What happens when you need to travel between Saudi Arabia or the UAE and Doha? Answer: take Oman Air. As one of the easiest way to sidestep the Qatar embargo, the Omani national airline has found itself suddenly in...
A Glowing Review of Delta from My German Cousins
I have German cousins in town this week and around the dinner table last night, they showered Delta Air Lines with praise. They flew economy class from Stuttgart to Atlanta and exclaimed, “Never have we had so much food on...
Sweden Mulls Pricey New Airline Tax
Sweden’s governing coalition has proposed a tax of up to 439 Krona (~$49) on airfare originating in Sweden, a move that critics say will cripple the country’s growing and competitive aviation industry. The UK’s “Air Passenger Duty” and Germany’s “Air...
Update: More Route Suspensions + Statement from Qatar Airways
More bad news for Qatar Airways today, as the Doha-based carrier has suspended flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday the carrier suspended service to Saudi Arabia. These nations have also blocked Qatar from using its airspace. As...
Flying Qatar This Week? Why You Shouldn’t Panic
News broke overnight that a handful of Gulf nations would diplomatically isolate Qatar. The isolation may include blocking air space vital for Qatar Airways to smoothly operate. While news is still developing and the situation could get much worse, for now...
Will Qatar Airways Be Destroyed by Geopolitics?
Beware if you are flying Qatar Airways in the days ahead: expect delays and/or flight cancellations as the Gulf airline finds itself in the middle of a larger diplomatic row. The following nations have ceased diplomatic relations with Qatar:...
United Airlines Suspends Service to Venezuela
Venezuela is on the verge of economic collapse and United Airlines has decided enough is enough. Effective July 01, 2017 United is suspending service to Caracas (CCS). Although corrupt President Nicolás Maduro has promised to prevent any carrier who halts service...
United Caves: Increases U.S. Military Baggage Allowance
Last week I wrote about a soldier returning from active duty who was charged $200 to check his kevlar armor on a short United domestic flight. I defended United, but anything that remotely smacks of being anti-military is a losing...
Police Forcibly Remove Obnoxious Buffoon from Delta Flight
Word to the wise: aircraft overhead bins are shared space. The space immediately above your row does not belong to you. Bin space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If only someone explained that to the obnoxious buffoon...
Premium Transcontinental Service on United: Free Hot Meals in EconomyPlus + Boston Expansion
The rumors have finally been confirmed: United will expand its premium transcontinental service to flights between Boston and San Francisco on July 01, 2017. Even better, United will spruce up business class food and offer free hot meals in...
British Airways WILL Cover EU261 Claims + Other Flight Bookings
Some good news for consumers afflicted by the British Airways IT Meltdown over the weekend: BA has pledged to settle up. #1: BA will cover EU261/2004 claims One Mile At A Time reported that some passengers who filed claims under...
Why We Won’t See a European Laptop Ban
I haven’t addressed the rumors of a laptop ban on all flights out of the European Union, but now I will: I knew it would not happen. Sure, easy for me to say it now that EU and United...
The King of Holland is a KLM Pilot
As I mentioned in my KLM 787-9 World Business Class trip report from San Francisco to Amsterdam, KLM struck me as a very egalitarian airline. Now I know it is true. The King of Holland is also a KLM...
Flight Attendants Sue For Right to Pump Breast Milk on Job
Two Frontier Airlines flight attendants are suing their employer for forbidding them to pump breast milk while working on flights. Stacy Rewitzer of Denver and Jo Roby of Boise, Idaho claim they were forced to either stop breastfeeding or take...
No Dao-t About It, United Profits Surging
United Airlines may just have the last laugh concerning the David Dao UA3411 incident. Its April numbers are in and they show no backlash over the dragging or leggings incident. There is no doubt about it, United had a very good...
Air India Confirms Service to Dallas and Los Angeles
Air India will begin service to Los Angeles and Dallas later this year, in addition to previously announced service to Washington DC. In a Facebook post, Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani outlined several new routes. These include:...
Congress Makes Me Sicker Than the Airlines…
Airline executives, including United CEO Oscar Munoz, were hauled to Capitol Hill yesterday to testify before Congress about all the recent customer service mishaps that have grabbed news headlines around the world. I worked on Capitol Hill so I feel...
No Joke. American Airlines Wins Best Elite Program at Freddies
American Airlines took home the honor of “best elite program” for the Americas last night at the 27th annual Freddie Awards. I’m outraged. I am not an American Airlines flyer, but I certainly follow the AAdvantage program closely, both...
Is it Safe to Transport Pets on Airplanes? A Fact-Based Examination
Is it safe to transport pets on airplanes? I wrote about the dead bunny earlier today and about a dead dog recently. Horrific stories indeed. But are they just outliers? Let’s take a look at the facts. Each year...
Lawmakers Squabble over Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been a hot political topic for decades. As Congress weighs loosening restrictions in this year’s FAA Reauthorization Bill, some are fighting back. Senators from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia have teamed up to...
