And I guess it is… On Monday I posted about my award trip to China scheduled for this December. Last night, I called United to book the ticket (the award was on hold for 72 hours) and was immediately put...
Off to Buenos Aires on United Airlines!
I may not be going to China this week, but I am taking a trip to Buenos Aires on United. I have a meeting in Boston on Thursday and found that a ticket on UA to BOS was more...
More on my award trip booking
I’ll just give you a quick recount of what I had booked and what I have booked now for my trip to China. As I mentioned in a previous post, my trip to China was supposed to be this...
StarNet blocking is back—at least on Lufthansa flights
After two hours of searching on the ANA tool tonight, I assembled a decent itinerary for my December trip to China. It wasn’t perfect, but it was workable. As I reported yesterday, no StarNet blocking on any Star Alliance...
Aggravating Phone Call to UA Reservations
I was planning to leave for China last night, but cancelled the trip due to a scheduling conflict with my day job and an aversion to sharing the Great Wall with 2,000 tourists or spending hours in line at...
Another Large Order for Emirates: 30+ Boeing 777s
Just a month after ordering 32 additional A380s, Emirates is adding at least 30 more 777s to its fleet. Fast-growing Emirates Airline of Dubai will announce Monday it is ordering over 30 Boeing 777 jets, a month after it ordered...
Emirates’ A380 returns to JFK
With 32 more A380s on the way, Emirates is bringing back the A380 to the Dubai-New York Kennedy route this fall. Beginning on October 31, you’ll have the chance to enjoy private suites, showers, and a cocktail bar if...
Aborted Landing on TACA: SAL-PTY
This is the third of a six-part recount of my recent trip to Central America. Washington Dulles to San Salvador on TACA My Adventure in San Salvador Aborted Landing on TACA: SAL-PTY 24 Hours in Panama City Short-Haul Flying...
Handy Frequent Flyer Mileage Expiration Chart
While perusing Gary’s blog today, I came across an extremely helpful blog post by Musings of a Global Traveler that tracks the mileage expiration policy for each major airline. It is updated regularly and is chart that is well...
56th Anniversary of Boeing 367-80, the Prototype that Became the 707
Yesterday marked the 56th Anniversary of the plane that became known as the 707 and propelled commercial aviation into the jet age. On July 15, 1954 the Boeing 367-80, nicknamed the Dash-80, made its first test flight from Renton Field...
My Adventure in San Salvador
This is the second of a six-part recount of my recent trip to Central America. Washington Dulles to San Salvador on TACA My Adventure in San Salvador Aborted Landing on TACA: SAL-PTY 24 Hours in Panama City Short-Haul Flying...
Swiss International Airlines Joins the Blogosphere
Swiss International Airlines has joined the blogging world. Check out their new blog here. In the innagural post, LX’s two-man blogging team, Christian and Parand, lay out this goal: Having been active on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter...
DOT Tarmac Delay Rules Seem to be Working
Count me as one of the surprised. When the DOT announced new tarmac delay guidelines last December, I opined that the rules would hurt the very people they intended to help. I am not ready to eat my hat...
United Testing Pay-Per-View AVOD on 777s in Economy
With three reconfigured 777s now in service, for the first time ever on United Airlines, passengers in economy class have access to audio and video on-demand. Embracing the practice of their bride CO, UA is testing out selling premium...
Why I Mourn the Loss of Airport Smoking Lounges
Call me old-fashioned, but few things irritate me more than seeing smoking areas eliminated from the secure side of airports. I don’t smoke, don’t intend to ever smoke, and consider it an unhealthy, overpriced, and sophomoric habit. At the...
TSA Recruiting on Pizza Boxes
Some call it creative. Others call it a sign of desperation. I call it stupid. The TSA is hiring at Washington Dulles and Reagan National and has resorted to a peculiar medium of advertising…pizza boxes. photo courtesy: Michelle Basch, WTOP...
Richard Branson "Seriously" Considering a Fourth Airline Alliance
Check out Wendy Perrin’s recent interview with Sir Richard Branson. The most interesting part of the discussion was Richard Branson saying he would "seriosuly consider" launching a fourth airline alliance. The pickings are becoming slimmer as the "big three"...
Washington Dulles to San Salvador on TACA
This is the first of a six-part recount of my recent trip to Central America. Washington Dulles to San Salvador on TACA My Adventure in San Salvador Aborted Landing on TACA: SAL-PTY 24 Hours in Panama City Short-Haul Flying...
Review: Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego
I have stayed at the Manchester over a dozen times the last decade (dating back to its single tower days) and have experienced a recurring pattern: I will love ceratin aspects of the stay while other aspects leave me wondering why I always choose...
Pet Relief Areas Now Available at Dulles and National
Complying with new federal guidelines mandating that airports provide “service animal relief areas” for animals that accompany passengers, Frodo now has a place to play if you are traveling through WAS. Both Reagan National and Dulles have made available...
