Don’t you just hate it when plans go awry? I arrived in Seoul last night and had set up a tour to visit the DMZ and Panmunjom (North/South Korea border) today, a relic of the Cold War and primary...
Guam was Great, Onward to Tokyo!
I am on my way to the airport now after a brief but wonderful stay in Guam. I stayed at the Sheraton Laguna Guam last night and found it to be a wonderful property–a full report will be coming...
Lufthansa Miles & More will Match Your Air France/KLM Flying Blue Elite Status
Through the end of March, Air France/KLM offered a generous status match with no challenge or flight requirements mandated. United, Continental, and US Airways elites were eligible to participate and the offer brought instant SkyTeam elite status. For those...
Last Day to Apply for British Airways 100,000 Mile Chase Credit Card
UPDATE: This offer is gone, but check out the new credit card offers as well. If you have not taken advantage of Chase’s 100,000 mile sign-up bonus for the British Airways Chase Visa card, tomorrow is your last day to do so....
The Bully Got His Way
Don’t you just hate it when bullies get their way? I flew from Denver to Boston on United today and one of the passengers was quite a character. He was an older man, about 70, with a tacky plaid...
Watch Those United Upgrades on Continental Codeshares!
While the Continental/United integration process remains a work in progress, one benefit that we saw almost immediately after the merger was reciprocal upgrades on the two carriers. But based on what happened to me today, this technology has not...
From First Class to Economy: My 58K Mile Journey Begins
There is never an ideal time to take time off from a busy job, but with my brother graduating from university next week, I constructed my trip to Japan and South Korea as well as my mileage run from...
Washington Dulles to Frankfurt in United Airlines First Class
Although I have traveled all over the world in international first class, I had never tried out United’s first class longhaul product…until last week. UA’s international first class service is often criticized, especially when compared to its competitors, but I...
United International First Class Lounge at Washington Dulles
As I mentioned a few days ago, I somehow wound up in first class on my Washington, DC to Frankfurt United flight last week. An international first class boarding pass granted me access to UA’s International First Class Lounge, located near the...
Best Buffet on the Strip? The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas
I have a confession to make: I love buffets. Especially good ones, though I am rather easy to please when it comes to food. While it always makes me cringe to see the morbidly obese chowing down enough food to feed...
Why "Free" Airline Award Tickets Cost So Much
From time to time, I have blogged about the increasing cost of award tickets, particularly when using frequent flyer programs outside the United States. Scott McCartney nicely highlights this issue in his weekly column, demonstrating that for many seeking to book an airline...
Ryanair Bikini Ad Banned
The British Advertising Standards Authority has banned the Ryanair ad below for…lying. Arguing that the “sunny” destinations wouldn’t get much warmer than 6-9ºC (42-48ºF), the government body has banned Ryanair from publishing similar “misleading” ads in the future. “We considered...
When it Rains, it Pours…
The storm system that battered the Midwest has finally reached Washington Dulles, precisely at the time my flight to Frankfurt was scheduled to board this evening. Visibility is extremely poor and the rain is coming down so hard I...
United/Continental Strand Me in Washington, DC!
(and without question, I am partially to blame…) Hardened by years of travel as a quasi-road warrior, I thought I was ready for anything. Yesterday proved to be one of my biggest challenges yet. If you are not focused now, you...
Captain Raul Boerner on United
Have any of you ever flown with Captain Raul Boerner? He piloted my Denver to San Francisco United Airlines flight on Friday and was a class act. Prior to departure, he walked out of the flight deck and into...
Thoughts on the Failed Alitalia Hijacking Attempt
A knife-welding Kazakh attempted to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris to Rome Sunday night, demanding the plane be diverted to Libya. Passengers onboard said the man whipped out a knife and held it closely to the throat of...
As United Increases VDB Compensation, Tips for Maximizing your Bump Chances
With new DOT rules soon coming into force, reports are surfacing that UA is increasing Volunteer Denied Boarding (VDB) compensation on domestic flights from the current $400 level to $650 (in travel credits). That makes bumps even more lucrative than before...
Alaska Airlines Aircraft Evacuated After Toilet Paper Found…in Lavatory
Add this story to the paranoia file. A FA walks into the lavatory, sees a few white specks on the counter, believes it to be anthrax or some sort of bomb material, and freaks out. The Alaksa Airlines jet...
Consecutive Flights with the Star of United’s Safety Videos
I had the pleasure today of flying on consecutive flights with Charles, one of the stars of United’s safety videos (pictured below). Apparently Charles has a reputation on Flyertalk, and not a great one, so when I walked onto...
Welcome Back to America. We’re Closed.
After a delayed arrival into Washington Dulles Wednesday evening from Frankfurt, I just wanted to get through passport control and customs and out to the parking lot to meet my friends. It was after 2am Frankfurt time and despite...
