Sleazy ˈslē-zē also ˈslā- (adjective): carelessly made of inferior materials; marked by low character or quality. I do not use the term “sleazy” lightly, but I can think of no adjective more apt for the Air France-KLM Flying Blue loyalty program. I’ve bemoaned the...
Review: Four Seasons Beirut
Beirut is a city of contradictions. It has a rich French-influenced history, a proud culture, and a warm and affable people. Yet Beirut has suffered from great political turmoil over the preceding years and it shows—a strong military presence...
A Perfectly Good Transcon Redeye…in COACH
I was very critical of United Airlines yesterday, arguing that the carrier’s business model and frankly its persona from the top down would make wining back lucrative business customers much more difficult than CEO Jeff Smisek envisions. I stand...
Reaching the Same Telephone Agent Two Times in a Row
While on the phone with US Airways today completing an award reservation, the call got cut off. I redialed and was elated to be connected to the same agent I had just been speaking with a moment earlier. She...
Why United Airlines Will Have Trouble Winning Back Business Travelers
United Airlines announced a new push today to win back business travelers who have been leaving the carrier in droves for the competition. United will have to do more than plead to get these corporate accounts back– Is it...
Splitting a Record Is Always Possible
In booking award tickets on a daily basis, I often encounter situations in which I must split a record before ticketing. Put simply, say there are two people on an award reservation and they want to use their own...
Frankfurt to Washington Dulles in United Airlines Business Class
After enduring a long and sleepless ride over the Atlantic in economy class, I was prepared to stay in Frankfurt until I was able to secure a seat in United business class going back to Washington. Flying standby meant...
Escaping the Cold – Back to California
The last couple days have been cold, and I mean cold. As a California native who has spent a handful of winters on the East Coast (and Germany), I honestly cannot recall weather this cold before. It was 13ºF...
Megabus, TSA, and the 57th U.S. Presidential Inauguration
Let me tell you about my day yesterday. It started when my alarm went off at 4:00a and I hit snooze every five minutes until 4:25a, rolling out of bed with a sigh and doubts over what I was...
Reserve Your Entrée Before You Fly on American Airlines? No.
After a stressful couple days of standby travel on United, it was time for my girlfriend and me to fly to Los Angeles. I opted for a confirmed ticket on American Airlines and secured an upgrade to first class for...
Your Driver’s License is not an ID Card!
ID Card (noun) – a card bearing identifying data (as age or organizational membership) about the individual whose name appears thereon. Betcha thought this was going to be a post about the TSA. It’s not. It’s about Budget Rent-A-Car. And...
TSA Will Remove Some Nude Scanners
Chalk this up as a small victory in the war on common sense. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed today that it will remove some airport body scanners that produce a naked image of travelers by June. These are the large...
American Airlines’ New Livery Looks Familiar!
American Airlines rolled out a new logo and aircraft livery today. No one asked me for my opinion, but I’ll weigh in just the same. First, you know I prefer the status quo when it comes to many things,...
Review: Park Hyatt Hamburg
When my brother and I decided to drive up to Hamburg for a weekend, there were many considerations that shaped our travel plans. Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, is a nice change of pace from Frankfurt and it was...
No Solution When a Trip Falls Apart
Sometimes even the most diligent planning and scrupulous attention to detail cannot save an ill-fated trip from self-destruction. Take this recent lurid account of mitchmu regarding a United ticket from San Francisco to Panama City via Houston. Keep in...
United Airlines First Class San Francisco to New York JFK
Note what is not in the title—p.s.—the “premium service” designation given to the Los Angeles/San Francisco-New York Kennedy routes in 2005 by United in an effort to distinguish itself from American Airlines (and later Delta Air Lines and Virgin...
United Airlines Global First Lounge at SFO – Tour + Pictures
When I arrived in SFO, without even thinking it has become so rote, I headed right for the domestic United Club. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks and looked down at my boarding pass. It did say “first class”...
First Class Downgrade = First Class Upgrade on United
When does a first class downgrade equal a first class upgrade? Read on to find out. Sunday, I was scheduled to fly from Burbank to New York JFK via San Francisco. “Premium Service” transcon flights feature three-cabins of service...
The Perfect End to a LAX Mileage Run
I mentioned last week that I had to take a last-minute year-end mileage run from LA to Boston on December 30th in order to secure the 5K miles necessary to push me over the 150K EQM mark. The trip...
Megabus Wins Again
A quick update on my perpetual struggle of choosing between the value of Megabus or the comfort and convenience of Amtrak to get between Philadelphia and Washington. Yesterday, I found I needed to get to Washington as soon as...
