United Airlines has agreed to pay a $49 million fine for fraud relating to international postal delivery contracts. Just another chapter in the troubled Smisek era… United Airlines Must Pony Up $49 Million For Mail Delivery Fraud The fraud...
My Second COVID-19 Vaccination
I address you with a heart of gratitude today, thankful for the human ingenuity that developed a vaccination so quickly for COVID-19 and on a personal note, thankful that my side effects were much more mild the second round...
Alaska Airlines Status Match? Tempting…
I’m tempted to take advantage of the generous status match offer from Alaska Airlines, but not convinced now is the time considering the way 2021 is unfolding. My only object: preserve oneworld emerald status. Tempting Status Match Offer From...
Is Czech Airlines On The Verge Of Collapse?
Czech Airlines (CSA) has informed all remaining staff members they will be laid off. The future looks grim for one of the oldest airlines in the world. But CSA claims the move is simply a necessary part of its...
Anyone Been To Central America Lately?
The travel bug is biting again and I’m looking into 1.) countries I have not been to, 2.) that are open to U.S. travelers, and 3.) that involve airlines or hotels I have not yet reviewed. It seems that...
Cool New Prize On United’s Halfway To Hawaii Game
Starting on March 3, 2021 United Airlines will introduce a new prize on its Halfway to Hawaii game: a Polaris cooling gel pillow. Not a bad prize for one of my favorite parts of flying to Hawaii on United...
Turkish Pilots Face Prison For Smuggling Fugitive Out Of Japan In A Musical Instrument Case
Two Turkish pilots and a third man have been found guilty of helping to smuggle high-profile fugitive Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon in a musical instrument case. This is such an odd story with so many twists and turns....
French Toast Or Quiche? Breakfast In United Polaris Business Class
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. Good morning. I thought...
$31 Transcon Fares: The Beauty Of Competition
Right now you can fly between Los Angeles and Miami for only $31 each way…and we are not even talking about basic economy. Thank “frenemies” JetBlue and American Airlines for the fare sale, which underscores just how important competition...
How United Airlines Plans To Be World’s Number One Airline
In a passionate video message to employees, CEO Scott Kirby outlines his vision for making United Airlines world’s number one airline as it emerges from the pandemic. The focus is on customer service, with particular emphasis on transparency. United...
Air France New Safety Video Is Chic, But…
I love the chic new 2021 Air France safety video. It’s a lovely and magnifique tour of France. But the prior video was timeless. It was near-perfect. Why doesn’t anyone ever leave well enough alone? Air France 2021 Safety Video...
FAA Grounds 777s, Orders Thermal Inspections
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has grounded a number of Boeing 777 aircraft which use Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines and ordered thermal imaging inspections to check for stress cracks. FAA Grounds 777 – Orders Thermal Inspections In an...
Dine Onboard A Lockheed L-1011 In Bangkok
Once Bangkok re-opens to tourism without onerous quarantines (potentially in places like this), I have a new reason to return: a cool restaurant concept onboard a Lockheed L-1011. A Gourmet Restaurant Onboard A L-1011 In Bangkok Regular readers know...
United Airlines CEO Addresses 777 Engine Failure
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has unsurprisingly praised the flight crew of UA328, the 777 flight which encountered engine failure enroute to Honolulu last Saturday, but also outlined a chain of events he argues demonstrates a new spirit at...
American Airlines Pilot Observes Missile-Like UFO Over New Mexico
A military aviation blog has shared of an encounter between an American Airlines A320 and a UFO over New Mexico on Sunday. American Airlines Pilots Observes UFO Over New Mexico American Airlines Flight 2292, traveling from Cincinnati (CVG) to...
Is Lufthansa Dithering On New Business Class Product?
It has been more than three years since Lufthansa unveiled its new business class product…and we may never end up seeing it. Or maybe we’ll see it sooner than we expect. Either way, Lufthansa seems to be dithering on...
Police Remove Woman From Spirit Airlines Flight…For Eating?
A woman flying to Florida on Spirit Airlines was removed after she refused to wear a mask. She claimed she was eating. After first warning that police would have to drag her off, she ended up begging the flight...
Hotels Join The Peloton Revolution
Have you noticed that more and more hotels are offering Peloton equipment in their gyms? Peloton Comes To Hotels For years, I’ve attended spin classes at my gym and even before that have enjoyed using stationary bikes. But Peloton...
Boeing Recommends Immediate Grounding Of Over 120 Boeing 777-200s
Responding to the United Airlines 777-200 Pratt & Whitney engine incident that occurred over the weekend, Boeing now recommends that all 777 operators with such engines to suspend operations while an investigation is performed. The announcement comes after Japan...
United Airlines Grounds Boeing 777-200s With Pratt & Whitney Engines
Following an engine failure on Saturday, United Airlines has temporarily suspended all of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft featuring Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines. United Airlines Grounds 777-200 Subfleet With Pratt & Whitney Engines On Saturday, a United Airlines...