United Airlines is ending its service between Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon this autumn, eliminating its last remaining intra-Asia flight from its Narita “hub”. Currently United operates a 737-800 between NRT and ICN on the following schedule: UA079 / Tokyo...
Beef Chili in a Sourdough Bowl: United p.s. Business (+ A Funny Story)
For this week’s Meal of the Week I look back on a unique (in terms of airline food, at least) lunch I had on United in December 2010. United p.s. service, which ran between New York JFK and San Francisco/Los...
My Son Was an Angel in AMEX Lounge, Unlike Drunk Losers Nearby
Last month I wrote A Warning to American Express and a very feisty discussion ensued. The issue: should cardholders have to pay $50 per child for Centurion Lounge entry beyond their first child? On one side of the debate: families with children...
Air India’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Win Back Customers
Somewhere in an Air India Executive Board Room in New Delhi, celebration is erupting. The Indian flag carrier claims that bookings to the USA have doubled since the in-flight electronics ban was announced– According to Air India sources, bookings to...
Should Free Tap Water When Flying Be A Right?
The human body needs water to sustain itself. Our brain is 70% water, lungs 90% water and our body is 60% water overall. It is the fuel that propels us forward. So is charging separately for water on an airplane...
Inhumanity? 87-Year-Old Barred from Using Lavatory, Sits in Wet Clothes for 10 Hours
An 87-year old claims a British Airways FA repeatedly blocked her as she tried to use the lavatory during an extended ground delay at LAX. Although the Daily Mail unnecessarily sensationalizes the incident, they get the emphasis right: the FA action. The...
Loud Copulation in Hotel Room
We are in Mykonos at a lovely little beachside hotel. It is still early in the season with most hotels not open yet. Each room has an ocean view and although very much a budget property, the hotel has...
5 Planes I Wish I Had Flown
My interest in aviation bloomed in 2004, though it did not truly take off until 2008. Planes come and go over the years but some are more special than others. Here are five planes I either never had the...
Breaking: United Ground Stop at Houston IAH
Multiple reports of a United Airlines ground stop at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airprot (IAH) have now been confirmed. A computer issue Here’s the official ground stop verbiage: CTL ELEMENT: IAH ELEMENT TYPE: APT ADL TIME: 2013Z GROUND STOP PERIOD:...
Air France: Cairo to Tahiti for $2K RT in Business Class
Air France has a great deal right now on tickets to Tahiti in business class. Yes, you must get yourself to Cairo, but I’ll lay out while this still may make sense. Cairo is one of the three C’s...
Mints on United vs. MINT on JetBlue
If you’re on a United flight this month, keep an eye out for complimentary mints. Yes, not to be confused with MINT (business) class on JetBlue! The Mileage Plus Explorer Card from Chase has an increased sign-up bonus of...
Review: Malaysia Airlines Regional Golden Lounge KUL
Malaysia Airlines offers an impressive lounge for its regional flights. Though much smaller than its main business class lounge, the regional Golden Lounge in the Satellite Terminal is worth a visit. My brother and I had enjoyed a large...
Two Great Restaurants in Kuala Lumpur
I recently published a review of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and mentioned that contrary to habit, my brother and I ventured out for dinner. Malaysia and certainly Kuala Lumpur has great food. Walk through Bitbang and you’ll find...
Does Aeroflot Still Use Russian Planes?
I have three “problem airlines” at Award Expert, airlines that clients are very hesitant to fly. The first is Turkish Airlines. I have made the case for why Turkish is safe and a slam-dunk choice, but the resistance continues....
My Unorthodox Free Suite Upgrade at Hilton
We’ve all heard of hotel upgrades due to overcrowding or loyalty status, but yesterday’s upgrade was a first. My wife and I checked into the Hilton Munich Airport yesterday evening with little Augustine. We had reserved a standard room. With...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 2, 2017
Hello from Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich. We’ll soon be departing for Greece and I’m excited to visit a new part of that beautiful country. The week started off with a huge controversy over leggings — a misunderstanding that morphed...
Two Free Tickets to the USA for Writing a Clever Poem
I sometimes wonder if Royal Jordanian hopes the electronics ban will continue. Now it wants you to submit a funny poem. For the carrier that trolled Donald Trump before he even won the election, now comes a new round of...
This Problem Cost Airlines $5BN Last Year
I suppose it should come as no big surprise, but airlines generate a lot more waste than I ever imagined. According to a Guardian report— Airline passengers generated 5.2m tonnes of waste in 2016, most of which went to...
Seatless in Seattle: United’s Polaris Problem
United’s seat problems continue. Two weeks after news that its new Polaris seats would face delivery delays due to “industrial issues” at Zodiac, United faces new short-term delays. The result: United is parking its brand new 777-300s in Seattle. “Short...
Be Vigilant Against This Unnecessary AA Fee
What is one AA fee that continues to be secretly inserted into many reservations? Although telephone booking fees for partner award tickets that cannot be booked online are (in theory) a thing of the past on AA, agents are...
