I recently published my JAL 777-300 first class trip report. The more I think about it, the more it becomes clear that this was the best flight of my life in terms of overall onboard product. But why? What...
Bankrupt Alitalia Abandons Beautiful Retro Uniforms for Ugly New Look

Alitalia logic: our airline loses money every year, costs are out of control, but let’s unveil totally new uniforms even though we just changed them a few years ago. Tell me how you really feel… Ok, I’ll try be...
United Airlines Condemns Trump Immigration Policy, Echoing American Airlines

As in the NRA debate, sometimes airlines choose to wade into politics…or morality, depending upon how you view the issue. Just moments ago, United released a statement from CEO Oscar Munoz condemning the Trump Administration policy of separating minor...
Five First Class Products I Should Have Tried By Now

Recently, I listed five “commonplace” business class products that I should have tried by now, but hope to try in the near future. Now I’ll do the same for first class. As with business class, a primary mission on my...
Review: Iberia Express A320 Business Class Madrid to Palma Mallorca

Yesterday I reviewed Iberia’s domestic mainline A320 in business class. Today, I’ll review the same plane in the same cabin, flying under the Iberia Express banner. It was a short overnight in Madrid. I arrived at 10:40pm and was...
United App Now Lets You Check Star Alliance Flight Status

Already my favorite airline app, the United Airlines mobile app now allows you to check on the flight status of Star Alliance carriers beyond United and its codeshares. But the technology is still a work in progress. In terms...
SWISS Giving Away Business Class “Throne” Seats for Free

I noticed something odd after completing my wife’s business class reservation on SWISS from Los Angeles to Zurich. Seat assignments that should have been complimentary were not…and seats that should have incurred a charge were complimentary. Heidi was traveling...
Review: Iberia A320 Business Class Bilbao to Madrid

The short flight from Bilbao to Madrid once again left me with the premium cabin to myself. But Iberia’s domestic business class service, at least on this late evening departure, was anything but premium. Bilbao is a beautiful airport....
Coming Soon: Moxy Airways?

JetBlue-founder David Neeleman wants to start another U.S. airline by 2020. He sees an opening for utilizing fuel efficient aircraft between secondary airports. But is the timing right? Originally reported by Airline Weekly, Neeleman hopes to form a new lost-cost airline...
Review: Premier Lounge Jakarta (CGK)

The best thing this Priority Pass lounge has going for it is the spa inside. That’s worth a visit, even if you skip the food and drink. In terms of Priority Pass lounges, this one rates above average. Dark...
Lufthansa Twitter Team Makes My Day

Twitter has become a top source across several industries to receive quick resolution to customer service issues. A recent exchange with Lufthansa’s Twitter team demonstrates how great Twitter can be. I was traveling to Italy on an Aeroplan-issued ticket...
Review: Malaysia Airlines A380 First Class Kuala Lumpur to London

As boarding neared completion, I looked around the Malaysia Airlines A380 first class cabin…seven seats remained open: I was the only passenger onboard. A FA walked by and I asked where the other passengers were. “It’s just you today,”...
China Airlines Reducing Service to Ontario, California

Despite strong loads, Taipei-based China Airlines is reducing service to an unlikely West Coast city. China Airlines serves Ontario, California daily…an odd route, despite the large Chinese diaspora in the San Gabriel valley of Southern California. The airport remains...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 17, 2018

Greetings from Italia. Sadly, I’ve had to spend Father’s Day away from my family…but my trip, like every trip, is in order to provide for them. Even so, every trip in which I am separated from my family is...
A Father’s Day Reflection: Travel Moments with Dad

As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend in Key West, I am reflecting on moments throughout Lucy’s travels where her dad has shared with her so much more than just the entire world. A Collection of Moments There are...
A Tale of Two Waldorf-Astoria Hotels

We tried a pair of Waldorf-Astoria Key West properties and the two couldn’t have been more different. One had great grounds but terrible rooms, the other excellent rooms but none of the history. It was the most bizarre tale...
I Challenge You To Identify This Hotel Brand
We stayed at a hotel that was so far off brand that we checked out before our luggage arrived from the bell staff. Without cheating, can you identify this bad hotel room’s brand? If you are considering booking travel or signing...
A Hot Meal on Ryanair

This week’s Meal of the Week takes us back to 2011 and a hot lunch I enjoyed on Ryanair. It was a crisp, spring day and my brother and I had booked an incredibly cheap fare from Frankfurt Hahn...
Christopher Elliott Misleads Consumers on Travel Perks for U.S. Politicians

Like the rail passes of the Gilded Age, are U.S. politicians being bought out by airlines through lucrative and exclusive travel benefits? That’s what consumer advocate Christopher Elliott would have you think. The reality, however, is a bit more...
Review: Malaysia Airlines 737-800 Business Class Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur

The last time I had flown a Malaysia Airlines 737-800, I had experienced the scariest flight of my life. Since then, two 777s from the same airline had gone down: one shot down over Ukraine and the other crashed...