Later this morning I will be one of the passengers onboard United Airlines’ final 747 flight. What is it about that aircraft that stirs so many emotions? First, it is the aircraft that took me around the world. To...
First Look at the United 747 Shindig at SFO
In just a couple hours, festivities will begin to commemorate United’s final 747 flight. Last night I arrived late into San Francisco and happened to pull up right at Gate 90, just a couple gates away from 86 where...
Boeing 767 Production Will Continue Regardless of United Order
The Wall Street Journal rekindled rumors yesterday that United Airlines may purchase new Boeing 767 aircraft from Boeing. Whether that happens or not, the 767 has found new life and will not shut down. For weeks we’ve heard that...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: November 05, 2017
Hello from Southern California…where I’m recovering from a relapse of sickness. Thankfully not the stomach flu I had last week, but another particularly strong head cold. I really need to lay off the travel… This week marks the final...
What I Hate Most About the Boeing 787
I do love the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, generally. It is a great aircraft with a noticeable improvement in cabin air quality. But there is one thing about it that I simply cannot stand… That’s the automatic flushers on the...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 29, 2017
Hello from Singapore…where I’m laying in bed sick. I’ll keep this brief. You’ll find a review of the week’s top stories below. Let me stress: take care of yourself. Don’t overdo it. But at the same time, take every...
Buy an Actual Piece of a United 747!
As United Airlines ramps up for the final 747-400 flight on November 07, 2017, it is offering you the chance to take home a piece of 747 history. You can now buy a number of 747 hardware pieces. A livery...
14 Hours Aboard Qatar A350 Business Class…
After a restful flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Doha and a shower and panini in the Al Mourjan Lounge, it was time to board the 14-hour longhaul to New York City. Electronics were carefully searched at the...
A Restful Flight on Qatar Airways A330 Business Class
By the time it came to board my Qatar Airways flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Doha, I was exhausted. I had slept poorly all week and just wanted to have dinner, watch a movie, and nap on...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 22, 2017
I’m back in LA after a fast-paced week around the world. My trip took another twist on the way to Ho Chi Minh City, which I will share tomorrow morning. As it was a relatively light news week, Live...
Finally, Lie-Flat Beds on My Ethiopian Airlines Flight!
I’m pleased to report that my connecting Ethiopian 787 flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok featured Ethiopian’s new fully lie-flat beds. But did it lead to a restful flight? The flight departed from a remote stand and bus boarding...
13 Long Hours on Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines has a lot going for it, but the lack of lie-flat seating makes it difficult for me to wholeheartedly endorse it. I’ve also realized something—internet is what I value most of all on a flight. Service was...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 15, 2017
Good evening from Los Angeles. I’m about to embark upon another adventure…I’ll share the details tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s review the top stories of the last week. The diplomatic spat between Turkey and the USA currently means no...
A Tribute to the 747
United Airlines’ final 747 flight will take place next month. It will also mark the final day a 747 operates scheduled passenger service for a U.S. airline. In anticipation of the historic occasion, United has created a very nifty...
Unsubstantiated Gossip: Southwest Wants Denver-Kona
I have avoided writing this post for just shy of a year because there wasn’t yet corroborating evidence or reason to believe it’s true – now there may be. Based on potentially reliable information, Southwest may focus on Denver...
Emirates CEO: We Need More A380s!
Emirates President Sir Tim Clark told a Dutch newspaper that his carrier needs more A380s, even in the face of fierce competition. “The potential market remains huge. We need even more A380s,” said Clark. But is that really viable, let...
Bid for a Seat on the Final United 747 Flight
United Airlines is auctioning off two seats on its final 747-400 flight. This is not a dollar auction, but a MileagePlus auction. The package includes domestic transport to San Francisco on 11/06/17, a hotel room, two economy class seats...
Wow! A Secret Way to Book a Seat on the Sold Out Final United 747 Flight!
UPDATE: That was fast. This deal appears gone, but read below to find out what to do if it resurfaces. When United announced its final 747 flight on November 07, 2017 would be a re-creation of its very first 747 flight from...
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...
Turkish Airlines Orders 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
So much for the A380 or 747-8. Turkish Airlines will order 40 787-9s from Boeing, a deal valued at $11 billion on paper. Tourism in Turkey has been hit hard by terrorism in the last two years, but the country...