United Airlines’ employees are not happy about the replacement of performance bonuses with a lottery. One even went so far as to start a petition to reverse course…only to be silenced hours later. I’ve heard from dozens of employees...
Review: Singapore Airlines Private Room (SIN)
The Private Room at Singapore’s Changi International Airport offers both tranquility and fine dining to Singapore Airlines’ first-class passengers. First, though, we had to find it. We arrived from San Francisco at 1am and were on our own in...
Delta Loses NRA Tax Battle, Will Likely Win War
What does a memo from the Delta CEO and newly enacted tax reform legislation tell us about the power dynamic between Delta and its home state? Yesterday, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal singed into a law a $5BN tax reform...
United Airlines Inflames Employees With Bonus Cutbacks
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby is on the warpath again, this time unleashing a plan that will slash bonuses for most employees. In January, I wrote about United’s new “core4” emphasis, which will focus training on the following four...
Unbelievable: Miami Couple Embezzled Millions from Airport Lounge
A Miami couple and third accomplice have been sentenced to prison time and hit with stiff restitution fines for laundering money from an airport lounge at Miami International Airport. It all took place at the Club America lounge in...
Seat Shenanigans on Lufthansa
Add Lufthansa to the list of airlines that play games with confirmed seat assignments. An Award Expert client needed to travel from Newark to Zurich this week and wanted first class. Since SWISS generally does not release first class...
Review: Singapore Airlines 777 First Class Dinner from Seoul to Singapore
After stuffing myself on the first leg of SQ15 from San Francisco to Seoul, it was time for another feast on the connection to Singapore. Thankfully, I had taken some time in Seoul to walk up and down the...
Controversial Air New Zealand Safety Video Angers Many
A new Air New Zealand safety video is out and although well done as usual, has angered many Kiwis. Why? Flight 901. Check out the new safety video below. It is filmed in Antarctica and features stunning scenery highlighting...
American Airlines Art Exhibit in Los Angeles
For all we like to rag on them, airlines often to do a lot of good for the community. In the era of #MeToo, American Airlines is recognizing the importance of female leadership across industries in Los Angeles. I’m...
Bizarre Business Class Advice in Harper’s Bazaar
It’s time to start calling out the mainstream media on fake upgrade and premium cabin stories. Several days ago a friend at United Airlines forwarded me an internal communication heralding the high ranking of United Polaris from Harper’s Bazaar. I...
Virgin Atlantic Confirms Upgrade Story is #FakeNews
Virgin Atlantic has confirmed what we all knew…the recent Bloomberg story on upgrades was #FakeNews. Gilbert from God Save the Points has done an excellent job in covering this story, going so far as to record a phone call...
Why Did Singapore Airlines Close Lounge in Seoul?
Next up in my Australia trip report is a review of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Seoul Incheon. But that seems almost pointless considering Singapore unexpectedly shut down the lounge last month. Instead, let’s focus on the reason...
Review: Singapore Airlines 777-300ER First Class
After a successful photo finish in San Francisco to connect just as the doors were closing, my uncle and I settled into the eight-seat first class cabin dripping in sweat. Talk about first class… Note, this trip report covers...
Other States Court Delta After NRA Tax Dispute
As Delta Air Lines and the State of Georgia continue to fight over fuel subsidies in light of the recent NRA dispute, other states are actively courting Delta. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam: Rep. Tim...
Rude Exchange Over Carry-On Bag – But Who Was Rude?
I woke up this morning to a story entitled, “United passenger records heated exchange with ‘rude’ airline staff over carry-on bag” topping my airline travel news feed. It is a incident that occurred in the check-in lobby of Chicago...
Why You Should NEVER Argue with Airline Phone Agents
Even seasoned travelers need a reminder once in awhile that it simply does not pay to argue with an airline agent. I’ll admit it. I argued with an airline call center employee yesterday. It happens to the best of...
Introduction: Australian Holiday on Singapore Airlines
Welcome to my next trip report, a classic. I’m caught up on current trip reports and making a conscious effort this year to clear the queue before embarking on new adventures. I’ve outlined all the “classic” trip reports you...
Analysis: Delta’s Tax Break (Subsidies) Threatened by NRA Stance
See what happens when you wade into politics… Yesterday, I wrote about the backlash Delta was facing over its convoluted stance on the National Rifle Association. In response to the recent Florida school shooting, Delta removed its group discount...
Airbnb’s Secret Plan to Launch an Airline: Fact vs. Fiction
The Times of London ran a deliciously click-bait headline entitled, “Airbnb founder Brian Chesky reveals secret plans to launch airline.” But what’s actually possible? Quite a bit, actually. Like many of his contemporaries, Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky is...
Lufthansa Doesn’t Like its New Livery
Lufthansa will be tinkering with its new livery once again, just days after revealing its new design to great fanfare. In an internal memo (in German) posted on a German frequent flyer talkboard, Lufthansa concedes the livery appears too...
