Apparently the old adage, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is not taught in Turkey. Today, Turkey suspended the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens, effectively killing all U.S. tourism. I love Turkey, but the nation...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 08, 2017
I’m back in Los Angeles after a week in France/Switzerland/Germany. My trip was exhausting so it will be great to stay in LA this week. The big news of for the week, at least in my mind, was the...
Review: Alitalia A320 Business Class Madrid to Rome
This will be just a brief review, but I want to point out what service is like on shorthaul Alitalia flights in business class. I arrived quite early into Madrid and found the Alitalia check-in counter was closed. Unfortunately,...
Incredibly Cheap Singapore Airlines Business Class Award on United.com
United Airlines brought back Singapore Airlines award space online last week after a four year absence. That makes it easier than ever to take advantage of one particularly great redemption before United’s next devaluation. > Read More: Singapore Airlines Accuses...
Behind the Scenes of the New United Safety Video
Airline safety videos have become highly-anticipated events and complicated productions. Some even have trailers now prior to release. United Airlines has released a “Behind the Scenes” look at its latest safety video. > Read More: I Love the New United...
Review: Puerta del Sol Lounge Madrid (MAD)
Despite Madrid being a hub, Air Europa does not have its own lounge. During my layover in MAD I used the Puerta del Sol Lounge instead. Access is granted via Priority Pass but since I was traveling business class on...
Emirates CEO: We Need More A380s!
Emirates President Sir Tim Clark told a Dutch newspaper that his carrier needs more A380s, even in the face of fierce competition. “The potential market remains huge. We need even more A380s,” said Clark. But is that really viable, let...
United Airlines Cuts Flights from Guam Hub
United Airlines is slashing flights from Guam and in the Oceania regional demand weakens. While the “Island Hopper” will now operate four times weekly instead of three, several routes will be either suspended, reduced, or downguaged. Here are the...
Review: Air Europa 787 Business Class Buenos Aires to Madrid
You don’t read much about Air Europa, but the private Spanish airline serves two U.S. cities and has taken delivery of several new 787-8 aircraft with lie-flat beds in business class. My 11hr flight to Madrid greatly exceeded expectations....
Fish + Pasta = Delicious in SWISS First Class
Now an elusive award redemption available only to upper-tier elite members of the Miles & More program, SWISS first class used to be a relatively easy award booking to score. For this week’s Meal of the Week I review...
United CEO Reflects on Las Vegas Tragedy
When tragedy strikes, strong and steady leadership can help to assuage fear and begin the healing process. But sometimes a small heartfelt gesture, like a well-penned letter, accomplishes the same thing. United CEO Oscar Munoz is reflecting upon the...
ANA Refuses to Refund My Cheap Australia Business Class Ticket
My upcoming trip to Australia in business class on ANA has suffered an unfortunate setback…a significant equipment downgrade. Thus far, ANA refuses to re-accomodate or refund (without fee). Should they? First, I give ANA tremendous credit for honoring this...
Premium Meals in SWISS Economy Class
Last year, SWISS announced an economy class buy-on-board program on longhaul flights. Food and drink would remain complimentary, but could be upgraded to business class-style food and alcohol for a fee. My colleague traveled from Los Angeles to Zurich earlier...
Flying on a Vintage Fokker 100 in Europe on SWISS
Yesterday I boarded my SWISS flight from Frankfurt to Zurich and had to stop and do a double take: what happened to my CS100?! I thought I was flying on a brand new Bombardier CS100 but instead I found...
100 Countries, Only 11 Without T-Mobile Service!
T-Mobile is my go-to carrier since the day they came to America in 2001. As a frequent international traveler, T-Mobile has been nothing short of revolutionary in changing the way I use my mobile phone abroad. I’m in Europe...
Another Fabulous Weekend in Green Lake, WI
Last weekend I made my annual pilgrimage to Green Lake, WI, now a six-year tradition. Every time I go I realize I live in a bubble in LA. While I am in no rush to move to Wisconsin, there...
Fact: An A380 Can Fly on One Engine
A recent engine blowout on an Air France Airbus A380 left it with only three of four engines. The plane made it safely to land. But imagine if three engines blew out. Would the plane have crashed? As it turns...
The Best Program to Credit Cheap United Airlines Flights
Where you credit your miles is like a game of chess. Singapore Airlines has cut earnings on discount economy class fares on United Airlines. Fares that used to earn 100% of miles flown will now earn as little as...
United CEO Still Defends Employees Over Dragging Incident
Genius or cowardice? That’s my quandary as United CEO Oscar Munoz continues to defend employees over the dragging incident in April. If you recall, Dr. David Dao was dragged off a flight from Chicago to Louisville after he refused...
Airline Pilots Condemn Trump Over Norwegian UK Expansion
A union representing over 57,000 pilots in the United States and Canada has ridiculed President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy after the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a permit for Norwegian Air to further expand to the USA. Norwegian...
