It has been nearly two weeks since my trip from Zürich to Los Angeles in first class. Many have asked me, now that I’ve had time to reflect, was it worth it? Let’s put aside the lawsuit for a...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 7, 2018

A very happy Sunday evening to you from Los Angeles. It’s been a horrible weekend in one respect. I’ll explain tomorrow. For now, I’ll just leave you with the top stories of the week and a link to each...
Amazing Flight in SWISS First Class!

I’m home and happy to report a smooth and most excellent flight in SWISS First Class! My family traveled from Zurich to Los Angeles and the superior service started service directly at check-in. We were traveling with a great...
Update from Aimia (Aeroplan) RE: My Demand Letter

Literally minutes after posting yesterday about purchasing SWISS First Class tickets, I received an email from the legal department of Aimia, parent company of Aeroplan. I do not believe that post and this response are at all related. I’ve spoken...
I’m Booked in SWISS First Class, Zurich to Los Angeles…

Sometimes, you have to put your money where your mouth is. In what seems like so long ago, I promised: But mark my words: my family will fly in SWISS First together to end our holiday trip to Germany....
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 24, 2017

It’s Christmas Eve and I hope, like me, you are spending it with family friends. I’m on “vacation” in Germany for awhile, but there is never really any true vacation in the world of blogging and Award Expert. Posts...
Here’s My Response to SWISS and the DOT

After receiving a disingenuous and dishonest response from SWISS earlier today over my DOT complaint, I’ve now composed a response that I hope will be addressed line-by-line. I won’t hold my breath… > Read More: Disingenuous, Dishonest Response from SWISS...
Disingenuous, Dishonest Response from SWISS Over DOT Complaint

I had a nice day outside with my family and just returned home to find a response from SWISS to my DOT complaint. While not wholly unexpected, its arrogant tone and outright fabrication of facts is deplorable. Here’s the...
My Demand Letter to Aeroplan

In the interest of transparency, I’m keeping you updated on what/how I communicate with Aeroplan concerning the SWISS First Class award controversy. Having been thus far unable to resolve this in a manner that suits me, I just mailed...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 17, 2017

After another trip to New York, I’m back in Los Angeles until tomorrow…when I’ll fly to Germany for Christmas. It has been a hectic month, so I am looking forward to some downtime. American Airlines’ opened a beautiful new...
Did Anyone Lose Their SWISS First Class Reservation with United?

As I prepare my legal case against Aeroplan, I have a question to anyone who recently booked SWISS First Class award space via United: is your reservation still intact? I’m trying to draw to sufficient data points to weigh...
Aeroplan Called Me…

The SWISS First Class award saga may now be in the trench warfare stage. Last week, I received an updated itinerary from Aeroplan without any other notice or explanation. Yesterday, I received a phone call from Aeroplan. > Read...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 10, 2017

I’m back in LA after a whirlwind trip to New York and Frankfurt. I’ll have more details on that trip tomorrow, including a dismaying incident at JFK. My focus over the last week has been on the SWISS First...
Aeroplan Plan of Attack: DOT First, Lawsuit Later

Aeroplan apparently won’t honor the SWISS First Class award tickets issued last week. I say apparently because Aeroplan still hasn’t contacted me directly concerning my ticket and the reservation still shows intact if I login to my Aeroplan account....
Aeroplan: We Won’t Honor SWISS First Class Award Tickets

Just 11 minutes after publishing a cautiously optimistic post on the Aeroplan/SWISS First Class award issue, the other shoe dropped…Aeroplan is throwing in the towel. Here’s the update from Aeroplan– A small number of first class bookings were made...
SWISS First Class Update: No News is Good News?

I’ve received over 50 emails the last two days asking for an update on the Aeroplan/SWISS First Class issue. Thus far, I’ve only been advised to be patient. At this point, we know that SWISS is the culprit for...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 03, 2017

I’m in LA tonight…the question is for how long. I’m hoping I’ll be able to stay home this week, but I may be on a plane to New York tomorrow, then Hong Kong, then Zurich…maybe even Las Vegas. We’ll...
Aeroplan Issues Statement on Cancelled SWISS First Class Awards

Last post of the day on this, but Aeroplan sent me a statement concerning the cancelled SWISS First Class award bookings and I want to share it with you. I can assure you that we are not pleased with...
Let’s Help Aeroplan Take the Moral High Ground (RE: SWISS First Class Awards)

Yesterday, after learning that my SWISS First Class tickets from Zurich to Los Angeles had been cancelled, I quickly issued a legal threat. My point was not to be unnecessarily combative, but to underscore the seriousness of this matter and...
Dear Aeroplan, If You Cancel My SWISS First Class Tickets, I Will Sue You

I hope you felt the excitement in my two posts yesterday and post earlier today about flying with my family in SWISS First Class. I was truly ecstatic. So you can imagine how I felt when One Mile at...