My unexpected month in Africa will always be a two-edged sword: a treasured memory on the one hand and a painful and expensive exercise in futility on the other hand. Remember the purpose of this trip was to secure a police clearance report for Heidi – one-more charade we had to perform for the hapless […]
Review: Radisson Hotel Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Darussalam
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. My wife and I planned a short trip to Brunei and we were not disappointed. Finding a Club Carlson property in the city center, Radisson Bandar Seri Begawan, was a […]
Top 10 American Airlines Award Redemptions
After a substantial devaluation last March, American Airlines AAdvantage miles are not worth what they once were. Nevertheless, there are still sweet spots on the award chart (mostly premium cabin) that are worth taking advantage of. Here are my top 10 redemptions on American. Top 10 AAdvantage Redemptions (one-way basis) 1. USA to Africa (75K Business) […]
How to Complain Effectively in Three Easy Steps
It’s easy enough to complain to an airline or hotel over bad service. It’s quite another matter to do so in an effective manner to obtain the results you are seeking. Here’s my how-to guide on complaining. A Case Study Let’s use an example. If you want to get right to my tips, scroll down to […]
United CEO Vents About Small Planes, Washington Dulles
United CEO Oscar Munoz has a message about Washington Dulles: we screwed up. Fly between Newark and Washington Dulles — United’s two east coast hubs — and you’ll find yourself on a 37-seat turboprop (Bombardier Q200). Admitting that United’s share of traffic has steadily shrunk on the WAS-NYC market while competitors have increased, Munoz conceded, “And so now […]
Want to Work for Lufthansa? Now is Your Chance!
The Lufthansa Group plans to hire more than 3,000 new staff in 2017, including 2,200 FAs. What Does it Take to be a Lufthansa Group FA? For any Americans looking to join Lufthansa, the first requirement is (unsurprisingly) that you must be fluent in German. Here is a list of requirements that I have translated from […]
Review: Kahala Hotel & Resort – Honolulu
If I am going divert from staying in a chain hotel in which I can earn and redeem points, the alternative has to be very, very compelling. Although Honolulu has a wide assortment of chain hotels including three great beachfront Starwood properties and a comfortable Hyatt Regency, my hotel choice is the Kahala Hotel and […]
Hyatt Sha Tin: Bring the Family Along to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of my favorite cities in the world and still a favorite for us now traveling as a family. Some may not immediately see the appeal of this destination as a family getaway, but traveling there before having a child created a yearning to return again and again and again. Bringing Lucy […]
His Excellency Defends Qatar Atlanta Service in New Interview
Protests have sprung up in the Atlanta area over Qatar Airways new service to Doha including a string of protests, radio/tv attacks, and full-page newspaper ads condemning the Gulf carrier. CEO. Trying to reassert control over the matter, Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker (“His Excellency”) has made himself available to local press in Atlanta, attempting to […]
My Plan for Fixing Aeroplan
I was going to title this post “An Indictment Against Aeroplan” but I don’t think anyone wants to read another list of gripes about Aeroplan’s shortcomings. So Aeroplan, consider this my free consultation for how you can bring yourselves into the 21st Century and offer customers a dramatically better experience. 1. Aeroplan Call Center Must […]
Last Day to Burn Your AA Miles Prior to Devaluation!
Monday, March 21, 2016 is the final day to use your AA miles at prevailing rates. On March 22nd a massive devaluation kicks in for premium cabin awards in nearly every region, making your AA miles much less valuable. But there is still time — one more day — to take advantage of some great […]
United Airlines Shuffles Board as Oscar Munoz Readies Return
Two news items from United Airlines. First, Oscar Munoz will be back soon. Second, three new independent members to the Board have been appointed. Is there a link? Munoz is already back in a decision-making capacity but will resume his CEO role on a full-time basis on March 14, 2016. In a press release he […]
Delta Now Shows Only Four Award Booking Classes
Delta Air Lines removed award charts without notice last year, downplaying the need for them by insisting that delta.com would accurately price awards. That news foreshadowed more dynamic award pricing and an aggressive use of fare logic to price awards segments cumulatively rather than as what had traditionally been a single maximum price between an […]
Last Day to Purchase Discounted Alaska Miles
We’ve seen a renaissance of attractive mileage sales this season and one of the leaders in hawking points has been Alaska Airlines, which has a great loyalty program with attractive redemption partners like Emirates and Cathay Pacific. The current sale is targeted by individual with a discount of either 35%, 40%, or 50% on purchased […]
Southwest Companion Pass – The Best Deal in Travel for Family Flights
This post was written in December 2015 but as of December 2018, it still holds true today. Southwest Airlines’ Companion Pass is the best deal for traveling families. 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. Why Southwest Ever? […]
Aer Lingus Adds Flights to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford
Aer Lingus is accelerating its international expansion with newly announced service to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford in 2016. New USA Routes Propel Aer Lingus International Expansion Thus far, we only have details about the Los Angeles route, which will operate five days per week on an Airbus A330-200 with 23 lie-flat business class seats and […]
Analysis: A Letter from United’s New CEO Oscar Munoz
United named Oscar Munoz as CEO today, tapping another insider to head the company. In a letter to employees, Munoz laid out the news and his leadership vision. Here’s my analysis of it. Dear fellow employees: No more “co-workers”? The employees all say thanks. Today we are announcing a series of executive changes, which are effective […]
Reader Question: Airline Loyalty – Which to Choose
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. Here at UPGRD.com we get emails from readers and from time to time we publish them (edited by blogger for brevity and privacy). This one is from reader VC: I […]
Goodbye to Sun Trust, Goodbye to Delta
For those of you who have been following my previous posts regarding debit cards, this is the most up-to-date post regarding the Sun Trust Delta Debit card. If you are just researching this for the first time please check out previous articles (first post, second post, third post, fourth post). If you are considering booking travel or signing […]
Next FTU Advanced Announced: Newport Beach, CA
I’ve written over and over about Frequent Traveler University, a dynamic weekend of learning and fellowship that is a must for anyone who wants to efficiently master the points and miles game. Back to the West Coast by popular demand, the final FTU Advanced of 2015 will be held from 04-06 December at the Hyatt […]
