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...
Lawmakers Squabble over Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been a hot political topic for decades. As Congress weighs loosening restrictions in this year’s FAA Reauthorization Bill, some are fighting back. Senators from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia have teamed up to...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 23, 2017
Another week, another onboard airline altercation gone viral. I’ve spent most of the day offline today. My goal is to take one day off per week–not always possible, but my wife puts up with a lot during the week so...
Yes, You Can Transfer AMEX Points Back to AMEX
Can you send your already-transfered AMEX points back to Membership Rewards? Where there is a will, there is a way. When you transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to an airline partner, you are met with this stark warning–all...
Passengers at Odds Over Blame for AA Stroller Incident
The truth has a way of surfacing, one way or another. Another passenger allegedly on the “strollergate” flight has stepped forward to offer a differing narrative of what happened. Most of the blame is placed on the mother, with the...
Review: Brussels Airlines A330 Business Class Brussels to New York
Brussels Airlines has recently been acquired by Lufthansa. The airline will be folded into Lufthansa’s Eurowings (low-cost) division, but remain a separate brand. Here’s what you can expect on a longhaul Brussels flights in business class, at least for now. In...
AA’s Perfect Response to Out-of-Control Flight Attendant
I’m glad that American Airlines learned something from the two recent viral incidents that United Airlines woefully mishandled. At least it knows how to apologize. Earlier today I wrote about another onboard altercation that has gone viral this morning. Unlike two...
