When disaster struck Japan, I waivered over whether to take my planned trip to Tokyo next week. Despite dire warnings of radiation contamination, empty shelves at grocery stores, and rolling blackouts, I determined that media reports were overblown (to...
Flight Lands Without Guidance in Washington, DC While ATC Sleeps
Isn’t it a comforting thought that air traffic controllers at major airports sleep on the job? It is not the first time this has happened and I know it won’t be the last, but it is always newsworthy when it does occur. Earlier today, just after...
Jeff Smisek Hints at Major Changes for United
United CEO Jeff Smisek has been making his rounds lately and spoke today at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference in New York City. I just listened to it and offer my notes from his ~30 minute...
Continental Plans Wi-Fi Expansion to 737s, 757s – Will United Follow?
United announced today that its fleet of Continental domestic 737s and 757s (over 200 planes) will be equipped with Wi-Fi starting in 2012. Unlike the Gogo land-based system that UA currently uses, Continental will use satellite provider Ka-band, which purportedly will utilize world’s highest-capacity satellite to provide...
L-Class Lufthansa Intra-Europe Fares Earn 100% RDMs/EQMs on United
I flew on Lufthansa from Milan to Frankfurt Staurday evening on a cheap fare that I thought would earn zero miles. For the heck of it, I added my Mileage Plus number when checking in and was shocked to...
Lufthansa Proves United isn’t the only Website with Problems
For reasons which I will discuss later this week, I decided to skip my return flight to Frankfurt on Ryanair and book with Lufthansa instead. The LH fare itself wasn’t bad, but booking it turned out to be a huge...
My Japan Dilemma – To Go or Not to Go?
To be clear, compared to what the Japanese people are going through right now, my dilemma is quite unsubstantial, but because this is my travel blog, I trust you won’t find it in poor taste to speculate about my...
United’s New Award Chart a Better Deal for the Savvy Traveler
It came a complete shock to me when United updated their award chart this week and did not introduce across the board price increases. On the contrary, United cut the number of miles needed to fly to Europe or...
United to Eliminate Emirates as Award Partner on May 28th
Following Continental’s lead, United’s partnership with Emirates will end on 28 May. You can still accrue award miles miles through that date and have until 28 November to request missing mileage credit for flights taken on or before 28...
Jeff Smisek Addresses United’s "Service" Problem
While Glen Tilton, former United Airlines CEO, may not have been as bad as some made him out to be, he seemed to have a lot of trouble with empathy. He often gave the appearance that he could care...
How I’ll Earn 40,000 United Award Miles Flying from Seattle to Newark
Last night a friend alerted me via e-mail that something fishy was going on with Continental flights between Seattle and Newark. While CO usually limits connections to one or two at most (and those connections are usually restricted to...
Lufthansa Awards Now Bookable Online from United
United’s website is suddenly evolving at a rapid pace. Just a day after allowing the online redemption of electronic certificates for Continental flights, you can now book award tickets on Lufthansa flights online using your United miles. As you...
United E-Certs Now Valid on Continental Flights!
Although United has cut back on compensation, recently halving the amount offered for service issues on domestic flights, they remain the most generous legacy carrier in the United States when it comes to making amends. I anticipate that will change...
Transfer Miles Freely and Enjoy Elite Status on Both Continental and United
Nick sums up today’s announcement that United and Continental miles can be freely transferred between accounts and elites can enjoy status with both airlines perfectly–I have only my own two cents to add. Word came this morning from Scott O’Leary,...
Should United Start Taking Meal Orders from Front-to-Back like Continental?
A raucous debate is going on right now on amongst frequent flyers regarding how meal orders should be taken in premium cabins of the combined United/Continental. Currently, Continental takes meal orders from front-to-back on all flights, regardless of fare...
Continental Eliminates Free Snacks in Economy Class
If you are a big fan of pretzels or biscoff cookies while flying on Continental Airlines, you better bring your own. On Tuesday, the carrier eliminated these free treats on all routes that do not feature BusinessFirst seating. Among the...
Don’t Mail VDB Vouchers to United for Ticketing
I type this as I wait on hold, now entering the second hour of Rhapsody in Blue, as United tries to ticket a reservation that should have been issued weeks ago. Some background: when you take a domestic bump...
United Embraces Functionality Over Creativity in New Ad Campaign
Details are emerging about the future ad campaign of the new United/Continental. Just as we said goodbye to the tulip earlier today, we can also say goodbye to United’s iconic abstract advertising campaign: Chicago-based United’s new campaign, the first...
United Phases Out the Tulip
While Damian already pointed out changes to the United Airlines’ website that popped up today, I must briefly add my euology for the United tulip, now formally phased out of United’s brand book. Thankfully, the new look to united.com hasn’t...
First United 747 with New Livery Enters Service
Fresh out of the paint shop, United’s first repainted 747-400, N127UA, is heading for San Francisco then on to Incheon tomorrow morning on Flight 893 at 11:05a. Photo by: Jon Ostrower The new livery is starting to grow on...