The AP reports that United spent $600,000 lobbying government officials in the Fourth Quarter of 2009. Among United’s concerns: 1. DOT Tarmac Delay Guidelines United’s lobbying disclosure report doesn’t say which side it took on the legislation, but most airlines...
Initial Observations on United’s New Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
I won’t get to witness UA’s new UDU program first-hand until Friday (my upgrades are waitlisted, BTW), but my brother traveled from FRA-IAD-LAX on United yesterday. He is a Premier and was traveling on an H-fare–an upper-end Economy ticket....
The Authoritative Post on Airline Fees
Although he wrote it in January, the Philadelphia Inquirer just published a column our friend Christopher Elliott did on airline fees in this week’s Sunday travel section. Some of his analysis is spot-on, much of it is…not. First, what makes...
Virgin America to Expand Service to Orlando and Toronto from West Coast
Good news for LAX and SFO-based flyers. With Virgin America entering the MCO and YYZ market, you may soon see some great deals to those destinations. MCO fares are usually reasonable, but YYZ fares are often over $500 r/t from...
Take Advantage of Hyatt’s "Welcome Back" Promotion
Lucky sums up Hyatt’s latest promotion very nicely: Add it all up and I’m looking at one free night at any Hyatt hotel in the world and 6,000 points for every $160 in stays. One free night at a...
Escape to the Madrid Airport Hilton
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
City Tour of Madrid on Foot
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
Sun Country Airlines to start Seasonal Transatlantic Service to London Stansted
Sun Country Airlines will begin seasonal once-weekly service from Minneapolis to London Stansted on June 11. The flights will be operated by a two-class 737-800 and require a stop in Gander, Canada for refueling. Arriving in Standsted will allow...
Plane Strikes and Kills Jogger in South Carolina
My brother always laughs at me for jogging, saying I’m wasting my time and burning out my knees. Now he has another argument against jogging: you might get hit by an airplane: HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Robert Gary...
Paperless Boarding Passes now Available on United Airlines
In a shocking move for UA’s crack IT department, you can now use your web-enabled mobile phone to check in for your flight and obtain a boarding pass. You can also check schedules, flight status, and flight availability on...
RIP Captain Oveur
Peter Graves, the infamous and hilarious Captain Ovuer in Airplane! and Airplane! II has passed away. Most will remember him for his work on Mission Impossible, but I’ll remember him for this: RIP.
Hot Nuts Gone on United?
Two recent posts in the omnibus "Let’s Eat" thread on Flyertalk, where travelers post what meals they were served on UA, suggest that United may be phasing out hot nuts. A LAX-ORD and LAX-LIH flight last week featured a...
End of an Era: Continental to Eliminate Complimentary Food on Most North American Flights
An end of an era. Continental announced today that it will phase out complimentary meals in Economy on all North American flights under six hours. Continental Airlines Inc., the last big U.S. airline to operate catering kitchens and to serve...
My biggest concern with United’s new upgrade program
We’re just five days away from the start of United’s new unlimited domestic upgrade program. I’m looking forward to it, though in the back of my mind there is a lingering concern that my perfect upgrade record since I...
United FA prohibits Internet communication on p.s. flight for "security reasons"
It seems a lot of bloggers on the Huffington Post fly on United. Yesterday, tech journalist John Battelle was minding his own business, video chatting with his wife and children from 30-plus thousand feet in the air, when a...
Marrakech to Madrid on Royal Air Maroc in Economy
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
Corendon Airlines’ Pilot Arrested for Flying with Fake License for 13 Years
Catch Me If You Can is one of my all-time favorite movies. I never thought we’d see another Frank Abagnale, Jr. though. A pilot has been arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport for flying passenger planes for 13 years with...
UAUA hits $19+
I can’t even bear to to track UAUA anymore.
Stay Two Nights at a US/Canadian Westin and get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (through May 13th)
I just noticed this ad in the Wall Street Journal today, but apparently it has been around a couple weeks. Earn a $100 Amazon gift card after every two Westin Hotel stays arriving Sunday – Thursday now through May 13, 2010. This...
My Five Star Hotel Room in Marrakech
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
