A cautionary tale: be careful when you search Google for an airline’s telephone number. One of my Award Expert clients just got ripped off, big time. We had booked a trip for her in American Airlines + British Airways...
Lufthansa First Class Never Disappoints
Lufthansa First Class never disappoints. Never. Yesterday I flew from Los Angeles to Munich, a route now served by the A380. There wasn’t really anything new and different (though Wi-Fi is now free). And that’s the point. I’ve never...
How I Almost Missed My Flight (Again…)
Yesterday afternoon, I almost missed my flight to Munich despite arriving at the airport two hours before departure. It’s a long story, perhaps too much information, but bear with me. Yesterday I was driving to lunch with my business...
Express Dining on United Airlines
United offers express dining on long-haul flights in Polaris class for those who wish to dine quickly and maximize sleep. That’s the subject of this week’s Meal of the Week. I took advantage of it on a trip last...
Why I’m Flying Los Angeles to Rome via Munich, Zurich, AND Frankfurt
You know you’re an airline junkie when you fly from Los Angeles to Rome deliberately via Munich, Zurich, AND Frankfurt. I’m traveling through Italy later this week and next on business. This is no vacation–I’ll be spending most days...
The Perfect Post-Trip Meal
It became almost cliché among the “mileage run generation” (may that era rest in peace), but even several years later there is nothing like an In-N-Out burger at LAX after a trip. When I arrived back home last Thursday,...
A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant
United Airlines has created a video which recounts a “typical” day in the life of four FAs. It is highly choreographed, but I still enjoyed watching it. As much as we passengers love to complain, it has been a...
A Novel Way to Collect Compensation from Airlines
Here’s a novel way to collect compensation from an airline. One thing I’ve learned about the law is this: enforcement is often no easy feat. Think about it. EU law, for example, states that passengers are due compensation for...
An Update on the Way I Post Trip Reports
I’m listening to you, my daily readers. While most of my traffic comes via Google searches, a big part of why I write is for those of you who come back every day to read what I have to...
Three Airlines Take on April Fool’s Day
Yesterday was not only Easter, but April Fool’s Day. I’ve never really understood all the jokes surrounding this day, yet several airlines take time each year…a great deal of time based on the vides below…to have fun with this...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 01, 2018
Happy Easter and Happy Passover. I’ve enjoyed a wonderful day spent with family and friends and trust you have as well. I’m looking forward to a very “Matthew” like trip coming up this week. Details on that on Tuesday....
Review: Aloft Houston by the Galleria
Hotels in Houston can be a difficult nut to crack, it’s all about location and convenience. The Aloft Houston by the Galleria is well positioned, offers premiums that other full-service hotels do not, and a reasonable price point for...
Review: Westin Alexandria – Suite Upgrade
As I continue to re-qualify for Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum (and as a result, matched over to Marriott Platinum) my tour of SPG properties continues from coast-to-coast. This property, the Westin Alexandria located just outside of Washington DC, ran...
Review: Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh – Presidential Suite
Room 1101 – The Presidential Suite at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh (Airport). Hyatt’s new Globalist benefit of suite upgrades at checkin subject to availability meant that we were able to score not just any suite, but the Presidential suite...
Airline Defends Strip Searches of its Flight Attendants
Indian carrier SpiceJet is facing harsh criticism for the way it strip-searched flight attendants suspected of stealing cash from onboard. SpiceJet collects cash for buy-on-board sales and suspected that FAs were pilfering this money. But it did more than...
Why Beverage Carts Are Replacing Serving Trays On JetBlue
JetBlue is replacing the trays that flight attendants currently use to serve drinks and snacks with carts. But why? It depends upon whom you ask. JetBlue claims the reason for the change is to provide faster service to economy...
Five Airlines Awarded New Flights to Havana
Earlier this month I wrote about the battle for Havana slots. Like a game of musical chairs, demand outstripped supply and it was up to the U.S. Department of Transportation to divvy out the slots. Yesterday, the U.S. Department...
“Cargo Class” Has Great Potential
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce made headlines this week for hinting about placing passengers in the cargo hold on longhaul routes. It’s actually not so far-fetched an idea. This was not a Michael O’Leary-type joke. We’re not talking about chaining...
Unforgettable: Black Cab Tour of Belfast
A Black cab tour of Belfast is a must for any student of history or person seeking a better understanding of “The Troubles”. Earlier today I wrote about the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which marked the...
The Good Friday Agreement: 20 Years Later
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a 1998 peace treaty that sought to permanently end sectarian and political violence in Northern Ireland. “The Troubles” began in the 1960s, a mix of political, nationalistic, and religious...
