The domestic Qantas Club in Melbourne is a perfect example of what U.S. airlines should aspire to. It wasn’t over the top, but featured everything I am looking for in a domestic lounge. Let’s start with a construction update....
Review: Park Hyatt Melbourne
While not a typical Park Hyatt hotel, I enjoyed a relaxing three-night stay at the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Please note this review is from 2013, but very little has changed at the property since my visit. I outline my...
United Will Focus on Compassion, Dignity in New Employee Training
United Airlines is sending employees back to school with a laudable goal: cultivating the compassion, discernment, and empathy of every front-line worker. Almost a year after the Dao incident, United is following through on its promise to fundamentally reshape...
Reminder: Your Alitalia Miles Expire on March 31st (and How to Extend Them)
Just a friendly reminder that if you are still sitting on Alitalia MilleMiglia miles from last year, you have until March 31, 2018 to burn them. In some loyalty programs, your miles expire due to inactivity. In others, your account expires...
Caracas Airport is a Sad Window into Venezuela
The decaying Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas provides a window into the sad reality of the life and times of Venezuela. I’ve talked before about the sad state of affairs in Venezuela…a once-leading nation in Latin America that has...
Fight Breaks Out on #WalmartoftheSkies (Southwest Airlines)
Another day, another plane flight…this time aboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Los Angeles. But I’m having trouble figuring this one out. The fistfight broke out on a flight from Dallas Love to Los Angeles, delaying departure and causing...
Why I Love the New Singapore Airlines Ad Campaign
Singapore Airlines is out with another beautiful ad that so magically captures the allure of flying SIA. The ad begins in a fairy tale-like setting (complete with a unicorn) in which a girl is playing in a grey meadow...
Aeroplan Still Can’t Book LOT Polish Awards
While Aeroplan has solved its hold time issues, it remains uniquely unable to book a handful of Star Alliance partner airlines. Add LOT Polish to that list. Last December, Dominik from Traveling the World wrote about the issue. Sadly, three months have...
Family Accounts Coming to Lufthansa Miles & More
Lufthansa Miles & More will introduce mileage pooling for families starting in May. I’m excited about this for one reason in particular. Joining the ranks of ANA, Asiana, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, JAL, and Qantas (and JetBlue and Hawaiian...
200 Free United Miles + New Fuel Partnership with BP
United Airlines and BP are partnering to offer you the chance to earn and burn and miles at the fuel pump. On the earning side, you can earn up to three miles per gallon purchased by linking your MileagePlus...
Mamasita: Delicious Mexican Food in Melbourne
You sure would not know it from the outside, but Mamasita offers incredible Mexican food in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District. My review of Mexican food around the world continues. For earlier installments: Amsterdam, Netherlands Cusco, Peru Hamburg,...
Should Airlines Offer Bus Service During Bad Weather?
A tragic story of two Chinese tourists critically injured enroute from Baltimore to New York on a bus chartered by American Airlines is a perfect example of why airlines should not offer bus service. The Washington Post nicely tells...
Qantas Bans “Gender-Inappropriate” Language, Other “Offensive” Terms
Australian airline Qantas has provided updated guidance to staff on what language is appropriate…and what language is not. Qantas has embarked upon a “Spirit of Inclusion” initiative, which includes a new set of guidelines governing language. Produced by the Diversity...
Passenger Strips Naked, Watches Porn, Attacks Crew
A 20-year man has been arrested by Bangladeshi authorities after creating quite a scene onboard a Malindo flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka. After takeoff, the man stripped naked and began watching a pornographic video on his laptop. This despite...
Breaking: United Reverses Course on Employee Bonus Changes
Great news for United employees and the passengers who are served by them. United Airlines is wisely reversing course, suspending plans for a new lottery system to replace more predictable quarterly bonuses. Here’s a letter United President Scott Kirby...
Review: Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class Singapore to Melbourne
The moment had finally arrived. It was time to experience (at the time) the superlative first class product in the skies. We had to get to the gate, though, from The Private Room, Singapore’s lounge-within-a-lounge for first class passengers....
Anger Mounts Over United Bonus Cutbacks
If United Airlines thought employee protest over its bonus cutback would fizzle out over the weekend, it could not have been more wrong. In fact, I haven’t seen so much anger, disappointment, and fear from United Airlines’ employees since...
Emirates Tells U.S. Airlines: Let’s Work Together!
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, wants a truce with U.S. carriers. He’s tried of being vilified and thinks a partnership with American, Delta, and United would benefit everyone involved. In an interview with Business Insider, Clark scolded U.S....
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 04, 2018
I’ve been grounded all week and am thankful for it. No plans to travel next week either. Plenty of time with family and friends instead. Lots of work too. There have been a handful of trips I’ve turned down,...
Chinese ‘Ghost Cities’ Create Instagram Haunts
On my quest to visit some of China’s Ghost Cities, I found three near Shanghai, perfect for my trip. I expected to find empty cobblestone streets and block after block of empty and under construction Tudor-style homes. What I...
