This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011...
United’s New Dynamic Award Pricing = Bad Deal On Many Routes
Just to reiterate a warning I feared and is now a reality: United’s new variable award pricing means some awards are pricing at levels under one cent each. Don’t waste your miles on these awards. While Live and Let’s Fly stresses the...
United Passenger Rams Cockpit, Assaults Flight Attendant, Then Tackles Police Officers
A man has been charged with assault and resisting arrest after a raucous flight from Washington to Newark on United Airlines. Matthew Dingley, 28, was on UA4965, a late-evening flight from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Newark (EWR) on an...
United Airlines Records Financial Hit On Hong Kong Routes
United’s Hong Kong routes are performing so poorly the airline is re-evaluating what they are worth. United Airlines expects to record a non-cash impairment charge of $90 million for the Fourth Quarter in specific regards to its Hong Kong...
Vintage Review: United Airlines 757-200 First Class Los Angeles To Chicago
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011...
United Tightening Proactive Delay Compensation
United Airlines will stop offering proactive compensation on flights delays of less than six hours. The move marks a tightening of what had been a fairly generous policy, but does not the limit individual compensation flight attendants and gate...
Spend Your Upgrades Early and Often
Hotels, airlines and even car rental companies give us benefits that are good all year, but sometimes we treat them too preciously. This is the year to spend your upgrades early and often! If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Business Class Sydney To Los Angeles + Lounge Hopping In SYD
After a fairly mediocre flight to Sydney, my return flight was a far better overall experience, even with an inferior seat. After arriving in Sydney from San Francisco a bit late, I had two hours before my “connection” back...
United PlusPoints Bring Old Problems to New Situations
United’s new PlusPoints has some benefits to travellers adding flexibility. However, old problems with United’s Global and Regional Premier Upgrades carry over to new situations. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup = Perfect Airline Meal
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. When done...
Review: United 777-300ER Business Class San Francisco To Sydney
Here’s a rundown of the first half of my whirlwind journey to Sydney, Australia in United Business Class in order to achieve 1K status for 2020…and of course for a proper cup of coffee. I’ve outlined the reason for...
I Am Flying From SFO To LAX…Via SYD
San Francisco to Los Angeles nonstop? Please, I’m flying via Sydney, Australia. Hello from 30,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. If you read my recent 1K dilemma post, you’ll know that I wavered (and frankly agonized) over whether to...
My Urgent United 1K Dilemma
Here we are the end of the year and I have a quick decision to make concerning United MileagePlus: push for top-tier 1K status in 2020 or settle for Platinum status. One of my commanding officers in the U.S....
United Airlines Extends 737 MAX Cancellations Until June 4, 2020
With a software solution elusive and regulatory approval uncertain, United Airlines extended cancellation for the 737 MAX by more than six months. The troubled Boeing aircraft is now out of the scheduled until June 4, 2020. In a note...
Review: United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class
I’ve flown United’s new Boeing 787-10 in business class, but how is it in economy class? Sometimes I will decline and upgrade even when it is is available. My supply of upgrade instruments is not unlimited and I made...
How Does United’s New Service To Dublin Impact 787 Base In Chicago?
United Airlines will launch new service between San Francisco and Dublin in 2020 using a 787. Will this new service impact the 787 build-up at Chicago O’Hare? United’s New San Francisco – Dublin Service United Airlines will launch year-around...
President Trump’s Unintended Ode To United Airlines
US President Donald Trump may have meant one thing, but his select use of capitalization has led to a rather funny alternate interpretation of a recent tweet. Whether on Twitter or in letters to Nancy Pelosi, Tump often creates...
United Airlines Wages War On Christmas? Hardly.
Reading some headlines you might think United Airlines is waging a war on Christmas. That’s not really the case. A number of blogs have talked about United “banning” holiday attire. That’s not the case at all. On the contrary,...
United Airlines Adds Two New Washington Dulles Routes
United Airlines is continuing its expansion at Washington Dulles with two new routes next summer, further growing its mid-Atlantic hub. In 2020, United will add service to Bangor, Maine (BGR) and Madison, Wisconsin (MSN). Service to Madison is effective...
United’s Bifurcated Approach To Aircraft Seating
Just what is a “Scott Kirby Retrofit”? Is that configuring a 767-300 with a staggering number of business class seats or squeezing more passengers onto a 787-8? My friend Gary from View from the Wing wrote a story yesterday...
