Yesterday I lamented about the refusal of the Kazakhstan Embassy in Washington, DC to take my visa application package when I showed up 20 minutes after scheduled closing. How about 30 second before scheduled closing? “The Amazing Race: Matthew Edition”...
When Rules Should Be Overruled
Let’s have a debate about rules today. I’ve touched on the issue before and it usually draws a number of comments, most of them negative, stating that rules are on the book for a reason, we all should follow...
The Delta Online SkyMiles Award Search Tool is Broken (Really Broken)
For those that have ever tried to redeem Delta SkyMiles at delta.com, you know how difficult that can be. The system is broken and has been for years now. But now it’s really broken, to the point of total...
Enhanced Food Offerings in US Airways Philadelphia Clubs
When US Airways recently turned its Philadelphia Envoy Lounge into a regular US Airways Club, it promised enhanced food offerings in the afternoon at all US Airways Clubs in Philadelphia. For those who do not remember, the Envoy Lounge...
United’s Post-Merger Flight Status Screens a Step Backwards
As the 03 March 2012 Continental-United integration date moves closer, we are already seeing what the new “United” will look like in some stations. Philadelphia, for example, rolled out the new Continental-esque flight display screens for United flights last...
When it Pays to Have Frequent Flyer Status
I had a tight connection in Washington Dulles that involved a terminal change and actually missed my connecting flight yesterday. All flights to Philadelphia were zeroed out, but I was put on the standby waitlist for the next flight...
Mixed Review of the Hilton Washington Dulles
I am not going to post a full-fledged review or even include pictures because it was just an airport hotel, after all, but after my stay at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport hotel Thursday night, I have a few...
United Express Drama and VDBs at Washington Dulles
Last night was quite a spectacle at the United Express gates in Terminal A at Washington Dulles. I’ve found over the years that United chronically overbooks these regional jet flights and have had the good fortune of getting bumped...
United Airlines Sells Waikiki Seaside Hotel
A story about United Airlines selling its dated but centrally-located Waikiki hotel brought to mind a very fond memory that helped solidify my loyalty to United. In 2009, I took advantage of a LAX-HNL-SFO-SYD-SFO-HNL-LAX fare for $ 550. It...
New British Airways London 2012 Olympic Games Ad Campaign
British Airways is out with a new ad campaign geared toward the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and I like it a lot. It mixes a little humor with a little patriotism and does a great job of...
A Perfectly "Blah" Day of Flying on United Airlines
For those who adore being in airplanes, do you ever have those days when you just want to get to your destination and skip the flying? I occasionally do and had one of those days yesterday. I was back...
Women Forced to Drive to Denver Because No Female TSA Agent on Duty?
Note the question mark–when I first head about the story, I rolled my eyes and commented, “The TSA did it again,” but there is a question as to who was at fault. A Littleton woman said she missed her...
Reader Question: Should I Buy Up My MileagePlus Status?
Reader Sandy asks: Matthew, I received the following offer from United in my e-mail box. I was about 10K miles short of 1P [Premier Executive] status last year, so I am tempted to take advantage, though it looks expensive....
New United Airlines Routes, Including Washington Dulles to Honolulu
United Airlines recently announced a handful of new summer routes, including new non-stop service from Washington Dulles to Honolulu and service from Denver to Fairbanks, Alaska. Daily Service between Washington/Dulles and Honolulu United will begin daily year-round service between...
A Zone of Twilight Between OnePass and MileagePlus
As Continental OnePass and United MileagePlus work to fully integrate in March, the next month and a half will be tricky for those elites looking to take full advantage of reciprocal benefits but who never linked accounts. Last March,...
Delta Shows the Grass is Greener on the Other Side, at least in North America
My travels took me to Bermuda last weekend, thanks to a very low Delta Air Lines fare from Newark. Despite holding Delta Platinum status for a year (I have no status anymore with Delta), it was also my first...
United Airlines’ New 767-400 Economy and Business Class Seating
United Airlines released photos on Facebook of the refreshed Continental 767-400 cabin interior, featuring lie-flat seats in business class and Economy Plus. Currently, Continental’s 764s have very narrow seat pitch throughout economy class (though the front half of the...
Free Wi-Fi this Week on US Airways
US Airways is offering ten minutes of free Gogo Wi-Fi by entering promo code USFREE10. Gogo is available exclusively on US Airways’ A321 aircraft and standard rates run from $4.95, depending on the type of device you have and...
Swiss, Adria, and Croatia Airlines Award Space Now Bookable on Continental.com
Swiss, Adria, and Croatia Airlines award seats are now bookable on continental.com, meaning that 26/27 Star Alliance carriers can now be booked quickly and easily online. Only Ethiopian Airlines, which joined Star Alliance last December, is yet to be...
TSA Find Bomb, Leaves it Behind, Prompts Bomb Scare
Security analyst Bruce Schneider, a fierce critic of the TSA, brings us another example of the agency’s (in)competence: TSA screener finds two pipes in passenger’s bags. Screener determines that they’re not a threat. Screener confiscates them anyway, because of...
