate hundreds of passengers at once and bigger...
This Airport Has a Huge Fitness Center
With all the air travel I do, one concern is that when my metabolism starts to slow down as I further age, I face an increased risk for packing on the pounds. Too bad I don’t connect through Toronto...
The Bickering and Scheming Couples on My JetBlue Flight
Let me preface this post by saying that perhaps you had to be there to experience the true humor in the situation. Saturday night I flew home from New York to Burbank on JetBlue. While I normally will choose...
This Billboard is an Inside Joke for United Flyers
This post is a little geeky, but I could not resist. I spent a couple days in Bangkok last week and everywhere I saw this ad– It’s apparently James Jirayu, who is a Justin Beiber-like figure in Thailand, as the...
Aborted Landing, Near Diversion on My Vietnam Airlines Flight
It’s never a good sign when the captain says, “Ladies and gentleman, due to poor weather in Ho Chi Minh City we are going to have to divert.” I just cannot seem to escape drama on this trip. After...
U.S. Air Force May Recall 1,000 Pilots. Impact on Airlines?
The United States Air Force is seriously short of pilots to fly combat missions. Now President Trump is making it easier for the USAF to recall pilots. How will this impact the pilot shortage facing the U.S. and world...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 22, 2017
I’m back in LA after a fast-paced week around the world. My trip took another twist on the way to Ho Chi Minh City, which I will share tomorrow morning. As it was a relatively light news week, Live...
How Turkish Airlines Plays Politics with Airline Meals
For this week’s Meal of the Week, I share a delicious little snack I enjoyed on a Turkish Airlines flight from Ercan (ECN) in occupied Northern Cyprus to Istanbul (IST) in 2011. The snack has a deeper political meaning...
How I Nearly Ruined My Qatar QSuite Trip
As if the yellow fever snafu was not enough, I had a visa issue as well in Bangkok and had to pay dearly for a solution. Yesterday, I had to get from Bangkok (where my cheap Ethiopian Airlines Business...
Review: Hilton Zurich Airport
I arrived late and left early so this review will be limited, but the Hilton Zurich Airport is conveniently located near ZRH with dated common areas but modern rooms. Shuttle service is complimentary from the airport to the property…but...
Beautiful New Hyatt Place in Bangkok
When booking my hotel in Bangkok this week I was surprised to see not only a Hyatt Place show up in my search, but that it was available for booking. I quickly booked it. Turns out I arrived on...
Yellow Fever Vaccination Bites Me Again
What is it with me and yellow fever vaccinations? First Nigeria, then Zambia, then Zanzibar. And now Thailand…I just can’t seem to learn my lesson. I believe I made this recommendation three years ago and never followed it, but...
