Australian war veterans are saying no thanks to a plan by Virgin Australia to recognize their service with priority boarding and special announcements onboard. The New York Times reports vets are embarrassed and ashamed of the new recognition: Critics,...
Amsterdam: Hyatt Regency vs. Andaz
Amsterdam is one of the loveliest cities of Europe and is filled with many great hotels. For Hyatt fans, which is the better choice, the Hyatt Regency or Andaz Prinsengracht? I’ll compare the hotels on the following five metrics:...
Horrific: Woman Claims She Was Raped in AA Lavatory, Then Berated By Crew
A woman is suing American Airlines, claiming she was raped in a lavatory then mocked by the crew. It is a sad story, considering AA allegedly served the already-intoxicated aggressor six additional alcoholic drinks in a very short timespan....
The Death of Airline Lounge “Memberships” Makes American Express Platinum More Attractive
With American, Delta, and United cracking down on how/when “members” can use their lounges, I question whether membership is even the correct term to describe what airlines now offer. Think about it. If you’re a member of a gym,...
Man Thrown Off Flight For Sleeping Through Safety Video
A man was thrown off a WestJet flight for falling into a deep sleep during the safety video. But was it justified? Stephen Bennett recently suffered a stroke and cannot walk without assistance. He and his wife and son...
SWISS Delays Refresh Of A340 Fleet, Blames First Class
SWISS has delayed (yet again) the refurbishment of its aging A340-300 fleet. But the plane will not be retired anytime soon. In an era of efficient, twin-engine 787s and A350s, four engine aircraft are on the decline. But after...
Inaugural Singapore Airlines Flight Makes U-Turn Over Pacific Ocean, Returns To Los Angeles
Singapore’s new nonstop ultra-longhaul service began last night from Los Angeles to Singapore. But thanks to a mechanical issue, the maiden flight turned out to be far shorter than 17 hours, 50minutes… SQ37 left Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:24...
IHG Finally Has Hotels Worth Booking
Following a few acquisitions, IHG has improved the value of their points by improving the quantity of their top-end properties. Is it enough to justify loyalty to IHG? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Elite Status Is About More Than Upgrades
As the year closes, some elite travelers book unnecessary trips or hotel nights to maintain or “level up” their status. Some argue that status is just priority boarding and upgrades that don’t clear, causing irrational expenditure. But elite status...
Sneak Peek: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh
Kimpton Hotels are stylish and contemporary in the heart of major cities. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh fits the mold, but some of their design choices weren’t for me. I’ve included the photos, you decide. If you are considering booking...
Dinner In Croatia Airlines Business 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. It may...
Clarification On My United Compensation Story
My story about proactive United compensation caused quite a stir yesterday. Some speculated whether I was on the United payroll while others wondered if I was the only passenger who received compensation due my oft-United-focused blog. Apparently a journalist...
United CEO: Increased Baggage Fees Make Flying BETTER
Oscar Munoz, United Airlines’ CEO, argues that confusion drives passengers to complain about baggage fees. While I tend to agree with his overall point, the optics of insinuating that higher baggage fees improve the flying experience for the average...
Woman Defiantly Refuses To Remove Bare Feet From Aircraft Tray Table
I love this story. Not only did a woman refuse to remove her bare feet from an aircraft tray table; she shamed passengers for asking her to! Picture this: two ladies sitting in an exit row on a China...
Airline Fined For Boarding “Unauthorized” Passenger
If you ever wondered why airlines seem so strict when it comes to checking passports and visas, it is because of the fines levied against them when an unauthorized passenger boards a flight. AirAsia X was just fined $6,000...
Surprise: United Sent Me Unrequested Compensation…
It’s always nice to receive compensation from an airline, especially when you have not requested it… I connect to wireless internet on almost every United flight I take. Unfortunately, the internet often does not work or works slowly and...
Delta Flight Attendants Dismiss Credentials Of Black Female Doctor
A black female doctor who teaches at Harvard was dismissed by two Delta flight attendants, who insinuated that her license was fake. While tending to an ill passenger onboard a Delta Connection flight from New York LaGuardia to Charlotte,...
Lufthansa Wants Friendship, Not Marriage With Alitalia
While Delta has submitted a lowball offer for Alitalia, Lufthansa just wants a partnership. “Investing is out of the question for us alongside a state-owned entity,” said Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr. That is music to the ears of Lufthansa...
Drunk American Airlines Baggage Handler Falls Asleep In Cargo Hold, Travels To Chicago
An American Airlines’ baggage handler fell asleep in the cargo hold of a Boeing 737-800 and traveled from Kansas City to Chicago. The unnamed 23-year-old worker is (was) an employee of Piedmont Airlines (an American regional subsidiary) at Kansas...
Aeroplan’s Annoying “Time Travel” Issue…
I needed a last-minute ticket on Aeroplan last night, but apparently Aeroplan lives in another dimension of time and space. It was 6:30 P.M. PT, therefore still 31 October in all parts of Canada. But when I tired to...
