Check out Wendy Perrin’s recent interview with Sir Richard Branson. The most interesting part of the discussion was Richard Branson saying he would "seriosuly consider" launching a fourth airline alliance. The pickings are becoming slimmer as the "big three"...
Spirit Airlines’ new ad campaign: "Check out the oil on our beaches"
You see how smart Spirit Airlines is? Fresh off the heels of a strike that cost them millions, Spirit needed to get back in the news and get people talking about them again. They’ve succeeded in their latest ad...
Interrogated by DHS in Montreal for sounding "foreign"
Yesterday I shared about my experience with Canadian border authorities while trying to enter Montreal. Sadly, my border travails were not over and I had more problems returning to the U.S. yesterday. After clearing security at YUL, I found...
House Made of 747 Scrap Parts
Check out this house. [Architect David Hertz] built a green house for his client, Francie Rehwald, using scrap parts from more than 230 feet long, 193 feet wide, and 60 feet tall, Boeing 747 jumbo jet. In order to make the house,...
The Solution to Avoid IDBs: VDB Auctions
The Wall Street Journal has an excellent editorial today arguing that rather than more government rules, airlines should adopt an auction-style system to deal with overbooked flights. …In the first quarter of this year, some 23,380 passengers were forced...
Consider the Hero Miles Program this Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a holiday set aside to honor U.S. soldiers who have died while in military service. This is not a blog to debate the merits of war and peace, to dissect statecraft...
Chris Elliott Whines that Upgrades are too Expensive on United
Chris Elliott actually makes some fair points in his latest column about pet fees, change fees, walk-up fares, and ticket pricing. He oversimplifies and exaggerates, but his concerns are not outrageous. But then he addresses United’s co-pay upgrade scheme...
Two Thumbs Up for Tom Bihn’s "Tri-Star" Laptop Bag + Accessories
Tom Bihn sent one of their “Tri-Star” laptop bags and a few accessories over to upgrd.com for review and I had a chance to test them on my trip to Panama last week. There is always a temptation to give...
RIP Captain Oveur
Peter Graves, the infamous and hilarious Captain Ovuer in Airplane! and Airplane! II has passed away. Most will remember him for his work on Mission Impossible, but I’ll remember him for this: RIP.
Picture of the Week #6: Can you Identify the Border City?
Can you identify the location this picture was taken at? Hint: It is within walking distance of a border.
South America Trip Report on Mexicana, Avianca, and LAN Peru…
…begins tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Rethinking Passport Control in America
Earlier this week I flew from Mexico City to Lima with a two-hour connection in Bogota. When I landed at BOG, I noticed two signs: one for passport control and one for international connections. I followed the international connections...
Breathless Machu Picchu – A Mandatory Addition to your Destination List
Need I say more? Full trip report upon my return. This article uses a picture from icelight on wikimedia and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license (I`ll post my own picture upon my return at the...
Join me in Lima for $245 a/i on LAN Peru from JFK
Well, not really join me since this deal is only good for May and June next year, but LAN is offering round-trip fares from JFK to LIM for $245 including taxes. Book it on AA.com and be sure to...
Picture of the Week #2: A Taste of Swiss First
Have you ever had an airline meal that has been so good that you can’t stop thinking about it? I should know better, but I often gamble by ordering “the beef.” Usually it comes out well-done and isn’t much...
