Just a few paces from the underwhelming KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is a very nice SilverKris Lounge in Singapore Changi Terminal 2. Here’s my SilverKris Business Class Lounge review. Entrance is reserved for business class passengers on Singapore Airlines or other Star Alliance carriers. The lounge is dimly lit, naturally creating a quiet and relaxed environment. Seating […]
Interview With OneJet CEO Matthew Maguire
OneJet is a new commercial airline operating small private jets based in Pittsburgh. I had the chance to fly their product and loved it but as a travel blogger, I was left with more questions than answers. I reached out to the carrier and the CEO himself made time to talk. If you are considering booking […]
Review: OneJet Private Plane Pittsburgh-Louisville
OneJet is a newer scheduled commercial airline service that flies among medium-sized cities offering direct service where there is currently only connections. OneJet utilizes 7-8 seat private jets but flies from commercial terminals and offers time savings for a better flying experience than the big carriers do in first class. If you are considering booking travel or signing […]
Delta Adds New Flights to Europe from Los Angeles
Over the last few years we have seen an explosive growth of transatlantic travel from Los Angeles. That growth will continue next summer, courtesy of Delta. The carrier has announced new nonstop service to Amsterdam and Paris from Los Angeles. Service to Paris CDG will begin on June 16, 2018 and be in cooperation with […]
How to Obtain a Visa on Arrival in Tajikistan
There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about whether you can obtain a visa on arrival in Tajikistan. If you’re flying into Dushanbe International Airport (DYU), the answer is YES. I am shocked at how much misinformation lurks on the internet concerning Tajikistan visas. Even some of the top google search results […]
Beware of the Basic Economy “Gate Service Fee”
Delta Basic Economy fares permit a larger carry-on bag, so the focus of this story is on American Airlines and United. If you think you can slip by undetected with you rollerboard, be prepared to pay up and lose every penny you saved by buying a Basic Economy fare in the first place. Let’s first […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: September 10, 2017
After three consecutive weeks of travel, it was great to be home this week. I’m traveling a bit in the week ahead, but just with family and just by car. Hurricane Harvey and Irma have dominated news headlines this week. I once again wish a safety and speedy recovery to all my readers in Texas […]
Can You Skip Flight Segments in Middle of Trip?
One of the most common questions I receive at Award Expert is can I just skip that segment? The answer is no, unless it is the last segment of the ticket. The question is innately reasonable. Most people assume their flights are like individual commodities and can be used (or not used) as desired. And […]
Which Countries Are Covered by T-Mobile International Plan?
Kyle wrote a great piece yesterday on why he is sticking to T-Mobile despite its flaws. I share in his assment, even as I spend this week in two countries that are excluded from T-Mobile’s international “Simple Choice” plan. Which countries are covered under T-Mobile’s international plan? Here’s a list of countries, grouped by region, […]
Should You Bring the Car Seat?
Traveling with smaller children brings added challenges and baggage. People ask, “can you rent a car seat without a car?” I would never suggest compromising safety for convenience, so here is how I determine when to rent it, when to bring it, and even when to buy it new. If you are considering booking travel or signing […]
Avoid Unnecessary Frustration: Essential Call Center Lingo
I spend hours on the phone each week speaking to different airlines and loyalty programs from around the world. The single most important time-saver: the phonetic alphabet. I was on the phone last night with Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) booking an award ticket for a client. These agents tend to be well-trained with a good command of […]
How United is Trying to Scare Alaska Out of SFO
United Airlines is signaling that Virgin/Alaska will be in for a tough battle in the fight over San Francisco. United Airlines is upgauging aircraft, adding service, and increasing service frequencies in several markets this summer. It released the following graphic on Twitter: Here’s the changes in table format, straight from United’s press release. Additional flights between […]
Even After Latest Devaluation, We’re Stuck Using Delta SkyMiles
Delta will act with impunity and there is no way to stop it or even prepare for it. But we are still stuck using Delta SkyMiles. In many cases, there is no smart alternative… Yesterday Delta again devalued partner awards instantly and without notice. I appreciated View from the Wing’s peppery analysis, particularly this– They rolled this out while […]
How to Use Your Miles for Qatar’s New QSuite Business Class
Qatar Airways unveiled its next generation business class product today, dubbed QSuite. It is set to premiere on 777-300ER flights between Doha and London this June, but will expand to all 777s and A350s. Here’s your guide to using miles to secure business class on the new aircraft. Qatar Airways Award Space Info One of the […]
Surprise Meal on United Proves Why Meals Don’t Matter
Not to beat a dead horse, but my United flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt yesterday demonstrates why economy class meal service likely has little effect on loyalty and negatively impacts revenue. I generally do not upgrade when flights are so empty that I can guarantee a center section of four seats to myself. Of course that is […]
Etihad and Lufthansa Announce Closer Partnership
In a joint press conference with Etihad CEO James Hogan and Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, the two carriers announced a strengthened codeshare agreement, terminal relocations for Etihad in Germany as well as new LSG Sky Chefs and Lufthansa Technik contracts with Etihad. No merger or Star Alliance membership for Etihad…just yet. The Press Conference Held in […]
Street Food Horror Stories?
In my travels around the world — 125 countries and counting — I have eaten a lot of street food. Reader Rusty asked me in a recent comment if I ever got sick. Off the top of my head, I’ve eaten street food in– Afghanistan Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Bermuda Bolivia Brunei Burma Cambodia China Colombia Fiji […]
An Amazing Journey Through Stone Town in Zanzibar (Pictures)
I’m not usually one for guided tours, especially arranged by hotels. In Zanzibar, however, we opted for tour of historic Stone Town arranged by the Park Hyatt. It was well worth it. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and mixes Arab, European, Indian, Persian, and Swahili architecture in a way that is enchanting. Imagine a labyrinth of narrow […]
Review: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar was home for the weekend on the island of Zanzibar. A juxtaposition of old and new, this hotel was certainly not what I was expecting but represented an incredible base for my time in Zanzibar with all the luxury you would expect from a Park Hyatt. After arriving via ferry (not without drama) […]
2016: A Year of Change
What a year 2016 has been! Many cannot wait for this year to end, but I try to keep things positive here on Live and Let’s Fly. While there is so much bad news to reflect upon this year, let’s not do that today. Instead, let’s recall what went well this year. There is always much […]
