Turkish Airlines check-in opens three hours before the flight, which was about 12:30a. If you are connecting from another flight, be sure to read this Transit in Dar Es Salaam post first. Check-in desks on the far left side...
A Perfect Greek Snack: Olympic Airlines OA322 IST-ATH
For this week’s installment of Matthew’s Meal of the Week I recall a soothing Greek lunch on Olympic Airlines after an expensive flight mishap. It was 2008 and I was on a backpacking trip around the world. I purchased a...
United Airlines on Display at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC
United Airlines has partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue to provide bedding in its new Polaris business class. This week, the partnership is on full display in the windows of the department store’s flagship Manhattan store. Walk by Saks and you’ll be...
Tasty: Here’s the United Polaris Lounge Menu
United Airlines’ opened its first Polaris Lounge in Chicago O’Hare last month to complement its new Polaris onboard premium product. Today, United introduced full service sit-down dining menus in the ORD Polaris Lounge. For the last month, food has been served...
United Accelerates 747 Retirement to 2017
Last week I wrote about United’s plan to retire its 747-400 fleet by the end of 2018. Today, UA President Scott Kirby announced plans to accelerate the retirement of the fleet by a full year. In a letter to...
Dump the Kid for a Romantic Getaway to Iceland?
Admittedly, I wasted two hours yesterday morning trying to figure out a way to travel from Los Angeles to Iceland on WOW Air during a flash fare sale. One problem: the baby does not have his passport yet. Hindsight is...
Review: Tanzanite Lounge (DAR)
The Tanzanite Lounge in Dar Es Salaam (DAR) is not much, but it sure beats the gate area. Open to business and first class passengers plus Priority Pass members, the lounge is located one level before international departures. You can...
“It’s not cheating when on vacation”
Ad analytics are getting better than ever, though I was shocked at one Lufthansa ad that has been plastering my screen the last 24 hours. It started last night when I was on airliners.net and these two Lufthansa ads popped...
Transit in Dar Es Salaam (DAR)
A word of warning: it is best to avoid a long layover in Dar Es Salaam if connecting between two airlines. We ended up sitting on a hard bench for several hours waiting for our transit boarding pass. We arrived...
Sore Losers: NFL Team Trashes United 767-400
The New York Giants lost their Wild Card Round playoff game to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday…and took out their anger on a United Airlines 767-400. Airlines are happy to lease out their planes and crews if the...
20-Min Flight from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam on Fastjet
Since we were connecting same-night back to Istanbul, it made sense to fly instead of take a ferry back. Tickets were $37 each purchased the day before on Fastjet. Fastjet hopes to become the African continent’s “first low-cost, pan-African airline”...
The Farce of Airport Security
How to wreak terror inside a secure airport in 2017? Place a gun into your checked bag, grab your bag off the carousel, pull the gun out, load the gun, and start firing. That’s what happened last week in...
Review: Zanzibar Dhow Lounge (ZNZ)
Although the airport is small and half of it is outdoors, I was happy to find a Priority Pass lounge at Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. The Park Hyatt granted us late checkout so we left at 6:30pm for our...
Cancelled: United Cuts Planned Second Daily Flight from LA to London
I knew it was good too be true. United has removed the planned second-daily Los Angeles to London Heathrow flight from its schedule. Set to begin on April 4, 2017, the new service would have doubled premium capacity and added...
Looted But Not Livid in Zanzibar
On our second night in Zanzibar, we decided to eat where the locals eat. During the meal, a local took advantage of our trust, stealing money from us. After a great dinner at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar the first...
An Amazing Journey Through Stone Town in Zanzibar (Pictures)
I’m not usually one for guided tours, especially arranged by hotels. In Zanzibar, however, we opted for tour of historic Stone Town arranged by the Park Hyatt. It was well worth it. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 7, 2017
Hello from rainy Los Angeles! Once again, we’ve had another damp and gray week in LA. I love this weather so much I often wonder if I am living in the wrong city! There were opportunities for me to travel...
My American Express Strategy for 2017
I’ve been a long-time American Express customer but am making some changes in 2017 to the cards in my wallet. First, a disclaimer. I don’t have referral links and am not trying to sell you any cards. For the...
Review: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar was home for the weekend on the island of Zanzibar. A juxtaposition of old and new, this hotel was certainly not what I was expecting but represented an incredible base for my time in Zanzibar with all...
Shooting at Ft. Lauderdale Airport, Five Dead
Breaking now — a shooting in the baggage claim area of T2 at Ft. Lauderdale Airport (FLL) has left eight injured and five dead. The airport is currently closed. The shooting occurred around 1pm ET. The shooter has been apprehended but airport exits remain...
