On my very first trip to San Antonio, Texas this week I stayed at the Hotel Contessa and I was impressed with their suites. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both...
Waiting For The Next AAdvantage Devaluation? It’s Already Here
If you thought the elimination of close-in award bookings fees on American (to match Delta and United) was simply a gift, you have not been paying attention. Have you seen what “AAnytime” awards are suddenly pricing at? American Airlines...
The Jaffa Tel Aviv: Stunning New Marriott (The Luxury Collection) Hotel
I ended my trip to Israel with a splurge in Tel Aviv at The Jaffa, a recent addition to Marriott’s The Luxury Collection portfolio. My stay was flawless. I will publish a full review as part of my Israel...
Should This Model Have Been Denied Access To Qantas Lounge?
First it was ugg boots, now it is fitness attire. Qantas is in the news again over its comparatively strict lounge dress code. Does this dress code discriminate on the basis of sex? Should an American fitness model have...
Is American Airlines Really The Worst U.S. Airline?
The Wall Street Journal recently published its annual “best and worst” airline list and once again, American Airlines is at the bottom. Is this a fair assessment of world’s largest airline by passenger traffic? What I like about the...
The Real Reason United Is Eliminating Baggage Sizers At Gates
United Airlines is eliminating baggage sizers at the gate because they no longer represent an accurate indicator of what will fit in the overhead bin. Brian Sumers shared of the change on Twitter, but did not share the full...
Dutch Airline Executive Captured In Italy, Extradited To USA
A former Dutch airline executive was arrested in Italy and has been extradited to the USA over conspiracy charges to fix prices on airline cargo routes. Maria Christina Ullings served for many years as the Senior Vice President of Cargo...
Verizon Disappoints Big Time In Israel
Since I made the switch from T-Mobile from Verizon, I’ve been paying more for mobile phone and data service but have enjoyed relatively smooth access…until my trip to Israel last week. Verizon Service In Israel Put simply, data connectivity...
Vintage Review: United Airlines 757-200 First Class New York JFK To Los Angeles
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011...
Two Days. Six Countries. Eight Cities. Four Flights. One Train.
One of the things I will be forever grateful for when it comes to air travel is the ease in which you can move from land to land in such a short time span. I mentioned that I flew...
Another Cautionary Tale On Entrusting Your Pet To An Airline
A dog owner is grieving in Australia after her dog died on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane. But why was a high-risk dog entrusted to Qantas in the first place? I’m not here to blame the passenger...
The Luxurious Boeing 787-8 Mexico Can’t Sell
Mexico is facing an era of austerity and a flashpoint of that program is selling off the luxurious presidential jet, a Boeing 787-8. But no one wants to buy it. As one if his first acts as Mexican President,...
The Joy Of Cutting It Close At The Airport
One of the great joys of travel is when you cut it really close…and it works. After my annoying delays in Lisbon earlier this week, I was happy to be back in my home turf. I flew up to...
Considering A One-Way Delta SkyMiles Award? Check Round-Trip Pricing First
While I understand the economics of airline pricing to the extent that distance and price rarely correlate, the idea of charging more for A alone than A + B still requires the suspension of logic. Today, I’m not talking...
What Really Happened To Prompt Rapid Delta 777 Fuel Dump Over Los Angeles?
News broke yesterday afternoon that a Delta 777 dumped fuel over several schools and homes in Los Angeles. What prompted this and was it justified? Delta Engine Trouble Prompted Emergency Landing Delta 89 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai...
Vintage Review: Lufthansa A340-300 First Class Frankfurt To New York
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011...
United’s New Dynamic Award Pricing = Bad Deal On Many Routes
Just to reiterate a warning I feared and is now a reality: United’s new variable award pricing means some awards are pricing at levels under one cent each. Don’t waste your miles on these awards. While Live and Let’s Fly stresses the...
United Passenger Rams Cockpit, Assaults Flight Attendant, Then Tackles Police Officers
A man has been charged with assault and resisting arrest after a raucous flight from Washington to Newark on United Airlines. Matthew Dingley, 28, was on UA4965, a late-evening flight from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Newark (EWR) on an...
Thanks For The Rough Day Of Travel, Lisbon…
For all the smooth sailing I’ve had lately on various flights, yesterday’s trip on TAP Air Portugal was rather taxing, and it really had nothing to do with TAP and everything to do with Lisbon. It’s January in Lisbon....
Review: Park Hyatt Saigon + Exploring Ho Chi Minh City
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011...
