Dozens of Award Expert clients each year contact us for help booking their Serengeti safari and that usually requires flights to Kilimanjaro. Over the years, I have discovered that when Kilimanjaro flights are not attractively priced using miles, flying into Dar Es Salaam can...
Over 40K American EQMs but No Status
I ended 2016 with over 40K American EQMs. But no status. Thanks to cheap British Airways business class fares, I banked many AA miles, both status and redemption. In fact, by the end of spring I already had earned more than...
United Flight Diverts After Misogynistic Passenger Rant (Videos)
Another week, another flight diversion. This time a United flight from Sydney to San Francisco diverted to Auckland after a profanity-laced misognystic tirade from an irate passenger over a seat assignment. Anjou Ahlborn Kay, another passenger on the flight, writes...
Review: Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge Istanbul
I last reviewed the Turkish Airlines Istanbul CIP lounge in 2011 and called it the best business class lounge in the world. Since then, it has doubled in size…and is still the best business class lounge in the world. Spanning...
A Resolution for 2017 I Can Keep
Happy Near Year! I slept through it…my wife and I went to bed early last night. I guess we are just an old married couple now! Let’s talk about resolutions for a moment. While I won’t say I felt...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 31, 2016
Greetings from rainy Southern California. We’ve had a relatively wet winter so far and next week does not look any better. But after years of drought, I’m happy to see rain in the forecast. Speaking of drought, I am so thankful...
2016: A Year of Change
What a year 2016 has been! Many cannot wait for this year to end, but I try to keep things positive here on Live and Let’s Fly. While there is so much bad news to reflect upon this year,...
Frankfurt to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines A330 Business Class
Earlier this week I compared Lufthansa vs. Turkish Airlines within Europe and the differences on this flight could not have been more stark. Turkish 1588 Frankfurt (FRA) – Istanbul (IST) Thursday, April 21, 2016 Depart: 11:40 AM Arrive: 3:50 PM Duration:...
Tokyo Airport Now Offers Cell Phone Toilet Paper
We all know the Japanese make the world’s best toilets, but bathrooms at Tokyo Narita are about to get even better! An extra roll of toilet paper is now available in most stalls at NRT: compact in size. The...
Photos: My 10 Best Flights in 2016
As 2016 draws to a close, I have to look back and chuckle. Every year I write in January that I am going to curb travel in the coming year and every year I just end up traveling more...
United Denies Rumor It Will Cut Hot Food from Lounges
A rumor sprang up on Flyertalk this afternoon that hot food would be cut from the United Clubs in Chicago O’Hare and not expanded to additional airports. United informed me that no such decision has been made. United’s lounge...
Video: Citibank VP Thrown Off Delta Flight, Attacks Cheering Passengers
A Delta flight from Minneapolis to Los Angeles turned back and landed in MSP last night over a lavatory altercation that led to a fistfight with other passengers. A Citibank VP and his girlfriend were traveling to LA. The woman needed to...
The End of Free Parking in Las Vegas
A fascinating article in the LA Times details how casinos in Las Vegas are eliminating free parking. For those in the know, that will also spell the end of free parking when traveling from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS)....
It’s That Time of Year Again…
It’s that time of year…the annual hotel mattress run for procrastinators. This year, I am one of them! I had to laugh. I’m in Long Beach, CA for a couple days because I’m two stays short of my Hyatt...
My First International Business Class Meal: SFO-LHR on UA930
For this week’s Matthew’s Meal of the Week, I remember my first international flight. In September 2006 I travelled to Europe for the first time, a United 747-400 from San Francisco to London. I had just turned 20 and it was...
Lufthansa vs. Turkish Within Europe
Although Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa are Star Alliance partners, the two carriers are fierce competitors. Competing head-to-head for both long haul and short haul traffic, the “frenemies” each have a distinctive advantage. Which one is the better option for...
My Garuda First Class Award is Ticketed!
Wow, talk about about a close call! It came down to the wire, but a generous act of goodwill by a reader of this blog saved me a trip to Asia and saved my trip in Garuda Indonesia First...
Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt
Perhaps familiarity does breed contempt, but the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt was a welcome relief from the oft-crowded network of Lufthansa departure lounges nearby. Located in Terminal 1 in the B-Gate Area (non-Schengen), the lounge is...
This Makes Me Want to Fly Alitalia
I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for a good ad campaign and Alitalia has a tremendous one. Influenced by Etihad and trying to battle a fiercely competitive market, the carrier is selling style, and it...
Review: Lufthansa Welcome Lounge Frankfurt
I reviewed the Lufthansa Welcome Lounge in Frankfurt five years ago and it has not changed much. That’s a testament to the endearing quality of Lufthansa. Located landside beyond passport control and baggage claim, the lounge serves arriving long haul premium...
