As part of my personal evolution as a travel blogger, this is an early post from my solo blog, TheTripSherpa.com. I later transitioned to Upgrd.com where I joined Matthew and other talented writers (including my wife) which would then merge with Travel Codex, another Boarding Area blog. Finally, we found our home here at Live and […]
Top up your bmi Diamond Club Miles with a 20% bonus
With just under two weeks left to redeem Diamond Club miles for Star Alliance flights, bmi has sweetened the incentive to burn your points now with a 20% bonus on purchased miles. If you are just short of another award (like I was), take advantage of this offer. The miles posted in about six hours […]
Up to 25,000 Bonus Miles on United Airlines
United Airlines is running a “Map Your Dreams” promotion in which the lucky recipients of the targeted offer can earn up to 25,000 bonus award miles based on future travel on United. Flyertalkers have reported receiving different offers, but the most common offer is: 1 RT: 5K RDM bonus 2 RT: 10K RDM bonus 4 […]
US Airways Raises the Price of Purchased Miles…Again!
For the second time in just over a year, US Airways has raised the price of purchased miles. Effective immediately, miles now cost 3.5 cents each–a 27% increase over the 2.75 cents the miles were previously available at and a 40% increase over what miles cost just around this time last year. Why the price […]
Booking a 10-Segment Award on US Airways
I had a marathon day with US Airways yesterday, but when the dust settled I successfully booked a very attractive 10-segment business class itinerary, bucking the conventional wisdom and stern admonitions from many agents that awards cannot exceed eight segments. As Gary has shared before, it is possible to book more than eight segments on […]
Thinking Critically About Rumored Changes to United Mileage Plus Program
News about the rumored changes to the United Mileage Plus program came as quite a shock to me. Although the final details will likely not be released until after Labor Day, it will still be advantageous to analyze each of the changes under consideration: I. Upgrade Waitlist Priority – VERDICT: Fail United is mulling over […]
The Lufthansa First Class Terminal Experience
For the all times it has been mentioned on Live and Let’s Fly and on the UPGRD Network, I realized that I have never written a post describing the First Class Terminal experience in Frankfurt. After a rather amusing incident that happened to me in “the Terminal” yesterday, I want to set up that story […]
Review: The Westin Chosun, Seoul
Nestled in the heart of the Seoul, the Westin Chosun Hotel already had something going for it before I arrived—its prime location around restaurants and shopping automatically puts the hotel in a favorable position for those visiting Seoul for business or pleasure. But location is not everything. While I have yet to have a bad […]
College Newspaper Defends TSA…and Fails Miserably
In some ways, I miss college life. I earned my undergraduate degree at UCLA and relished the three years of intellectual stimulation while studying history and political science. As a political junkie, I was an avid reader of the Daily Bruin, a liberal rag when it came to the editorial page but still an exemplary […]
One Potential Downside to United’s New Routing Rules for Star Alliance Awards
Last week I blogged about generous changes to United’s award chart including the ability to schedule in both an open-jaw and a stopover (previously only one was allowed on a r/t ticket) and the ability to surpass the MPM (maximum permitted mileage) by 15%. I speculated that there had to be a catch; that United […]
Turkish Airlines: Valentine’s Day Specials from Istanbul
For the second year in a row, Turkish Airlines if offering some attractive companion fares in business class during the week of Valentine’s Day. Exceptional values, in particular, are available to Southeast Asia and China. Southeast Asia and China (BKK/SGN/SIN/CGK/HKG/PVG/PEK) First Ticket –> €599+Tax (r/t) Companion –> €1+Tax Other Longhaul Flights (JFK/IAD/ORD/CPT/JNB/GRU/TYO/OSA/DEL/BOM/KHI/ICN) First Ticket –> €999+Tax […]
Double Elite and Redeemable Miles on American Airlines between LAX/SFO and DFW
As Virgin America prepares to enter the Dallas market, American Airlines is offering double elite qualifying miles (EQMs) and redeemable miles (RDMs) on flights between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Dallas/Fort Worth from November 29, 2010 through February 28, 2011. Unfortunately, the fine print (full T&Cs below) is anything but clear: AAdvantage promotion is valid for round-trip […]
Fly to New York City, Las Vegas, or Cancún for Free
This deal has been going on all afternoon, but the fat lady isn’t signing yet: Expedia.ca is offering $300 off your trip (air + hotel) to New York City, Las Vegas, or Cancún and there are no strings attached except for the eligible travel dates, which are November 20 through December 31. Follow these simple […]
Why the 2011 United/Continental Elite Program Isn’t the End of the World
Reading some of the responses on Flyertalk today after United announced changes to the Mileage Plus program for 2011, you would think the world was coming to an end. Relax. I’m not happy about the changes either, but we may have dodged a bullet and the changes are really not that bad. Here’s a summary of […]
1,000 United Miles for Mobile Check-In
Earn 1,000 United miles for checking in for your flight on your mobile phone! Available on qualifying flights. Mobile check-in is currently available for any United- or United Express-operated flight within the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mobile boarding documents are currently available for customers on flights departing select airports on United-and […]
A Visit to Singapore Airlines’ Remodeled SilverKris Lounge in San Francisco
Earlier this week I had a chance to stop by the newly remodeled Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge at SFO. It reopened last week after being closed for refurbishments the last few months. The new lounge is sleeker and better maximizes the limited space that SQ has to work with: The First Class/Business Class division is […]
Airlines Want Air Marshals Out of First Class
A couple weeks ago, Scott McCartney of the Wall Street Journal wrote a great column on the recent push by airlines to move Federal Air Marshals out of first class and back to economy. Today, USA Today followed up with an article of their own, further highlighting how airlines have decided to make this very contentious (though once behind the scenes) issue public. The […]
Ultimatum for Turkish Airlines FAs: Lose Weight or Lose Your Job
You read the title correctly and, no, I am not quoting a news story from the 1960s. Of course Turkish Airlines isn’t the only airline to set maximum weight and size thresholds for their flight attendants, but it always surprises me to read stories like this: Turkish Airlines has banished 28 flight attendants to the no-fly […]
Two Thumbs Up for Tom Bihn’s "Tri-Star" Laptop Bag + Accessories
Tom Bihn sent one of their “Tri-Star” laptop bags and a few accessories over to upgrd.com for review and I had a chance to test them on my trip to Panama last week. There is always a temptation to give products high ratings simply to return the favor and secure more free products in the future, […]
Spirit Airlines to Charge for Carry-On Bags
And we thought Ryanair was bad… That lumpy person seated next to you on your next Spirit Airlines flight may not be so large in real life. The budget carrier announced Tuesday it will begin charging a fee of up to $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage placed in overhead bins. The fees will […]
