Ethiopian Airlines’ latest reply to my appeal to honor a $763 r/t business class ticket from Bangkok to Toronto is another attempt to stonewall. This whole exercise is becoming more for sport rather than seriousness. I’m about to pull the...
Self-Righteous Soldier is at Fault, Not United
Today’s outrage: a solider back from a 21-month tour of duty in Afghanistan was forced to pay $200 to transport his kevlar armor on a 2hr United Airlines domestic flight. United was right to charge him $200 for exceeding his...
Why We Won’t See a European Laptop Ban
I haven’t addressed the rumors of a laptop ban on all flights out of the European Union, but now I will: I knew it would not happen. Sure, easy for me to say it now that EU and United...
The King of Holland is a KLM Pilot
As I mentioned in my KLM 787-9 World Business Class trip report from San Francisco to Amsterdam, KLM struck me as a very egalitarian airline. Now I know it is true. The King of Holland is also a KLM...
This is Why I Love Aeroflot
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...
