Air Canada’s international expansion in Montreal continues, with news of a new seasonal route between Montreal and Tel Aviv starting in June. The carrier also announced plans to make its daily Toronto – Tel Aviv service year-around. The new Montreal...
How I Will Take Advantage of the Air France 20K Offer from AMEX
I woke up this morning to a dozen articles on a new “Amex Offer” in which you can get 20,000 American Express Membership Rewards points for spending at least $1,000 on Air France. So in case you missed it...
Video Emerges of Erratic United Pilot
Leadoff question: how could a crew or any passenger agree to fly under the command of someone like this? Lucky makes this point and I cannot help but to also make it. Video finally emerged today of the frazzled United pilot who...
Woman Claims United Airlines Killed Her Dog
When it rains, it pours. As if the viral story of the disgruntled United pilot removed from her flight was not enough, now United has more bad press to contend with: a woman who claims United is responsible for the death...
Help Me Choose What Trip Report to Publish Next
It has been only two months since I made the move to Boarding Area but I already feel like I’ve been here for years. I love being part of this family. I’m still catching up on a backlog of...
Review: London to Cairo in EgyptAir 777-300 Business Class
My intro to this flight report still sums up my thoughts best, so I will stick with it. Let’s face it: mention EgyptAir and most instinctively grimace. The carrier does not serve alcohol, does not have cutting-edge seats, and boasts a poor safety...
United Pilot Removed for Odd Onboard Rant
A pilot was removed from a United Airlines flight from Austin to San Francisco on Saturday after using the plane’s PA system to vent about her recent divorce, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton. The A319 captain boarded United 455 late and...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: February 11, 2017
Hello from beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Heidi and I love Santa Barbara (“Why didn’t we MOVE HERE instead of LA?!” is what I hear every time we come up for a weekend). But at least a great Hyatt is available...
Interest in Traveling to the USA is Plummeting
Is the U.S. on the verge of a “tourism shock”? One digital travel agency is claiming the answer is YES. Its analytics reveal the interest in traveling to the USA in 94 countries has fallen sharply since the Trump inauguration...
I Love the New United Propaganda Campaign!
We typically speak about propaganda in such negative terms, as if must encompass only misleading information used to promote a political cause. Sometimes propaganda is just biased or one-sided information that is not misleading, just used to highlight the good in something....
Comical Video: Two Lawyers Fight Over Armrest
Two passengers, both who claim to be lawyers (I have my doubts) were caught on video fighting over an armrest on a flight to Spain. Start with the video– This occurred on a Monarch Airways flight from London Gatwick to...
Review: Los Angeles to London in Air New Zealand 777-300 Business Premier
I’ve booked my parents on it, my brother on it, dozens of clients on it, but now it was my turn. For years I have been wanting to fly Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to London and a...
United CEO Reflects on Trump Meeting (and My Concerns)
Airline executives met with President Trump yesterday. You can read the sometimes humorous pool report here. Rather than focusing on the contentious travel ban, airline executives and the new Trump administration sought to find common ground. United CEO Oscar Munoz...
Two Great New Priority Pass Lounges, Including London Restaurant/Bar
Priority Pass adds and subtracts members from its 1000+ network of lounges each month. This month two notable additions are worth your attention: the Turkish Airlines lounge at Washington Dulles and the Grain Store Cafe & Bar inside London Gatwick Airport....
Why Starwood Points are Simultaneously the Most Valuable and the Most Worthless Points
Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints are arguably the most valuable overall point currency. With a 1:1 transfer rate with a long list of airline partners plus a 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 transferred, Starwood make trips possible that no other...
Three Easy Steps to Combat Jet Lag
This has been a heck of a travel week for me. I started in Los Angeles, traveled to Honolulu, then to San Francisco, then Frankfurt, and finally back to Los Angeles. But I’m not jet lagged. Here are three things...
TSA Admits It Likely Cannot Spot Terrorists
Internal documents reveal that the TSA’s behavior detection program aimed at rooting out terrorists is inherently flawed according to an ACLU report. The TSA’s behavior detection program utilizes specially-trained agents — some uniformed, some in plain clothes — to scope out signs...
Air France Adds Maldives Service
Air France is starting year-around service to the Male this fall, providing another option to use points to reach the Maldives. Per Routes Online, the outbound flight from Paris will operate on Wednesday and Saturday, returning on Thursday and Sunday...
Avoid the Veal: TP359 LHR-LIS in TAP Business
For this edition of Matthew’s Meal of the Week I look back on a meal on TAP Portugal from London to Portugal in December 2009. This was my first flight on TAP and seven years later I have yet...
Surprise Meal on United Proves Why Meals Don’t Matter
Not to beat a dead horse, but my United flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt yesterday demonstrates why economy class meal service likely has little effect on loyalty and negatively impacts revenue. I generally do not upgrade when flights are so...
