When I wrote that United’s departure from Kuwait City was predicated upon expulsion by the Kuwaiti government, my insider source also mentioned offhandedly that Dubai would be shut down soon after because of stiff competition from Emirates. With United denying my...
Final Hours to Transfer Chase Points to Amtrak
In just a few hours, the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Amtrak Guest Rewards will no longer be possible. If you are considering an Amtrak redemption in the coming months, now is the final call to...
United Airlines Chooses illy as New Coffee Provider
United flyers can finally breathe a sigh of relief — the despised coffee currently found onboard and in United Clubs is on the way out and Italian coffee maker illy is on the way in. Starting next month we...
How To Get Arrested on a Plane
Many are tense now with recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut still a vivid memory as is the downing of a Russian jet in Egypt. With that heightened fear, I can only imagine what passengers onboard a British...
American Airlines Finally Guts Award Chart
I’ve been predicting it for months…years actually…and the time has finally come: AA announced a huge devaluation of its AAdvantage award chart today. The only question has been how bad it would be and for those who like premium...
Air Berlin Business Class Award Space on New Routes to Boston, Dallas, San Francisco
Air Berlin has announced three new longhaul routes to North America from its Dusseldorf hub; Dallas, San Francisco, and Boston. The new longhaul routes will commence next spring and feature fully lie-flat seats in business class. Schedules have been...
U.S. Justice Department Blocks Newark Slot Deal Between United and Delta
United has already abandoned New York Kennedy in a deal in which United traded its Kennedy slots for 24 of Delta’s Newark slots. Today, the U.S. Department of Justice said not so fast, suing to block the deal on anti-competition...
American Express Won’t Confirm New Centurion Lounge at LAX…Yet
Is a new American Express Centurion Lounge coming to Los Angeles International Airport? Brian Summers points to a recent LAX employee newsletter claiming that one is coming between Terminals 6 and 7. It does seem odd that American Express...
Guam Demands United Airlines Improve Service
Attorneys General from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have sent a letter to United Interim CEO Brett Hart demanding onboard service improvements including the return of free inflgiht meals and a second free checked bag...
United CEO Oscar Munoz Will Return Next Year
Hobbled United CEO Oscar Munoz is on the mend. After replacing disgraced CEO Jeff Smisek, Munoz promised big changes to United but quickly suffered a heart attack, forcing United to name Brett Hart as Interim CEO. For weeks we have...
The Elegant Simplicity of Cathay Pacific’s New Livery
Airlines update their livery from time to time, often when the brand is in need of a similar refresh. For Cathay Pacific, flag carrier of Hong Kong, the brand is respected, financial are stable, and there has been no...
Rumor: United Will Charge to Gate Check Excess Carry-on Bags
Checked baggage fees are here to stay and checking a bag remains an unattractive option — who wants to stand around a baggage carousel or risk losing your valuables when you can keep your bags with you onboard? That...
American Airlines Passenger Goes on 9/11 Rant, Claims to Have Gun
Nothing like a crazy passenger to disturb an otherwise mundane transcon flight. An American Airlines flight from LA to Philadelphia was forced to divert to Phoenix after a man who had probably been listening to Alex Jones too much...
British Airways Stabs USA Travelers in the Back in Latest Cutback
British Airways should be ashamed of itself — truly ashamed. Every carrier has sweet spots on its award chart and we all knew that one of the great bright spots of the Executive Club award chart was 4,5000 miles...
Why I Am Opposed to Hyatt – Starwood Merger
Let’s be clear — when was the last time a merger was actually beneficial to customers on the loyalty front? Northwest and Delta merged, and we lost a great Northwest loyalty program and website. The new carrier took the...
Kuwaiti Government Expels United Airlines from Kuwait
United Airlines has announced it will suspend service to Kuwait City and Bahrain on January 13, 2016. I’ve flown the route twice and the plane was half full both times (and with only about 50 passengers the one time...
Why is Uber Still Not Available at LAX?
Despite promises from city officials that we’d have UberX and Lyft at Los Angeles International Airport this summer, it is now autumn ad we are still waiting. The reason? Bureaucratic paperwork and a lawsuit. The LA Times reports– As...
Aer Lingus Adds Flights to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford
Aer Lingus is accelerating its international expansion with newly announced service to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford in 2016. New USA Routes Propel Aer Lingus International Expansion Thus far, we only have details about the Los Angeles route, which...
Brett Hart is United’s New Acting CEO
And just like that, another lawyer is at the helm of United Airlines. As a lawyer myself, you might expect that I would express some form of solidarity, but it just makes me suspicious from the outset after sleazy...
Update on United CEO Munoz Coming Today
United released the following, fairly cryptic statement this morning from Henry Meyer, non-executive Chairman of the Board– The Company anticipates it will today conclude the corporate governance process necessitated by the hospitalization of President and CEO, Oscar Munoz. The company...
