United Airlines marked the inaugural flight of its new San Francisco to Tahiti service with news that the flight will operate year-around. The flight was originally set to run from October 30, 2018 until March 28, 2019 but now will operate...
Thai Airways Disciplines Staff For First Class Poaching
Thai Airways will discipline two staff members over the first class seating controversy last week that deeply embarrassed the Thai flag carrier. In a statement quoted in the Bangkok Post, Thai Airways President Sumeth Damrongchaitham said: It was found...
Emirates Firmly Dismisses Rumor Of Etihad Merger
“We can make it very simple, very easy: There’s no truth to the rumour. No truth. And end of story.” That’s Hubert Frach, Emirates head of commercial operations for Europe and the Americas. He’s in England this week touting Emirates’...
Middle East Airlines Orders A330neo
Beirut-based Middle East Airlines has committed to four Airbus A330neo aircraft to modernize its midhaul fleet. There has been no official announcement, but MEA’s annual statement indicated “commitments” for 11 Airbus A321neo and four A330neo aircraft. The 11 A321s have...
Philippine Airlines Launches Nonstop Service To New York JFK
Philippine Airlines has launched nonstop service between Manila and New York City aboard its new Airbus A350-900 jetliner. The flag carrier of the Philippines, more commonly known as PAL, will serve New York JFK five times weekly. With the...
Unruly Passenger Attacks United Flight Attendants, Forcing Diversion
A United Airlines flight returned to London after a boisterous woman cursed at her seat-back entertainment then attacked flight attendants. Michelle Vanbuskirk certainly had a bad day on a flight from London to Washington on September 25th. The woman, who...
How JetBlue’s Founder Envisions His Unique New Airline
David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue, is not worried about competition when his new airline, code-named Moxy, takes off in 2021. And he’s almost smug about it. Referring to the competition, he told Skift: There are some things structurally they...
Lufthansa’s A350 “Flying Penthouse”
The commercial passenger variant of Lufthansa’s Airbus A350 does not even have a first class section. But have you seen the VIP edition available via Lufthansa Technik? Described as a “haven of rest and comfort”, the custom interior spans...
Confirmed: Lion Air 737 Max Crashes Minutes After Takeoff
188 passengers and crew are feared dead as debris from a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 has washed up onshore near Jakarta. Lion Air flight JT-610 took off this morning at 6:21 A.M. from Jakarta enroute to Pangkal Pinang. Just...
Moving Flights From Britain Due to Brexit
Britain is still slated to leave the European Economic Region (Brexit) and that could have a big effect on travelers like me, who may want to move their flights away from Britain to maintain EU 261/2004 protection. If you...
Why Do The Smallest Airports Employ Pedantic TSA?
I took a quick work trip to Meridian, MS on an adorable CRJ-200. I was loving the tiny airport, personal service, single-serve everything. But when I met TSA on the departure, that all changed. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Reasons to Embrace Hyatt’s Category 8 Redemptions
The party line for travel bloggers and point enthusiasts is that any potential devaluation is a bad thing, but I am not so sure that in Hyatt’s case it’s true. I have some reasons to embrace Hyatt’s coming Category...
New A380 Order? Lufthansa Teases Us On Twitter…
Lufthansa, you’re such a tease. The German carrier left us with this on Twitter yesterday: While the most likely answer is that the first A380 will soon be repainted in Lufthansa’s latest livery, the tweet has fueled speculation about...
Succulent Rack Of Lamb In United First 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. As a...
Buying Sports Tickets Is Just Like Buying Airline Award Tickets
Buying sports ticket is just like buying an airline award ticket. It pays to be patient. I planned on attending Game Three of the World Series last night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, an emergency in the office...
Pictures: SAS Upgrades Lounge In Copenhagen (CPH)
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has updated its flagship lounges in Copenhagen, with several new elements I look forward to checking out. First, the lounge will retain its “Fast Track” dedicated security entrance for SAS premium cabin travelers as well as...
Lovely: I Screwed Up My Gulf Air 787-9 Trip
Well, so much for that review…. Several months back when American Airlines announced it would dissolve its partnership with Gulf Air, I booked a trip in late fall. For Saturday morning, as it turned out. I figured this would...
My Best United First Class Trip Of All Time
Yesterday, I wrote a eulogy for United’s international first class product. There, I promised to offer a report on my best first class trip of all time on United. There’s a difference, I think, between best and favorite. I have...
Thai Airways Delays Retirement Of 747 Fleet
Thai Airways has indicated it will not retire its remaining fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft as quickly as planned. Thai Airways faces both a short-term and long-term problem. On the short-term, half of its 787 fleet (four of eight...
Saying Goodbye To United International First Class…
United Airlines has officially retired its international first class product, most recently known as United Polaris First. This post serves as a eulogy for first class on United. When I first started flying United in 2004, the carrier offered...
