Stepping off the plane from our Los Angeles to Stockholm flight, we had 3hrs and 40min until our connection to Oslo. While some fresh air would have been nice, we headed directly for the SAS Lounge. The SAS Lounge...
Review: SAS A330 Business Class Los Angeles to Stockholm
I was expecting the worst, in all honesty. My last transatlantic flight in SAS business class was a disappointment and Lucky had flown the same LAX-ARN route weeks earlier and had reported particularly poor service. But the flight turned out not just...
United 777-300ER Current and Future Routes
United Airlines ordered 18 777-300ER aircraft. The first 14 will be delivered during 2017 with the four additional aircraft coming in 2018. What routes can you find the new aircraft on? What’s So Good About the United 777-300ER? The United...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: July 09, 2017
I’ve escaped the Los Angeles heat and am basking in the cool summer rains of Germany. (sigh of contentment) Oddly, I’ve encountered horrible jet lag the last couple days — this despite flying nonstop to Europe in the evening...
United Status Matched Me to 1K!
I have previously noted that American Airlines has gutted their Advantage frequent flyer and because of that I am leaving American. Loyalty is a two-way street and American has worked hard to make it a one-way street, well I’m...
Interview: Aaron Glick – VP Hilton Honors
During the 2017 Freddies in New York City I had an opportunity to meet the Vice President for Hilton Honors, Aaron Glick. We didn’t have enough time to conduct a proper interview at the event, but Aaron was kind...
Review: Conrad Bangkok Hotel – Suite Upgrade
Though I’ve previously stayed at the property, I haven’t had a chance to review the Conrad Bangkok. In fact, despite dozens of visits to Bangkok, this would be my first stay for more than a single night. I looked...
Would You Ever Kill A Fellow Airline Passenger?
Earlier today I shared the lurid details of a passenger meltdown on a Delta flight from Seattle to Beijing. The question on my mind: would lethal force have been appropriate? First, let’s be thankful that lethal force was not used–that passengers...
Victim: United Threatened Me to Deter Lawsuit Over Employee Assault
Last month, I wrote about the a man who was assaulted by a United employee at Houston (IAH). The assault happened in 2015 and many questioned why it took him two years to come forward. A shocking new allegation...
Wow! Details About Horrific Fight Onboard Delta Flight
I’m in Germany and went to bed last night just as this story was breaking. I admittedly chuckled when I read the headline last night, but this was no laughing matter. Per Jon Ostrower, we have the official complaint...
United Airlines’ Plan to Bankrupt Alitalia?
United Airlines will serve Rome year-around from its Newark hub. Might this be a plan to hasten Alitalia’s demise? Currently, United offers seasonal service to Rome from the following hubs: Chicago (ORD) Newark (EWR) Washington Dulles (IAD) While ORD and IAD...
Introduction: A Scandinavian Summer
As much as I love solo travel, exploring the world with others represents many of my best travel memories. Last summer I traveled to Scandinavia with my Uncle Bill, who I have mentioned before in this story on why...
Review: Air Serbia A330 Business Class Belgrade to New York
Air Serbia, flag carrier of Serbia, resumed longhaul service between Belgrade and New York last year after a long hiatus. JAT, the forerunner to Air Serbia, last served JFK in 1996 with a DC-10. As Air Serbia’s flagship (and...
Lufthansa First Class: Still Amazing After All These Years
It was shaping up to be a bad flight. First, the miscreant passenger in 2K. Next, an odd interaction with the purser and my other seatmate. Finally, horrid turbulence for several hours. But once the dust settled, I can again attest...
United Airlines Steals Seat from Child, Forcing Him Into Mother’s Lap
A mother traveling on United Airlines to Boston was forced to hold her two year old on her lap even after purchasing a ticket for him when his seat was given away to a standby passenger. In the United States,...
Dinner: Aegean Economy Outshines Lufthansa First Class
Last week I flew from Los Angeles to Frankfurt in Lufthansa First Class then connected on a cheap ticket from Frankfurt to Amman via Athens in Aegean economy class. Believe it or not, the dinner on the 807-mile ATH-AMM...
Here’s Why United’s Award Booking Rules are Just Stupid
I run Award Expert, a boutique travel consulting agency that specializes in the effective use of miles and points. Consequently, my team and I are well-acquainted with the nuances of every loyalty program worth talking about. Not surprisingly, we deal with United...
Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Electronics Ban Lifted: What’s Next and Why
Good news for travelers to the United States: the electronics ban has been lifted on Etihad, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines. The ban will be lifted on flights from Saudi Arabia in the next couple weeks as well. So what was that...
Cool New United Airlines Museum Exhibit at SFO
If you’re flying through Terminal 3 of San Francisco International (SFO) in the coming months, factor in an extra 15 minutes to check out an amazing United Airlines museum-quality exhibit. The SFO Museum rotates collections twice per year in the long hallway...
United CEO Reflects on Independence Day
Happy Independence Day to my readers in the USA. United CEO Oscar Munoz sent the following note to UA workers this morning. Thanks to a FA friend for sharing it with me: Dear United Family, This Fourth of July, our...
