British Airways will add a new 54-mile extension onto its service to Manama, linking the Bahraini capital to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Starting on December 01, 2019, BA will add a tag from Manama, Bahrain to Dammam, Saudi Arabia....
FYI: Air India Award Space Currently Not Bookable With United Miles
If you’re trying to book an Air India flight using your United miles, you cannot…at least for the time being. United Airlines has had some issues with its Star Alliance partner award inventory lately. For several weeks, bookings with...
United 787 Diverts To Small French Island After Mechanical Scare
A United Airlines’ 787-9 bound for Los Angeles diverted to Noumea due to the “smell of smoke” onboard. Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia, a French territory located east of Australia and north of New Zealand. The flight,...
Review: Sofitel Luang Prabang – Garden Suite
This is a year of renewed discovery for our family and we had yet to visit Laos after countless trips to Southeast Asia. We selected the Sofitel Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage protected site – it was stunning....
I’m Not Flying Southwest to Hawaii Even With Companion Pass
Southwest Airlines has started flights to Hawaii, initially offering limited availability as cheap as $99 round-trip. But even with the Companion Pass, I won’t take Southwest to the islands. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
24 Hours in Luang Prabang, Laos
During a recent trip to Southeast Asia, my family wanted to visit one of the more mysterious countries we have left unexplored. This guide will help you plan a productive 24-hour visit to beautiful, Luang Prabang, Laos. If you...
Why It Pays To Sleep Through Meal Service In Economy Class…
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. My journey...
I Flew The “Boring” Option Home To LA…
After spending hours (upon hours) trying to come up with an interesting way back to Los Angeles, I ended up booking “boring” United Airlines. That turned out to be a great choice. Sometimes boring is a good thing. Sometimes...
Review: Qantas Lounge London (LHR – T3)
The Qantas Lounge in London Heathrow Terminal 3 is an ideal alternative to the nearby British Airways Lounge. Business class passengers on oneworld as well as oneworld frequent flyers (Emerald or Sapphire status) have access to this exceptional lounge, open daily...
Garuda Indonesia’s Threat To Cancel 737 MAX 8 Order Is Likely A Bluff
In my own import/export business, I’ve learned the great power of a bluff. I’ve got the feeling that is what Garuda Indonesia doing in “canceling” its large Boeing 737 MAX 8 order. It was Winston Churchill who was first said,...
A Flight Attendant Freed From Detention Demonstrates Power Of Social Media
A Mesa Airlines flight attendant has been freed from federal detention thanks to an onslaught of social media pressure. I had prepared another post today on this topic, a very opinionated one, that I can thankfully spare you from...
The Joy Of Flying, Even In Economy Class
While it is true that I treated my economy class trip on Lufthansa as something of a joke, I want to make one thing clear: flying in any cabin is an incredible joy that should not be taken for granted....
Review: Lufthansa A380 Economy Class Los Angeles To Frankfurt
My opinion of Lufthansa Economy Class is nearly identical to Lufthansa Business Class. It’s a perfectly serviceable product, but there are better options available. Boarding was an absolute zoo at LAX. Lines stretched hundreds of feet down the terminal waiting...
Do New United Airlines Mobile Boarding Pass Colors Offer A Hint On New Livery?
As we await the next “evolution” of the United Airlines livery, a new style of mobile boarding passes may offer a clue as to what to expect. For years, United mobile boarding passes have looked like this in the...
United Airlines Unveils Two New Gender Booking Options
Following through on its promise, United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to offer additional non-binary gender options for new flight bookings. You’ll now have four gender choices when you book a ticket on united.com: Male (M) Female (F)...
An Open Letter From Boeing CEO On 737 MAX Crashes
Boeing Chairman, President, and CEO penned an open letter to “airlines, passengers, and the aviation community” on Boeing’s commitment to safety. It’s worth a few minutes of your time to read and consider. I have included the full text...
A Classy Move From A Classy United Express Captain
Flight delays stink. Especially when they occur around meal times. But one United Express/MESA captain went above and beyond the call of duty during a prolonged flight delay. A mechanical issued delayed a United Express flight from Tulsa (TUL)...
Captain Sully Has Choice Words For Boeing And FAA
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III has penned a scathing new op-ed for Baron’s assailing Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. First, he bemoans that the FAA is understaffed and underfunded. To compensate, he points out that the FAA...
What I Did AFTER I Flew Lufthansa Economy Class…
My reward for flying Lufthansa Economy Class was a steak lunch in the First Class Lounge. Part of the “deal” for me to fly economy class was that my business partner would guest me into the first class lounges...
Ethiopian Captain Never Had 737 MAX Simulator Training
Yared Getachew, the captain onboard doomed Ethiopian Flight 302, never had Boeing 737 Max 8 simulator training, despite Ethiopian Airlines’ acquisition of a simulator months earlier. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, insiders at Ethiopian told the New York...