A pleasant Sunday evening to you from Los Angeles. It was a quiet week on the blog, but a busy week in life. I’m looking forward to the week ahead, but especially looking forward to a special family trip...
What Makes A “Real Traveler?”
Last week a reader suggested that I wasn’t a real traveler but without qualifying why that was the case. While everyone is entitled to their opinion without justification or explanation, it got me thinking – what constitutes a “real...
The Bahamas’ Zone Taxis Hurt Bahamians
I wrote a few weeks ago about the airport Taxi touts in Panama but this is not that story. In the Bahamas, taxi zones are in place and are especially expensive for short distances. While you might think this will...
Where Are My Rollover Nights, IHG?
As a road warrior, hotel status is very important to my travel experience and day-to-day business operations. Some programs like Intercontinental Hotels Group Rewards Club (IHG) allow guests who have over-qualified for their status to rollover excess nights to...
Exquisite Rack of Lamb in Singapore Suites
Rack of lamb is not just one of my favorite foods, but is my favorite dish. Singapore Suites (even the “old” product) is one of my favorite ways to fly. With the Singapore Airlines Book the Cook program, you can...
Review: Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (Suite)
The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach in Honolulu offers a great compromise between the full-service Hyatt Regency and limited service Hyatt Place, all within walking distance. But it’s not a beach hotel and would not be my first choice if visiting...
Will Low-Cost Carriers Join Star Alliance?
Is there a place at the alliance table for low-cost-carriers? With no-frills, budget carriers burgeoning, that is a question legacy alliances must grapple with. Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh was interviewed by Bloomberg at the Singapore Airshow this week....
Review: Delta Sky Club Honolulu (HNL)
I don’t fly Delta all that often, but before my recent flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles I had a chance to visit the Sky Club there. The Sky Club used to be a Continental President’s Club, but was...
Impressive “Olympic” Menu Upgrades in United Clubs
United Airlines is the official airline of Team USA. In celebration of the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, UA is offering special food and drink items over the next two weeks in United Clubs across the USA. To mark the opening...
First Class: Lufthansa vs. SWISS
I’ve recently flown both SWISS and Lufthansa First Class. Which product is better? Certainly there is subjectivity in what I value and how I compare the two products, but I’d like to think this is not an arbitrary comparison....
Prosecutors Allege Alaska Airlines Pilot Flew Drunk for 20 Years
A former Alaska Airlines pilot will plead guilty and serve one year in prison for flying a plane while under the influence of alcohol. But prosecutors paint a grim picture of what could have happened. David Hans Arntson, 62, flew...
Did Spirit Airlines Really Advise a Woman to Flush Her Emotional Support Hamster Down Toilet?
Now that emotional support animals are at the center of a public discussion balancing the comfort of passengers with the safety of others, more stories are emerging. But does the latest hamster story pass the smell test? Belen Aldecosea,...
Review: SWISS 777-300ER First Class Zurich to Los Angeles
After a nice meal in the first class lounge, it was time to board our SWISS First Class flight to Los Angeles. Unlike my usual reviews, where I line up to board well before announced boarding time, this time...
Six Consumer Protections Airlines Hope to Eliminate
Per the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Transportation has asked airline for “suggestions” as it reviews passenger protections in light of President Donald Trump’s mandate to cut “red tape”. Not surprisingly, airlines are foaming at the mouth...
My Conversation with United CEO Oscar Munoz
I hate to disappoint you, but rather than not saying anything I do want to provide an update on my recent conversation with United CEO Oscar Munoz. Last week I asked What Would YOU Ask United CEO Oscar Munoz? I...
AA: Our FA Did Not Steal iPhone
Yesterday I wrote about a passenger who claimed to see pictures of a flight attendant appear in her cloud-based photo library days after losing her iPhone on American Airlines flight. But AA has shot back, saying the pictures are...
Vietnam Airlines Wants to Fly to the USA
Vietnam Airlines is studying the resumption of service to the USA as early as next year. In a remarkably candid interview, CEO Duong Tri Thanh told CNBC that the state-run carrier doesn’t expect to make money on the route, but...
The Most Comfortable Bed I’ve Ever Slept in…was in an Airport Lounge!
One footnote to my SWISS First Class Lounge review from Zurich. The Hästens bed was truly the best bed I’ve ever slept in. There are many reasons to visit the SWISS First Class Lounge in E Gates area in...
The SWISS First Class Ground Experience
The day had arrived. It was time to fly SWISS First Class. This wasn’t my first time flying SWISS First Class, but it was my first time flying SWISS First from Zurich. Had I been flying alone, I would...
Dear FA, Here’s How to Steal an iPhone
Just a word of advice: if you are going to steal a mobile phone from a passenger, you are advised to wipe it before using it. An American Airlines FA may soon lose her job for not knowing better....
