United Airlines began a “Surprise and Delight” program last year as an effort to surprise “High Value Flyers” (HVFs — essentially those who spend a lot of money on tickets) with complimentary upgrades, sometimes cleared weeks in advance. The program...
Qatar Amiri Flight 747-8 at LAX
I am on my way to FTU in Washington this weekend and upon driving into LAX this morning I noticed a 747-8 with Qatar Airways livery parked in one of the VIP slots on the SE side of the airport. I...
On Turning 30
Yesterday I turned 30 at 38,000 feet somewhere over Nevada. I was flying JetBlue Mint Class with Lucky and just past the stroke of midnight he came over from his Mint Suite to mine and rubbed in that I...
Sneak Preview of United Polaris Dining Menu
“240 new entrees. 96 new appetizers. 48 new salads.” United describes its new Polaris Business Class menu as a “complete redesign of the culinary experience”. Earlier today, a group of FAs in Chicago had a chance to sample the...
Unpacking the Latest United MileagePlus Changes
United has announced “enhancements” to its United MileagePlus program starting this fall and as usual, the enhancements are anything but enhancements. Here’s what I do not understand — why can’t United just call a devaluation a devaluation? Claiming stopovers...
First Thoughts on Pakistan Airlines 777 Business Class
I’m finding it difficult to summarize my experience on Pakistan Airlines today from Manchester to New York in business class. On the one hand, the FAs displayed incredible Pakistani hospitality and the buffet-style main course was really delicious —...
Surprising New Name for Turkish Airlines Lounge
The failed coup attempt in Turkey last month has emboldened President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to crack down further on dissidents and spawned a concerted campaign to define July 15, 2016 as a turning point in Turkish history. State-run Turkish Airlines...
Shockingly Terrible Service on Saudia
Pull up a chair, for you’re about to hear a tale of woe from 38,000 feet between Colombo and Jeddah on Saudia! As Lucky pointed out, this trip has truly shattered expectations. I expected a nice flight on China...
Don’t Tell My Wife What Happened at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca!
Lucky and I dined at Dar Beida last night, the Moroccan restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency Casablanca. It was billed (by the hotel) as the “most authentic Moroccan food in Casablanca” but we figured it was at least the...
Review: Etihad Lounge LAX
Etihad opened a new lounge in Los Angeles earlier this week and I was able to get a sneak the morning after it opened. Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the lounge is small but luxurious as far...
China Eastern Delights and Disappoints
China Eastern showed today its potential to offer industry-leading ground and air service while at the same time showing that it has so much that it can improve upon. In an earlier post I discussed our pre-flight VIP treatment...
Suddenly We are VIPs on China Eastern
Lucky and I offered less than stellar initial feedback yesterday on our China Eastern Flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. The primary problem was onboard smoking but there were several service lapses that ultimately made for a disappointing in-flight...
Smoking on China Eastern Airlines
Before today, I had been on one smoking flight my entire life: Burbank to Seattle in September 1987. I was a year old and do not remember it…My second smoking flight was earlier today on China Eastern from Los...
My RTW Trip with Lucky Has Begun!
Greetings from 32,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean in China Eastern Business Class! My highly anticipated trip with Lucky has begun. Over the next week we will be flying almost non-stop, with flights on China Eastern, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc,...
Anti-Muslim Bigotry on American Airlines or Fabrication?
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation over an alleged incident on an American Airlines’ flight from Charlotte to Detroit on December 6, 2015. According to the complaint, passenger Mohamed Ahmed Radwan was...
Air New Zealand Hollywood Safety Video
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video entitled “Safety in Hollywood” that attempts a humorous approach to the mundanity of an airline safety briefing. That is the Air New Zealand trademark after all… I have to...
Is it Safe to Fly Turkish Airlines?
Turkey has been in the news a lot recently — with terrorist attacks in Istanbul, a failed coup d’état last weekend, and a temporary ban on all non-stop flights from Istanbul to the USA, many are wisely questioning whether it...
FAA Lifts Turkish Airlines Ban
The failed coup attempt in Turkey last Friday exposed security concerns at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, leading to a FAA ban on all direct flights from Turkey. Although the ban was threatened to last until September, Turkish authorities have...
United Pilot Calls For Hillary Clinton to be Executed
A United Airlines pilot has suggested via Twitter that Hillary Clinton should be hanged for treason. First Officer Michael Folk serves part-time in the West Virginia House of Delegates and part time flying for United Airlines as a First Officer. Folk’s...
Review: Park Hyatt Mallorca
The Park Hyatt Mallorca is a shining city on the hill…literally. As you wind your way through the island of Mallorca your first glimpse of the hotel is a glistening pink village set against a picturesque backdrop of green...
