Oh man, this was truly horrific. I fly often. Very often. I’ve set foot in 130 countries and have certainly seen my fair share of long airport security lines. But last night was a new low… Here’s the point of this post: if you are flying out of Terminal 4 at JFK in the evening, […]
UK’s Obscene Airport Taxes Rising Again
Obscene is a strong and harsh word. It means offensive to moral principles; repugnant. I don’t use the word casually. Yet I do use it to describe the ridiculous APD departure tax from the United Kingdom…that will soon grow even further. First the news, then my commentary. The UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) was introduced […]
A Thanksgiving Resolution
Once upon a time there was a boy who loved to fly around the world using his miles and points. Around the globe he flew, visiting the far corners of the world; meeting new people and surveying new lands. The boy grew into a man and his eyes were opened to the world around him, […]
Attend Frequent Traveler University in Chicago this Weekend for FREE!
If you have not made weekend plans, it is still not too late to take part in Frequent Traveler University Expo and Signature events in Chicago this weekend. Read below for how you can score a free ticket to FTU Expo. This FTU event format is brand new, featuring a special one-day Expo with an […]
My First Impressions of United 777-300ER Polaris Business Class
Good day from Hong Kong! I’ve made it to HKG after a 15-hour flight from San Francisco on United’s new 777-3ooER in Polaris Business Class. The flight was good, for me at least. My friend John got sick just like I did on the Singapore flight. Hopefully he will recover quickly and I won’t experience […]
Boeing 767 Production Will Continue Regardless of United Order
The Wall Street Journal rekindled rumors yesterday that United Airlines may purchase new Boeing 767 aircraft from Boeing. Whether that happens or not, the 767 has found new life and will not shut down. For weeks we’ve heard that United Airlines could be the “savior” of the ailing Boeing 767 program, an aircraft that has […]
Interview With OneJet CEO Matthew Maguire
OneJet is a new commercial airline operating small private jets based in Pittsburgh. I had the chance to fly their product and loved it but as a travel blogger, I was left with more questions than answers. I reached out to the carrier and the CEO himself made time to talk. If you are considering booking […]
Review: Lufthansa A380 First Class Los Angeles to Frankfurt
Last week, I reviewed the Lufthansa 747-8 in first class from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. I had the rare opportunity to fly the same route just weeks apart on an A380. This review covers that flight. I wrote about this flight a bit already–this was the flight with Jane Fonda, Amanda Seyfried, a German executive, […]
Closing My BankDirect Mileage Checking Account
Earning miles and points on everything you do should extend to your checking account if possible. For a long time I have loved debit products like the SunTrust Delta Debit card, and the BankDirect mileage-earning checking account. It offers a rare opportunity for those who have challenged credit or otherwise limited from earning through credit […]
Finally, Lie-Flat Beds on My Ethiopian Airlines Flight!
I’m pleased to report that my connecting Ethiopian 787 flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok featured Ethiopian’s new fully lie-flat beds. But did it lead to a restful flight? The flight departed from a remote stand and bus boarding was a free-for-all, with passengers pushing and shoving to get onboard and no separate line for […]
The Godfather of the Airline Industry
Freddie Laker. Richard Branson. William Franke? Although not a household name, William “Bill” Franke is the man we can thank for the ultra-low-carrier model in the USA. He also hired both Doug Parker (CEO of American) and Scott Kirby (President of United). Franke is now 80 years old but still a managing partner at Phoenix-based […]
Unsubstantiated Gossip: Southwest Wants Denver-Kona
I have avoided writing this post for just shy of a year because there wasn’t yet corroborating evidence or reason to believe it’s true – now there may be. Based on potentially reliable information, Southwest may focus on Denver to open their Hawaii route aspirations. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit […]
Review: Le Méridien Charlotte Hotel
From one of my very first posts as a travel blogger, Le Méridien has held a special place in our heart. That being said, we rarely get the chance to try the brand so when I was away for business in Charlotte, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Unfortunately, the Le Méridien Bangkok and are […]
Boeing Wins, Consumers Lose
Last week I wrote about a trade spat between Boeing and Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier over alleged subsidies. The US Department of Commerce has sided with Boeing and plans to slap a whopping 220% tariff on each Bombardier C Series airliner imported into the USA. That’s potentially bad news for consumers. Boeing argued that Delta […]
Prime Minister: Canada Will NOT Buy Boeing Jets
Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau has declared that Canada will not do business with Boeing, threatening to look elsewhere to supply Canada’s next generation of fighter jets. Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trudeau stated— We have obviously been looking at the Super Hornet aircraft from Boeing as a […]
United Airlines Adds New Service to Iceland, Portugal, Scotland and Switzerland
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby suggested his airline would re-focus on domestic service, but that has not led to any slowdown in international expansion. Quite the contrary, United is using its fuel-efficient fleet to expand to new destinations around the world. Next summer United will add new service to Reykjavik, Iceland and Porto, Portugal. Furthermore, […]
Jetlines: Canada’s New Ultra-Low-Cost Airline
Hoping to become Canada’s first truly ultra-low-cost airline, Jetlines boasts an ambitious two-year plan for growth in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Service starts on June 1, 2018. Jetlines plans to build upon the success of ultra-low-cost-carriers (ULCCs) on both sides of the Atlantic to offer cheap, no-frills service from secondary airports in Canada […]
Two Reasons I May Start Collecting Citi ThankYou Points
Up to this point I have resisted collecting Citi ThankYou points. But two unique airline transfer partners are causing me to rethink the decision. Citi partners with Turkish Airlines and Qantas. Both provide narrow value and yet may nevertheless be helpful under the right circumstances. Turkish Airlines I appreciate Turkish Airlines for many reasons. One reason […]
Hyatt’s Status Fast Track Highlights Overcorrections
Hyatt announced that they are offering a fast track to World of Hyatt status to new and existing Hyatt credit card holders. However, this move seems to demonstrate a protracted series of over-corrections and it’s starting to wear on old elites and new alike. Here’s why their actions are problematic. If you are considering booking travel or signing […]
Why Doesn’t IHG Treat Elites Better?
As a top-tier elite with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) it’s become clear, IHG doesn’t treat their elites well. But why? The hotel chain has more than 4,700 hotels worldwide, they are highly profitable but yet uncompetitive for elite benefits, they should be a market leader – yet they’re not. If […]
