Friendly Skies reported earlier today that United has asked Expert Flyer to stop displaying upgrade and award space beginning Friday, October 30, 2013. United responded this evening, blaming Expert Flyer for accessing space in an unauthorized manner and promising...
Baku – A City of Illusions?
Walk around the city of Baku and you cannot help but to be impressed. It is clean, well-manicured, and burgeoning with skyscrapers. Historic districts have been restored with beautiful façades and shopping and restaurants abound. Families are out for...
"I Can’t Give Away this First Class Seat!"
Once in awhile on United I see a domestic flight go out with open seats in first class despite a long waitlist of elites waiting for a complimentary upgrade. This is usually attributable to a lazy or rushed gate...
Istanbul to Baku in Azerbaijan Airlines Economy Class
I arrived into Istanbul with about seven hours between flights and was informed at the transit desk that it was too early to check in for my Azerbaijan Airlines flight to Baku. I headed upstairs to the lounge where...
American Express Transfer Bonuses
Update: Offer Expired American Express launched two transfer bonuses last week that are far from earth-shattering, but still valuable under the proper circumstances. Through December 31, 2013, AMEX was offering a 20% bonus on points transfers to partner British...
United Airlines Reduces Free Checked Baggage Allowance for Star Alliance Gold and Silver Members
United Airlines has quietly reduced domestic checked baggage allowances for both Star Alliance Gold and Silver members, clandestinely updating its baggage policy with a posthumous disclaimer. Holders of Star Gold status outside of the Mileage Plus program who once...
United Airlines Customer Service Shines at JFK After Mishap
On our way back from Asia last week, my brother and I split up at JFK, with him flying to SFO for work and me flying home to LAX. His 5pm flight appeared full in the newly refurbished BusinessFirst...
Last Day for 100% Bonus on Shared US Airways Miles
Update: Offer Expired. US Airways’ amazing 100% bonus on miles transferred between accounts ends tonight. If you have US Airways miles and are considering an award redemption next year, this offer could help you reach that goal and save a...
Kuwait City to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines Economy Class
A 3.5hr flight at 2:20a is not all that memorable, but a few observations from Turkish Airlines Economy Class— 1. New Airbus A321 with “real” business class seats Unlike many of its European counterparts, Turkish is slowly introducing a...
Pearl Lounge – Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait is a dry country and there were no exceptions in the Pearl Lounge, upstairs past security and passport control at KWI (an additional security check would occur at the gate). I had not eaten during my jaunt into...
Six Hours in Kuwait City
With six hours before my next flight, I figured I could see what my Kuwaiti friend once called “the most boring city in the world.” It wasn’t that bad, but… Immigration is a breeze for American citizens in Kuwait,...
Washington Dulles to Kuwait City in United Airlines BusinessFirst
After being thrown off my flight to Istanbul, settling on a new flight plan to get me to my ultimate destination of Baku was no easy task. It was late in the day and most flights had already departed....
Sorting Meal Orders by Status on United Airlines?
In December 2012, an official e-mail was sent to all United Airlines flight attendants with the following instructions– Benefits like bonus award miles, upgrades, priority airport services, fee waivers and discounts help us deliver a distinct and memorable level...
US Airways 100% Bonus on Shared Miles is Back!
Last week I highlighted the benefits of US Airways’ frequent 100% bonus on purchased miles promotion and predicted it would be back this month. Instead, US Airways has announced an even better promotion! Through October 15, 2013 US Airways...
Why the US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard is Still Worthwhile
I remain deeply unsatisfied with the indifference US Airways has shown to booking Lufthansa award space I wrote about last week, but US Airways miles remain highly valuable, particularly when compared to partner Star Alliance carriers. For that reason,...
United Airlines Comes Through in a Pinch. Again.
It is easy to rag on United Airlines for its many shortcomings, but United once again came through in a pinch over the weekend, leaving me very pleased to be a Premier 1K member and wondering whether I can...
Sneak Peek at New Redesigned united.com Homepage
Hidden in one of the new United Airlines television ads is a sneak peek at the redesigned united.com homepage: Here is the commercial: Very sleek, slightly reminiscent of delta.com, and hopefully highly functional. United.com is stuck in the 90s...
United Airlines Puts a New Twist on "Fly the Friendly Skies" Campaign
United Airlines released a new ad campaign today that offers heavy doses of Gerwshin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and brings back the classic “Fly the Friendly Skies” slogan that has been shelved since 1996. In a series of four made-for-TV...
Diagnosing a Problem: Booking Lufthansa Award Space with US Airways Dividend Miles
14 NOV 13 UPDATE: Leaked US Airways Memo: Agents Forbidden to Manually Request Award Space US Airways has not left Star Alliance yet, but if you are trying to book a Lufthansa award next year it might as well have....
New Bar Menu in Domestic United Clubs
United Airlines recently unveiled a revised bar menu at United Clubs across the United States that adds more choice but also increases prices, notably charging for some drinks that were once free and downgrading the branding of some top-shelf...
