From time to time, I have blogged about the increasing cost of award tickets, particularly when using frequent flyer programs outside the United States. Scott McCartney nicely highlights this issue in his weekly column, demonstrating that for many seeking to book an airline...
Ryanair Bikini Ad Banned
The British Advertising Standards Authority has banned the Ryanair ad below for…lying. Arguing that the “sunny” destinations wouldn’t get much warmer than 6-9ºC (42-48ºF), the government body has banned Ryanair from publishing similar “misleading” ads in the future. “We considered...
When it Rains, it Pours…
The storm system that battered the Midwest has finally reached Washington Dulles, precisely at the time my flight to Frankfurt was scheduled to board this evening. Visibility is extremely poor and the rain is coming down so hard I...
United/Continental Strand Me in Washington, DC!
(and without question, I am partially to blame…) Hardened by years of travel as a quasi-road warrior, I thought I was ready for anything. Yesterday proved to be one of my biggest challenges yet. If you are not focused now, you...
Captain Raul Boerner on United
Have any of you ever flown with Captain Raul Boerner? He piloted my Denver to San Francisco United Airlines flight on Friday and was a class act. Prior to departure, he walked out of the flight deck and into...
Thoughts on the Failed Alitalia Hijacking Attempt
A knife-welding Kazakh attempted to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris to Rome Sunday night, demanding the plane be diverted to Libya. Passengers onboard said the man whipped out a knife and held it closely to the throat of...
As United Increases VDB Compensation, Tips for Maximizing your Bump Chances
With new DOT rules soon coming into force, reports are surfacing that UA is increasing Volunteer Denied Boarding (VDB) compensation on domestic flights from the current $400 level to $650 (in travel credits). That makes bumps even more lucrative than before...
Alaska Airlines Aircraft Evacuated After Toilet Paper Found…in Lavatory
Add this story to the paranoia file. A FA walks into the lavatory, sees a few white specks on the counter, believes it to be anthrax or some sort of bomb material, and freaks out. The Alaksa Airlines jet...
Consecutive Flights with the Star of United’s Safety Videos
I had the pleasure today of flying on consecutive flights with Charles, one of the stars of United’s safety videos (pictured below). Apparently Charles has a reputation on Flyertalk, and not a great one, so when I walked onto...
Welcome Back to America. We’re Closed.
After a delayed arrival into Washington Dulles Wednesday evening from Frankfurt, I just wanted to get through passport control and customs and out to the parking lot to meet my friends. It was after 2am Frankfurt time and despite...
United Eliminates Special Meals on Many Routes
United’s standard meal offerings (notwithstanding my overcooked steak last night) have improved quite a bit over the last year. Nevertheless, I still find myself ordering special meals quite often because UA offers very nice Hindu and Moslem meals. Here’s...
1,000 British Midland Diamond Club Miles for Brief Survey
British Midland is offering 1,000 Diamond Club award miles for taking a five-minute survey. The questions are geared primarily toward personal travel habits and BD’s route map. Dear Matthew We’d like to know what you, as a valued member,...
Long Weekend in Los Angeles
Even with my little getaway to Eastern Europe last weekend, work has kept me very busy over the last few weeks. This is a good thing, but 10-12 hour days in the office begin to take their toll after...
The Best Pasta in Frankfurt, Courtesy of Lufthansa
I worked late Friday and had to hustle to catch my 2030 flight to Bucharest–not because I feared I would miss it, but because I wanted dinner in Lufthansa’s Senator Lounge before the flight. Not a bad spread: Without...
Watch Out! Flight Attendants Get Kung Fu Training
When the flight attendant says to obey all lighted signs, placards, and crewmember instructions, tuning her out with your iPod while smoking a cigarette on your way to the lavatory as the plane lifts off the runway is probably...
Should Airlines Keep Bag Fees When They Lose Your Bags?
The U.S. Department of Transportation is mulling over a number of new regulations that will affect air travelers, including mandating that airlines allow passengers to cancel airfare without penalty for up to 24 hours after booking and requiring that...
Drunk Frenchmen and Frightened Romanian on Lufthansa
After a great weekend in Ruse, Bulgaria and Bucharest, Romania, I flew back to Frankfurt this evening on Lufthansa. The flight was only 2.5 hours, but there was a bit of excitement onboard. What is it with French...
Exclusive: TSA Admits to Storing AIT Images
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screener has admitted that the TSA stores images obtained from full body scanners. The 23-year old screener works at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport and posted the following in the course of an online...
College Newspaper Defends TSA…and Fails Miserably
In some ways, I miss college life. I earned my undergraduate degree at UCLA and relished the three years of intellectual stimulation while studying history and political science. As a political junkie, I was an avid reader of the...
The "Injustice" of Economy Class
Patrick Smith, a writer for Salon.com, attempts to combine humor with common sense in his latest column, entitled "The Injustice of Economy Class." I think he fails. Three questions drive the piece: First, would it really be too much trouble to engineer...
