Just a small data point here — One of the many benefits of the American Express Platinum Card is $200 in annual airline credit on the major airline of your choice. This benefit is for “incidental fees, such as...
United Slashes Partner Earning Rates
With cuts coming left and right in the world of airline loyalty programs, I must admit I no longer wince in pain when a new devaluation announced. The question of devaluation is not if, but when and how much....
Major British Airways Executive Club Devaluation in Late April
British Airways has announced changes to how you earn and burn Avios effective 28 April 2015 and let’s not kid ourselves — this is a massive devaluation. Our one reprieve is that short-haul economy class redemptions will not go...
TOP SECRET Route from San Francisco to Seoul
A flyer on United noticed that his flight from San Francisco to Seoul was not exactly traveling in a logical direction, so he did what any savvy traveler would do in the age of onboard wi-fi: he tweeted United–...
Propositioned by a Taxi Driver or Genuine Bahraini Hospitality?
I am still replaying this occurrence in my mind and wondering exactly what happened, so perhaps it is best to get some feedback from you. I arrived in Bahrain around 10pm and after a lengthy wait to obtain a...
IAG Group Moves Closer to Aer Lingus Acquisition
IAG Group, parent company of British Airways and Iberia, has made its third offer to acquire Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus, this time at €2.50/share. Irish news sources are reporting the Aer Lingus board is “set to accept” the latest...
Illiterate Chinese Farmer Fined for Smoking Onboard Cathay Pacific Flight
The “glory days” of smoke-filled 747 lounges with baby grand pianos and circular staircases has been replaced with a harsh new reality–light up onboard and you’ll face a heavy fine or jail time. From Britiain’s finest news source, it...
No Imminent Star Alliance Membership Announcement for Royal Air Maroc
I knew it sounded too good be true — could Star Alliance really woo Royal Air Maroc into its alliance when it already was the dominant alliance in Africa? Would EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, and Brussels Airlines...
One of the Best Dinners I’ve Ever Had on United Airlines
As a 1K MillionMiler flyer on United, I’ve had my fair share of meals on UA over the last decade. Some have been good, some have been bad, but most were simply acceptable. Last week I flew on United...
Impressive Meal Service Upgrades at United Airlines
United Airlines promised a vastly improved onboard meal experience last August, pledging to gradually roll out several improvements over the course of the next year. Almost immediately we saw a slight improvement in domestic lunch service and the re-introduction of meals...
Air France KLM Flying Blue Cancelling Award Tickets for Transferring in American Express Points!
Numerous reports have sprung up recently concerning a “fraud crackdown” from Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France, KLM, Air Europa, and Kenya Airways. Here’s the situation– in more than one instance, a traveler has opened up a...
Two Tricks on the Last Day to Book Hyatt Awards at 2014 Rates
Today is the final day to book Hyatt Gold Passport awards under the 2014 rate chart – effective at midnight CT the 2015 chart kicks in, which will see several properties going up one category. If you are booked...
Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker Charms A350 Inaugural Audience
I had this image of Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker in my mind as a feisty yet unapproachable man who would not “lower” himself to interact with passengers, instead choosing to sit alone in his suite the entire flight...
Royal Air Maroc to Join Star Alliance?
The formalities are not complete, but a Swiss news agency is reporting that Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier of Morocco, will join Star Alliance. Royal Air Maroc would bolster’s Star’s dominance in the region, joining Egypt Air, Ethiopian...
Qatar Airways A350 Inaugural DOH-FRA: First Economy Class Trip Report
I was one of the privileged 320 passengers onboard the first A350 commercial flight, flying on Qatar Airways from Doha to Frankfurt on Thursday, January 15, 2015. The decision to take part in this historic event was made less...
Hot Deal Alert! US Airways Saver Award Space for Transatlantic Business Class – 100K R/T
Over the weekend, US Airways’ award fare classes were renamed to match with American Airlines and align with the effort to standardize award booking classes among oneworld carriers. US Airways Saver North American First Class – O ➢ Z US Airways...
What Does it Mean to Be Well-Travelled?
A post by Lucky entitled The Hypocrisy Of The “I’m Cultured And You’re Not” Crowd caught my attention this week. It is an issue I struggle with not because I need to justify my travel patterns to anyone, but...
The Cuba Travel Ban is Over!
While pure tourism is still not technically allowed for Americans in Cuba, the travel ban is over – the veil has been lifted and Cuba is now open legally to all. Under new rules issued in response to President...
First Pictures from the Qatar A350 DOH-FRA Inaugural Flight
If you’re following me on Twitter or Instagram you’ve already seen some of these pictures, but yesterday I flew on the first A350 commerical flight, a Qatar Airways service from Doha to Frankfurt. A full report will be published...
Air India Award Space Now Bookable on united.com
Air India is a Star Alliance member with a surprisingly robust worldwide route network. With a great seat in business and first class (service is another story, I hear) the carrier provides a valuable link to the Indian subcontinent....
