As 2018 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on my 10 favorite hotel stays from 2018. As a reminder, this is not a top-1o all-time list nor does...
JAL Pleads With Employees: No More Alcohol, Even Off-Duty!
Japan Airlines is asking its employees to refrain from alcohol, even off-duty, for at least the rest of the year. Honor is so important in Japanese culture and the flag carrier of Japan has been disgraced by two embarrassing...
Manila City of Dreams Entertainment Complex
As part of my stay at the Hyatt City of Dreams in Manila, I perused the entertainment complex that comprises the property. Shopping, food, a casino and even a mini-theme park for kids hold guests interest. If you are...
Unless You’re a Veteran or Disabled, The Dog Stays Home
Emotional Support Animals, specifically dogs, have gotten out of control and the airlines have a hard time fighting their customers on the rule. But if you’re not a veteran of the military or disabled, leave your dog at home!...
Review: Hyatt City of Dreams (Manila) – Suite
During a mileage run to the Philippines, I was able to check out the Hyatt City of Dreams in Manila. This hotel uniquely combines luxury and value, especially when staying on World of Hyatt points. If you are considering booking...
My Top 10 Airline Meals Of 2018
For this year’s final Meal of the Week, I count down my top 10 airline meals of 2018. To be clear, these are only the best meals I have enjoyed over the last year, not my top 10 all-time...
My Top 10 Lounges In 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the 10 best airport lounges I visited in 2018. 10. Marco Polo Club – Venice (VCE) I appreciated that...
Airline Fatalities Rise 900% in 2018, But…
The numbers don’t lie…2018 was a comparatively bad year for commercial aviation safety. But let’s keep things in perspective. 2018 marked an all-time high in number of flights and passengers carried: 4.5 billion passengers on 45 million flights. As...
The Only Thing That Annoyed Me In Air France First Class…
The flight itself was near-flawless. The service excellent. But there was one thing that annoyed me about my first class flight on Air France: another passenger in the cabin. Let me start by saying that this is a first...
Meanwhile, I’ll Stick To Hyatt…
I read with some amusement the recent back-and-forth between View from the Wing, One Mile at a Time, and Frequent Miler over Marriott versus Hilton. My solution is simple: I’ll just stick to Hyatt. It started when Gary argued...
Analysis: Why Did DoubleTree Hotel Throw Black Guest Out?
The main issue is not why a black man was asked if he was a guest. Instead, the issue is why he was thrown out once that was established. I’ve held off on commenting on this case, because I...
Case Closed: Sweet Victory Over SWISS!
When it comes to actually honoring EU261/2004 obligations, it seems that most airlines will initially stonewall you, hoping that you will just give up. In the case of SWISS, a sharply-worded letter to the CEO did the trick. A...
Air France First Class Is Even Better On The Ground Than In The Air
Yesterday, I wrote about my incredible first class experience in the air. But the ground experience was even better. I already mentioned the incredible ground service I received, which included an escort almost from door to door. Let’s start...
A New Airline In An Unlikely Place
A new airline has sprung up in the unlikeliest of places: Yemen. Queen Bilqis Airways recently commenced regular commercial flights from Aden to Amman. Here’s a water-cannon salute from the company first arrival in Amman. It appears the airline...
Air France First Class: Wow, Wow, Wow!
I stepped onto my 777-300ER Air France first class flight from Los Angeles to Paris with dangerously high expectations. Even so, they were still exceeded. Air France first class is truly a special product. Let’s start with ground service,...
Delta Passengers Trapped On Remote Island In Alaska!
194 Delta passengers found themselves on a remote Alaskan island for more than 12 hours on Christmas Day. Delta Flight 128, a Boeing 767-300 traveling from Beijing to Seattle, encountered “potential engine trouble” ennroute to Seattle. The flight diverted...
Lufthansa Is Livid At Frankfurt Airport
On a holiday weekend that saw 50,000 more travelers than normal, Frankfurt Airport proved unable to cope. The result was not pretty. On a typical weekend Frankfurt Airport will handle between 150,000-200,000 weekend. Last weekend, over 200,000 flew through...
My 2018 Christmas Reflection
A very happy Christmas to all my dear readers. I’m spending the day with family and friends and hope you will also, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. In Germany, shops closed at 2:00P.M. on Christmas Eve and will...
All the 2018 Airline Holiday Videos
Christmas has arrived and many airlines have released holiday videos for 2018. I have compiled them into one place for your viewing pleasure. I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. Air Canada Air New Zealand American Airlines ...
A Beautiful Gesture From A United Flight Attendant
Simple gestures of kindness carry a profound ability to lift the human spirit. Flyertalk member JV Photo, who I know is a trustworthy source, penned a thread entitled, A United FA Made Me Cry (In a Good Way). It...
