Transiting through Vietnam is tricky if you don’t have a visa. But it’s possible. Here’s how to do it. Obtaining a visa in advance is not necessary if you arriving into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang....
Upside.com Wooing Businesses With Elaborate Gifts
I have used Upside.com for business trips in the past with mixed results. I was shocked and amazed at what they sent me to remind me of why I should book business travel with them. Can you believe what...
Pruitt’s Latest Defense of First Class Travel: Civility
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has a new justification for flying first class: the “toxic” political environment… After reading all the comments in my recent commentary on first class travel for government officials, I can almost understand his...
“Poop and Run” by Fake Service Animal at Newark Airport
As airlines seek to crack down on the rampant exploitation of emotional support animals to skirt pet cargo fees, one passenger shows there are other ways to cheat the system. Flyertalk member UK Stages details what he observed at Newark...
The Bahamas’ Zone Taxis Hurt Bahamians
I wrote a few weeks ago about the airport Taxi touts in Panama but this is not that story. In the Bahamas, taxi zones are in place and are especially expensive for short distances. While you might think this will...
Review: Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (Suite)
The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach in Honolulu offers a great compromise between the full-service Hyatt Regency and limited service Hyatt Place, all within walking distance. But it’s not a beach hotel and would not be my first choice if visiting...
27-Year-Old Has Visited Every Country in the World
As I continue my own quest to visit every country in the world, I love reading stories about how others have achieved the same feat. Sal Lavallo is just 27 years old, but recently visited Malta, his final country on...
How Does the “Serial Stowaway” Sneak Past Security Checkpoints and Onto Airplanes?
Marilyn Hartman, who has become a folk hero for slipping past TSA checkpoints and onto airplanes undetected, has struck again. This time she not only bypassed security at Chicago O’Hare, but managed to sneak onto a British Airways flight...
Do You Ever “Waste” a Flight Watching Movies?
It had all the ingredients of an ideal flight for sleeping. The flight left at 2am. I had just worked for 8 hours. Lie-flat beds were available. And I was tried. But I did not sleep a wink. After...
Sitting Next to a Pipe Smoker
I could smell it many paces away…my seatmate from Doha to Ho Chi Minh City was not just a smoker, but a pipe smoker. The smell was distinct and unmistakable. And while I prefer the smell of smoke from...
Secret Government Airline is Now Hiring Flight Attendants!
I’ve written about JANET before, the “secret” government airline that transports workers to highly-classified government facilities. The airline is now hiring FAs! But this won’t be a standard job interview… > Read More: The Secret U.S. Government Airline JANET, more...
Is it Acceptable to Spread Out When There are Open Seats?
We hope for them, rarely get them, but once in awhile run into flights that depart with many opens seats. What is the protocol for claiming those seats? I wrote about my recent flight in SWISS First Class that...
Flying in 2018: The Best of Times
Like Charles Dickens’ famous opening line, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” In a counter post to one previously published today, I can prove that flying in 2018 is the best it has...
Flying in 2018: It Was The Worst of Times
Like Charles Dickens’ famous opening line, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Flying in 2018 is the worst it has ever been, from poor customer service to Basic Economy, being nickel and damned...
10 New Countries I Plan to Visit in 2018
I only visited four new countries in 2017, my lowest number since I began traveling internationally in 2005. And that’s fine. I had a newborn at home and more important matters than adding to my country count. Still, it...
10 Flights I Look Forward to in 2018
As we enter 2018, there are a number of airline premium cabin airline products I look forward to trying this year. Here’s the top-10 I will target, in no particular order: 1. Singapore A380 New Suites Class Singapore’s new...
The Worst Kind of Hotel Guest
We have all encountered them, we hope never to aspire to be them but when we encounter them we know instantly: they are the worst hotel guest ever. This one comes to you from The Confidante, a Hyatt property...
Flying a Private Jet from LA to Las Vegas
Earlier this week I had the chance to fly on a private jet from Van Nuys to Las Vegas…something I could easily get used to. This wasn’t my first time flying private, but it was a very different experience...
A380 Landing from the Perspective of a British Airways’ Pilot
Ever wondered what an actual landing looks like from the view of the cockpit? Or perhaps how pilots handle it? British Airways has just released a great video documenting an A380 landing in Johannesburg. Here’s the video– The video...
My United 1K Dilemma
As the year draws to the close, I find myself in a paradoxical position: top-tier United 1K status is within reach, yet hopelessly distant. I’ve racked up over 86,000 EQM this year and I’m on my next trip this...
