In the interest of transparency, I’m keeping you updated on what/how I communicate with Aeroplan concerning the SWISS First Class award controversy. Having been thus far unable to resolve this in a manner that suits me, I just mailed...
How I Booked My Air France First Class Ticket

As of 9am ET, my Air France first class ticket is still intact. I’m not expecting it to stick, but even if it is cancelled I sure had fun booking it. I had just awoken from eight hours of...
Malaysian Politicians Deem FA Uniforms Too Sexy and Arousing

Forget the economy. Forget trying to restructure state-owned Malaysia Airlines to make it profitable once again. No, Malaysian members of Parliament are focused on FAs attire on the nation’s budget carriers. From The Straits Times: Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim, a...
Dear Air France, If You Cancel My First Class Ticket, I WON’T Sue You

Unlike the SWISS First Class award redemption controversy, today’s Air France first class deal was a pricing mistake. I knew it, everyone knew it. I did manage to book a ticket…from 38,000 feet above the air over Turkey…I’ll detail...
Trapped in Istanbul Airport!

I had a very pleasant flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, but I’m not pleased with them now… My flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul was delayed by over two hours (mechanical), causing me to miss my connection to...
More United Polaris Aircraft Enter Service

While the retrofit process will take several years to fully complete, United has just rolled out its third Boeing 767-300 with new Polaris seating. I wrote about the first 767-300 retrofit here, which is a 1-1-1 configuration with direct...
Next Stop: Istanbul in Turkish Airlines Business Class

I’ve flown Turkish Airlines many, many times over the years, but now I finally get the chance to fly the 777-300 in business class. Yesterday evening was a beautiful winter day in Los Angeles. It was brisk outside…like 52ºF....
Win a Free Trip to Australia from United Airlines

Is your name Sydney? United Airlines may have a free ticket to Australia with your name on it… To celebrate our new route between Houston, Texas and Sydney, Australia, we’re running a sweepstakes that calls on people with the...
Last Chance to Win a Free Lufthansa First Class Duck!

In a few hours, I will be using random.org to choose the winner of my Lufthansa First Class Duck sweepstakes. But you still have time to enter! Remember, to enter this sweepstakes, follow these two steps: Like my Live and...
Street Tacos in LAX Star Alliance Lounge

My love for Mexican food was recently satiated by extremely tasty street tacos at the LAX Star Alliance Lounge. > Read More: Star Alliance Lounge LAX Review If you read me regularly, you know that I am a hopeless optimist...
My Hyatt Globalist Status Requalification is Complete

Although I once questioned the value of it, I have successfully re-qualified for Hyatt Globalist status with 60 nights in the bag for 2017. Last year I barely squeaked by, earning Hyatt Diamond status with 25 stays. Hyatt has...
First Airbus A350 Service Starts at LAX Today

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will finally see an A350 at the gates of the Tom Bradly International Terminal. Today, Hong Kong Airlines will launch new service to Los Angeles, adding a budget carrier to an already competitive route....
Zimbabwe Airways is Dead, Long Live Air Zimbabwe?

In the world of airline travel in the land of corruption, sometimes the best way to shed debt is to close shop and re-open a block away. That was the plan for Air Zimbabwe. Was… I haven’t addressed the...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 17, 2017

After another trip to New York, I’m back in Los Angeles until tomorrow…when I’ll fly to Germany for Christmas. It has been a hectic month, so I am looking forward to some downtime. American Airlines’ opened a beautiful new...
How Valuable is Your Time? Airline Bump Economics

Earlier today, I wrote about my oversold United redeye flight, where passengers were offered $2000 to take a flight the following morning. I’m still not understanding why there were not more takers. First, I do acknowledge we are talking about...
$2,000 for a United Bump…

My flight from Los Angeles to Newark on Thursday night was so full I was unable to get a seat on it. That, in and of itself, is not all that unusual during the busy holiday travel season. The...
Denied Lounge Access for Wearing UGGs

This story caught my eye because I just bought my wife some UGGs last week–I think they are very attractive footwear. Joanne Catherall claims she was denied access to the Qantas Lounge in Melbourne for having the temerity to wear...
Did Anyone Lose Their SWISS First Class Reservation with United?

As I prepare my legal case against Aeroplan, I have a question to anyone who recently booked SWISS First Class award space via United: is your reservation still intact? I’m trying to draw to sufficient data points to weigh...
Review: AA Flagship First Dining Los Angeles (LAX)

The new Flagship Lounge is nice, but I was most excited to sample American Airlines’ new Flagship First Dining experience at LAX. This lounge within a lounge is reserved exclusively for first class passengers traveling on longhaul international routes...
Delta Postpones Final 747 Flight

While United Airlines went out of its way to make its final 747 flight a commemorative event, Delta appears to have taken the opposite approach. The Atlanta-based carrier just postponed its final scheduled service on the 747. In a...