File this in “Marketing Failure 101”. American Express is cutting its popular 50% rebate on “Pay with Points” purchases on its Business Platinum Card. Effective 01 June 2017: Amex Business Platinum Card Pay With Points benefit drops from 50% to...
Update on Ethiopian Airlines $776 R/T Business Class Ticket
Here’s an update on my Ethiopian “discount” business class ticket. If you recall, I took advantage of a great $776 r/t fare in business class on Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok to Toronto. I have a trip to Bangkok coming soon...
An Alitalia Trip Before the Company Goes Bust?
Although I find it hard to imagine perennial loss leader Alitalia will ever go out of business, the carrier is in serious trouble. After workers rejected a plan to save the beleaguered Italian flag carrier, the government warned this time there...
Lengthy New Email from United CEO Oscar Munoz + Commentary
Yesterday was a very good day for United Airlines. The carrier debuted its new customer service action plan and later announced a settlement with Dr. David Dao over the UA3411 incident. Even so, MileagePlus members received a lengthy email...
Man Thrown Off Delta Flight for Using Lavatory During Long Ground Delay
Until these sorts of customer service stores stop springing up, I will continue to cover them. A man was thrown off a Delta flight for having the audacity to use the lavatory…during an extended ground delay. I’ll boil it down–...
Details: United and David Dao Reach Settlement
Just a hunch, but I think Dr. David Dao finds himself a very wealthy man tonight. His attorney has announced a settlement has been reached. In a press release (.pdf) from his attorney, we learn that Dao has reached...
Involuntary Denied Boarding (IDB) Process on United
United Airlines pledged it would not overbook as many flights, but it will continue to overbook. Although the chances of you getting bumped are very low, here’s how United handles an oversell situation. As part of the wholesale re-evaluation of its...
United Shares Comprehensive Timeline of UA3411
In addition to an ambitious new ten-step customer service plan, United also issued a document entitled United Express Flight 3411 Review and Action Report. You should read that, but also read United’s letter to the Senate Commerce Committee for even more insight. The public report begins...
Breaking: United Airlines Reveals Major Policy Changes
Acknowledging the disastrous aftermath of the UA3411 incident, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz promised a comprehensive review of the way United did business. The review is complete and major changes are on the horizon. I’ll address the policy changes in more detail below,...
A Fresh Sandwich on SWISS from LHR-ZRH (and Chocolate!)
As part of our recent trip to Europe we flew from London to Zurich on SWISS. While Lufthansa and Air France have gone the packaged sandwich route, SWISS still offers very fresh and delicious sandwiches. I figured that if...
New Audio and Video from UA3411 Dragging Incident
As we try to piece together an accurate storyline of the UA3411 incident, new audio and video brings a new twist to the controversy. Gate surveillance video obtained by NBC News shows that passengers de-boarded and then boarded again before...
Ferry from Mykonos to Santorini
Here’s a brief report on our Seatjets ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. There are up to six daily ferries between Mykonos and Santorini. Since we were traveling during shoulder season (April), only one was operating: a catamaran operated by Seatjets....
Mykonos and Santorini Were More Beautiful Than I Imagined
Although my stay was brief, I enjoyed my time in Mykonos and Santorini more than I imagined. Both islands are beautiful and worth a return visit. I wrote about my hotel dilemma here and it turned out to be a...
Is it Safe to Transport Pets on Airplanes? A Fact-Based Examination
Is it safe to transport pets on airplanes? I wrote about the dead bunny earlier today and about a dead dog recently. Horrific stories indeed. But are they just outliers? Let’s take a look at the facts. Each year...
Playboy Bunny’s Giant Rabbit Dies on United Flight
A former Playboy bunny who embarked on a career in plus-size rabbit breeding claims her perfectly healthy rabbit mysteriously died on a United flight from London to Chicago. Simon the Rabbit was already three feet long and destined to...
Will U.S. Carriers Oppose Expansion of Electronics Ban?
Other than an obnoxious dig at Emirates, U.S. carriers have remained silent on the in-flight electronics ban. With rumors swirling that it will expand to flights out of the EU, will U.S. carriers finally speak up? News broke in...
United Airlines Ads Pulled from Tribeca Film Festival
United Airlines ads were pulled at the Tribeca Film Festival after a rather humorous audience reaction to an ad touting the carrier’s great service. United is a major supporter of the Tribeca Film Festival. Fly United and you’ll find a selection...
Police Officer Who Dragged Doctor Off United Flight Tells His Side
Although it should come as no surprise, two of the Chicago Aviation Police Officers who dragged Dr. David Dao off UA3411 tell a very different story of what happened. Obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by the Associated Press,...
Review: Los Angeles to London in United 787-9 Polaris Business
I’ve asked my six-month-old son Augustine to offer his thoughts on his very first flight, from LA to London on United Airlines in Polaris Business Class. The day of the big trip finally arrived. Mama and Papa had been looking...
Scott Kirby Positions Himself to be Next United CEO
Did you notice something about the pair of recent United bad publicity stories? Not a word from United President Scott Kirby. I believe that was strategic. CEO Oscar Munoz emerges from these events (the leggings incident and UA3411 incident) tarnished. Even...
