Last week I posted my thoughts about airline mistake fares in response to Scott McCartney’s excellent "Middle Seat" column in the Wall Street Journal on the same subject. Today, Christopher Elliott decided to chime in. While I prefer not...
More Details Emerge About the Diversion to Omaha on United 142
More details have emerged about what exactly happened on my diverted United flight to Omaha: Charges filed Tuesday in federal district court in Nebraska identify the woman as Maria Rita Manzoni. Authorities seek to formally charge her with interfering...
RIP Fuel Dump
Thanks to the brilliant minds at airfarewatchdog.com, the fuel dump is no more. For those unaware of what a "fuel dump" is, it is removing the fuel surcharge from a fare–often more than $200-300. There were many ways to...
Full Recount of my Emergency Stop in Omaha on my United Redeye from San Francisco to Dulles
I reported earlier today that my redeye from SFO to IAD last night, UA142, was diverted to OMA after a passenger went berserk onboard. I have some nifty video and pictures, but out of respect for UA’s legal...
My SFO-IAD United Flight Diverted to Omaha due to Unruly Passenger
Currently on the ground at OMA. Details later.
My First Experience with United’s Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
Yesterday, I flew from PHL-LAX via IAD and MSY. I purchased the ticket a week ago and was on an M-fare (a relatively pricey Economy fare). IAD-MSY-LAX was operated by an A319 with only eight First Class seats, making...
Bad News For Us: A Discussion on Airline Mistake Fares
Nicholas Kralev’s mistake fare column was superior because it featured yours truly, but Scott McCartney’s latest column on mistake fares is well done. I particularly liked this: UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., JetBlue AirwaysCorp. and Singapore Airlines all say their policy is...
Delta to Introduce Shuttle Service Between New York (LGA) and Chicago (ORD)
Delta announced plans to begin shuttle service this June between LaGuardia and O’Hare. Highlights: 11 r/ts daily (on the hour) Flights will depart from LGA’s Marine Air Terminal Flights will be operated by Compass Air, using two-cabin ERJ-175s (12...
No More Hidden Airline Fees?
Speaking of airlines lobbying Congress, I doubt the airlines are happy about this news: Hate those hidden airline fees? A provision was added to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, passed by the Senate earlier this week, that would require airlines...
Spanair Lounge + Madrid to Copenhagen via Frankfurt on Lufthansa
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
United Spent $600K in 4Q Government Lobbying
The AP reports that United spent $600,000 lobbying government officials in the Fourth Quarter of 2009. Among United’s concerns: 1. DOT Tarmac Delay Guidelines United’s lobbying disclosure report doesn’t say which side it took on the legislation, but most airlines...
Initial Observations on United’s New Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
I won’t get to witness UA’s new UDU program first-hand until Friday (my upgrades are waitlisted, BTW), but my brother traveled from FRA-IAD-LAX on United yesterday. He is a Premier and was traveling on an H-fare–an upper-end Economy ticket....
The Authoritative Post on Airline Fees
Although he wrote it in January, the Philadelphia Inquirer just published a column our friend Christopher Elliott did on airline fees in this week’s Sunday travel section. Some of his analysis is spot-on, much of it is…not. First, what makes...
Virgin America to Expand Service to Orlando and Toronto from West Coast
Good news for LAX and SFO-based flyers. With Virgin America entering the MCO and YYZ market, you may soon see some great deals to those destinations. MCO fares are usually reasonable, but YYZ fares are often over $500 r/t from...
Take Advantage of Hyatt’s "Welcome Back" Promotion
Lucky sums up Hyatt’s latest promotion very nicely: Add it all up and I’m looking at one free night at any Hyatt hotel in the world and 6,000 points for every $160 in stays. One free night at a...
Escape to the Madrid Airport Hilton
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
City Tour of Madrid on Foot
Day 0: Introduction: Perfecting My Trip to Europe Using United Miles Day 1: LAX-YVR on Air Canada, Vancouver, and YVR-LHR on Air Canada Day 2: BD Number One Lounge at Heathrow and London to Lisbon on TAP Portugal Day...
Sun Country Airlines to start Seasonal Transatlantic Service to London Stansted
Sun Country Airlines will begin seasonal once-weekly service from Minneapolis to London Stansted on June 11. The flights will be operated by a two-class 737-800 and require a stop in Gander, Canada for refueling. Arriving in Standsted will allow...
Plane Strikes and Kills Jogger in South Carolina
My brother always laughs at me for jogging, saying I’m wasting my time and burning out my knees. Now he has another argument against jogging: you might get hit by an airplane: HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Robert Gary...
Paperless Boarding Passes now Available on United Airlines
In a shocking move for UA’s crack IT department, you can now use your web-enabled mobile phone to check in for your flight and obtain a boarding pass. You can also check schedules, flight status, and flight availability on...
