Hello from Doha. I just completed the 6,705 mile journey from New York to Doha aboard a 777-300ER featuring Qatar Airways’ new Qsuite. The new business class hard product is revolutionary in terms of its privacy and personal space....
United’s Surprising New Emphasis in Customer Service Training
I’m hearing from an inside source that United Airlines has embarked upon a major reeducation course (they call it “training”) for front-line employees, focusing on improving customer service. Trainings are routine and ordinarily not newsworthy. But in light of...
Man Wears 10 Layers of Clothing to Skirt Baggage Fees, Is Arrested
A man who tried to avoid baggage fees by donning 10 layers of clothing was denied boarding and dragged out of Keflavik International Airport in Iceland. Ryan Carney Williams, who prefers to be called Ryan Hawaii, thought he was clever....
Air France Writes Me, Issues Refund
Last week I noted that it had been more than 18 days since Air France cancelled my first class ticket and 1.) I still had not been notified and 2.) my money was still being held. Well, Air France...
My First Flight in 2018: American Airlines
I’m not jumping ship from United, but I am starting off 2018 flying a whole lot of oneworld. That trip began with a redeye on American Airlines’ last night from LAX to JFK. If you caught my AA medical...
Review: Park Hyatt Beijing (Suite)
Yesterday I published a comprehensive review of the Park Hyatt Beijing, my first review of the property. It wasn’t my first stay, though. My first stay included a complimentary upgrade to a beautiful suite. Rather than squeeze it into...
Review: Park Hyatt Beijing
The Park Hyatt Beijing is showing some signs of wear, but remains an excellent choice for a luxury hotel in the heart of China’s capital city. After arriving from Helsinki on Finnair, we proceeded to the hotel via taxi...
Medical Emergency on My AA Flight
Last night I flew from Los Angeles to New York on AA…and encountered a medical emergency onboard that led to a lengthy delay and removal of a passenger. We pushed back on time and FAs screened safety the video....
737 Skids Off Runway, Dangles on Cliff
A scary moment for passengers onboard a Pegasus Airlines 737-800 that skidded off the runway, down a muddy embankment, and nearly into the sea. Check out this startling video–it honestly makes my palms sweat just watching it: The Boeing...
United Airlines CEO Reflects on MLK Day
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) day in the United States. United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz penned a fitting tribute to the late civil rights leader. Here’s his note to employees shared by a FA friend: In 1968,...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 14, 2018
I’ve just begun my next trip…it will be a busy week and much of it is still unplanned. It has been a relatively quiet week in industry news, with Alaska and Virgin now operating under a single certificate. A...
Dear Lufthansa, Please Don’t Ruin Your Beautiful Livery
Rumors are swirling that Lufthansa will introduce a new livery next month. My message to Lufthansa: leave it alone. When I defended Lufthansa’s five-star ranking recently based upon my own travel experiences over the years, I was clearly in...
EL AL’s “Supernatural” Safety Video
EL AL is out with a clever new safety video that involves a bit of magic and a bit of slight of hand. I’ll give the airline credit for creating a gripping safety video. Watch the video first: I’m...
The Secret Life of Virgins: Virgin America Farewell Video
Virgin America is now a relic of history, at least officially. The airline ceased to be an independent airline on January 09, 2018, losing its unique call sign and now ushered into the fold of Alaska Airlines. The two...
United Airlines has a New “President” of California
United Airlines has named Janet Lamkin as President of California. Her duty will be to build the brand in the Golden State. This appointment occurred in November, but was not widely publicized. I’m writing about this because she sent out...
JFK Airport Under Investigation by Former DOT Secretary
Let’s start with a joke, in the form of a press release from the Port Authority of New York, which controls New York City airports. The Port Authority is committed to providing the highest standard of service to all...
How Shall I Get Back to LA from Ho Chi Minh City?
My Qatar Airways 777-3ooER Qsuite flight is right around the corner. But I have nothing booked home… This is a review trip and I’m not planning on spending any time in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a lovely city...
Review: Finnair A350 Business Class Helsinki to Beijing
Finnair surprised me, in a very good way. My A350-900 flight in business class from Helsinki to Beijing was exceptional. The ground experience, however, could use a little work. After spending some time in both the Finnair Business Class...
Cathay Dragon Pilot Scams $29K in Flights from Air Canada
A Cathay Dragon pilot has been ordered to repay over $29,000 and perform 20 hours of community service in punishment for scamming free flights from Air Canada. Marc Anthony Tacchi is Canadian but lives in Hong Kong and flies...
Airline Smashes 300-Year-Old Musical Instrument, Blames Passenger
I am a bigger risk taker than most when it comes to checking valuable items, but I’d like to think I’d draw the line somewhere before checking a 300-year-old viola valued at $200,000. One woman didn’t…and Alitalia blamed her...
