While my wife and I have certainly been Hyatt loyalists over the years, we have started to drift away given some of the new changes to their loyalty program, World of Hyatt. Thus the Confidante in Miami is our...
Vacation Roulette: Life Is Better Without Plans
We decided to play Vacation Roulette 2017 and didn’t plan a trip until a week prior to departure. We decided to try a new country, Panama, a new hotel chain, Waldorf-Astoria, and a new airline home for myself and...
My Top 10 Lounges in 2017
In addition to many remarkable flights this year, I’ve also enjoyed many excellent lounges. Here’s a look back at my top 10 lounges of 2017. Although I have visited many superior hotel lounges, I’ve constrained my list only to...
My 10 Best Airline Meals of 2017
For this year’s final Meal of the Week, I count down my top 10 airline meals of 2017. 1. Garuda Indonesia First Class, CGK-AMS Garuda asked me what I wanted to eat, and I told them. Rack of lamb?...
My 10 Worst Flights of 2017
Unlike my 10 Best Flights of 2017 post from earlier today, I’d say this list is a bit more controversial. After all, how bad can Lufthansa First Class be…or any premium product for that matter? But listing my 10...
My 10 Best Flights of 2017
As the year draws to a close, here’s a look back at my 10 best flights in 2017. 1. Saudia 777-300 First Class, RUH-LAX The best flight of the year was due to one man: Chef Rahmi. I’ve never...
Still No Word from Air France or Travelocity Over First Class Cancellation
It has been 10 days since I booked a cheap Air France first class ticket on Travelocity and six days since Air France cancelled it. I still have not received notice from either party concerning the cancellation. Lack of...
Review: United 777-300ER Economy Class Frankfurt to San Francisco
What is United Airlines’ economy class product like on its 10-across 777-300ER between Europe and the USA? Once in awhile, a bit of a reality check is nice. Although I love premium cabins and am fortunate to routinely secure...
Fascinating: Foul Play and Intrigue Onboard ANA Flight to Nowhere
Turns out there may have been a very good reason to turn an ANA flight around over four hours into its journey…a genuine stowaway onboard. > Read More: Supermodel’s Account of the 8hr ANA Flight from LAX to LAX I...
Burnt Bagel Causes St. Louis Airport Evacuation
Authorities are blaming a burnt bagel for the evacuation of Terminal 2 at Lambert Airport in St. Louis earlier this week. Better safe than sorry? Airport officials say a bagel burned in a restaurant in Terminal 2 around 6...
Aer Lingus Flight to LA Diverts After Engine Failure
An Aer Lingus flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to divert to Shannon, Ireland after one engine shut down during takeoff. EI145, an A330-200 traveling from Dublin to Los Angeles, departed Dublin on-schedule at 3:25p from Dublin. But...
British Embassy Warns UAE Expats Against Drunkenness in LEGO Video
In a mildly hilarious video, the British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates is warning British Expats to respect local law. But not everyone is amused. The five-minute video is surprisingly well done, using stop-motion animation with LEGO figures. Titled,...
World of Hyatt Program Enhancements Announced, On Par With Competitors
World of Hyatt has been going through changes over the last 18 months with the retirement of Hyatt’s Gold Passport and the rollout of World of Hyatt to the change in management of Hyatt loyalty itself. Some changes were...
Hot Deal: Scandinavia to Australia in Qatar Airways Business Class $1658 R/T Plus 30K Bonus Miles
Qatar Airways is like the gift that keeps on giving. Business Class companion fares out of Scandinavia to Australia remain incredibly low. Let me make clear from the outset, this is for companion fares…meaning for two tickets purchased together,...
Business Class Upgrades on Turkish Airlines at the Airport
If unsold seats remain, Turkish Airlines will sell you an upgrade at the airport. While checking in for my Los Angeles to Istanbul flight last week, I noticed a small sign in the Star Alliance Gold check-in line: The...
Awakened by a Barking Dog Halfway Over the Atlantic
I’ve flown with a lot of dogs over the years, but recently experienced a loud one for the first time. This was once again my Turkish Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul last week. I did not mention...
UPDATE: United Insists It Did NOT Boot Woman From First Class for Congresswoman
I had a telephone conversation with United Airlines yesterday about the events surrounding the Washington, DC woman who found herself booted from first class and a Congresswoman in her original seat. If you missed out on yesterday’s post, you...
Supermodel’s Account of the 8hr ANA Flight from LAX to LAX
An ANA flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo turned around yesterday, four hours into the flight, after a potential stowaway was found onboard. Interestingly, play-by-play coverage was brought to us by Chrissy Teigen, a supermodel onboard (who View from the...
Bye, Bye Mr. Turkish Guy, Drinking Rakı and Rye
Forgive my pun playing on Don McLean’s famous American Pie in my title…I could not resist. Nor could a Turkish man resist his own bottle of Rye Whiskey at LAX last week. If you recall, my Turkish Airlines flight from...
Congresswoman Poaches First Class Seat, Accuses Victim of Racism
A teacher has accused a prominent Democratic Congresswoman of stealing her first class seat on a United flight from Houston to Washington, DC. Jean-Marie Simon was traveling back from Guatemala to Washington, DC via Houston. Upon boarding her connecting flight...
