After a 0-2 defeat against South Korea, Germany was knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage for the first time since 1938. And while Germans are lamenting, Mexico is rejoicing. Flag carrier Aeromexico is doing more...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 24, 2018
I’m back in LA after a week in Italy and Germany. It’s good to be home, though every time I am in Europe I miss living there. We’ll keep it simple this week. Here’s a review of the week’s...
How A Captain Flushed Out A Plane Full of Passengers Who Refused To Disembark
What happens when passengers react to a long flight delay by refusing to leave rather demanding to deplane? One Air Asia captain had to resort to fairly unorthodox tactics…at least that’s what passengers are claiming. An Air Asia flight...
Five First Class Products I Should Have Tried By Now
Recently, I listed five “commonplace” business class products that I should have tried by now, but hope to try in the near future. Now I’ll do the same for first class. As with business class, a primary mission on my...
U.S. Airlines Brashly Defy China: Consequences Coming?
The Chinese government is insisting that U.S. airlines stop treating Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau as separate nations on their websites and other booking channels. Thus far, U.S. airlines have steadfastly refused. But what will happen when Beijing tightens...
My Office Playlist Represents The Power Of Airline Marketing
Stop by office in Southern California and you might think you just stepped into a Park Hyatt hotel or onto an Etihad flight. My business partner John and I enjoy listening to music during the day. There are some...
German Government Accuses Lufthansa of Illicit Price Hikes
A German regulatory agency is accusing Lufthansa of unjustified price hikes in the wake of Air Berlin’s bankruptcy. Per thelocal.de: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (FCO) is currently probing complaints that Lufthansa fares shot up on some routes after bankrupt...
Aer Lingus Flight to LA Diverts After Engine Failure
An Aer Lingus flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to divert to Shannon, Ireland after one engine shut down during takeoff. EI145, an A330-200 traveling from Dublin to Los Angeles, departed Dublin on-schedule at 3:25p from Dublin. But...
The Aer Lingus Worker Who Saved Christmas
An Aer Lingus worker in Dublin delivered a Christmas miracle to a woman in New York City. Few things makes your heart sink more than realizing that you left something valuable behind on an airplane. For Laura Begley Bloom,...
Aer Lingus Answers Skit on SNL with Trumpesque Tweet
Aer Lingus was lampooned recently on Saturday Night Live. But the good-natured Irish carrier offered a stinging rebuttal in an all-too-familiar-style. Honestly, the SNL clip isn’t all that funny, though the the accents are absolutely perfect. I know the...
Why Did I Choose American Over Qatar?
My wife and daughter spent the summer in Thailand as it is my busy season at work and I am nearly never at home – why shouldn’t they be at the beach instead? As a result, I have been...
Why is Air Berlin Blaming Etihad for its Failure?
Air Berlin is seeking damages from Etihad for “letting” it become insolvent. No folks, this is actually not some sick joke. This is true. Air Berlin is demanding at least 10 million euros, blaming Etihad for “letting” it become insolvent. The...
Lufthansa Will Take Over 80% of Air Berlin, Launch New Longhaul Routes
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr announced his company will take over the majority of Air Berlin’s assets, including 81 aircraft. Speaking to reporters, Sphor said Lufthansa would invest at least €1.5BN and offers jobs to at least 3,000 (and possibly more...
The Best Program to Credit Cheap United Airlines Flights
Where you credit your miles is like a game of chess. Singapore Airlines has cut earnings on discount economy class fares on United Airlines. Fares that used to earn 100% of miles flown will now earn as little as...
Review: Aerolineas Argentinas Lounge Buenos Aires (EZE)
This is a huge lounge, but also an underwhelming one. While you’ll have no trouble finding a seat (or dozens of seats), you will be very disappointed if you arrive hungry. You walk in and see a huge seating...
Review: Aerolineas Argentinas A340 Business Class Cancún to Buenos Aires
I poked fun at Aerolineas Argentinas “Club Condor” Class in an earlier post, but was really looking forward to trying it. With a limited route map and limited award space, catching a longhaul Aerolineas Argentinas flight is not an...
Review: Aeromexico Lounge Cancún (CUN)
My connection turned out so quick that I had plenty of time to relax prior to my Aerolineas Argentinas flight to Buenos Aires. The airline uses Aeromexico’s Salon Premier in Terminal 2. The lounge is small, but access is limited...
Introduction: Los Angeles to Rome via Argentina and Spain on SkyTeam
It’s time for my next trip report, a short one that will detail my trip to Italy last month. Let’s just say I took the scenic route… An ambitious goal to be sure, but it is my desire to...
My Final Flight on Air Berlin
Last week I flew Air Berlin from Zurich to Dusseldorf. I suspect it will be my last time ever flying the carrier… Air Berlin has been vexed with poor management, high operating costs, and a competitive environment in Germany...
How Bad was Aerolineas Argentinas Business Class?
My expectations were so low stepping onto my Aerolineas Argentinas flight in Club Condor (business) class that the mediocre onboard product managed to impress me. The business class cabin was clean and the color scheme fresh. New IFE units...
