Intra-Europe Business Class is a bit of a paradox for most travelers outside the Continent. While the seat is simply an economy class seat with a blocked middle, the flight will invariably include a meal of some kind, even...
Review: LOT 787 Business Class Chicago to Warsaw
LOT Polish Airlines used to have a business class so outdated it felt like flying on Ukraine International Airlines. But its longhaul fleet upgrade to 787-8 aircraft ushered in lie-flat seats and improved service levels. With low fuel surcharges and good...
Review: Star Alliance Lounge LAX
The Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is an architectural masterpiece that also has a decent selection of food and drink. Always worth a visit, I count this as my favorite business class lounge...
Plenty of Award Space on New Austrian Airlines LAX Route
Austrian Airlines will begin service between Vienna and Los Angeles starting next April, adding another Star Alliance destination in the heart of Europe for LA travelers. The new schedule effective April 10, 2017: OS81 Vienna (VIE) to Los Angeles...
Hey SAS, I Chose My Seat for a Reason!
Hello from 37,000 feet above the ground enroute from Los Angeles to Stockholm! The SAS flight has been incredible (more on that tomorrow) but a friendly warning if you are flying SAS and concerned about your seat assignment: check...
First Look: Turkish Airlines Lounge Washington Dulles
Back in April, Pizza in Motion reported that Turkish Airlines would be opening a lounge at Washington Dulles. I am on my way home to Los Angeles this morning and was pleased to see lounge construction is progressing nicely. The...
Jeffrey Goh Named Star Alliance CEO
Choosing a company insider to replace retiring Mark Schwab, Star Alliance has named Jeffrey Goh its new CEO, with an appointment effective on Janauary 01, 2017. “This early decision lays the groundwork for a smooth leadership transition at the...
You Must Watch this SWISS Video
SWISS, like many things in Switzerland, has a reputation for precision and quality. The national carrier has come a long way from its Swissair bankruptcy days and epitomizes what it means to be a reputable company. How does it maintain...
Unicorns, Four-Leaf Clovers, and Air New Zealand Business Class Award Space
After four years of absolutely no business class award space on its transpacific and transatlantic longhaul routes, Air New Zealand has suddenly decided to open business class award space to its Star Alliance partners. It is too early to...
SAS Releases Business Class Award Space
One of the more elusive airlines to obtain premium cabin award space on is SAS, the flag carrier of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The carrier has an impressive new business class product, but releases very little transatlantic award space....
A Secret Trick for Securing Business Class Award Space to Europe is Exposed
Brussels Airlines award space is again bookable on united.com…the secret trick to dependable business class award space to Europe has been exposed. Brussels Airlines space has played cat and mouse games on united.com over the last few years, appearing...
Thai Airways Reduces First Class + Cuts Madrid, Johannesburg, Moscow Flights — is Los Angeles Next?
Thailand’s flag carrier Thai Airways has struggled financially in the face of fierce regional competition but will escape bankruptcy thanks to a pledge by the Thai government to prop up the ailing carrier. The government has demanded austerity, though,...
No Imminent Star Alliance Membership Announcement for Royal Air Maroc
I knew it sounded too good be true — could Star Alliance really woo Royal Air Maroc into its alliance when it already was the dominant alliance in Africa? Would EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, and Brussels Airlines...
Royal Air Maroc to Join Star Alliance?
The formalities are not complete, but a Swiss news agency is reporting that Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier of Morocco, will join Star Alliance. Royal Air Maroc would bolster’s Star’s dominance in the region, joining Egypt Air, Ethiopian...
South African Airways Award Space Again Bookable
I wrote yesterday that South African Airways award space had been unbookable for one week using miles from any Star Alliance loyalty program outside of South African Voyager. Thankfully, the space is again bookable. The one-week hiatus of all...
Abundant Turkish Airlines Award Space on New San Francisco – Istanbul Route
Turkish Airlines is launching new non-stop service between San Francisco and Istanbul in April 2015 and the award space is abundant in both business and economy class – even on the inaugural flights! We’re not just talking about one or...
United Loosens Award Routing Rules Between North America and Africa
Fearing that United Airlines had further tightened up award routing rules to Asia based on a new and restrictive revision of the fine print, I warned in May that if enforced, United’s draconian new routing rules would mark a stealth...
Air India Joins Star Alliance
After years of drama, Indian flag carrier Air India has formally partnered with Star Alliance and becomes the first Indian carrier to join a global air alliance. I remember all too well how the drama unfolded in 2011 while...
Spin-Off of Thai Smile Another Blow to Star Alliance
Thai Airways will spin-off its Thai Smile Air unit into a separate subsidiary that will not participate in Star Alliance. Created in mid-2012 as a low-cost division of Thai Airways, Thai Smile has now obtained its own air operators’ certificate (AOC)...
US Airways + TAM Join oneworld Alliance
As Star Alliance shrinks, oneworld grows. Effective today, both US Airways and TAM transition from Star Alliance to oneworld, adding a more robust route network across the U.S., South America, and Europe for oneworld flyers. How Will This Affect You? If...
