Japan Airlines (JAL) is restoring first class service to Australia, representing a remarkable opportunity to enjoy first class using miles. As of September 1, 2020, Japan Airlines will add a daily 777-300ER flight between Tokyo Haneda and Sydney. The...
Update: American, Delta, United Suspend All China Flights

Within the last hour, United Airlines has suspended all flights to China. Now all three U.S. legacy carriers-American, Delta, and United–have suspended service to Mainland China. American Airlines Suspends Service To China American Airlines announced a suspension of all...
SWISS Chocolate And Free Speech…

SWISS is dropping chocolatier Läderach from its onboard premium cabin offering due to controversial, public positions on divisive social issues by the CEO. I assess the issue differently than the Zeitgeist. If you’ve ever flown SWISS business class over the...
Man Busted For Using Rodents To Scam Free Hotel Rooms

A Utah man has been arrested for using mice and hamsters on multiple occasions to scam free hotel rooms. Police allege that Ryan Sentelle State, 37, had a go-to plan to secure free hotel rooms. He’d check in to...
Opportunistic? American Airlines Pilots Refuse To Fly China, Sue Airline

I’m not saying, I’m asking: is there a direct link between the battle for a new contract and pilot’s refusal to fly to China at American Airlines? American Airlines Pilots Fight For New Contract I’ve written about the ongoing...
Review: Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavík (KEF)

For an airport without much lounge competition, I really enjoyed the Icelandair Saga Lounge in Keflavík. Icelandair Saga Lounge Access + Hours You’ll find the lounge in the center of the airport on the upper level before passport control...
United Airlines Cuts More China Flights In February + March

As the coronavirus continues to spread, thousands are abandoning travel plans to China. United Airlines is responding by suspending flights to two Mainland airports and Hong Kong for the next two months. This is an update to an earlier post....
New “Socially Awkward” Airline Seat Reminds Me Of Hilarious Southwest Flight

Do you remember lounge seating on Southwest Airlines? It was 2004. I was traveling from Baltimore to Los Angeles on Southwest Airlines as part of a high school trip. We were connecting in Phoenix and had a tight connection....
Airlines + Hotels Embrace “Hyperdynamic” Pricing Model

Airfare used to change a few times per day on any given route. Now it may change several times per hour. Welcome to the new world of hyperdynamic pricing. Artificial intelligence software has allowed what Julie Weed of the New York...
Emirates Denies Interest In Chicago To Athens Service

UPDATE: An Emirates spokesperson reached out to me, stating, “Emirates has no plans to launch services between Athens and Chicago.” Emirates’ Fifth Freedom flights between Newark and Athens have proved so popular the carrier is looking at another Fifth...
Review: Ben Gurion Airport – Jerusalem High Speed Train

A new rail line connecting Tel Aviv with Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and Jerusalem makes traveling from the airport to Jerusalem easier than ever. I had originally reserved a rental car for the entire week in Israel, but decided...
Did Star Alliance Kowtow To United Airlines On New Lounge Access Restrictions? Why It Doesn’t Matter

Star Alliance is only as strong as its members. Nevertheless, stealth lounge access changes further sharpen the argument that alliances are losing relevance. I’m not sure what you think of when you think of Star Alliance (or oneworld or...
White House May Suspend All U.S. Flights To China

The difficult commercial decision on whether to suspend flights to China may be taken out of the hands of U.S. airlines altogether after the White House hinted that all U.S. flights to China may be halted. Earlier media reports...
The Horrible Life Of A Taxi Driver

The Los Angeles Times paints a picture of what it is like to be a cab driver in LA…and it isn’t pretty. Columnist Steve Lopez caught up with a couple of taxi drivers near Los Angeles International Airport and...
8 Hours On EasyJet To Israel And Back…The Good, Bad, And Ugly

EasyJet remains my favorite European budget airline, though it is essential to prepare yourself for longer flights. How is service to Israel on EasyJet? We “chose” EasyJet for my trip to Israel, though it was hardly a difficult choice....
I’m Skeptical About Delta’s New A321neo First Class Seat

I’ve been quite charitable to Delta lately on Live and Let’s Fly, but the new first class seat on the A321neo does not leave me excited. Yesterday, paxex.aero broke news of a new first class seat coming to Delta’s Airbus...
The Only U.S. State Without Commercial Airline Service…For Now

There’s only one U.S. state which currently does not have commercial airline service. But that’s about to change, though Frontier Airlines cannot be happy about how the news broke. If you guessed Delaware, you guessed correctly. Delaware, the first...
On Kobe Bryant, Helicopters, And Life…

Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter, and seven others died in a tragic helicopter crash yesterday just minutes from my house. Bryant’s untimely death is another reminder to cherish the moments you have with loved ones. It was a foggy...
Alaska Airlines Copies United…In A Delicious Way

I’ve written before about how United Airlines essentially introduced stroopwafels to mainstream America. Soon you may be able to find these delicious Dutch treats on Alaska Airlines as well. Stroopwafels Appear On Alaska Airlines Stroopwafels are wafer cookies made...
Delta Fined $50,000 For Removing “Suspicious” Muslim Passengers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Delta $50,000 for two incidents of profiling that adversely impacted Muslim passengers. Delta maintains it did nothing wrong. Incident #1: Delta Flight Attendant “Uncomfortable” With Passenger Who Did Not Smile A Muslim...