Hello from Ercan, Northern Cyprus. I flew into Larnaca, Cyprus last night and after a brief walk around town travelled north to the disputed Northern Cyprus, a breakaway region whose independence is only recognized by Turkey. I will soon...
EU Bans Full Body Scanners While USA Embraces Them
The European Union banned a variant of full body scanners (used extensively in the U.S. by the Transportation Security Administration) this week at the airports of all 27 member states, “[I]n order not to risk jeopardizing citizens’ health and...
Dilemma Solved: How I Burned 330K British Airways Miles in Two Hours
Just a few days ago I speculated that I would likely save my British Airways miles rather than burn them on trips I really did not need to take purely for the sake of flying. Brad rightfully questioned my...
Discounted US Airways Club Membership + Free Miles
Now through November 18th you can enjoy discounted membership to US Airways Club lounges, no initiation fee, and 3,000 elite status miles just for joining. Simply enter promotion code CLB30 and your membership price will drop to $325 ($450/year...
More Fuel Surcharges Coming to Aeroplan
Just days after tacking on fuel surcharges to Lufthansa flights, Aeroplan has decided to share the love: Fuel surcharges to flight rewards on the following Star Alliance airlines will be effective as of the dates noted below: November 30th,...
AirTran Airways Sued for Cockroaches and Indifference
Sort of like the composition of hot dogs, some thing things are better left unknown and we really do not want know what is creeping about behind air vents, walls, and floors on the aircraft we fly. But once...
My British Airways Executive Club Dilemma
With the extinction of British Airways’ Executive Club days away and a steep devaluation of BA miles feared for North American flyers in the new and still secret “Avios” program, I face a personal dilemma. Should I spend my...
Aeroplan Adds Fuel Surcharges to Lufthansa Awards Without Notice
The hits keep on coming for Aeroplan members. First, a devaluation of the award chart in June. That was followed by a recent decision to discontinue booking the domestic legs of business class tickets in first class. Now, arguably...
An Old Fashioned American Road Trip: 12,225 Miles in Five Minutes!
Yes, this blog is entitled Live and Let’s Fly, not Live and Let’s Drive, but in the spirit of discussing all things travel, I really enjoyed the video below of Brian DeFrees’ 12,225-mile journey across the United States and...
Review: Grand Hyatt Santiago
Can a dishonest cab driver ruin a hotel stay? No—but it did detract greatly from what was otherwise a very comfortable stay at Santiago’s plushest resort property. Grand Hyatt hotels are, true to their name, done on a grand...
The Downside to Flying Standby as a Non-Rev
I had a nice quiet weekend in Frankfurt: plenty of sleep, leisurely meals, and even some time for free reading. But it was not the weekend I wanted–Moldova and the breakaway region of Transnistria were calling and I was...
Woman Tracks Down Laptop Stolen on Southwest Airlines Flight Using Craigslist
Sometimes, to catch a criminal you have to think like one. That is exactly what Ambre Boroughs did after finding her laptop stolen from her checked bag on a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Charleston, South Carolina–and it...
United Airlines to Launch Washington Dulles – Dublin Service
Just a quick note highlighting the announcement that United Airlines will begin flying from Washington Dulles to Dublin next May. The carrier will utilize a two-cabin 757 aircraft from the Continental fleet with lie-flat seats in business class. Dublin...
Amtrak Guest Rewards – United Airlines MileagePlus Partnership Changes
Not surprisingly, the Amtrak-Continental Airlines partnership will soon be scaled back. From 01 January 2012, you will no longer be able to transfer points between the two programs. Thankfully, it appears the train codeshares will remain and even after...
Recognizing Pilot Bravery: Iran Air vs. LOT Polish Airlines
We have rightfully heard a lot of praise for the LOT Polish Airlines pilots who landed a Boeing 767 on its belly in Warsaw yesterday after the landing gear failed to deploy. Hailed as a hero, Captain Tadeusz Wrona...
A Closer Look at the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
26 counties, including the United States, lodged a formal protest today against a European Union law to tax all airlines travelling to and from Europe for their carbon emissions. Might this be the start of a trade war? Here...
Singapore Airlines Introduces "Scoot" Budget Carrier
Singapore Airlines revealed some more details about its planned low-cost subsidiary today. Here is a brief summary: The airline will be called “Scoot” Operations will begin in June 2012 Four Boeing 777-200 jets will be used initially The carrier...
TSA Spots Concealed Knife in Carry-On Bag at Newark Airport!
Stop the presses! Stop the presses! The Wall Street Journal brings us this groundbeaking accomplishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA): NEWARK, N.J. — A Transportation Security Administration screener at a New Jersey airport spotted a knife concealed in...
New FA Wings Coming to United Airlines
United Airlines has asked its flight attendants to choose new flight attendant wings as part of a uniform refresh coming next year. On the UA internal site, FAs were given the following information: “Now we invite you to vote...
An Amazing Day in Petra, Jordan
After a fascinating weekend in Erbil, Iraq and Riga, Latvia last weekend, I did not think this weekend could top it–but so far it has, by leaps and bounds. I am in Jordan for the weekend with a colleague...
