Etihad opened a new lounge in Los Angeles earlier this week and I was able to get a sneak the morning after it opened. Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the lounge is small but luxurious as far...
China Eastern Delights and Disappoints
China Eastern showed today its potential to offer industry-leading ground and air service while at the same time showing that it has so much that it can improve upon. In an earlier post I discussed our pre-flight VIP treatment...
Suddenly We are VIPs on China Eastern
Lucky and I offered less than stellar initial feedback yesterday on our China Eastern Flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. The primary problem was onboard smoking but there were several service lapses that ultimately made for a disappointing in-flight...
Smoking on China Eastern Airlines
Before today, I had been on one smoking flight my entire life: Burbank to Seattle in September 1987. I was a year old and do not remember it…My second smoking flight was earlier today on China Eastern from Los...
My RTW Trip with Lucky Has Begun!
Greetings from 32,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean in China Eastern Business Class! My highly anticipated trip with Lucky has begun. Over the next week we will be flying almost non-stop, with flights on China Eastern, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc,...
Anti-Muslim Bigotry on American Airlines or Fabrication?
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation over an alleged incident on an American Airlines’ flight from Charlotte to Detroit on December 6, 2015. According to the complaint, passenger Mohamed Ahmed Radwan was...
Air New Zealand Hollywood Safety Video
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video entitled “Safety in Hollywood” that attempts a humorous approach to the mundanity of an airline safety briefing. That is the Air New Zealand trademark after all… I have to...
Is it Safe to Fly Turkish Airlines?
Turkey has been in the news a lot recently — with terrorist attacks in Istanbul, a failed coup d’état last weekend, and a temporary ban on all non-stop flights from Istanbul to the USA, many are wisely questioning whether it...
FAA Lifts Turkish Airlines Ban
The failed coup attempt in Turkey last Friday exposed security concerns at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, leading to a FAA ban on all direct flights from Turkey. Although the ban was threatened to last until September, Turkish authorities have...
United Pilot Calls For Hillary Clinton to be Executed
A United Airlines pilot has suggested via Twitter that Hillary Clinton should be hanged for treason. First Officer Michael Folk serves part-time in the West Virginia House of Delegates and part time flying for United Airlines as a First Officer. Folk’s...
Review: Park Hyatt Mallorca
The Park Hyatt Mallorca is a shining city on the hill…literally. As you wind your way through the island of Mallorca your first glimpse of the hotel is a glistening pink village set against a picturesque backdrop of green...
This Delta SkyMiles Redemption Makes No Sense!
Delta has a new SkyMiles promotion out with awards as little as 5,000 miles each way. In some cases these discounted awards may make sense, but make sure you always compare the $ price versus the mileage price (easily...
British Airways AARP Discount Just Got Sweeter
If you plan to book a ticket with British Airways but have not joined the AARP, you, amigo, are missing out! British Airways just sweetened an already good deal with higher discounts for economy and premium economy tickets. I...
Man Steals TSA Bin, Now Uses it as Sock Drawer
America is a nation of security theater — we go through a role play each time we take a commercial flight to make the fearful among us feel safer, but the reality remains the TSA has failed to stop any...
Explore Guangzhou with Cycle Canton
Talk about visiting China and you there are usually three or four cities that quickly pop up. Beijing and Shanghai of course and then perhaps Chengdu for the pandas or Xi’an for the Terracotta Army. But what about Guangzhou,...
Review: Park Hyatt Guangzhou
Park Hyatt has opened its fifth property in China in the heart of Guangzhou. With five-star amenities, three restaurants, and well-appointed guest rooms, the Park Hyatt is a compelling choice in a city full of new luxury hotels. Open...
Independence Day, Brexit, and Mr. Bean
Independence Day in America, also known as Thanksgiving Day in Great Britain, brings on a whole new meaning this year in light of Brexit, the UK’s own recent declaration of independence. I do not really care to discuss history...
Review: Hyatt on the Bund (Shanghai)- Suite
Shanghai is home to one of the most famous Hyatt hotels in the world, the Park Hyatt. While that hotel is great, it’s Hyatt on the Bund across the river that flies under the radar and delivers superior value. ...
British Airways Invites You to Capitalize on Brexit
Ask not what you can do for Brexit, ask what can Brexit do for me — that seems to be the rallying cry at British Airways, which has capitalized on the GBP’s lowest level since 1985 to launch a three-day fare...
His Excellency Defends Qatar Atlanta Service in New Interview
Protests have sprung up in the Atlanta area over Qatar Airways new service to Doha including a string of protests, radio/tv attacks, and full-page newspaper ads condemning the Gulf carrier. CEO. Trying to reassert control over the matter, Qatar...
