When Saudia Airlines (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines) offered an amazing $557 r/t deal from New York to Dubai via Jeddah last December, I jumped on it—but it was not because I had any desire to go to Dubai. Saudia...
Pictures from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
I did not stray far from the Park Hyatt Jeddah during my recent transit through Saudi Arabia, though I did spend a couple hours in the evening walking around the Kingdom’s second largest city. I was not near the Al-Balad...
Win 200,000 Miles on American Airlines
As Rocky reports, American Airlines is commencing three new international routes this spring: Dallas/Fort Worth to Seoul Chicago to Dusseldorf Dallas/Fort Worth to Lima To promote these additions to its route network, AA is giving away “a chance to...
Review: Park Hyatt Jeddah
Transiting through Jeddah on my way to Afghanistan, I had about 23 hours in Saudi Arabia between Saudia flights. A transit visa had been granted by the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC and without even looking at other properties,...
United Airlines Island Hopping in Coach: Avoid "Direct" Flights
Five days ago I promised a post making the case for why I will continue to remain loyal to United Airlines despite my photo incident and more importantly, despite the dearth of complimentary upgrades, hit-or-miss service, no onboard wi-fi,...
Why I Left TopCashBack for Smaller Rebates
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. Who would ever leave more savings for less? I would, and you should too,...
TSA Allows Bomb to Slip Past Security Checkpoint in Newark…Twice
If any of you are surprised by news that a fake IED-type bomb was cleared past two security checks at Newark’s Liberty International Airport last month, you shouldn’t be. I’ve maintained for years that anyone determined to get something...
Resolution to the United Airlines Photo Incident
Many of you have asked whether I have resolved my photo incident with United Airlines. The answer is yes. We have been in regular contact for the last couple of weeks and while I will not be walking away...
The Flight Home from Istanbul…
After my ejection from a United Airlines flight to Istanbul, I was admittedly apprehensive as I walked down the jetway to board my return flight to Newark eight days later. What if the same crew was aboard…or one particular...
iPad Recovered from Southwest Airlines Lost & Found
When I left my camera onboard on a United flight from San Francisco to Vancouver three years ago and miraculously recovered it, my family teased me for weeks about my penchant for leaving things behind on airplanes. While I...
The United Merger: One Year Later
One year has passed since the day United and Continental officially tied the knot and what a year it has been. I predicted in a blog post late on March 2, 2012 that the transition would be bumpy and...
Book Alitalia Award Space on Delta.com
Booking Alitalia award space just got a lot easier using Delta Skymiles with the rollout of online booking at delta.com. Even yesterday I had to call Delta to book an Alitalia award and let me tell you–it was never...
Sequester: Travel Disruptions and the Politics of Fear and Intimidation
As the threat of sequester looms large, I must underscore the absurdity of the FAA’s contention that it has no choice but to inconvenience the traveling public if Congress cannot reach an eleventh hour settlement today. Gary argued this...
Seven Words You Can Never Say on an Airplane?
George Carlin famously claimed there were “seven words you can never say on television.” In light of the controversy over my recent ejection from a United Airlines flight, I want to pose the following question today— Are there certain...
Update: United Airlines Responds to Photo Incident
Hi all—I’ve been amazed at the interest my story has produced and hope it can be used as a catalyst to both clarify United Airlines’ photo policy and guarantee that what happened to me will never happen to another...
Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures!
Live and Let’s Fly has been silent the last three days as I weighed how I wanted to cover what happened to me on a United Airlines flight from Newark to Istanbul last week. The situation was both traumatizing...
New York City – First Date
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. Descending into New York City Keeping up with my UN-Trip Report, it doesn’t get...
Farewell Ebbitt Express
One of my Washington rituals over the last decade has been to eat lunch at Ebbitt Express, if time permits, every time I arrive in the city. Located adjacent to Old Ebbitt Grill and a block from the White...
Just Happy to Be There – Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge
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. Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Continuing with my UN-Trip report, and trip around the world,...
What Does the US Airways and American Airlines Merger Mean For You?
Not to pat myself on the back, but seven months ago I predicted— …It appears the combined airline will take the American Airlines name, maintain its headquarters in Fort Worth, and be run by US Airways CEO Doug Parker....