United Airlines offers one-time passes to its United Club for $50, available online or at the club check-in counter ($45 if purchased on the United mobile app). Is it worth it? With clubs in 38 airports around the world...
Alitalia MilleMiglia Partner Redemptions: A Cautionary Tale
Alitalia’s MilleMiglia loyalty program has some gems on its award chart and is an oft-overlooked American Express transfer partner. Highlights include: North America-Southern South America 75,000 miles roundtrip in business class North America-North Asia 90,000 miles roundtrip in business class North...
Video: Woman Kicked Off an AA Flight for Singing
A JFK-LAX American Airlines flight made an unscheduled stop in Kansas City on Friday after a woman refused to stop…singing Whitney Houston songs. AA quickly issued a statement stating, “The woman was being disruptive and was removed from the...
United Airlines Shines in Transatlantic Business Class
I returned home from Europe yesterday and would be remiss if I did not mention what superb flights I had on United for both the outbound and inbound journey. You’ll have to wait on the trip reports—Afghanistan and the...
New Seats, Wi-Fi, Streaming IFE Coming to United Airlines Airbus Fleet
United Airlines is refreshing its Airbus fleet and UAInsider has provided a bit more insight into the pending changes. New RECARO seats in United Economy and Economy Plus, which will result in an additional half-inch of headroom an almost...
Captain Weighs In on My Removal from United Airlines Flight for Taking Seat Photo
James Fallows offers a piece in The Atlantic today following up on the family who was removed from a United flight for complaining about the in-flight movie and also following up on my own expulsion from United flight a...
Up To 40,000 US Airways Dividend Miles with Barclays Mastercard – Worth It?
There has been a kerfuffle of posts lately about the potential elimination of the US Airways Mastercard from Barclays as American Airlines and US Air sort out the details of their post-merger credit card program. But is it really time to...
Delta Agent: No Connections Allowed on Award Flights
While I technically provide a *research and consultation service* to help people effectively use their miles and points, I do offer to book tickets as an incidental complimentary service in correlation with the research and most take me up...
Farewell Philadelphia!
Sometimes your life can change in ways you least expect it. Mine changed nearly four years ago, while sitting with my uncle and brother in a guesthouse near the Galilee in northern Israel. I had taken the LSAT (Law...
10 Days in Europe
The last few days have been hectic—travel from coast to coast, the Freddies, final exams, and a term paper. Thankfully, that is all behind me now and I will be taking a breather for the next week and a...
The 2013 Freddie Awards: Winners and Reflections
Some look forward to the Oscars. Others the Emmies. But I look forward to the Freddies. Named for the late Sir Freddie Laker, the pioneer of low-cost air travel across the Atlantic in the 1970s, the 25th annual Freddie Awards ceremony...
Mores Miles, Reduced Fuel Surcharge on Air France KLM Flying Blue Award Flights
Air France/KLM Flying Blue offers a loyalty program with pluses and minus, which I’ve discussed extensively in several posts. True to form, Flying Blue is rolling out changes to its flight award redemptions that will make some customers swoon...
San Diego – Atlanta Mileage Run on United – 6798 miles for $180
For the seasoned mileage runner or leisure traveler, United has had some killer deals out of San Diego this year and today’s Atlanta – San Diego r/t for $169+ takes the cake. Heck, even business travelers may wish to...
Award Space: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
My award booking service is all about helping clients effectively use their points to realize their family vacations, romantic getaways, business trips, or anything in between. The goal is always to find a combination that best blends schedule, points required,...
United Airlines Raises Change Fees – Will Others Follow?
Without warning, United Airlines raised change fees on tickets yesterday by $50, pushing fees on a restricted domestic ticket from $150 to $200 and from $250 to $300 on an international ticket. After many expressed indignation on Flyertalk, UA...
Amtrak ClubAcela Lounge Access for United Club Members + Premium Passengers
I live just a flew blocks from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station when I am in Philadelphia and conveniently for me, United Airlines has codeshare service with Amtrak out of ZVF to Newark Airport, allowing me to easily make my...
50,000 Point Sign Up Offer for American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
UPDATE: Offer has expired. The American Express 50,000 point sign-up bonus with no annual fee during the first year has returned from hiatus. Earn three points per dollar on airfare and double points on gas purchases (in the USA)....
Tip: Avoid San Francisco International Airport on Weekends
My trip to Philadelphia last night was not as smooth as I had hoped it would be: San Francisco International is a great airport and I enjoy connecting through it, but when the fog and wind roll in, expect...
How to Book Travel to Cuba from the USA
Even before Jay-Z and Beyonce made headlines for their recent trip to Cuba, an On the Spot column by Los Angeles Times travel writer Catharine Hamm caught my attention – Question: What are the travel requirements for going to Cuba?...
Pay-to-Play VIP Treatment on Delta and American, but not United
Scott Mayerowitz has a piece out today on how three of the legacies are offering extra special VIP treatment for select guests, namely “true” VIPs and those willing to slap down some cash. American Airlines built a private check-in lobby in Los Angeles...
