United Airlines is still suffering fallout from its disastrous handling of the UA3411 incident. In a letter to United’s “most valued” customers, CEO Oscar Munoz apologizes and vows to reform the customer service experience. Here’s the letter, sent to me...
Bumped from United? Free Private Jet Flights
If the thought of being dragged off a United flight bruised and bloodied is not exciting enough, you may be able to get a free flight on a private jet too! JetSmarter, the “Uber for private jets” is inviting...
For Your Protection, No Ice Cream Sundaes on United Airlines
A signature element of United Airlines’ business class service on transcon and longhaul flights is ice cream sundaes. But if you have flown United this week you may have noticed sherbet served in a paper container rather than the usual sundae. As part of...
Delta Closes SkyMiles Loophole
10 days ago Delta devalued its SkyMiles loyalty program further by raising the price of partner awards without notice. But it left an odd loophole that could be used to book awards at the old price. That loophole is now...
United FAs Refuse to Help Disabled 94-Year-Old Butter Bread, Walk to Lavatory
Cruel and heartless customer service or merely protecting the integrity of the business class cabin and stopping a scammer from trying to upgrade? That’s one question surrounding another United Airlines story that will leave you feeling sad. But the greater...
Honeymooners Thrown Off United Flight
In light of the disastrous UA3411 incident, it seems that people are a sensing an opportunity to take advantage of United Airlines. Or maybe United is still just tone deaf. A married couple embarking on their honeymoon to Costa Rica was thrown off...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 16, 2017
Happy Easter from sunny Los Angeles. While I don’t take any days off, I am trying to limit my work today. It has been so busy lately and a day of rest is greatly needed. After travel for so many...
I Used My Cell Phone on Turkish Airlines. No One Cared.
Turkish Airlines permits the use of mobile phones in-flight. Using T-Mobile Wi-Fi, I was able to call my wife during my ~14hr flight on Thursday. The connection was clear and we had a nice conversation…it helped to pass time...
Air Force One Costs HOW Much to Operate?
How much does it cost to operate Air Force One? Even having worked in the White House a decade ago, I was shocked to see the numbers. With the President making weekly trips to Florida, NPR has a story...
AA Learns the Concept of Diminishing Returns
A foolish man once said, “We will cut our way to growth.” American Airlines is finding out that its massive devaluation to its AAdvantage loyalty program last March is taking a toll on its profit. There is some disagreement...
United CEO Apology Tour at Asian Consulates
Apparently United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz paid visits to Japanese and Chinese consumes this week in the aftermath of the UA 3411 controversy. Although United has thus far not responded for my request for comment, I’m told that Munoz visited Japanese and...
United Airlines Board of Directors Addresses Controversy
The United Airlines Board of Directors has been silent this week over the UA3411 controversy. Until now. In a letter directed to employees, the Chairman Robert Milton offers his take on what happened and what United will do about it. The...
Has Technology Made Your Airline Experience Worse?
NY Times technology columnist Farhad Majoo argues that technology has failed to improve your airline experience. His thesis– Yet the airline industry has not just stubbornly resisted innovation to improve customer service — in many ways, technology has only...
What Kind of Food Does Turkish Airlines Serve in Longhaul Economy?
With the United passenger ejection story dominating headlines this week, I did not get a chance to put up the weekly Meal of the Week segment on Wednesday. This week, I’ll share pictures of the two meals and one...
Yes, ISIS Could Have Brought My Plane Down
Now I’m even more convinced electronics ban is worthless. Yesterday I flew from Istanbul to Los Angeles on Turkish Airlines. Turkey is one of the eight nations impacted by the in-flight electronics ban. First, I felt very safe flying...
Is Oscar Munoz a Liar?
I’ve stood by embattled United CEO Oscar Munoz throughout the passenger dragging incident saga, but one issue puzzles me–who is telling the truth on reaching out to Dr. Dao? Earlier today I wrote about the elaborate press conference staged by...
Lawyers Stage Elaborate Press Conference to Pummel United Airlines
The pageantry of a made-for-TV legal case was on full display yesterday, as Dr. David Dao’s lawyers used a carefully staged press conference to lay out their case against United. Here’s the press conference — 1hr in length — In the...
Why Didn’t Anyone Help the Bloody Passenger?
Leadoff questions: if the treatment of Dr. David Dao was so immoral, why didn’t any of his fellow passengers try to stop it or also leave the flight in protest? In discussing this issue with my wife, a psychology...
Flight Review: Asiana A321 Business Class
What is business class like on an Asiana Airbus A321? Asiana has discontinued operations in Siem Reap, ceding the destination to its low-cost Air Seoul subsidiary. Thus, an Asiana flight review from Siem Reap to Seoul will be of...
I’m on a 13hr45min Flight Without My Laptop!
Hello from 38,000 feet above Central Europe! I’m on a Turkish Airlines flight back to Los Angeles…a 13hr45min flight…without my laptop…in economy class. Why would I do that to myself? Because I love Istanbul, saw a very cheap fare...
