I ended 2016 with over 40K American EQMs. But no status. Thanks to cheap British Airways business class fares, I banked many AA miles, both status and redemption. In fact, by the end of spring I already had earned more than...
United Flight Diverts After Misogynistic Passenger Rant (Videos)
Another week, another flight diversion. This time a United flight from Sydney to San Francisco diverted to Auckland after a profanity-laced misognystic tirade from an irate passenger over a seat assignment. Anjou Ahlborn Kay, another passenger on the flight, writes...
A Resolution for 2017 I Can Keep
Happy Near Year! I slept through it…my wife and I went to bed early last night. I guess we are just an old married couple now! Let’s talk about resolutions for a moment. While I won’t say I felt...
2016: A Year of Change
What a year 2016 has been! Many cannot wait for this year to end, but I try to keep things positive here on Live and Let’s Fly. While there is so much bad news to reflect upon this year,...
Frankfurt to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines A330 Business Class
Earlier this week I compared Lufthansa vs. Turkish Airlines within Europe and the differences on this flight could not have been more stark. Turkish 1588 Frankfurt (FRA) – Istanbul (IST) Thursday, April 21, 2016 Depart: 11:40 AM Arrive: 3:50 PM Duration:...
Tokyo Airport Now Offers Cell Phone Toilet Paper
We all know the Japanese make the world’s best toilets, but bathrooms at Tokyo Narita are about to get even better! An extra roll of toilet paper is now available in most stalls at NRT: compact in size. The...
Photos: My 10 Best Flights in 2016
As 2016 draws to a close, I have to look back and chuckle. Every year I write in January that I am going to curb travel in the coming year and every year I just end up traveling more...
Video: Citibank VP Thrown Off Delta Flight, Attacks Cheering Passengers
A Delta flight from Minneapolis to Los Angeles turned back and landed in MSP last night over a lavatory altercation that led to a fistfight with other passengers. A Citibank VP and his girlfriend were traveling to LA. The woman needed to...
The End of Free Parking in Las Vegas
A fascinating article in the LA Times details how casinos in Las Vegas are eliminating free parking. For those in the know, that will also spell the end of free parking when traveling from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS)....
It’s That Time of Year Again…
It’s that time of year…the annual hotel mattress run for procrastinators. This year, I am one of them! I had to laugh. I’m in Long Beach, CA for a couple days because I’m two stays short of my Hyatt...
Review: Lufthansa Welcome Lounge Frankfurt
I reviewed the Lufthansa Welcome Lounge in Frankfurt five years ago and it has not changed much. That’s a testament to the endearing quality of Lufthansa. Located landside beyond passport control and baggage claim, the lounge serves arriving long haul premium...
Detour: My Other Africa Trip Report
Last week I kicked off my “month in Africa” trip report. I’m telling the story of my life, in a sense, and that month in Africa was nothing short of incredible. The trip report is already written, but I have...
A Trick for Finding Hidden Award Seats
Earlier today I wrote about married segments, attempting to explain them, their purpose, and how to use them to your advantage. Just like in real life, however, sometimes marriage is not the answer. While married segments and “direct flights”...
A Primer On Married Segments
Airlines are increasingly using “married segment logic” in the allocation of revenue and award seats, which can create more difficulty in booking, but at the same time opportunity. Explaining Married Segments When two segments are married it means you can...
Twas the Night Before Christmas: 2016 Edition
You’ll have to indulge me here. I tried this three years ago in a poem entitled The Night Before Christmas: United Airlines Edition but this one is a bit more personal. I like poetry, especially rhyming couplets, and figured I’d...
United Cuts International Routes, Will Focus on Domestic Travel
An interesting Chicago Tribune article details how United will focus more on domestic travel in 2017. With yields down on international routes thanks to low-cost competition, United will look inward. Strategies includes: Strengthening its existing hubs Continuing the trend...
A Touch of Dignity at SFO
This is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year and San Francisco Airport was particularly busy when I passed through Wednesday afternoon. But above the din of voices and boarding announcements was not a canned holiday soundtrack but the sweet...
Mutiny: Passengers Revolt on My UA Flight
Rain in Los Angeles and odd easterly winds fouled up operations at LAX yesterday and created a mutinous situation on my United flight. Yesterday was a first for me: despite several hundred flights into LAX over the years, for the...
Success: Booking Garuda First Class for 90% Off!
In what has to be the deal of the year, Garuda Indonesia is offering 90% off all awards for bookings ticketed before 31 Dec 2016 for travel from 01 Feb to 31 May 2017. I certainly thought this really...
Why the AMEX Lounge is My Favorite Office
With a long layover in San Francisco earlier this week, I spent about six hours in the American Express Centurion Lounge. Let me tell you that it was the most productive six hours of my week thus far! Travelers value airport lounges...
