Southwest Airlines has been slow to evolve and frustratingly appears entrenched in a business model two decades past its prime. But a huge reason for the struggles at Southwest is the failure of Boeing to deliver aircraft on schedule....
“Service Dog” Camps Over Entire Row On United Airlines Flight
Federal law may prohibit any meaningful verification of whether your “service dog” is trained to perform “work” on your behalf, but it is still reasonable to point out that when a dog flops over an entire row and refuses...
Review: L’Aviation Restaurant – Tahiti Airport (PPT)
After our Air Tetiaroa back from The Brando, we had some lunch at Fa’a’ā International Airport in Tahiti at L’Aviation Bar Restaurant de l’aéroport, which helped to hold us over until check-in opened for our flight. L’Aviation Restaurant Tahiti...
United Airlines Adds 190 Flights For Political Conventions
United Airlines will increase capacity by 75% to and from Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention in July and add 118 flights to and from its hub in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention in August. United Airlines Adds...
Review: Air Tetiaroa De Havilland Canada Dash 6-300 Twin Otter
I quite enjoyed the Britten-Norman BN-2 “Islander” on our Air Tetiaroa flight from Tahiti to Tetiaroa, but also enjoyed the larger de Havilland Canada Dash 6-300 Twin Otter on our way back. Air Tetiaroa De Havilland Canada Dash 6-300...
My Great Flight On American Airlines 787-9 In Business Class
We’ve focused so much attention on labor relations at American Airlines, but I want to give credit to AA for a great flight onboard the 787-9 in business class. The onboard product and service are quite nice. American Airlines...
US Hedge Fund Wants To Transform Southwest Airlines
Elliott Investment Management, a US investment firm that manages a hedge fund, wants to take an active role in shaping the future of Southwest Airlines. I don’t see much good that can come from this from a customer perspective,...
Karen Melts Down Over MAGA Hat On Southwest Airlines? Fake News.
We can choose to bury our heads in the sand or we can open our eyes now and see that a disinformation campaign is already at work to divide Americans ahead of this November’s presidential election. The latest example?...
Whose Fault? Traveler Shared Details, $15k Trip Cancelled
A traveler’s $15,000 family vacation was cancelled due to identity theft days before her trip, but she shared her confirmation code online. Who is to blame for the cancellation? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
What Alaska Airlines Did When My Account Was Hacked
My Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account was compromised, but when I contacted the airline to correct it, I was shocked by the response. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support...
I Spoke To A Veteran AA Flight Attendant: Why A Strike Is Closer Than Ever
An enlightening conversation with a veteran American Airlines flight attendant has me convinced a strike is all but inevitable. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t...
10 Lessons I’ve Learned From 10 Years Of Marriage
10 years ago, I married my wife Heidi in a castle chapel in Stuttgart with friends and family looking on. The last decade has been quite a roller coaster, but we stand together today stronger than ever and more...
New United Airlines “Media Network” Is About Forcing Passengers To Watch Ads They Don’t Want To See…And It Is Happening Already
United Airlines has launched a new media network, the first in the airline industry, aimed at targetting content-specific ads to flyers. But the practical side effect, already in effect, is obligatory ads (and a lot of them) before screening...
Apollo Astronaut Dies In Plane Crash
Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders has died at the age of 90 after his private airplane crashed in Washington State. Anders is most famous for his 1968 “Earthrise” photo he snapped from the command module. Apollo Astronaut William Anders...
SWISS Denies Compensation Claim Again, Claiming Mechanical Issue Is “Extraordinary Circumstance”
Earlier this week I wrote about a case of SWISS denying compensation to a traveler, absurdly blaming an Airbus A330 mechanical issue on a Boeing 737 problem from two decades ago. I figured SWISS would do the right thing...
Review: The Brando – Private Island Resort In French Polynesia
My wife and I spent three nights at The Brando, a resort on the private atoll of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. Long story short, it was worth the price tag and we had a spectacular time in one of...
“Middle Seat Hack” Fails After Man Wants To Sit Between Two Young Women On Emirates Flight
Two girls thought they were being clever by positioning themselves for an open middle seat on their Emirates flight to Germany but ended up with a man who actually wanted to sit between them and refused to move. “Middle...
BARK Air Faces Lawsuit Just Days After Inaugural Flight…
Just days after launching operations, BARK Air, the airline specializing in luxury travel for dogs, has been sued. The lawsuit comes not from an angry dog owner bitten by another dog or disgruntled parents angry they cannot take their...
Denied Boarding On United Airlines: A Cautionary Tale
A United Airlines Premier 1K member was denied boarding in Houston despite a confirmed boarding pass. His situation offers a cautionary tale on how to approach situations in which you have a confirmed seat but do not yet have...
An Unforgettable Trip To Normandy Via Brittany Ferries
As we reflect upon the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, my thoughts were drawn back to my 2009 visit to the beaches of Normandy. This report was originally published on May 28, 2018. Some trips leave indelible marks,...