In an era of sustained profitability, it is confusing when airlines make customer-unfriendly, logically dubious cutbacks to premium class meal service. But that’s exactly what United Airlines has just done on domestic first class flights. The North American Premium...
The Airport Lounge with a Swimming Pool
Airport lounges have become more innovate over the years in response to growing public concern over health. For example, the Finnair lounge in Helsinki has a sauna, the Thai lounge in Bangkok has a world-class spa, and Etihad’s first...
Europe from $141 in Coach – $700s in Business
On the heels of a few great weeks of fare mistakes or fare sales (who can tell any more?) there is a new one on the market today and you had better act fast. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Would You Approach a Hollywood Star in First Class?
The title says it all: would you approach a celebrity (or other famous person) onboard an airplane? My friend John and I debated that onboard our Lufthansa First Class flight earlier this week and reached different conclusions. > Read...
Breakfast at the Mercedes Benz Café in Rome Airport
I love breakfast in Italy. What’s not to like about a flaky warm croissant, cappuccino, and fresh squeezed orange juice? We arrived to the airport in Rome a bit late this morning and the two Schengen Priority Pass lounges...
How Bad was Aerolineas Argentinas Business Class?
My expectations were so low stepping onto my Aerolineas Argentinas flight in Club Condor (business) class that the mediocre onboard product managed to impress me. The business class cabin was clean and the color scheme fresh. New IFE units...
Why I’m Not Excited About Alaska Airlines’ Partnership with Singapore Airlines
Alaska Airlines already partners with members of both SkyTeam and oneworld. Starting next month, the airline will partner with its first Star Alliance carrier: Singapore Airlines. But don’t get your hopes up about an incredible redemption in Singapore’s new...
Two Reasons I May Start Collecting Citi ThankYou Points
Up to this point I have resisted collecting Citi ThankYou points. But two unique airline transfer partners are causing me to rethink the decision. Citi partners with Turkish Airlines and Qantas. Both provide narrow value and yet may nevertheless be...
United Airlines’ Humanitarian Relief Flights to Houston
Brutal Hurricane Harvey continues to wreak havoc on Texas. Thousands of people are in desperate need of assistance and even some evacuation centers are now flooded. United Airlines is stepping up to help with seven humanitarian relief flights to...
Flying Lufthansa First Class with Hollywood Stars, Oligarchs, and Executives
Yesterday I flew Lufthansa First Class from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 8-seat cabin was filled with a mix of A-list stars, a former Lufthansa executive, and a wealthy Ukrainian family. It made for an interesting flight… I am...
So Much for Flying Air Berlin…
I am on a business trip to Europe to this week and had planned to travel on Air Berlin from Los Angeles to Dusseldorf yesterday. Unfortunately, the carrier’s bankruptcy complicated my plans. Although this trip has been scheduled for...
Retro Concept: Boarding Pass No Longer Required at PIT to Clear Security
Starting next week you will not need a boarding pass to access the secure gate areas at Pittsburgh International Airport. I think that is a great thing. When I was young, flying was a big deal in my house....
Hyatt’s Status Fast Track Highlights Overcorrections
Hyatt announced that they are offering a fast track to World of Hyatt status to new and existing Hyatt credit card holders. However, this move seems to demonstrate a protracted series of over-corrections and it’s starting to wear on...
My Amenity Kit Seatmate Did Something Deplorable
Yesterday I wrote about an amenity kit incident onboard my Alitalia flight from Rome to Los Angeles. Something happened later in the flight that I am struggling to process. First, let me preface this story by saying that it...
Review: Uzbekistan Airways A320 Business Class Tashkent to Dushanbe
Great service and a decent meal characterized a short 189-mile flight from the capital of Uzbekistan to the capital of Tajikistan on Uzbekistan Airways. After leaving the lounge and being “chauffeured” by bus to the aircraft, we boarded via...
My Seatmate Goes Ballistic When I Touch His Amenity Kit
Hello all, live from 38,000 feet onboard my Alitalia flight from Rome to Los Angeles. Time for a confession: I made a mistake today. At least, I think I did… During boarding, FAs distributed amenity kits. Amenity kits are...
United CEO Comments on Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey has hit Texas harder than expected, impacting millions, displacing hundreds of thousands and taking the lives of at least five people. The storm has shuttered United’s fortress hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston until at least...
Why Doesn’t IHG Treat Elites Better?
As a top-tier elite with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) it’s become clear, IHG doesn’t treat their elites well. But why? The hotel chain has more than 4,700 hotels worldwide, they are highly profitable but...
Review: Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor – Suite
Due to my United 1K Status Match/Challenge I found myself positioning in Boston ahead of a flight to Shanghai. While this is not my first stay at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, it was my first time in one...
