Nick sums up today’s announcement that United and Continental miles can be freely transferred between accounts and elites can enjoy status with both airlines perfectly–I have only my own two cents to add. Word came this morning from Scott O’Leary,...
Kobe Bryant, the Armenian Genocide, and Turkish Airlines
I have been a big fan of Kobe Bryant since his NBA rookie year in 1996. Although I haven’t followed any sort of professional sport closely while living in Philadelphia or Frankfurt the last couple years, as a Southern California...
Should United Start Taking Meal Orders from Front-to-Back like Continental?
A raucous debate is going on right now on amongst frequent flyers regarding how meal orders should be taken in premium cabins of the combined United/Continental. Currently, Continental takes meal orders from front-to-back on all flights, regardless of fare...
TSA Wants To Charge You for Carry-On Bags!
In a Capitol Hill hearing this week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano complained that extra carry-on bags brought through TSA checkpoints due to high airline checked-baggage fees are costing the agency an additional $260MN each year, forcing security...
Continental Eliminates Free Snacks in Economy Class
If you are a big fan of pretzels or biscoff cookies while flying on Continental Airlines, you better bring your own. On Tuesday, the carrier eliminated these free treats on all routes that do not feature BusinessFirst seating. Among the...
As it Considers a Makeover, TSA Lets Man Slip Onto Plane with Three Box Cutters
Washington, DC is my favorite city in America and other than family and friends, that is the thing (well, place) I miss most as I enter my third month in Germany. DC is a bustling city filled with great...
Ryanair Slams Airline Fuel Surcharges
For all the publicity stunts they play, I just love it when Ryanair tells it like it is. Promising "never" to charge fuel surcharges on their airline tickets, Ryanair lashed out at competitors today for what it calls "rip...
Don’t Mail VDB Vouchers to United for Ticketing
I type this as I wait on hold, now entering the second hour of Rhapsody in Blue, as United tries to ticket a reservation that should have been issued weeks ago. Some background: when you take a domestic bump...
Breaking: Two Dead in Frankfurt Airport Shooting
No confirmed details yet, but I am getting word that two people are dead and two are seriously injured after a shooting at Frankfurt International Airport just minutes ago. A Kosovarian suspect is under arrest. With an office right in the...
United Embraces Functionality Over Creativity in New Ad Campaign
Details are emerging about the future ad campaign of the new United/Continental. Just as we said goodbye to the tulip earlier today, we can also say goodbye to United’s iconic abstract advertising campaign: Chicago-based United’s new campaign, the first...
United Phases Out the Tulip
While Damian already pointed out changes to the United Airlines’ website that popped up today, I must briefly add my euology for the United tulip, now formally phased out of United’s brand book. Thankfully, the new look to united.com hasn’t...
DOT Fines American Airlines for Deceiving Passengers
Back in August I stopped by an American Airlines’ ticket counter at SNA to book a ticket for a client using a voucher. Unbeknownst to him (and me), I found that AA levies a $30 fee to book at...
Would You Buy an Airline Ticket that Fluctuates with Fuel Prices?
Nevada-based Allegiant Air has written a letter to the Department of Transportation stating its intention to introduce a new whole new meaning to the definition of a flexible ticket: When making a purchase, consumer would be able to choose...
Seize the Moment: Travel While You Can
When the opportunity arises for travel, take it. Life on this earth is too short too sit on the sidelines and reason with yourself that you will do it sometime in the future. Next summer. After graduation. For my...
Review: Westin Grand Berlin
In a city with such a storied history, it came as no surprise that one of its grandest hotels has a rich history of its own. As Front Office Manager Wendy Stendel guided us on a tour of...
This is Why We Hate the TSA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) takes a lot of flak on this blog, and rightfully so. Despite my grave consitutional concerns with full body scanners, enhanced pat-downs, and America’s counterproductive airport security paradigm in general, the poor attitude displayed...
Up to 100,000 Miles from American Airlines on Facebook
In a brilliant move to boost its Facebook friendship count (another avenue of inexpensive advertising), American Airlines is offering between 100 and 100,000 AAdvantage award miles to link up on Facebook. Simply follow this link to Facebook, add AA as...
The 10 Airlines with the Hottest Cabin Crews
While the days of draconian age and weight restrictions for airline flights attendants are a relic of the past in much of the world, some carriers still manage to offer some very attractive FAs. I do not personally support specific age quotas, but...
See, I Told You So! TSA Full Body Scanner Fails to Detect Gun in Bra
Last March, the Government Accounting Office warned Congress that full body scanners have not been tested and may not be able to detect the very type of explosives material the machines were procured to detect. Few listened, as most members...
First United 747 with New Livery Enters Service
Fresh out of the paint shop, United’s first repainted 747-400, N127UA, is heading for San Francisco then on to Incheon tomorrow morning on Flight 893 at 11:05a. Photo by: Jon Ostrower The new livery is starting to grow on...
