When Lufthansa recently announced new service between Mexico City and Munich as well as Toronto and Munich, premium class award seats were released on every flight. Even first class, which is normally only released to Star Alliance partners two...
Star Alliance Should Pursue Alaska Airlines
For all the complaints about US Airways being a “low-cost carrier” or offering an inferior in-flight product, the carrier has been a valuable member of Star Alliance that will be missed tremendously. With a healthy European route network and...
Air India Again Positions Itself for Star Alliance Membership
When I worked for Star Alliance in 2011, the politics surrounding Air India’s failed bid to join the Alliance were fascinating. I am bound from disclosing the nitty gritty details, but the situation opened my eyes to how much...
Hitting the Million Miler Mark on United Airlines
My first United Airlines flight was from Los Angeles to Denver in the winter of 1995, but I did not start seriously flying United until 2005, the year I decided I did not want to sit behind the curtain...
Delta Actually Improves Skymiles Program with Attractive Upgrade Options
Delta Air Lines has led the U.S. airline loyalty industry in duplicity and penny-pinching for several years running (even with a commendable challenge from United last month) so a day in which positive news is announced is quite rare....
Video: WestJet’s Heartwarming Christmas Surprise
Several airlines have released holiday-themed videos this month, but WestJet’s “Christmas Miracle” film brought a big smile to my face. The simple message–that it is more blessed to give than to receive–is not a trite expression, but a truism that...
Higher Airline Fees in Congressional Budget Compromise
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), Chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee, have unveiled a compromise plan to fund the U.S. federal government for the next two years, eliminating the spectre of...
United: US Airways Award Flights Bookable through March 30, 2014
United Airlines released an update concerning its future relationship with US Airways– As you’ve undoubtedly seen, American Airlines and US Airways closed their merger today. While our partnership with US Airways will be ending on March 30, 2014, it’s still...
Frequently Asked Questions About the American Airlines – US Airways Merger
American Airlines and US Airways have officially merged, but for practical purposes, the airlines remain separate entities and will maintain separate operations for several months. Business will continue as usual, with separate check-in, gates, loyalty programs, and policies: like...
Man Wakes Up Onboard Dark, Empty, United Express Plane in Houston
A man buys a United Airlines ticket from Louisiana to California via Houston on United. He boards the first leg and being an extraordinary sleeper, falls into a deep slumber on an Embrarer regional jet, one of the most...
United’s IDB Nightmare: 90-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Veteran Among 41 Bumped Off Flight to Honolulu
United Airlines is facing another firestorm over news that a 90-year-old Pearl Harbor veteran bound for Honolulu was among 41 passengers bumped when bad weather necessitated severally weight restricting a 737-800 aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport. Ewalt Shatz travels...
Yerevan to Istanbul in Armavia Economy Class
Armavia was Armenia’s flag carrier, but entered bankruptcy on March 29, 2013 and suspended all operations on April 1, 2013. I got in just in time, for I doubt there would have been a refund if my flight had...
Why I’m Not So Optimistic About Jeff Smisek Anymore
On October 12, 2010 I wrote a post entitled, “Why I’m Optimistic about Jeff Smisek Leading United Airlines.” Based upon an inflight anecdote in which Smisek engaged both crew and customers, I posited that “he appears to be laying...
Feeling at Home in Yerevan
I grew up in Glendale, California, home to one of the largest Armenian populations outside of Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan. My best friend in elementary school was Armenian and I have several friends in the Armenian community. In...
Delta Cancels Flight to Charter Basketball Team Instead
Whatever the going rate is for a chartered jet on Delta Air Lines, it must be better than the revenue from a scheduled flight, because when a Delta charter went mechanical on Saturday in Tampa, Delta promptly cancelled a...
Overnight Train from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia
Back just after dusk at Tbilisi’s central railway station, I had a bite to eat in a small food court upstairs before boarding my second consecutive overnight train, tonight bound for Yerevan. I had purchased the ticket earlier in...
How to Expedite US Airways Mileage Transfers with Points.com
Many of you are taking advantage of US Airways’ 100% bonus on Shared Dividend Miles this week and I have encouraged many of my clients to do the same. Transfers from account to account are typically instant, but can...
Cyber Monday Specials at Marriott: Up to 30% Off
Marriott’s relationship with United Airlines has made me a Marriott customer once again and so today’s Cyber Monday 30% off promotion caught my attention. Bottom line–there are actually some very attractive deals with this one-day promotion. A few properties...
100% Bonus on Shared US Airways Miles (Business Class to Europe + Asia for $1027.50)
US Airways is running the most lucrative mileage purchasing promotion this week, from 02-06 December 2013. Notice I said the most lucrative, not its most lucrative. Nowhere else in the airline industry can you generate enough points to travel to...
Pictures: One Day in Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi’s history dates back 15 centuries and like many capital cities, features a mix of war and peace spanning various empires. The Soviets invaded in 1921 and a Bolshevik regime was installed. Independence came in 1991, but like many...
