Category Archives: Travel

Several airlines have released holiday-themed videos this month, but WestJet’s “Christmas Miracle” film brought a big smile to my face. The simple message–that it is more blessed to give than to receive–is not a trite expression, but a truism that...

For a few more hours you can still get $10 off you next statement credit when you spend at least $10 at a local business today. Today is American Express’ annual Small Business Saturday and though not as lucrative...

Lucky shares that Lufthansa has opened the award space floodgates on its new route between Toronto and Munich that begins on June 5, 2014. Space is going fast already but Lufthansa has released eight business class seats and four...

Another Friday, another devaluation at United Airlines. United posted an updated award chart today and it is not pretty. Targeting primarily premium cabins on partner airlines, mileage required will rise by as much as 87% over current levels! The new...

Now you won’t have to hide your cell phone anymore as the flight attendants walk by! With the ink still drying on the FAA’s decision to lift the ban on the use of electronics below 10,000 feet onboard aircraft,...

United Airlines has quietly reduced domestic checked baggage allowances for both Star Alliance Gold and Silver members, clandestinely updating its baggage policy with a posthumous disclaimer.   Holders of Star Gold status outside of the Mileage Plus program who once...

In December 2012, an official e-mail was sent to all United Airlines flight attendants with the following instructions– Benefits like bonus award miles, upgrades, priority airport services, fee waivers and discounts help us deliver a distinct and memorable level...

The next Reach for the Miles meetup, in New York City, will be held on Tuesday, September 17th at 6pm. Meet others from the travel industry, talk points and miles, and have a drink from the cash bar at...

I have chosen the non-conventional career path of working for myself instead of working for others, and as Award Expert has grown, it has consumed a growing chunk of my time. Even with an excellent team already lending support,...

Gary Leff is both a friend and an inspiration, and he faced a tall order in defending Delta’s Skymiles program on Comedy Central last night, even with a “sympathetic” Steven Colbert. No, this wasn’t exactly a discussion about credit cards...

I do a special post on Memorial Day each year not to be jingoistic or political, but because the ultimate sacrifice made by so many members of the military throughout the American experiment is so easy to forget in...

Sometimes your life can change in ways you least expect it. Mine changed nearly four years ago, while sitting with my uncle and brother in a guesthouse near the Galilee in northern Israel. I had taken the LSAT (Law...

Even before Jay-Z and Beyonce made headlines for their recent trip to Cuba, an On the Spot column by Los Angeles Times travel writer Catharine Hamm caught my attention – Question: What are the travel requirements for going to Cuba?...

Air Samoa made headlines this week with its new policy of charging passengers based upon their weight (personal + baggage). Many are wondering if such a policy could ever hit airlines in the United States. The answer is not...

My life wasn’t always centered around travel. My undergraduate studies were in political science and U.S. history and my first post-graduation job was in the White House Press Office. That kept me busy enough M-F, but there was just...

One of my Washington rituals over the last decade has been to eat lunch at Ebbitt Express, if time permits, every time I arrive in the city. Located adjacent to Old Ebbitt Grill and a block from the White...

When planning my Balkan adventure over the summer, I saw that Macedonia spilled out into northern Greece and there happened to be a Hyatt Regency near the airport in the city of Thessaloniki, where I could catch a non-stop...

In my world of frequent airline travel, now ongoing for nearly decade, it becomes easy to forget that most do not travel and many of those who do make only one or two holiday trips per year. Nevertheless, my...