In booking last-minute airfare this week I noticed some absolutely sketchy fees on Orbitz. Watch out for them. First, let’s talk when you should book your airfare on Orbitz. Answer: as little as possible. Booking on Orbitz, an online...
Hollywood Throws Out Bob Hope from Burbank Airport
As my home airport, I watched with great dismay as service to Burbank greatly shrunk during the Great Recession. Now with great delight I watch service returning to pre-recession levels. In a bid to draw even more travelers (and...
The Amenity Kit I Cannot Throw Away
I think we all tend to hold on to certain things, sometimes irrationally. Back in 2005, I picked up a free “United MileagePlus Visa” amenity kit at the ticket counter in Washington Dulles. For the last 12 years, it...
When a Seatmate Vomits On You…
Just in time for the West Coast lunch hour, the topic of what to do when a seatmate vomits on you. I noticed an absolutely disgusting story on Flyertalk about a sick woman who vomited on her seatmate. With...
I Need Another Star Alliance Status Match
I’m in need of my Star Alliance Gold fix. Anyone know a good dealer? I have lifetime Premier Gold status with United Airlines, which also gives me lifetime Star Alliance Gold status. But that does not help me gain...
My Seatmate Had Foul Body Odor…on a 10hr Flight
Remember that post I wrote a couple months ago about my proselytizing seatmate? Turns out he had another issue as well: pungent body odor. Later today I will publish my flight report on Ukraine International Airlines’ flagship Kiev to New...
Incredible $70 One-Way Fares to Europe
I don’t typically write about deals since we see them multiple times each week now, but I cannot pass this one up. WOW Air is offering $69.99 one-way flights from a number of U.S. cities. These include: San Francisco...
Help Me Choose What Trip Report to Publish Next
It has been only two months since I made the move to Boarding Area but I already feel like I’ve been here for years. I love being part of this family. I’m still catching up on a backlog of...
Review: Los Angeles to London in Air New Zealand 777-300 Business Premier
I’ve booked my parents on it, my brother on it, dozens of clients on it, but now it was my turn. For years I have been wanting to fly Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to London and a...
United CEO Reflects on Trump Meeting (and My Concerns)
Airline executives met with President Trump yesterday. You can read the sometimes humorous pool report here. Rather than focusing on the contentious travel ban, airline executives and the new Trump administration sought to find common ground. United CEO Oscar Munoz...
Surprise Meal on United Proves Why Meals Don’t Matter
Not to beat a dead horse, but my United flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt yesterday demonstrates why economy class meal service likely has little effect on loyalty and negatively impacts revenue. I generally do not upgrade when flights are so...
United Ground Delay Due to Computer Glitch
Another day, another IT glitch. United Airlines this time. Allegedly at 11:30p last night a faulty software update was loaded to a system that supplies flight planning data to pilots. Reports of delays throughout the country are filtering in on Flyertalk....
A Photo Finish in Cape Town
In my final post in this series I will discuss the process of how we ultimately obtained the Police Clearance Certificate for Heidi, but it was now 5pm with our flight back to Europe scheduled to depart in four...
Huge Cocaine Stash Found on AA Plane
We have a bit of a mystery on our hands…and some drug humor as well, all thanks to airliners.net. The issue: 31lbs of cocaine found on an AA plane at Tusla earlier today. CNBC reports that while working on the...
$15,000 Dinner at Disneyland
I’ve got a trip to Disneyland coming up in a couple weeks…my first time there in over a decade. We will be taking the little one..and a babysitter. One thing we won’t be taking is a reservation to 21 Royal,...
Review: Johannesburg to Livingstone, Zambia in British Airways Comair Economy Class
Back in South Africa and still waiting for our document, we booked a trip to Victoria Falls. After failing in on our first attempt to fly to Livingstone due to improper vaccination records, it was time for take two. We had...
Review: Nkambeni Safari Camp
We pulled into Kruger Park with no reservation, hoping to find lodge accommodations inside the park. Unsurprisingly, there was no room. On the way in (via the Numbi gate) we had noticed a lodge just outside the park grounds...
What is World’s Most Powerful Passport?
I tend to spend far too much time reading the Daily Mail, and came across a story a few days ago ranking passports. Passport Index is a great resources for passport information and each years ranks countries based upon visa-free...
Missed Flight, 3hrs on Uber, and the 58th Presidential Inauguration
The plan was simple enough. Fly to the inauguration and then fly back. But hastily-arranged, last-minute trips a rarely turn out smoothly. This trip was no exception. Award space opened up at the last minute from Los Angeles to...
How to Obtain a South African Police Report
If you recall, the whole point of our trip to South Africa was to secure one document, a South African Police Report, so that my wife could immigrate to the USA. While this can be requested via mail, the...
