Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht sat down with Business Traveler this week after a Star Alliance board meeting (in beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand) to discuss a wide-variety of topics. Here are some of the highlights: On consolidation: Consolidation is...
One Last Call to United Reservations to Finalize My China Award Trip
Over the last couple weeks another two schedule changes hit my upcoming 10-segment award trip to Southeast Asia and China. The changes were minor, but one change, a delay in the departure of my Los Angeles to Chicago flight...
UA’s Smisek Discusses Channel 9, 747 IFE, and the Future of Three-Cabin First Class
Speaking in Sydney yesterday, United CEO Jeff Smisek touched on a number of areas we’ve been eagerly waiting to hear about: -No Ch 9 (ATC communications) coming to CO aircraft–two expensive -No timeframe on determining the future of three-cabin...
My Favorite Way to Spend a Day Off: Mileage Running on United
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I spent the day gallivanting around the country on United Airlines to celebrate the completion of another semester of law school. No bumps or even skykits, but I did have a great time. I...
The Secret Life of United Pilot William Hamman – Catch Me If You Can!
One of all-time favorite movies is Catch Me If You Can, which retells the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a slick con-artist who assumed the role of a lawyer, doctor, and Pan Am pilot (at different times) without...
Poppie’s Cookies and Scones Coming to United Airlines
United is tinkering with the treats in first class on North America flights and will be introducing cookies and scones from Chicago-based Poppie’s Baking Company on Thursday. The baking company’s chocolate chip cookies will be offered with United’s lunch...
Platinum Upgrade Doldrums on Continental
You would think a last-minute aircraft upgrade from a 757-300 (24 first class seats) with a 767-400 (36 business class seats) would bode well for my Continental upgrade chances on a Wednesday midday flight. But this is Continental we’re...
My Last United Mileage Run of the Year
I’ve been looking forward to today for quite some time. Not only can I breathe a sigh of relief now that my exams are over, but today will mark my last "old fashioned" mileage run on United. In June,...
Lifetime Status Program Coming to US Airways
After years of being the only legacy carrier in the United States not to offer additional perks to their million-miler fliers, US Airways has finally announced their intent to recognize that monumental threshold. The benefits won’t be great–you’ll only get...
The Winning United Airlines’ Retro Livery Is…
Last month, I blogged about United asking their flight attendants to choose a vintage livery to commemorate UA’s upcoming 85th anniversary. Among the choices were varying designs used by United from the 1930s through the 1980s. The votes have been tallied and...
Court Orders Air India To Rehire Flight Attendant Fired For Being Too Fat
I generally avoid stories about weight because it is a sensitive topic that isn’t worth getting people worked up over (unlike the TSA…), but I do want to update you on an ongoing legal battle in India which has finally...
Joint Venture May Be Key To Wooing LATAM Into Star Alliance
The push for metal neutrality continues! During an airline conference in Houston today, United CEO Jeff Smisek announced that United Airlines is interested in forming a trans-border joint venture with Air Canada and a joint venture with an airline or...
Ads Coming to United Airlines’ Tray Tables?
Copying US Airways is generally not a good thing. Like the beleaguered stepsister of Star Alliance, United has begun placing advertisements on tray tables, so far only for their Chase Visa credit card and to highlight some of their destinations. While...
$40 Off United Airlines Domestic Flight via Student Universe (travel by 12/18)
Student Universe, an online travel agency for students and educators, is offering $40 off a United Airlines domestic itinerary of your choice. To use Student Universe, you simply need a .edu e-mail address, but there are no other strings attached–you can...
787 Delay Prompts United to Postpone Launch of Houston-Auckland Service
Back in May, Continental announced plans to begin non-stop service between Houston and Auckland in November 2011 on one their newly-delivered 787-8 aircraft. But if you’ve been reading the news lately, you know that Boeing has, well, run into...
The Difference Between Pending and Waitlisted Upgrades on United
A reader recently asked me to explain the difference between a pending upgrade and a waitlisted uprade on United Airlines. It’s really quite simple: pending means that you are outside the time limit for a waitlist to clear. Waitlist...
Tapas Snackbox on United is Delicious
In November, United introduced three new snack boxes as part of its revamped buy-on-board menu for economy class. One of them, the Tapas snackbox, caught my eye and I had the chance to sample it earlier this week. The...
Poll Reveals Challenge Facing United and Continental
A recently released Zagat survey of 8,000 frequent flyers reveals a conundrum for the new United Airlines: passengers seem to love Continental and hate United. Continental certainly does many things well. Their website and mobile app is slick and...
From Hate to Great: Continental vs. United at Las Vegas International
As I have harped on many times before, attitude is key when it comes to forming my overall impression of a flight or travel experience. The amenities, ticket price, and hard product can all be great, but unless the...
Using a Flight Delay to Your Advantage
While most of the traveling public dreads the announcement that their flight is delayed, I usually welcome such announcements. To be sure, delays are not always a great thing. My Los Angeles-Las Vegas United flight was delayed yesterday by...