Welcome to my next trip report, which will cover the recent 14-leg journey I took around the world. It all started when I noticed ANA had released some first class award space on its A380 from Honolulu to Tokyo....
An Open Letter To Flight Attendants Concerning Standby Travel
Flight attendants, your job comes with a tremendous benefit. Please don’t abuse it. In the airline industry, employees “take care of their own.” While that is hardly unique to airlines, the brotherhood and sisterhood inherent in wearing the same...
Review: SWISS Saab 2000 Zurich To Lugano
It is always fun to fly on “vintage” airliner, even on a very short route. This flight review review gives you an idea of what to expect on a SWISS domestic flight. It was a hot summer day in...
Lufthansa’s Muddled Eurowings Strategy
After recently announcing plans to discontinue longhaul routes on Eurowings, now Lufthansa is adding four new Eurowings routes to the United States. It’s a sign that Lufthansa doesn’t know what to do with its underperforming budget unit. Next spring,...
The Man Behind The Middle Seat Column…
For 15 years I have faithfully read Scott McCartney’s The Middle Seat column in the Wall Street Journal. Now I have even greater appreciation for the man behind the column…thanks to a lovely guest columnist, Mrs. Middle Seat. McCartney has...
Air France-KLM CEO Contradicts KLM Climate Campaign
KLM made waves last month by encouraging passengers to fly less. But as it turns out, the carrier actually wants you to fly more…just be conscious about it. In a video message, KLM asked: Do you always have to...
Airline Labor Unions Assail Trump For “Cozying Up” To Qatar Airways
Labor unions across the airline industry are outraged at President Donald Trump for siding with Qatar Airways and Air Italy in a recent White House meeting. There’s nothing that brings all sides together like a red herring over American...
My Raucous Flight On Spirit Airlines
For better or for worse, it seems that every Spirit Airlines flight I take is predictable…in a raucous way. But there was a sense of community on my last Spirit flight that I just loved. It’s a good thing...
Six Reasons Air France Is Retiring A380
Air France will retire its Airbus A380 fleet ahead of schedule for at least six unique reasons. In a wide-ranging interview with Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith, Skift’s Brian Sumers brought up Air France’s recent decision to retire the...
United Eliminates The Mystery Of First Class Meal Priority
Back to front or front to back? Full-fare first? How about those with status? United Airlines is taking out the mystery in how FAs honor onboard meal service preference. If you’re seated in United First on domestic flights or...
A Costly Family Vacation For Delta CEO
I’m not going to impugn the motives of Delta CEO Ed Bastian. But there is simply no denying how incredibly costly his recent family vacation turned out to be. Bastian took some some heat (and not just from me)...
I Chose 16 Hours In United Economy Class…
No PAL review this time. Instead, I chose to come home quickly from Singapore…in economy class. And I’m so glad I did. I asked for your feedback and appreciated your feedback, which was fairly evenly-divided between taking the quick...
It’s Not About Intoxication: How Two Pilots Violated Our Trust
I have virtually zero doubt that the two United pilots arrested for “intoxication” at Glasgow International Airport on Saturday could have flown safely across the Atlantic. But that’s not the point. Pilots are held to a higher standard. The...
Cathay Pacific Boldly Invades Your Privacy
Cathay Pacific is not even trying to hide the fact that it is snooping on you. But is that concerning or just refreshingly honest? Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific just updated its privacy policy. While Cathay Pacific is “committed to protecting...
By Any Other Name: Southwest’s Seating Charge
Southwest Airlines is not big on fees, they include everything – or that’s what they want you to believe. But isn’t a rose by any other name still a seating charge? I think that’s how it goes… If you...
Maximizing Reward Days From National Car Rental
National Rental Car offers Reward Days for their loyal customers with free rentals with almost every car category available. Sometimes, however, downgrading your rental on arrival is the best way to ensure exactly what you want. If you are...
Founders Card: American Express Platinum With Fraction of Benefits
The Founders Card is a membership card popular with some travelers and is often touted by other bloggers and travel sites. It was time to find out if Founders, American Express Cards are comparable. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Two Very Different Flight Options From Singapore – Your Thoughts?
I’ve wrapped up my time in Singapore and have narrowed my return flights to two choices. The decision has been surprisingly difficult. Often, time and value work against each other. While I am thankful to have the freedom to...
SFO Plastic Water Bottle Ban Is Bad Public Policy
San Francisco International Airport has banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles effective August 20, 2019. While well-intentioned, the policy unnecessarily penalizes water drinkers while overlooking a better pro-environmental alternative. I am trying to approach this issue from...
United’s Most Valuable Route And JFK Dilemma
United Airlines is determined to steer customers from JFK to Newark for lucrative transatlantic flights. But how? In continuing to unpack the conversation between United President Scott Kirby and Newark employees, exclusively obtained by Live and Let’s Fly, talk...
