Greetings from rainy Southern California. We’ve had a relatively wet winter so far and next week does not look any better. But after years of drought, I’m happy to see rain in the forecast. Speaking of drought, I am so thankful that my blogging drought is over. It is too early to tell how this blog will […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 24, 2016
Warm holiday greetings from Los Angeles, where I am looking forward to celebrating the first Christmas with Heidi in our new home and Augustine’s first Christmas in this world. With a brief last-minute trip, an unexpectedly busy week at Award Expert, and the Garuda Indonesia deal blowing up, it has been a very hectic week. While there […]
How to Beat United’s Draconian New Routing Restrictions
I am going to get into a lot more detail below, but will first offer a summary of the recent changes to the United MileagePlus program that sadly constitute a massive devaluation of your United miles. Award searches must be from origin to destination, whether performed online or over the phone This practically eliminates the […]
Photo Tour: Turkish Airlines Lounge Washington Dulles
Turkish Airlines is celebrating the grand opening of its Washington Dulles lounge today. My brother Andrew happened to be flying through IAD today and provided the following feedback: The lounge is great! A bubbling Turkish man warmly welcomed me into the lounge with a glass of champagne and beamed with pride as I remarked how […]
Why I Want to Travel on EgyptAir More Than Ever
EgyptAir is in the news again, and it is never good news with EgyptAir. Lucky and I are planning our trip home from Colombo and had I not been traveling last week we likely would have confirmed our trip home through Cairo. This was just a day before the deadly accident of MS804. Should this […]
Pictures: Air France – KLM SkyTeam Lounge at Washington Dulles
The Air France – KLM Lounge at Washington Dulles recently joined the Priority Pass network, offering an alternative to the British Airways Galleries Lounge at IAD and and arguably a better lounge option. I spent several hours in the lounge yesterday and offer this review. Location: Concourse A, opposite Gate A22 Hours: 10:30a – 10:00p, daily […]
A Weekend in England with My Best Friend
I do not talk much about my friends, but you should know a little bit about John, one of my closest friends of more than 15 years. He never did especially well in high school and skipped college, but he is the shrewdest, smartest, and most successful businessman that I know. Quite frankly, who needs […]
In My Absence…
Some of you may have noticed that things have been quiet lately…in the four years that I have written Live and Let’s Fly, there has never been a month with as few posts as the last one. Thankfully, my absence was not due to work obligations or a death in the family or a health […]
Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for May 2014
We have been spared from any major award chart devaluation announcements the last couple months and I trust we are settling into a new era of status quo–there has been enough bloodshed over the last year. But whether the award charts get worse or stay the same, here are my top ten award travel bright spots […]
Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for March 2014
Award chart devaluations continue, there are still a number of superb deals available. Here are my top ten award travel bright spots for March 2014. Nothing has changed from last month except the removal of United Airlines Asian redemptions and the addition of Singapore Airlines Suites Class saver awards. 1. US Airways Dividend Miles – […]
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Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for January 2014
With the new year here and many changes negatively affecting airline loyalty programs now in effect or shortly taking effect, there are still a number of superb deals available. Here are my top ten award travel bright spots for January 2014. 1. US Airways Dividend Miles – 90K miles r/t for business class between North […]
Final Week to Burn bmi Diamond Club Miles for Star Alliance Awards
As we enter the final week to redeem bmi Diamond Club miles for Star Alliance Awards, I want to review how you can effectively use your miles and share some of my recent redemption success stories. First off, you should redeem in the next few days. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH! […]
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 March. Although my Kazakhstan transit visa was valid through 25 March, my Kyrgyzstan tourist visa was […]
Departing on My Asia Award Trip Today!
This afternoon I will be departing on my long-anticipated award trip to Southeast Asia and China. First, my final trip of the year to Chicago on United, followed by an overnight trip on Lufthansa to Munich. I’ve got over six hours in Munich where my brother and I will take full advantage of the first […]
XI: Buenos Aires to Washington, DC in United Economy
2010 SOUTH AMERICA TRIP REPORT I: Introduction II: Los Angeles to Washington Dulles via Denver in United First III: Washington to Buenos Aires in United Airlines Business Class IV: Business Class (Cama) Bus Service from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls on Crucero del Norte V: Breakfast in Paraguay, Lunch in Brazil, Dinner in Argentina + Brazilian […]
I: Introduction – July 2010 South America Trip on United Airlines
It’s time for another trip report! This report will recount my airline travel and adventures in South America in July. I: Introduction II: Los Angeles to Washington Dulles via Denver in United First III: Washington to Buenos Aires in United Airlines Business Class IV: Business Class (Cama) Bus Service from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls on […]
