After 32 years with United Airlines, Captain Mark Hardcastle just piloted his last commercial flight…a fitting send-off to a remarkable man. United Airlines Captain Mark Hardcastle Retires Denver-based Captain Mark Hardcastle spent 32 years flying for United Airlines, retiring...
Review: Delta Air Lines A330-900neo Business Class
My trip to Europe began with a Delta Air Lines flight in “Delta One” business class onboard the Airbus A330-900neo from Los Angeles to London. No, the Delta One Suite is not my favorite business class seat, but the...
American Airlines Flight Attendant Banishes Black Woman To Economy Class Lavatory For “Slamming” First Class Lavatory Door
A black woman and retired judge has claimed she was targeted for harassment by an American Airlines flight attendant for “slamming” the first class lavatory door on a flight to Phoenix. She denies that charge and believes the incident...
Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York (JFK)
I had the chance recently to pay a couple of morning visits to the new Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York JFK in Terminal 4. This lounge was formerly the Etihad lounge and now is a shared lounge with...
Airport Shoplifter Makes Stupid Choice In Dallas Before Turkish Airlines Flight
A shoplifter was arrested while waiting to board his Turkish Airlines flight after stealing a wallet from a Coach store at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). You really do have to wonder what would possess someone to steal something...
Massive Devaluation: United Airlines Raises First Class Redemption Costs On ANA, Lufthansa
Bad news for United MileagePlus travelers: United Airlines drastically raised redemption prices for first class travel on partners like ANA and Lufthansa, a massive devaluation. I’m updating this post with United’s statement concerning the price hike. United MileagePlus First...
Korean Air Standby Award Booking: Total Failure
Well, so much for flying home on Korean Air after I failed to clear a single flight off the waitlist using my SkyPass points with its “Standby Award Booking” tool. Korean Air SkyPass Waitlist For Award Flights: I Went...
Woman Harasses New York City Mayor Eric Adams On American Airlines Flight
A vitriolic passenger raged against New York City Mayor Eric Adams onboard an American Airlines flight, showing why pols like Senator Ted Cruz (R – TX) seem so desperate to shield elected leaders from the traveling public. NYC Mayor...
Armenian Remembrance Day In Los Angeles
It is a quiet day in Los Angeles today, as we remember the Armenian Genocide across the sprawling county. Yet it is an important day to reflect on the capacity for human depravity and how overcoming that starts by...
United Airlines Offers More Insight On “Polaris Plus” Product
After asking MileagePlus members about their interest in an upgraded “Polaris Plus” seat, United Airlines has offered additional details about what such a product might look like onboard. United Airlines Offers More Details On “Polaris Plus” On April 17,...
My Surprsingly Comfortable JAL 787-9 Business Class Flight
Reading the reviews out there, I thought I was going to step off my Japan Airlines (JAL) 787-9 business class flight with a sore back…but I found the seat perfectly comfortable. JAL 787-9 Business Class: My First Impressions After...
Man Sues British Airways For £5 Million After Slipping On Puddle Of Baileys Irish Cream
A Swiss man who slipped on a puddle of Baileys Irish Cream in the British Airways check-in area at London Heathrow has told a judge that he needs £5 Million after the accident caused his business to collapse. Swiss...
Review: Delta Sky Club Los Angeles (LAX – T3)
Delta’s flagship Sky Club at Los Angeles International Airport is a design masterpiece with several elements that elevate it to one of my favorite lounges at LAX. Delta Sky Club Los Angeles (LAX) Terminal 3 Review My original Delta...
Posh: Delta One Premium Check-In Facility At LAX
Before my business class flight from Los Angeles to London, I checked in at the posh Delta One premium check-in area at LAX terminal 3. This is a very nice facility and value-add for Delta’s premium guests. Delta One...
What Cranky Flier Misses In United Airlines Pacific Load Factor Analysis
One of my favorite industry blogs is Cranky Flier, written by Brett Snyder. We both live in Los Angeles and I have benefited from his perspective for years. But I think he missed a big issue in his recent...
Foolishness: California Considers CLEAR Ban At Airports
California is considering bipartisan legislation that would ban CLEAR in its current form at California airports. While CLEAR has certainly lost some of its competitive edge over the last few years, this is still shortsighted legislation that will not...
Delta Air Lines Gives Proactive Pay Raises To Non-Union Employees
Delta Air Lines has raised wages for its non-union employees for the third time since 2022, this year proactively awarding employees with a 5% raise across pay scales just months after a generous profit-sharing payout. Employees At Delta Air...
Introduction: To Europe On SkyTeam In Business Class
Welcome to my next trip report, which will detail my recent journey to and within Europe on a combination of SkyTeam carriers plus a boutique airline that proved to be a very pleasant surprise onboard. Europe on SkyTeam Plus...
14 Hours In JAL A350-1000 First Class: Perfection
WOW…the first class “train compartments” on the Japan Airlines (JAL) A350-1000 are simply superlative. My 14-hour flight from New York to Tokyo was easily one of the best flights of my life and the first class suite is over-the-top...
Is “Serial Stowaway” Marilyn Hartman Also Guilty Of National Security Crimes?
I’m still thinking about the case of 26-year-old Wicliff Fleurizard, the former Apple engineer charged with “national security crimes” for sneaking onboard a Delta Air Lines flight using someone else’s boarding pass. If that was a national security crime,...
