Hyatt Regency Crystal City is a full-service business hotel near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. It’s convenient and impressive. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed...
A Secret Trick for Securing Business Class Award Space to Europe is Exposed
Brussels Airlines award space is again bookable on united.com…the secret trick to dependable business class award space to Europe has been exposed. Brussels Airlines space has played cat and mouse games on united.com over the last few years, appearing...
The Great Wall: Turning a Mileage Run into a Family Holiday

On a recent mileage run (our first as a family) we took advantage of some $450 mistake fares in Business Class from Washington DC to Beijing, China. This mileage run was stretched out just slightly longer than a typical...
My Cruise Rewards – Valuable or Worthless, Does Anyone Know?

After a recent change, I was considering the Royal Caribbean card from Bank of America. My daughter is getting to the age of running around and the idea of giving her hours of running around, swimming and food sounds...
Delta Responds: Mixed Cabin Rewards Remain…Sort Of
Lucky noted (from a post by René) a disturbing change to the wording of delta.com yesterday — it appeared that without notice Delta eliminated mixed-cabin awards, which would have signalled another elephantine Skymiles devaluation. I reached out to Delta and was...
My Child Is a Celebrity: Other People Taking Pictures with My Baby

As part of my personal evolution as a travel blogger, this is an early post from Upgrd.com where I joined Matthew and other talented writers (including my husband) which would then merge with Travel Codex, another Boarding Area blog....
FA Who Told Muslim Passenger She Could Not Have Unopened Soda Can for Security Reasons is Sacked
Another week, another drama at United Airlines. This time on a United Airlines Express flight operated by Shuttle America. Let’s review the situation: Tahera Ahmad, Director of Interfaith Engagement at Northwestern University who was also wearing a hijab,...
Transparency of Airfare Pricing
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. I recently commented on the government’s website for USA Today regarding changes to CFR...
Hyatt Diamond Challenge is Back and Open to Everyone

My favorite hotel chain has been Hyatt for several years now. Service at the Park properties are fantastic but even the Hyatt House stays can offer really exceptional rooms. As seen on Flyertalk.com, a revamped status challenge promo has...
Fly to Europe in a 44-Seat Business Jet Using Your Miles!
SAS launched service between Houston and Stavanger, Norway last summer using a 44-seat jet featuring an all-business class configuration. Operated by PrivatAir on behalf of SAS, the flight operates six times per week and features an outdated “angle lie-flat” business...
Aer Lingus to Join oneworld: No Irish Luck for Me!
In January I wrote a piece entitled IAG Group Moves Closer to Aer Lingus Acquisition and speculated that Aer Lingus would rejoin the oneword alliance if the acquisition by British Airways’ parent company IAG was successful. Today, the Irish government announced plans to...
Hilton Making Moves in Myanmar

Bloomberg recently had a report about Hilton Hotels properties in newly opened Myanmar (formerly Burma). Hilton was one of the first chains to build in Southeast Asian country since sanctions have eased over the last couple of years. ...
Memorial Day 2015: A Call to Selflessness
For my annual Memorial Day post this year, I want to quote a passage from President Woodrow Wilson’s Memorial Day Address 101 years ago on 30 May 1914: A peculiar privilege came to the men who fought for the...
A Day in the Life of a Weary Road Warrior…And Some Humor
Let me tell you about my latest trip. I still wonder sometimes why I do this to myself, but am thankful that I still find fun in flying for the sake of flying. I hope you find this “Dear...
What Will My Baby Eat Abroad?

As part of my personal evolution as a travel blogger, this is an early post from Upgrd.com where I joined Matthew and other talented writers (including my husband) which would then merge with Travel Codex, another Boarding Area blog....
Family Should Apologize for Forcing United Airlines Diversion
The trending story of a family thrown off a United Airlines flight from Houston to Portland beckons us to consider how airlines should compassionately and effectively accommodate disabled travelers while balancing concerns of safety and the comfort of other...
Amtrak Train Derails in Philadelphia – 240 Onboard, 50 injured

On May 13th, 2015, an Amtrak train derail appears to have taken place on a track near Philadelphia and several injuries resulted. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t...
New Beta Edition of United.com Available to All
I have been testing the beta version of the new united.com for over a month now via special invitation but now United has opened its beta site to everyone, with a planned launch date of the “new and improved”...
FOIA Request from U.S. DOT Arrives over United Danish Kroner Mistake Fare
After the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) sided with United Airlines, allowing the carrier to rescind super-cheap first class fares that exploited a pricing glitch on its Danish website, I was curious to see how cozy the relationship...
DOT Suspends Consumer Protection for Purchased Airline Mistake Fares but Opens New Loophole
As expected, the U.S. Department of Transportation has rolled back its explicit mandate that airlines honor mistake fares but in doing so has opened up a new loophole that may give carriers an even bigger headache when they inevitably...