I credited United for taking a step in the right direction when they eliminated close-in "processing fees" for award tickets in 2009. These fees, charged simply for the convenience of booking an award ticket within 21 days of travel,...
Your Laptop is NOT Secure or Private at U.S. Borders
I am training to be a lawyer, afterall, so let’s take a break from frequent flyer news today and focus on a recent court decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the confiscation of personal computers...
Reader Help Needed: Haneda to Gimpo or Narita to Incheon?
If all goes according to plan, I will be traveling to Japan and South Korea next month. It will be my first time in both countries and I am working now to finalize my flights between Tokyo and Seoul using...
Air Canada to Launch Low-Cost Subsidiary
After the failures of Song and Ted just a few years after their inception, I did not expect another North American legacy carrier to gamble with a low-cost division. Yet Air Canada announced ambitious plans today for their own...
Priority Tags for Gate Checked Bags on United?
Reports are surfacing that United Airlines is trying something new at Denver—placing priority tags on gate checked bags for first class and elite flyers. This is a wonderful and cost-efficient idea. I fly, or at least used to fly,...
TSA Unveils Plan to Exempt Flight Crews from Full Body Scanners
Changes are coming to U.S airport security checkpoints: The Transportation Security Administration recently announced plans to begin testing an identity verification program to let airline crews bypass the controversial full-body scanners and extra-thorough pat-down searches at airports. The proposed program,...
Man Beaten by Police on United Airlines Flight
A SkyWest CRJ-200 bound for Casper, Wyoming begins boarding in Denver. As departure time nears, a man seated in the exit row refuses to switch off his mobile phone. After repeated requests to turn off his phone, all of...
Earn Up to 25,000 Free AAdvantage Miles
American Airlines has been running quite a few promotions lately and is now offering up to 25,00 instant miles in a “fortune cookie” campaign to spread the word about AA’s expansion at LAX. To enter: Click here, click on...
TSA Gropes Six-Year-Old: How is this Keeping us Safer?
Lucky says "there’s just something wrong" about the video below. I will go a step further: the video below demonstrates the harrowing yet comical state airport security has descended into in the United States of America. One event that...
In the Belly of a Boeing + Other Picts from my UA SFO Tour
United Airlines graciously hosted a group of Flyertalkers at San Francisco International Airport two weeks ago, offering a behind-the-scenes tour that included a peek into UA’s Ops Center, baggage claim system, and a walk around the tarmac. There were...
Earn 10,000 AAdvantage Miles When You Sign Up for DIRECTV
Through May 31st, when you sign up for DIRECTV service you will earn 10,000 American AAdvantage miles. A two-year service contract is required. Call 1-877-297-6637 or go to aa.directv.com for more details.
Double Elite and Award Miles on AA between DFW and LAX/SFO
Now through August 31st, enjoy double elite qualifying miles and double flight (award) miles on American Airlines round-trip, non-stop flights between Dallas/Fort-Worth and San Francisco or Los Angeles. There’s only four simple rules: Book your ticket by August 31, 2011 Register...
Hamburg to Frankfurt on Lufthansa: It Felt Like I was in 1955
Last night I took an early evening Lufthansa flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt. I’ve got to say, it felt like I had stepped into a time machine. In the United States it is rare to see people dress up...
Pictures from the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo
As I blogged about on Tuesday, I flew up to Hamburg for the Aircraft Interiors Expo for a couple days. My intention was to take hundreds of pictures and make them available through a picture link on Live and...
Expedia and American Airlines Kiss and Make Up
For months, American Airlines flights have been filtered from search results on Expedia and Hotwire due to a longstanding dispute over fees. American demanded to bypass central airline reservation systems and deliver the information to users directly, not only...
British Airways 100,000 Mile Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus is Back
Back from a long hiatus, the British Airways 100K points sign-up bonus is available once again: Apply by May 6, 2011 and you’ll also receive our most generous enrollment offer of the year—up to 100,000 bonus BA Points. You’ll...
Off to the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg!
I’m flying up to Hamburg today on a two-day business trip to attend the 2011 Aircraft Interiors Expo–every airline nerd’s dream. While I will refrain from disclosing my precise reason for going, there will be representatives present from the...
Lufthansa FAs Busted for Smuggling 63K Lbs of Euros into Germany
Sometimes, you just have to ask, “How?” Six Lufthansa employees, including four flight attendants, have been arrested after sneaking in more than 63,000 pounds of out-of-circulation, €1 and €2 coins from China back to Germany over the last four...
United Airlines Offers Assistance to Stranded Southwest Passengers
United has sensed a business opportunity and chance to score corporate brownie points in the aftermath of Southwest Airlines’ decision to ground 80 737-300 aircraft. With about 300 Southwest flights canceled today, stranded passengers now have another reasonable option...
Southwest Fuselage Rips Apart Mid-Flight
Imagine you just boarded a Southwest Airlines flight in Sacramento for a quick hop down to Phoenix. You listen to the safety announcements, rolling your eyes as Southwest FAs throw in a few corny puns and one-liners. The aircraft...
