Star Alliance has grown again today, with the addition of Avianca/TACA and Copa to the alliance. With TAM’s future in the alliance in question, Star has ensured that it maintains a vital presence in the growing Central and South...
Review: Park Hyatt Zurich
Disclosure: I was one of a small group of writers invited to attend the 2011 Masters of Food and Wine event in Zurich. My stay at the hotel was complimentary. Nothing like tarnishing a review like admitting I did...
At Least Someone Cares at United Airlines…
I was encouraged to read on Flyertalk about a recent exchange between a United Airlines 1K member and a legacy United customer service agent: Last week my phone rang. It was a lovely female agent from the Premier line....
Another Crate of Bad Apples at the TSA – Bribery at PHL
Gary brings us the latest example of how the TSA is keeping us safe: bribery and falsifying results on proficiency exams. Whodathunkit? An investigation has revealed that seven employees at Philadelphia International Airport were involved in a bribery scandal...
Checked Baggage Fees for First Class Passengers on Alaska Airlines
While “low-cost” Spirit Airlines may be leading airlines on a race to the bottom (with “optional” fees like the mandatory $2 Unintended Consequences of DOT Regulations Fee or mandatory $10 ticket booking fee), Alaska Airlines will soon become the...
Shameful Labor Agitation at Hyatt Regency Washington, DC
I’ve been debating whether to post this for the last month, but finally decided the time is right. The dust has settled and I have had plenty of time to make sure I am just not reacting emotionally. Here...
8 Countries and Three Continents for Less than $1,000
As part of my personal evolution as a travel blogger, this is an early post from my solo blog, TheTripSherpa.com. I later transitioned to Upgrd.com where I joined Matthew and other talented writers (including my wife) which would then merge...
Free Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Status Match – Star Alliance Gold Status
Continuing in my status match series, I want to highlight today the under-publicized status match offer currently on the table from Turkish Airlines. Like the SAS status match offer, Turkish is open to matching your elite status on any...
Free SAS EuroBonus Status Match – Star Alliance Gold Status
Targeted to residents of Hong Kong and mainland China, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is offering a hassle-free status match to EuroBonus silver or gold status through June 30, 2012. The matched status will be good through April 2013. Simply join...
Review: InterContinental Almaty
As my travails at Almaty International Airport demonstrate, Kazakhstan is not a destination for the faint of heart. But that should not keep you away. The bustling markets, unique architecture, and glistening monuments make Almaty a city that should...
Air France Captain "Diverted" on Flight 447?
Facts are still emerging about what exactly happened in the final moments leading up to the crash of Air France flight 447 in 2009, but one new piece of information has recently emerged–it seems the Captain was not traveling...
American Airlines Sweetens Status Match Offer
When American Airlines offered a status match to United Airlines elite customers last month, I quickly jumped onboard. It was not that I was overly disgruntled with United: as I shared a few days ago, I just had another...
Breaking News from US Airways (Humor)
You’ll never believe what I just heard from US Airways reservations! Let’s join a conversation already in progress: ME: That’s right–South African Airways, SA. The airport code is Juliet, November, Bravo. AGENT: Oh great, thanks–that’s not one I know,...
United Airlines: You’re Hard to Leave!
Back from Cuba early on Friday, I received word that a family member had died and I had to travel to Colorado…the next morning. Once again, I found that giving up United will not be easy. For the second...
Viva La Habana!
I appreciated all of your speculation, but none of you correctly guessed the location of my “top secret” trip earlier this week. Burma won’t be till next March! Here’s a few pictures from the trip: And there’s a lot...
Top Secret Trip
Folks, I suppose a Tweet would have been enough, but I’ll be away the next couple days and may not have access to the internet. Care to guess where I am headed? You’ll love the trip report… Here’s a...
United Airlines Fights Their Iraq War
With my apologies to Glenn Tilton… A piece in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday captured the frustration many of us have experienced flying on post-merger United. Essentially taking a “mileage run” from Chicago to San Francisco to Las Vegas...
Memorial Day 2012
Despite the irony of Boeing depending on war and carnage, and thereby the death of soldiers, to stay profitable, the aerospace firm manages to put together a nice Memorial Day ad each year. This year’s ad is compelling and...
Analysis: Legality of EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
Here’s a short paper I wrote recently on the legality of the European Union’s ETS. Enjoy! What happens when an airline suddenly finds itself forced to break a law? It has two possible courses of actions—one action violates law...
Jeff Smisek’s "Passionate Plea" to United Pilots
Jeff Smisek assumes the “good cop” role in a letter to United Airlines pilots concerning ongoing contract negotiations. Still, the United CEO does not dance around the highly contentious, primary issue of dispute: the scope clause. Dear Pilots: I...
