If you read my blog regularly, you know that one of my favorite mileage redemptions is for Lufthansa First Class. It’s not that Lufthansa offers the best first class product in the world (though I love it). Rather, Lufthansa...
Man Sits In Dog Poop On Delta Flight, Flight Attendants Shrug, Gate Agent Threatens Him
Imagine you step onboard a Delta flight and smell something horrible. Really horrible. You assume it is coming from the lavatory or perhaps elsewhere on the plane. You’re seated in first class and find your seat. As you settle...
More United Polaris “Enhancements” On The Way
Starting in February, United will reduce the number of flight attendants on some international flights by one and start pre-plating meals in business class. In a leaked memo to flight attendants, VP John Slater defended this change and offered...
Why You Should ALWAYS Photograph Your Rental Car Before Pick-Up And Drop-Off
Always, I repeat always, take pictures of your rental car before driving it off and giving it back. I was in Holland earlier this week and so happy that I took my own advice, something I have made a...
A New Bailout For South African Airways Only Delays The Inevitable
The sun rose in the east and South African Airways obtained another government bailout, this time for $343 million. When will this madness stop? True, it’s not like the South African government had a lot of choice. It has...
If Only Air New Zealand Put As Much Thought Into Its Loyalty Program As Its Safety Videos…
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video, this time featuring a cast of over 600 and centered around a catchy rap song. Less Controversial Than the Last… I’d say one benefit to this video is that...
United Airlines And The Mystery Bamboo Forest
I recently wrote about United’s new ad campaign, which represents a tapestry of instruments from around the world weaving together Rhapsody in Blue. But keen observers have fairly questioned whether United knows the difference between China and Japan. As...
Australian Veterans Angry At Virgin Australia For Priority Boarding
Australian war veterans are saying no thanks to a plan by Virgin Australia to recognize their service with priority boarding and special announcements onboard. The New York Times reports vets are embarrassed and ashamed of the new recognition: Critics,...
Amsterdam: Hyatt Regency vs. Andaz
Amsterdam is one of the loveliest cities of Europe and is filled with many great hotels. For Hyatt fans, which is the better choice, the Hyatt Regency or Andaz Prinsengracht? I’ll compare the hotels on the following five metrics:...
Horrific: Woman Claims She Was Raped in AA Lavatory, Then Berated By Crew
A woman is suing American Airlines, claiming she was raped in a lavatory then mocked by the crew. It is a sad story, considering AA allegedly served the already-intoxicated aggressor six additional alcoholic drinks in a very short timespan....
The Death of Airline Lounge “Memberships” Makes American Express Platinum More Attractive
With American, Delta, and United cracking down on how/when “members” can use their lounges, I question whether membership is even the correct term to describe what airlines now offer. Think about it. If you’re a member of a gym,...
Man Thrown Off Flight For Sleeping Through Safety Video
A man was thrown off a WestJet flight for falling into a deep sleep during the safety video. But was it justified? Stephen Bennett recently suffered a stroke and cannot walk without assistance. He and his wife and son...
SWISS Delays Refresh Of A340 Fleet, Blames First Class
SWISS has delayed (yet again) the refurbishment of its aging A340-300 fleet. But the plane will not be retired anytime soon. In an era of efficient, twin-engine 787s and A350s, four engine aircraft are on the decline. But after...
Inaugural Singapore Airlines Flight Makes U-Turn Over Pacific Ocean, Returns To Los Angeles
Singapore’s new nonstop ultra-longhaul service began last night from Los Angeles to Singapore. But thanks to a mechanical issue, the maiden flight turned out to be far shorter than 17 hours, 50minutes… SQ37 left Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:24...
IHG Finally Has Hotels Worth Booking
Following a few acquisitions, IHG has improved the value of their points by improving the quantity of their top-end properties. Is it enough to justify loyalty to IHG? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Elite Status Is About More Than Upgrades
As the year closes, some elite travelers book unnecessary trips or hotel nights to maintain or “level up” their status. Some argue that status is just priority boarding and upgrades that don’t clear, causing irrational expenditure. But elite status...
Sneak Peek: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh
Kimpton Hotels are stylish and contemporary in the heart of major cities. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh fits the mold, but some of their design choices weren’t for me. I’ve included the photos, you decide. If you are considering booking...
Dinner In Croatia Airlines Business 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. It may...
Clarification On My United Compensation Story
My story about proactive United compensation caused quite a stir yesterday. Some speculated whether I was on the United payroll while others wondered if I was the only passenger who received compensation due my oft-United-focused blog. Apparently a journalist...
United CEO: Increased Baggage Fees Make Flying BETTER
Oscar Munoz, United Airlines’ CEO, argues that confusion drives passengers to complain about baggage fees. While I tend to agree with his overall point, the optics of insinuating that higher baggage fees improve the flying experience for the average...
