As I have blogged about before, my favorite way to check for Star Alliance award space is with Continental Airlines’ online award search tool. It quickly searches space, offers triple connections if necessary, and presents a two-month calendar so...
Three United Airlines Mileage Award Bookings in 15 Minutes
The most frustrating part of booking an award trip is when a telephone call to the airline is required. Some agents are quicker than others, but generally telephone awards just take a long time to book. I type this...
Aeroplan Points Devalued: No More Domestic First on Business Class Awards
Effective 06 September, two-cabin flights coded as “first class [O]” require three-cabin first class redemption rates when using Air Canada Aeroplan miles. I discovered the new policy while attempting to book a relatively straightforward award trip for a client...
Last Day to Purchase Lifetime United Club Membership
Tomorrow marks the final opportunity to purchase lifetime membership to the newly-branded United Clubs through Continental Airlines. As of today, the lifetime membership options have been removed from Continental’s site, but will still be available for purchase over the...
United Airlines Unveils New Million Mile Flyer Program
Since the United/Continental merger was announced last year, uncertainty has clouded the status of the combined carrier’s million-mile program. Which program would survive? United offered million-mile flyers Premier Executive (Star Gold) status for life and presented MMers with two...
Singapore Airlines A380 to fly Singapore – Frankfurt – New York
Singapore Airlines announced plans today to replace their aging 747-400 now serving the Singapore – Frankfurt – New York Kennedy route with an A380-800. Starting on January 15, 2012, the new aircraft will take over the route as Frankfurt...
Austrian Airlines Award Availability Now on Continental.com
The Continental Airlines award search tool is very handy. Quickly and easily, you can search for Star Alliance award space and at least get a general sense of what is available using your Star Alliance frequent flyer miles. The...
A Closer Look at United Airlines’ $550MN in Onboard Product Improvements
Fozz already nicely summarized the $550MN enhancements coming to United Airlines’ onboard product, but here’s a closer look from Scott O’Leary, Managing Director of Customer Solutions at United with my commentary below: Improved long-haul comfort with more flat-bed seats....
Thinking Critically About Rumored Changes to United Mileage Plus Program
News about the rumored changes to the United Mileage Plus program came as quite a shock to me. Although the final details will likely not be released until after Labor Day, it will still be advantageous to analyze each...
United Eliminates Special Meals on Domestic Flights on 10/1/11
Effective 01 October 2011, special meals will no longer be available on most United domestic, Canadian, Central American, and Caribbean flights. Special meals will still be available on transcontinental flights between LAX/SFO-JFK/EWR and Hawaiian flights. Furthermore, the following special...
Update: Continental Airlines Saves the Day
I was pretty bummed last night upon discovering that a Continental agent inadvertently misspelled the names of 3/4 of the passengers on a complex award reservation, then being told that there was no solution to the problem. But the...
Fixing an Award Booking that Continental Destroyed
I cannot think of anything more aggravating than spending hours upon hours constructing and booking an award reservation only to find the tickets were issued incorrectly and the prospects for correction are slim. I have been working all week...
How to Check for Upgrade Space on Continental Airlines Flights
Gauging upgrade space is not always easy. With the way U.S. carriers have monetized upgrading on international flights, I would think that airlines would make availability easy accessible and actively hawk upgrades when available. Instead, it often takes many...
United Systemwide Upgrades Can Now Be Used on Continental Flights!
Ben reports that United systemwide upgrades (SWUs) can now be applied on Continental flights. For now, you have to call to request the upgrade, but within the coming days this should be available to request online. I gave Continental...
Guam to Tokyo in Continental Airlines Business Class
After a refreshing stay at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, it was time to continue on to Tokyo. Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam is very easy to navigate and was empty when I arrived for my...
Honolulu to Guam in Continental Economy Class
My feelings about Continental remained mixed. Since the airline joined Star Alliance in 2009 I have flown on them quite a bit, on a mix of domestic and international flights. Overall, I give high marks to Continental, though I...
United to Close Denver Hub?
A piece ran in the Denver Post yesterday speculating on the future hub status of Denver, implying that United is ready to axe it. I see no cause for concern just yet. The rumors stem from internal UA documents...
United Shuns Continental and Reinstates Zone Boarding
Finally, a United policy wins out! During my travels in the United States last month I witnessed the birth of United’s “new” boarding policy, which could only be described as chaotic and inefficient. Mimicking Continental, UA began boarding military...
United Eliminates Pillows in Domestic First Class
For an airline that claims to be transforming itself into “world’s leading airline,” you have to question the recent decision to remove pillows from domestic first class flights. Yet that is exactly what United has done this week, following the model of their...
Systemwide and Regional Upgrade Reciprocity Coming to Continental/United this Summer
Good news for holders of confirmed upgrades instruments on United and Continental: your upgrade options will soon widen. This morning I received the following e-mail from United: We understand how important upgrades are to you. Currently, elite members of...
