Maps and airlines are two of my favorite things. A new book maps the history of airline route maps. When driving home from my son’s swimming lesson yesterday, I had Marketplace on and caught a segment on a new book on airline maps. My ears instantly perked up. The book is called Airline Maps: A […]
What Is United Premium Plus Like On Transcontinental Flights?
What is United’s new Premium Plus product like on domestic transcontinental flights? I’ve reviewed United’s new premium economy “Premium Plus” product on an international flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, but United recently introduced Premium Plus on select premium transcontinental flights between Newark and Los Angeles/San Francisco. > Read More: United 777-200 Premium Plus San Francisco […]
A Special Trip To Scotland In Lufthansa First Class
121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the United States who has offered his insights and analysis on a number of topics on Live and Let’s Fly recently traveled with his brother and father on a very special trip to Scotland. He asked me if I would be interested in a trip report and I quickly […]
While Qantas Teases, Air New Zealand Delivers
Qantas made headlines for its historic nonstop “test” flight from New York to Sydney last Friday, but doesn’t even know if the route is viable. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand has announced that it will serve New York nonstop from Auckland. Starting in October 2020, Air New Zealand will launch nonstop flights between Auckland (AKL) and […]
Will Southwest Really Merge With Alaska Or JetBlue?
Rumors are swirling that Southwest Airlines may solve its lingering Boeing 737 MAX problem by acquiring another airline. I just don’t see it happening. The theory goes something like this. Southwest has over 100 737 MAX on order, with growth plans built around that aircraft. As the 737 MAX problems continue and Southwest is forced […]
Boeing Digs Its Own Grave
Credibility is a peculiar thing. It takes years, sometimes decades to build, and can best lost in an instant. The ongoing 737 MAX sage has already cost Boeing most of its credibility, but somehow Boeing found a way to dig its own grave even deeper… The mess surrounding the 737 MAX is complex. Some try […]
United, Delta Short-Haul Aircraft Better Than American Mainline
As Delta further invests in the customer experience of smaller jets and United rolls out CRJ550s they have surpassed the American mainline fleet. When will management learn? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Delta Revamps 717s Delta […]
What An Airport Auction Is Like
Pittsburgh International Airport announced their annual auction and I have always wanted to attend. This is what an airport auction is really like. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. The Announcement Was Elusive I follow the airport’s […]
Europe’s Fastest Growing Airline…I’ve Never Heard Of it
I like to stay up-to-date on airlines from all over the world, but admit Europe’s fastest growing airline took me by surprise. In fact, I had never even heard of it. I’m talking about Pobeda, a low-cost subsidiary of Aeroflot based in Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. The budget carrier was founded in 2014 and has now […]
Is the Great American Airlines Elite Evacuation Underway?
Signs from United and Delta, combined with performance issues with American point to a possibility that elites are starting to leave American Airlines after the summer of discontent. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. United Elite Increases […]
Analysis: Fundamental Changes To United MileagePlus In 2020
Last night, United Airlines announced radical changes to the way elite status is earned in the MileagePlus program, starting in 2020. What do these changes mean for you? First, let’s review the changes. Introduction Of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) + Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM), Premier Qualifying Segments (PQS), and Premier Qualifying […]
Boeing Loses Large 787 Order
Aeroflot Russian Airlines has formally canceled its Boeing 787 order, further casting the future of Boeing’s Dreamliner program into uncertainty. Boeing ramped up production of the Dreamliner earlier this year from 12 to 14 aircraft per month at two facilities (for a total of 28 planes per month). Without new orders, Boeing may be forced […]
Was It Something I Said? Icelandair Abandons San Francisco
The day after I published my review of Icelandair Premium Saga (business) class from Reykjavik to San Francisco, Icelandair announced it was dropping the route. Was my review that bad? I’m joking, of course, though it was not one of my most charitable reviews. I felt the 767-300 “business class” was much more like a […]
Norwegian Hands Iberia An Unsolicited Gift
Norwegian just gave Iberia the best gift it could have asked for: it is abandoning the majority of its routes from Madrid. Profit has been elusive for Norwegian, which is seeking to shed unprofitable routes and navigate an aircraft shortage worsened by the ongoing grounding of the Boeing 737MAX. As part of that effort, it […]
Next Up: British Airways World Traveller Plus
After my rough trip to Europe in Lufthansa economy class on the way out, I’m trying something new on the way back: World Traveller Plus on British Airways. Compared to a middle seat in the middle section in the last row on Lufthansa, this should be a nice upgrade. With the (now finished) transfer bonus […]
JetBlue’s Innovative New A321neo Cabin Interior
JetBlue has debuted its new Airbus A321neo, featuring several cabin innovations that make for an objectively better passenger experience. JetBlue’s focus is on “seamless living” onboard the new aircraft. To that end, the new aircraft features: New Welcome Area: The NEO features a completely redesigned welcome area outfitted with residential finishes, full-height edge-lit partitions, and […]
Last Call: British Airways 40% Transfer Bonus From American Express
We’re just a few hours away from the end of the most lucrative American Express Membership Rewards transfer bonus we’ve seen this year. This is your last call to take advantage of the 40% British Airways transfer bonus from AMEX. With high fuel surcharges and generally poor values on longhaul redemptions (if you can even […]
Delta’s New JetBlue Containment Strategy In Boston
Delta is boosting transatlantic flights from Boston by 30%, with new service to London, Manchester, Paris, and Rome starting in 2020. Make no mistake, the move is targeted at JetBlue. Delta has built up its focus-city in Boston to the point in which it is approaching hub status. Delta already flies between Boston and: Amsterdam […]
KLM Replaces Brussels Flight With Full-Service High-Speed Train
KLM will trial a high-speed train service between Amsterdam and Brussels next March in place of one of its flights. But the Dutch carrier promises more than just a seat. KLM currently flies five times per day between Brussels and Amsterdam. Beginning in March 2020, it will eliminate one flight and introduce a train replacement […]
Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Brisbane (BNE)
Since waiting for the Virgin Australia Lounge in Brisbane is like Waiting for Godot, I occupied my long layover in BNE by relaxing in the Plaza Premium Lounge. The Virgin Australia Lounge in Brisbane has been delayed almost as long as Berlin Brandenburg Airport, but there was one reason I ultimately did not care: coffee. […]
