Flying on a new airline for the first time is always fun. There’s a bit of apprehension—will the service be good? How about the IFE? And the food? You can eliminate a lot of the guesswork through Google, Flyertalk,...
Sherpa Has 24 hrs in NYC

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. New York City Awaits As part of this amazing itinerary I had a chance...
Introduction: A Journey to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan
When Saudia Airlines (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines) offered an amazing $557 r/t deal from New York to Dubai via Jeddah last December, I jumped on it—but it was not because I had any desire to go to Dubai. Saudia...
New York City – First Date

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Descending into New York City Keeping up with my UN-Trip Report, it doesn’t get...
The Dramatic Conclusion To… Ticketless In Malaysia

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Getting Out of Asia Concluding my previous posts about being suddenly ticketless and stranded...
UA1275 EWR-LAX: United First to United Worst
As it turned out, my flight from Newark to Los Angeles on Friday went out almost full, but the oversold first class cabin problem resolved itself and I did not have to fight for a seat. Nevertheless, in many...
Ticketless In Malaysia Continued

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. We Remain Stuck In Malaysia Continuing on from my UN-trip Report started here, then...
A Perfectly Good Transcon Redeye…in COACH
I was very critical of United Airlines yesterday, arguing that the carrier’s business model and frankly its persona from the top down would make wining back lucrative business customers much more difficult than CEO Jeff Smisek envisions. I stand...
You Are Stuck in Malaysia

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Me: “So you are telling me we are stuck in Asia with no way...
Frankfurt to Washington Dulles in United Airlines Business Class
After enduring a long and sleepless ride over the Atlantic in economy class, I was prepared to stay in Frankfurt until I was able to secure a seat in United business class going back to Washington. Flying standby meant...
United Airlines First Class San Francisco to New York JFK
Note what is not in the title—p.s.—the “premium service” designation given to the Los Angeles/San Francisco-New York Kennedy routes in 2005 by United in an effort to distinguish itself from American Airlines (and later Delta Air Lines and Virgin...
Non-Rev Adventures on United Airlines, Part I
While it pains me to even tell you this story, I trust you can enjoy a chuckle at my expense (maybe one day I will too…) and avoid a very carless mistake. A couple weeks ago, I had a...
Beautiful Pictures from Ireland
As you know, I spent the weekend in southwestern Ireland and had a great time–here’s a few pictures from my trip:
Top Secret Trip
Folks, I suppose a Tweet would have been enough, but I’ll be away the next couple days and may not have access to the internet. Care to guess where I am headed? You’ll love the trip report… Here’s a...
Bribing My Way Out of Kazakhstan
Another trip to a former Soviet Republic, another adventure at the border. I was originally scheduled to fly out of Almaty to Frankfurt early on 25 March. Plans changed and I pushed back my departure to 01:50 on 26...
I’ll Never Complain About U.S. Customs and Border Control Again…
Well, maybe that is a bit too draconian, but after experiencing an overland border crossing yesterday from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan at Korday, it puts the rudeness and inefficiency of U.S. border agents in perspective. Think free for all. Pushing,...
Delta Shows the Grass is Greener on the Other Side, at least in North America
My travels took me to Bermuda last weekend, thanks to a very low Delta Air Lines fare from Newark. Despite holding Delta Platinum status for a year (I have no status anymore with Delta), it was also my first...
US Airways: Thanks but no thanks…
Foul weather and a delayed Continental Airlines flight gave me the opportunity to sample US Airways yesterday from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. While I won’t be defecting to US Airways anytime soon, the experience wasn’t half-bad. The flight was...
Crisscrossing the World: 33K Miles of Travel to Begin 2012
Hello from the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Istanbul–I’ve still got 21 hours of flying ahead of me today and tomorrow, but the end is in sight. I like to get a jump start on status requalification each year and...
The Ryanair Experience – Frankfurt Hahn to Pisa
Earlier this year Ryanair ran a special from Frankfurt Hahn to many of their destinations in Europe, with fares only 7€ each way including taxes and check-in fees (normally tripling the cost of a ticket). My brother was on...