Let’s have a passenger etitquete discussion. First, is it proper to place hand baggage in an overhead storage bin that is not directly above your seat? Second, is it ever proper for a passenger to move someone else’s luggage...
The Sad Death Of The Rimowa Amenity Kit
Rimowa has stopped producing its iconic mini-suitcase amenity kits for airlines, marking the end of an era and sad news for premium cabin travelers. I stumbled across the news while reading a recent EVA business class trip report from...
Scary: Passengers Revolt On Delayed Air India Flight
A delay on top of a delay prompted mutiny on an Air India flight from New Delhi to Mumbai. Video evidence captures a scary scene onboard in which passengers attempt to enter the flight deck and later physically assault...
Is Spirit Airlines Breaking the Law With Passenger Usage Fee?
One of my favorite flight hacks is to buy Spirit Airlines tickets at the airport and save the online-only passenger usage fee. But based on a recent experience, it seems they may be breaking the law through false advertising...
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...
Loyalty in 2019, Plan For 2020
At the turn of the year (and in this case, the turn of the decade) reflection is important before forging ahead. My loyalty experience in 2019 was interesting, 2020 feels more intentional already. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Delta Air Lines Should Capitalize On Atlanta Smoking Ban
The indoor smoking ban at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has officially gone into effect. Delta should capitalize on the restrictive new law with an innovative use of its SkyClub patio in Terminal F. I read through the language of the...
Geopolitics Complicates My Trip To Israel
A U.S. airstrike in Iraq has complicated my plans to take my family to Israel tomorrow. Still, I don’t plan on suspending my trip. Yesterday, Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was blown up via a U.S. airstrike while leaving Baghdad International...
Lovely: Man Urinates In Airport Gate Area As Shocked Passengers Stare In Disbelief
A man was captured on camera relieving himself in an airport gate area as shocked passengers stared in disbelief. The popular Instagram account PassengerShaming shared the video yesterday, which has quickly amassed over 250,000 views: View this post...
10 Flights I Look Forward To In 2020
As we enter 2020, there are a number of airline premium cabin airline products I look forward to trying this year. Here’s the top-10 I will target, in order of priority: 10. American Airlines 777-300ER First Class American is...
A Reasonable Threat From American Airlines Pilots
A diplomatic warning from pilots at American Airlines should be taken very seriously by upper management. As of January 1, 2020, AA pilot contracts became amendable. This means that the existing contract is still in force, but can now...
Help Me Plan My Trip To Israel!
I’ve decided to take my family to Israel next week. That doesn’t give me much time to plan. For years, I’ve wanted to take my family to the Holy Land. With so much uncertainly in the air for 2020,...
“Lucky” Airline Passenger Fined $17,000 For Good Luck Stunt
I feel very sorry for Lu Chao. An innocent act has landed him in a heap of trouble with a fine he claims he cannot pay. Airline Passengers Fined For Tossing Coin Into Aircraft Engine Last February, I wrote...
My Silent Seatmate From Sydney…
My seatmate from Sydney to Los Angeles was an odd bird. I still cannot figure her out… I’m not much of a talker on flights, short or long. I’ll generally engage my seatmate if I am first engaged, but...
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...
Three British Airways Cabin Crew Members Killed in Car Crash Outside Heathrow
Sad news out of London, where a deadly crash on New Year’s Eve killed three British Airways cabin crew members and seriously injured a fourth. A Mercedes HGV big rig (or “lorry” in the UK) plowed into a Toyota...
Boeing Wants To Cut Pilots Out Of Flying
Boeing wants to transfer more control over its aircraft from pilots to computers. But is automation the answer? After the crash of two 737 MAX aircraft within weeks of each other in 2019, Boeing determined to accelerate its push...
Utter Failure: Revisiting My 2019 Travel Goals
So much for my grand plans for travel in 2019… I flew over 200,000 miles in 2019 and visited dozens of countries. In that sense, it was another great year of travel. But in reviewing two posts I wrote...
My Airline + Hotel Status Goals For 2020
Two unexpected twists may make 2020 a different year of pursuing status than in years past. Let’s start with hotels and then move to airlines. 2020 Hotel Status I hold elite status in three hotel programs: Hyatt Globalist (through...
British Airways Faces A Lounge Challenge In London Heathrow
As part of its New Years resolutions for 2020, British Airways announced it will “refresh” its lounges in London Heathrow. That presents quite a challenge to a lounge network that is already overburdened with guests. My family and I...
