If you were scheduled to fly on a United Boeing 757 yesterday afternoon or evening, you likely encountered a delay or cancellation. In a move reminiscent of American Airlines’ grounding of their entire MD-80 fleet when found to be...
Man Attempts to Bypass TSA Via Baggage Carousel
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I bring you the following story. The title may indicate sinister motives, but once again we have another tale of a love struck youth unable to bear the thought of being away from the girl that he loved....
United Loosens Routing Rules for Star Alliance Awards
IslandSkies, a UA employee who is active on Flyertalk, posted the following details about changes to United Airlines’ Star Alliance award rules coming on 15 Februrary: Steps to Validate Routing for One Award: *Outbound and return routings must be...
Delta Air Lines Introduces Premium International Economy Comfort Class
Delta Air Lines has made good on its promise to roll out an enhanced economy class product with details emerging today about a new "Economy Comfort" section coming to Delta international flights this summer. Benefits will include: Complimentary alcoholic beverages [beer, wine, and...
Delta Agents Going Back to Charm School
It takes only one bad experience, one delayed flight, or one rude gate agent to permanently mar the reputation of an airline in the eyes of a disgruntled traveler. I suppose that is true for just about anything–take my short time...
A Ride on the S-Bahn with a Frankfurt-Based United First Officer
My commute to work each day includes a 10-minute train ride between Frankfurt’s central railway station and the airport. Usually it’s a dull affair–thankfully my iPhone keeps me occupied–but my ride home this evening was a little more interesting....
New 12-Hour Mandatory Hold Rule on United Mileage Plus Star Alliance Award Bookings?
Some on Flyertalk are reporting that United reservation agents are quoting a new 12-hour mandatory hold rule when booking a Star Alliance award. But United, an airline I love to call consistently inconsistent, doesn’t seem to be strictly enforcing...
A Change in Venue Coming for Live and Let’s Fly in 2011
Happy 2011! The New Year is upon us and another adventure is drawing near. I recently accepted a job with Star Alliance and will be moving to Frankfurt, Germany later this month to work. The assignment is set to...
United Technology Systems Will Dominate Post-Merger Airline
UPDATE: I cannot edit the title because UPGRD will get dinged by Google, but the author who I lifted this story from last night has revised his article. It seems that it will be CO’s technology systems, not UA’s,...
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Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht Addresses Consolidation, Latam, Gulf Partners, and Russia
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...
