After repeated failures to clear the award standby list in 2024, I was successful in my first attempt to score a standby first class award seat on Korean Air in 2025. Korean Air Standby Award Booking: Success Korean Air...
Flying Blue Offers A Dubious Reason For Latest Devaluation
2025 is off to a Flying (Blue) start with an unannounced devaluation of Flying Blue redemptions on both Air France / KLM and partners. But Flying Blue argues this was necessary in order to offer more award space at...
The Bleak Future Of Partner Award Travel
While it appears Alaska Airlines will resolve its last-minute partner award blocking, that was but a symptom of a wider and ongoing problem: the death by a thousand cuts of partner award travel. Partner Award Travel Is Harder Than...
Is Alaska Airlines Considering Draconian Restrictions On Partner Award Redemptions?
While Alaska Airlines has not officially confirmed whether it was a glitch or a preview of what is to come, bookings on partner carriers were unavailable for several hours today for travel departing within 72 hours, whether booking online...
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Goes Dynamic: Hoping For The Best, Fearing For The Worst
Virgin Atlantic will go dynamic and “reinvent” Flying Club starting later this month. While some of the changes sound promising, I’m very much in the “leave well enough alone” camp and not optimistic about the net effect of these...
Transatlantic Flights Are Packed…In Premium Cabins
I’ve closely followed award space availability for years and have never seen a shoulder season in Europe quite like this one, with premium cabin demand seemingly through the roof in both directions. A Busy European Shoulder Season: Transatlantic Flights...
The 10 Best Frequent Flyer Programs…United Airlines Is #3?!
Point.me has released a report on the world’s best frequent flyer programs, with a surprise “bronze” finish for United Airlines MileagePlus. Let’s unpack this list and explore the value of each of the top programs. The 10 Best Frequent...
Massive Devaluation: United Airlines Raises First Class Redemption Costs On ANA, Lufthansa
Bad news for United MileagePlus travelers: United Airlines drastically raised redemption prices for first class travel on partners like ANA and Lufthansa, a massive devaluation. I’m updating this post with United’s statement concerning the price hike. United MileagePlus First...
Booked! JAL A350-1000 First Class
Shockingly, to me at least, I was able to score an award seat on Japan Airlines (JAL) on the brand new Airbus A350-1000 in first class…a “bucket list” review flight I thought I might have to wait years to...
The 10 Best Airline Award Ticket Sweet Spots [2024]
Earlier I wrote about how some of the most lucrative award travel redemptions are often the most boring. Here, I want to point out my current list of the 10 best airline award ticket sweet spots. Top 10 Airline...
Update: Massive Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Devaluation
UPDATE: The reason we appear to be seeing the “old” pricing on the Turkish Airlines website is that new post-devaluation pricing does not go into effect until February 16, 2024. Language has been added suggesting the old award charts...
My Turkish Airlines Award Ticket Horror Story…
As much as I love Turkish Airlines–and I do love Turkish Airlines–trying to rebook a canceled Miles & Smiles award ticket has become an exercise in hopeless futility and endless frustration. While Turkish offers great value in mileage redemptions,...
Has Air Canada Launched A Clandestine War Against Fraud?
While a series of concurrent acts may be unrelated, it is reasonable to ask whether Air Canada has just launched a multi-prong war against what it views as fraud. But are the innocent travelers caught in the dragnet simply...
Pathetic: Another No-Notice Delta SkyMiles Devaluation On Redemption Side
As if the new high bar to qualify for Medallion status was not anti-loyalty enough, Delta continues to whittle away at what little value is left in the SkyMiles program, this time with a devaluation on trips originating or...
Massive United Airlines Devaluation: What To Do Now
United Airlines rolled out a massive devaluation of economy class awards last week and now has devalued premium cabin awards as well on both United metal and on partner carriers. This represents a gut punch to MileagePlus members and...
Wide Open United Airlines Saver Award Space In March 2024 (Business, Premium Economy, Economy)
UPDATE: United Airlines has pulled this March 2024 saver award space from inventory If you can clear off vacation for mid-March next year, United Airlines has made available enough saver award availability for the entire family, particularly in business...
UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change
UPDATE: Delta Air Lines did reach out after I published the story below about the senior citizens trapped in Bahrain due to a schedule change with a SkyMiles reservation on SkyTeam partner Saudia. A member of the “Delta Executive...
Act Fast: Qantas Released Glut Of Business And First Class Award Space
Qantas promised and Qantas delivered. The Australian carrier has just released a glut of award space, including multiple seats in premium cabins on key longhaul routes. Qantas Premium Cabin Award Space Released Facing backlash over its record profits, Qantas...
My Derailed SWISS First Class Journey To Kick Off 2023
I mentioned yesterday that SWISS First Class space is again bookable using United miles. I took advantage of this rare opening to book our family trip to Germany, but it was not meant to be… SWISS First Class 2023...
Great Business Class Award Space On Qatar Airways – Book 2023 Travel Today
Qatar Airways is one my favorite business class product in the world, offering great comfort, food, and service. It also happens to be a better deal than ever before when using frequent flyer miles. That is why I recommend...
