Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed indifference bordering on hostility to the SkyTeam alliance this week even though his airline is a founding member. Now SkyTeam has hit back, gently, with a reminder of the value that it brings travelers....
How Delta SkyMiles Could Instantly Become A Leading Loyalty Program
Two words: first class. You can now book China Eastern First Class awards using your Delta miles. The value is not great, but it is fair…especially compared to how much Delta asks for some of its own flights. This...
Introduction: A SkyTeam Adventure in the Middle East
I’m closing in on my goal to try every member airline of the three of major alliances. My last trip focused on SkyTeam, with an opportunity to fly three new carriers: Aeromexico, Air France, and Middle East Airlines. Both...
SkyTeam Sends Me A Note On Delta Lounge Incident
Yesterday I wrote about Delta’s response to my lounge denial incident at LAX. Now SkyTeam has weighed in. I received an email from Michael Schutzbank, Director of Customer Loyalty at SkyTeam. His email stated: Matthew, On behalf of SkyTeam...
Delta Denies Me Sky Club Access On International Business Class Ticket
Maybe I’m missing the obvious, but I don’t think Delta should have denied me access to the Sky Club in Terminal 2 at LAX earlier this week. I was flying Aeromexico Business Class from Los Angeles to Mexico City...
Booked: Middle East Airlines!
I’ve decided to stick to SkyTeam for my trip home from Dubai. I just booked flights from Dubai to Frankfurt on a carrier I’ve been wanting to try for years, Middle East Airlines. Middle East Airlines (MEA) is a...
Booked! Aeromexico + Air France Business Class
Last week I wrote about my dilemma over an expiring Korean Air award. I’ve now found a solution and thankfully salvaged the ticket. Since Korean Air SkyTeam partner award tickets must end in the same country as they begin,...
Review: SkyTeam Lounge London Heathrow (LHR)
The SkyTeam Lounge London Heathrow is an excellent Priority Pass Lounge in LHR’s Terminal 4. After passing through the security checkpoint, the lounge isn’t far. Look up for the Etihad/SkyTeam sign and you’ll see a long corridor leading down to...
Saving My Expiring Korean Air Award…
Like most airline tickets, both award and revenue, Korean Air tickets expire one year from date of issue. That presents quite a problem for me… You might recall that Ben from One Mile at a Time and I flew...
Review: Aeromexico Lounge Cancún (CUN)
My connection turned out so quick that I had plenty of time to relax prior to my Aerolineas Argentinas flight to Buenos Aires. The airline uses Aeromexico’s Salon Premier in Terminal 2. The lounge is small, but access is limited...
Introduction: Los Angeles to Rome via Argentina and Spain on SkyTeam
It’s time for my next trip report, a short one that will detail my trip to Italy last month. Let’s just say I took the scenic route… An ambitious goal to be sure, but it is my desire to...
Next Trip: Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, and Alitalia!
Some trips I book months in advance, some trips I book the day before. This is one of those trips that I have been looking forward to for months. While it may not be reasonably possible to review every...
Delta Closes SkyMiles Loophole
10 days ago Delta devalued its SkyMiles loyalty program further by raising the price of partner awards without notice. But it left an odd loophole that could be used to book awards at the old price. That loophole is now...
Even After Latest Devaluation, We’re Stuck Using Delta SkyMiles
Delta will act with impunity and there is no way to stop it or even prepare for it. But we are still stuck using Delta SkyMiles. In many cases, there is no smart alternative… Yesterday Delta again devalued partner awards instantly and...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 4, 2017
Hello from Santa Monica, CA. I dined with some very dear clients who have become friends last night. Not knowing LA traffic, I hedged my bets and left early. Thankfully, traffic moved much better than my GPS suggested and I made...
Review: China Airlines A350 Business Class Amsterdam to Taipei
China Airlines’ A350-900 in business class was every bit as impressive as I hoped it would be. Great service, great food, and a great seat made for a great flight. I had started in Los Angeles the previous morning, with a...
My Awesome Routing to Jakarta for Garuda First Class
I’m enroute to Jakarta for the long-awaited 90%-off first class award redemption on Garuda Indonesia. Although I am very excited to try Gardua First Class, I must admit my routing to Jakarta is giving it a run for the...
Saudia Award Space Now Bookable on Delta.com
Saudia, formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a member of SkyTeam. Many are quick to dismiss Saudia because it is a dry airline, but I’ve flown Saudia four times and give...
Saudi Arabia to Offer Tourist Visas Starting in June 2015
06 JAN 15 UPDATE: No Tourist Visas After All for Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is not quite the hermit kingdom of North Korea, but it remains an elusive destination, difficult to enter and currently impossible to be an official tourist...
Free Upgrade to Business Class on Aeroflot
Update: Deal has expired Aeroflot Russian Airlines introduced a premium economy “Comfort Class” last year that provides a hybrid between business and economy similar to Air France’s Premium Economy product. Through the end of August, Aeroflot is offering Comfort...
