Hello from Hong Kong, where I’ve completed the next leg of my journey and am now relaxing at The Pier. Although it was only a short three-hour flight from Beijing to Hong Kong, I was reminded once again how...
Review: Park Hyatt Maldives
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The Park Hyatt Maldives is no small investment in terms of cost and time. But for my wife and me, it was a very special belated honeymoon trip. When Heidi and I got married, we were both too busy...
Ugh…Atlanta Bans Smoking In Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
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A sweeping new anti-smoking ordinance will snuff out indoor smoking at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. I think it’s a terrible idea. Atlanta will ban smoking in all indoor areas, including restaurants and bars throughout the city, effective January 02,...
The Best Seat On A United Airlines 757-300
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As a rule, I generally avoid bulkhead seating. But I’ll make an exception going forward on United’s 757-300s. While bulkhead seats in any class of service generally provide two advantages, namely more knee room and no one reclining into...
My Lucky Flight In China Southern First Class
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Hello from Beijing, where I am resting up at the Beijing Capital Airport Hilton after a surprising flight on China Southern aboard the A380 in first class. In all honestly, I sort of dreaded this flight…in a good way...
American And United Have No Plans To Match Delta’s Latest Enhancement
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American Airlines and United Airlines expressed no urgency in matching recent improvements to the international economy class product by Delta. Perhaps that is a wise move. I wrote about the upcoming changes to the Delta economy class product here....
Lufthansa Will Position More A380s In Munich
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Lufthansa will concentrate more Airbus A380s at its Munich hub in 2020. Lufthansa currently has 14 A380s in its fleet, with nine operating from Frankfurt (FRA) and five from Munich (MUC). Next year, Lufthansa will even the split to...
Uh Oh! My China Southern Trip Is Already Heading South…
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I have not even taken off yet and I’m already regretting my choice to fly China Southern first class. Let’s hope things don’t get worse. Reserving a seat assignment on China Southern is worse than pulling teeth or booking...
First Impressions: Thai Airways A350 Business Class
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Good afternoon from Guangzhou. I just enjoyed a pleasant journey from Bangkok to Guangzhou and want to provide my initial impressions of Thai’s A350-900 in business class. First, I had a very nice morning in the first class lounge...
Tacky Clothes Versus Tacky Flight Attendants At American Airlines
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I feel for the Houston doctor who was singled out for dressing inappropriately on an American Airlines flight from Jamaica to Miami. She did not deserve to be ridiculed by flight attendants and American Airlines was right to apologize. Let’s...
It’s About Time Someone Sued Marriott Over Sham Resort Fees…
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For years I have argued that hotels and online travel agencies should be forced to disclose all-in pricing at all points of the hotel search process. We may finally be one step closer to that goal. Mandatory “fees” are...
Honolulu Desperately Needs An Airport Hotel!
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Oh Honolulu, so quaint in so many ways. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is in desperate need of a proper airport hotel. There must be an opportunity for an enterprising investment firm to construct a lucrative on-site hotel....
Thai Airways First Class: Better Than I Remembered
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Hello from Bangkok. I’ve completed the second leg of my trip and was pleasantly surprised at how marvelous Thai Airways was in first class…it has been a few years. The flight left Tokyo Haneda after midnight and arrived in...
Air India Bans Holy Water From Flights, Sparking Outrage
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UPDATE: Air India has backtracked. See statement below. With reference to instructions regarding non carriage of Zamzam cans, on AI966 and AI964, we wish to clarify that passengers are allowed to carry Zamzam cans within their permissible baggage allowance....
British Airways Vows To Fight Massive Fine For Data Breach
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British Airways faces a £183m ($230m) fine for exposing sensitive customer information. But the company’s leaders are vowing to fight it in open court while downplaying BA’s culpability. Thanks to what the British Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) called “poor security...
A Superb New Star Alliance Lounge In Honolulu Is Available To United Flyers
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If you’re willing to make the walk, the new ANA Lounge in Honolulu is a great place to eat, drink, and relax before your next Star Alliance flight. The lounge is located about 15 minutes away from the ANA...
A Short, Sweet, Satisfying ANA A380 First Class Flight
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Greetings from Tokyo! I’m now enroute on my trip around the world and want to provide my initial thoughts on my ANA A380 “Flying Honu” flight from Honolulu to Tokyo Narita in first class. First, service on ANA is...
Flight Delayed For Turtle…
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A Jetstar flight from Gold Coast to Adelaide was delayed last week thanks to a trespasser on the runway…a turtle. As the plane was taxiing for takeoff, First Officer James Fuller noticed the turtle on the tarmac. He alerted...
Hawaiian Airlines Passenger Fined $172,000 And Sentenced To Six Months In Jail For Disorderly Conduct
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The latest edition in the perils of drinking and flying series centers on a Hawaiian Airlines flight and one man who must be feeling pretty remorseful today. Kyong Chol Kim not only downed a bottle of whiskey before his...
The Fight For A Passenger Bill Of Rights In Canada
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Airlines and trade organizations are lining up to fight the new passenger bills of rights in Canada, set to kick in on July 15, 2019. Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have filed court...