Aeroflot is one of the most underrated airlines in the world. From “real” business class seats on flights within Europe to warm service to a modern fleet, the carrier is nothing like its Soviet footprint. Oh, and the food is...
Review: Cathay Pacific “The Wing” First Class Lounge HKG
Cathay Pacific has a handful of great lounges in Hong Kong for first class passengers. While these lounges do not rival the world’s greatest airport lounges, they are still high-quality and worth a visit. I visited “The Wing” first class lounge...
Is Electronics Ban an Attempt by Israel to Undermine Gulf Carriers?
I’m just going to come out and say I put little very little stock in this Al-Jazeera news piece (for reasons I will defend), but the innuendo is too enticing not to explore. The New York Times reports that...
Flight Attendants Sue For Right to Pump Breast Milk on Job
Two Frontier Airlines flight attendants are suing their employer for forbidding them to pump breast milk while working on flights. Stacy Rewitzer of Denver and Jo Roby of Boise, Idaho claim they were forced to either stop breastfeeding or take...
Review: Cathay Pacific 777 First Class London to Hong Kong
I stepped onto my Cathay Pacific flight from London to Hong Kong with extremely high expectations. After all, this carrier has offered one of the most consistent and well-regarded first class products for years. I’m happy to report my expectations...
Don’t Forget to Ask For These Items When Flying United Polaris
United Polaris (business class) has many great amenities, but some you have to ask for. An Award Expert client just returned from a trip on the new 777-300ER from HKG-SFO and raved about how much she enjoyed the experience....
Two Secret Ways to Get to Australia Using Your AA Miles
Getting to Australia using American Airlines miles is no easy task. But two relatively obscure partners increase your odds of finding a way there for a reasonable price. When searching for award space using your AA miles you must look beyond...
Passenger Spills Tea on Herself, Sues Airline, Wins
A 27-year-old Irish woman spilled hot tea on herself on a Ryanair flight from Prague to Dublin last summer. Then she sued the budget carrier…and won. Grainne Dunworth claimed that the FA who served her failed to properly secure the lid and...
Amazing New Star Alliance Ad Campaign
Star Alliance celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year and has unleashed a phenomenal ad campaign to begin the celebration. Rather than try to describe the videos, you can watch them here: The message: we’ve got your back. Part of the...
Did JetBlue Really Kick Family Off Over Birthday Cake?
Today’s trending airline customer service horror story centers around a family of four who was kicked off a JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas. The culprit? Apparently a birthday cake. We have two very different narratives of the...
United’s Cockpit Door Codes Revealed Online
Pilots and flight attendants from each airline have forums and Facebook groups in which company policy can be discussed and stories can be exchanged. One United Airlines FA apparently shared too much, in posting a numeric door code online used to...
Mother’s Day Part II: The Patient Wife
With the arrival of Augustine, we are celebrating Mother’s Day in a new way this year: my kitchen now looks like a funeral parlor. I prefer to buy potted plants or trees that my wife Heidi and I can plant...
Mother’s Day Note from United CEO
Someone shared with me a brief yet touching note from United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz to employees commemorating Mother’s Day today. Dear United family, Our moms are the bedrock of our families. They keep us together, they give us...
Mother’s Day Part I: From Fear to Nonchalance
My dearest mother used to lie awake when I would travel, doing what mothers do well: worrying. I remember my solo first trip to Washington, DC. Just DC. It was a mileage run and I flew on a Friday...
Review: British Airways A380 First Class Los Angeles to London
British Airways first class has often been called the “best business class product in the sky”. That was surprisingly not my experience. At least on the A380, I found the product very much a true first class product. Just to note,...
Review: Qantas First Class Lounge Los Angeles
The Qantas First Class Lounge at LAX is the best lounge in the United States. It’s not even a close contest. The lounge combines natural light with neutral colors to create a luxurious atmosphere. Ample seating areas (room for over...
Lufthansa First Class for 40K Points: Still the Best Deal in Town
Lufthansa First Class remains my favorite way to fly. Not only is it an aspirational experience, but also an easily reachable one and cheap with Asiana Club. Earlier this year I enjoyed an incredible flight in Garuda Indonesia First Class which...
How an Identity Thief Steals Your Personal Info
In the world of miles and points, we deal with a lot of credit cards. Credits card points are the golden key to lucrative premium travel at tremendous discounts over retail. But with that potential for great gain comes...
Did Delta Unilaterally Introduce Electronics Ban on All US-Bound Flights?
Has Delta jumped the gun on an expanded in-flight electronics ban or simply acted cautiously? The following sign was spotted at Cincinnati Airport earlier today by a Flyertalker: Attention International Travelers Effective May 12 passengers will only be permitted...
United Airlines Needs Customer Service, Not New Uniforms
From baggage handlers to pilots, everyone at United Airlines will be outfitted with new uniforms. That’s a foolish investment when customer service is so inconsistent. New uniforms are coming in 2019, but the preparation process has already begun. Employee roadshows...
