I don’t own a TV and rarely watch television programming online. That saves me from a great deal of wasted time, though sometimes I wonder just what I am missing. Like this: Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule...
United’s Strict New Carry-On Policy or Business as Usual?
Word leaked last month that United Airlines would begin to strictly enforce its carry-on policy on March 1, 2014 and new carry-on sizers began popping up around the gate areas of many United stations. MileagePlus members received e-mails outlining...
Buying Elite Status from US Airways and American Airlines
As February draws to a close, today is the last day to buy elite status from US Airways at a preferential rate–the rate and even ability to do so changes substantially tomorrow. Meanwhile, American Airlines is enticing current elites...
Humor: American Airlines to Eliminate Complimentary Cabin Pressurization
Oh, how I love the Onion, America’s finest news source! FT. WORTH, TX—Explaining that the costs of the service have grown too high in recent years, American Airlines announced Tuesday that it will no longer offer free cabin pressurization...
United Airlines Eliminates Canadian Staff
United Airlines’ CEO Jeff Smisek is on a mission to cut $2BN in annual spending and is slashing anywhere and everywhere to meet that goal. The latest casualty is the United Airlines’ employees in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. CHICAGO...
United Releases Award Space on New Los Angeles – Melbourne Route!
United formally announced new service between Los Angeles and Melbourne yesterday. The route will operate 6x weekly, utilize a Boeing 787-9, and be operated by ex-Continental crews. On Wednesday, I noted– United has indicated that the flight will be...
United Airlines to Launch 787-9 Service Between Los Angeles and Melbourne on 26 October 2014
Word has leaked that United Airlines will soon announce new six-times-weekly non-stop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne to begin on October 26, 2014. The flight will be operated by the new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, be staffed by legacy Continental...
Breaking: Hijacking on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702
No media has picked up this story yet, but after a failed hijack attempt earlier today, it appears Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702 from Addis Ababa to Rome was successfully hijacked and after circling Geneva for two hours, has landed. Geneva...
Brussels Airlines Award Space Returns to united.com
Shielded from the user-friendly united.com, Brussels Airlines has been one of the hidden secrets of my award booking business for several months. Award space is generous in both economy and business class and Brussels Airlines serves both Washington Dulles...
Plenty of Award Space at Park Hyatt Paris – Vendôme for Summer 2014
The deadline to make changes to your existing Hyatt Gold Passport reservations and still pay the old rate is this Saturday, February 15th. I booked a couple nights at the Park Hyatt Paris – Vendôme for this summer under the...
United’s Team USA Olympic Videos
U.S. companies are never hesitant to remind us of their support for Team USA in the biennial winter and summer Olympic games. Olympic logos tend to appear near the corporate logo and special ads are taken out as the...
United Airlines Ditches Styrofoam Cups
Styrofoam is so 20th Century. United finally got the memo and today has introduced new “eco-friendly” coffee cups that will soon be appearing onboard your next United flight and in United Clubs worldwide. A token move, but still laudable...
Customer Friendly? United Softens Blow of New Award Chart
United Airlines left a substantial question unanswered before its award chart devaluation yesterday–what changes to awards booked under the old chart will be permitted without having to pay additional miles? Today, it answered the question and also lessened the...
Old United MileagePlus Award Chart Extended Through 02 February 2014!
Just got off the phone with United, where an agent read a memo stating that to “ensure a seamless customer experience” the old award chart will remain in effect through 02 February 2014. All travel booked on or after...
Last Day to Book Under Old United Airlines Award Chart
Final call for what has been the overall most attractive award redemption chart in the industry–tomorrow the United Airlines MileagePlus award chart becomes much, much less valuable between nearly all regions. For more details about the changes, see this...
Germanwings (4U) Award Space Now Available on United.com
United Airlines MileagePlus members have been eligible to earn miles on Germanwings, the Lufthansa low-cost-subsidiary since last October, with the promise that Germanwings flights would soon be available for mileage bookings. Now, Germanwings flights are bookable on united.com in both...
February New York City Meetup
Mike is organizing another New York City Frequent Flyer meetup on Wednesday, February 5th. Join the group and RSVP for the event at meetup.com/reach-for-the-miles. Sadly, I won’t be able to attend this one either, but I definitely plan on...
The ANA Award Search Tool is Great, but not Perfect
Even if it can be a bit cumbersome to use, I have found ANA’s award search tool to be the single most accurate source of Star Alliance award availability for several years. Singapore Airlines space has been problematic–ANA automatically...
Why I Went to Afghanistan When I Did
Things in Afghanistan are going downhill…to put it lightly. The latest headline is Taliban Attack on Kabul Restaurant Rattles Close-Knit Expat Community in which we learn: KABUL—Shock spread through Kabul’s close-knit expatriate community after the Taliban killed 21 people, including...
Politicians, Twitter, and United Airlines
Two former United States Senators have sounded off on Twitter today against United Airlines, including a six-tweet diatribe by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) regarding a lost first class seat on a flight to the Dominican Republic....
