United Airlines has released another commercial narrated by Matt Damon, this time highlighting United’s extensive worldwide route network from the view of a lie-flat seat…or something like that. It is by no means UA’s best commercial: it features a...
South African Airways Award Space Again Bookable
I wrote yesterday that South African Airways award space had been unbookable for one week using miles from any Star Alliance loyalty program outside of South African Voyager. Thankfully, the space is again bookable. The one-week hiatus of all...
South African Airways Award Space Not Bookable
South African Airways has been a stalwart member of Star Alliance for the last eight years and offers an extensive route network within Africa and to key cities around the world from its hub in Johannesburg. Although I would...
My Delayed Journey to Chicago
Fire in an FAA Facility shut down Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports for several hours this morning and it just so happened that I was flying from Los Angeles to Chicago this morning to speak at this weekend’s FTU...
United Arrivals Lounge London Heathrow
United Airlines offers an arrival lounge to intercontinental business and first class passengers in its new home in Terminal 2 at London Heathrow. Open from 5am – 2pm each day, Air Canada and South African Airways also allow their...
How I Almost Missed My Flight to Frankfurt
I recently made a short trip to the USA, including a visit to some dear friends in Washington, DC. I like taking the 10pm United service out of Dulles because it allows for a full day and relaxed dinner...
Frankfurt to San Francisco in United Airlines First Class
United Airlines CFO John Rainey made an unforced error when he told Bloomberg News that there was virtually no difference between United Airlines First Class (Global First) and Business Class (BusinessFirst). While true that the differences between first and...
Airplane Food Delivered to Your Door!
I have a confession to make about airline meals. While most curse United Airlines for the “unchanging” “nasty” “disgusting” “tried” breakfast entrée pictured below, it is one of my favorite meals and if I had the chance to order...
9-Seat Airliner Coming to California
I have family that lives in Visalia, California and while my uncle was still alive, I made frequent trips up there – often once per month. A 3hr drive on I-5 is not a horrible thing, but the drive...
United Cuts JFK-IAD Service, Effective October 25, 2014
Even I am not too old to remember when New York Kennedy was once a United focus city, with service to Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. JFK was also once the home...
ExpertFlyer Now Features US Airways Awards and Upgrades
While Delta Air Lines has demanded that ExpertFlyer remove not only award and upgrade info, but revenue info, the new American Airlines has moved in the opposite direction, working with ExpertFlyer to load availability for US Airways upgrade and...
German Court Lifts Ban on Uber
A Frankfurt court that had banned Uber ride service from operating within Germany late last month has lifted the ban: Uber is back in business in Germany. Uber is mobile app based ride sharing service that offers an easy...
A Weekend in England with My Best Friend
I do not talk much about my friends, but you should know a little bit about John, one of my closest friends of more than 15 years. He never did especially well in high school and skipped college, but...
Tickets Available for United SFO Family Day on October 12, 2014
United Airlines hosts a Family Day at its giant maintanence center at San Francisco International Airport each autumn. In past years, select members from Flyertalk and MilePoint have been invited to attend and I have attended twice – it...
A Note from Captain Denny Flanagan
Captain Denny Flanagan sent me the following note this morning — My Flying Friends, It’s early morning on September 11th in Shanksville Pennsylvania. I am here with over 50 United crew members to honor the memory of the Pilots,...
When Chaos Breaks Out Onboard
One of the reasons I avoid low-cost-carriers in Europe is because of incidents like the one captured on the video below: Flights within Europe on carriers like Ryanair can be very inexpensive if you buy early or buy at...
September 2014 Flying Blue Promo Awards for November + December Travel
Air France/KLM Flying Blue has released its Promo Awards for September 2014 and the pickings continue to get slimmer for business class deals between North America and Europe. This month, there is not a single city 50% off or...
Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased US Airways Miles – 7 Tips and Tricks
US Airways is once again running a 100% bonus on purchased miles through September 30, 2014. Every other month US Airways has been running this promotion, but I would not expect it to last – I sense an imbalance...
Kidnapping Forces United Flight from Washington to Beijing to Divert
I love the movie Argo, which tells the story of how Canada and CIA operative Tony Mendez smuggled out a cadre of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran during the Iran Hostage Crisis. In the gripping conclusion (full of artistic...
United Airlines’ CFO Disses His Company’s Global First Class Product
John Rainey, United Airlines’ infamous CFO who claimed that elites are over-entitled, has put his foot in his mouth again…this time by trashing his company’s three-cabin international first class product, dubbed “Global First”. But it was not just a...
