Looking for good coffee in Santa Barbara? You have many choices, but I found a nice little third wave coffee shop in a quiet part of town. Wherever I am in the world, a highlight of my day is...
I Am Flying From SFO To LAX…Via SYD
San Francisco to Los Angeles nonstop? Please, I’m flying via Sydney, Australia. Hello from 30,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. If you read my recent 1K dilemma post, you’ll know that I wavered (and frankly agonized) over whether to...
Crazy: Airline Insiders Targeting Tourists In Argentina
If you read nothing else, read this: don’t ever resist street thieves. Your phone or wallet are not worth your life. Matthew Gibbard is dead. The British man was robbed outside his luxury hotel in Buenos Aires. When he...
“Whistleblower” Claims TSA Choosing Speed Over Safety
A senior TSA “whistleblower” claims his agency has chosen expediency over keeping passengers safe. But is “safe” really about safety or more about optics? Jay Brainard has been a TSA officer in Kansas for 17 years and has a...
American Airlines Shows Advantages of Eliminating Award Charts
American Airlines offered an outstanding deal in long haul first-class and great prices on business class fares. As much as we all want to hate airlines eliminating award charts, this example shows excellent advantages to doing so. If you...
Airbnb Experiences: Making Pizza In Rome
During our recent trip to Rome, we decided to try out Airbnb Experiences following a recommendation from a friend. We learned how to make a pizza from a pro in Rome and it didn’t disappoint. If you are considering...
Review: Aleph Rome Hotel – Curio by Hilton
Rome is filled with low-rise boutique hotels and Aleph Rome Hotel, now part of Hilton’s Curio collection is just one such boutique hotel delivering luxury to the Eternal City. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
Breakfast In JetBlue Mint
Each week, 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. JetBlue Mint...
My Urgent United 1K Dilemma
Here we are the end of the year and I have a quick decision to make concerning United MileagePlus: push for top-tier 1K status in 2020 or settle for Platinum status. One of my commanding officers in the U.S....
Analysis: American Airlines Sues Delta Over “Flagship”
American Airlines has sued Delta over its use of the term “flagship” in its brand marketing. I wouldn’t call this a frivolous case, though I am not certain American Airlines can show consumer confusion, a key hurdle for winning...
Alitalia Loses 2 Million Euros…Per Day
Troubled Italian flag carrier Alitalia loses about €2,000,000 per day, according to a government minister. The solution? Another cash infusion… Earlier this month, Italy appointed a new administrator, Giuseppe Leogrande, to oversee cost-cutting measures and find a buyer for...
United Airlines Extends 737 MAX Cancellations Until June 4, 2020
With a software solution elusive and regulatory approval uncertain, United Airlines extended cancellation for the 737 MAX by more than six months. The troubled Boeing aircraft is now out of the scheduled until June 4, 2020. In a note...
Review: United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class
I’ve flown United’s new Boeing 787-10 in business class, but how is it in economy class? Sometimes I will decline and upgrade even when it is is available. My supply of upgrade instruments is not unlimited and I made...
I Love It: Sea-Tac Airport Now Open To All
Want to spend the day at the airport even though you are not flying? You now can at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Effective immediately, Sea-Tac will allow 100 non-travelers per day through security checkpoints. The new SEA Visitor Pass program will...
Is British Airways Really That Bad?
A new survey of British travelers places British Airways near the bottom. But is British Airways really that bad? If we are talking about economy class, my answer is yes on shorthaul flights, but no on longhaul flights. Let’s...
How Does United’s New Service To Dublin Impact 787 Base In Chicago?
United Airlines will launch new service between San Francisco and Dublin in 2020 using a 787. Will this new service impact the 787 build-up at Chicago O’Hare? United’s New San Francisco – Dublin Service United Airlines will launch year-around...
Delta Flight Attendants Complain Uniforms Cause Hair Loss, Hives, And Coughing
Blaming toxic chemicals in their new uniforms, flight attendants are outraged Delta has not taken their complaints seriously. But the Atlanta-based carrier claims its toxicology study found no issues with the uniforms. Delta Uniforms Spark Flight Attendant Complaints Delta’s...
EU Court: Airlines Broadly Liable For Coffee Spills Onboard
The European Union’s highest court has held that airlines are responsible for scalding caused by hot coffee tipped over for “unknown reasons” unrelated to turbulence or flight attendant negligence. A six-year-old girl is at the heart of the lawsuit....
American Airlines Mechanic Pleads Guilty To Sabotaging Aircraft
A long-time American Airlines mechanic has pleaded guilty to tampering with an aircraft, but strongly denied there was any link to terrorism. In a U.S. federal court in Miami, Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani pleaded guilty to attempted destruction of...
Cool: Los Angeles International Airport Time-Lapse Video
A time-lapse video filmed at LAX offers a remarkable look at one of the world’s busiest airports. The video below was filmed in honor of National Aviation History Month, which occurs each November in the USA (yes, I was also...
