This review recounts my journey from Guangzhou to Tokyo Haneda aboard a 767-300 on Japan Airlines. I give JAL high marks for its shorthaul economy class service. This flight occurred in 2016 as part of my larger trip to...
United 767-300 Diverts Due To Bomb Threat

A United Airlines flight diverted to Ireland after a handwritten bomb threat was found in one of the aircraft lavatories. United Flight 971, bound from Rome to Chicago, diverted to Shannon, Ireland after the cryptic message was discovered. The...
My Disappointing Review of New Priority Pass LAX Restaurant

Earlier today I wrote about Barney’s Beanery, the new Priority Pass restaurant in Terminal 2 at LAX. Last night, I had a chance to try it after landing from New York. I’ll sum up my experience in one word:...
Review: Premium Lounge Guangzhou (CAN)

The Premium Lounge in Guangzhou has great coffee. That’s enough to earn this Priority Pass lounge high marks in my book. You actually have quite a choice now of lounges in Guangzhou (CAN). Six, to be exact. In addition...
New Priority Pass Restaurant at LAX + How to Access

The latest addition to the Priority Pass restaurant portfolio is at Los Angeles International Airport. Cardmembers now have access to Barney’s Beanery in LAX’s Terminal 2. Members will be entitled to $28 credit, per-person. Credit can be used toward any food and...
Man Strikes FA, Hurls Racial Slur, Calls Her Overweight

Gregory Alexander is in a lot of trouble. The 82-year-old Florida man was charged with battery and interference with aircraft operations after hurling racial slurs and taunts at an American Airlines FA, then jabbing her with his finger. The...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 10, 2018

Greetings from Midtown Manhattan. I’ll be on my way home shortly after a great weekend at FTU in New York. If you missed it, there the next event is in Washington DC coming up in August. It was a great...
Business Class Breakfast on Singapore Airlines

This week’s Meal of the Week looks back on an excellent breakfast I had on Singapore Airlines flying in business class on an old 777-200 from Singapore to Rangoon. It was March 2013 and I was tried. I had...
Sun Country Baggage Handlers Forget to Load Entire Plane!

It’s not rare that a bag or two is misrouted on any given flight. But how about forgetting to load ANY bags at all? That’s what happened on Sun Country earlier this week. On Thursday, Sun Country Flight 117...
Review: China Southern 737 Economy Class Bangkok to Guangzhou

China Southern economy class was very survivable. That’s neither a compliment nor a slight. It was a reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable 2.5 hour flight. I landed in Bangkok after a redeye on Thai Airways. I had no boarding pass...
Emirates Wants to Skip Windows on Future Aircraft Orders

It may sound like a far-fetched pitch from Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, but Emirates is seriously considering skipping windows on future aircraft orders. Emirates’ sleek new first class cabins onboard select 777-300s feature virtual windows in the center compartments (see...
Bold Confidence: Waiting Till The Very Last Moment To Book Award Ticket

My wife woke up this morning without a ticket to Zurich. She had told her friends and family she was leaving today and would arrive on Saturday afternoon. She even told her parents her flight number. Small problem: the...
My Office Playlist Represents The Power Of Airline Marketing

Stop by office in Southern California and you might think you just stepped into a Park Hyatt hotel or onto an Etihad flight. My business partner John and I enjoy listening to music during the day. There are some...
Review: Thai Airways 747-400 Business Class Tokyo to Bangkok

Not only does Thai Airways have a very uncompetitive business class product aboard its 747-400, it also has one of the oddest seating configurations. My flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) was not one of my...
Frequent Traveler University in New York City This Weekend! Still Not Too Late To Attend.

One last reminder that Frequent Traveler University will be held in New York City this weekend. It is still not too late to register. Ever wanted to learn more about manufactured spending? The best miles and points program? Which...
Review: ANA 777-300ER First Class Chicago to Tokyo

My ANA first class expectations were quite high going in, so I was ecstatic when they were exceeded. The seat and service were exactly as expected, but the meals onboard were not just great, but tremendous. This review is...
$500 Fine Dropped Against Delta Passenger Who Carried Apple Into USA

A $500 fine has been dropped against a traveler who attempted to bring in an apple to the USA she was given as part of a Delta pre-arrival snack. As I wrote about in April, Crystal Tadlock was on a Delta...
The Airline of Mystery: Cubana de Aviación

Cuba is 90-miles off the coast of Florida. It’s a nation that is now served by most U.S. airlines. But aviation in Cuba is enshrouded in mystery. We literally have no idea what is going on. Numerous reports indicate...
Introduction: An Asian First Class Adventure to Europe

Next up, a classic trip report that has been in the queue for too long. In 2016, I had the chance for a cool trip around the world. The purpose was to sample new premium cabin products and hotels...
Qatar Airways CEO “Apologizes” for Sexist “Joke” (Again…)

The irony is rich. Just 10 minutes after promising not to make any controversial statements during his new tenure as International Air Transport Association (IATA) Chair, Akbar Al-Baker, also known as His Excellently, said the following when asked about...