So much for whistleblower protection… The mission of the TSA is to "protect the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce." You would think that when someone brings to their attention a security flaw,...
Departing on My Asia Award Trip Today!
This afternoon I will be departing on my long-anticipated award trip to Southeast Asia and China. First, my final trip of the year to Chicago on United, followed by an overnight trip on Lufthansa to Munich. I’ve got over...
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Greetings readers. It is Christmas Day and I am about to have Christmas dinner with my family. I had a few aviation topics on my mind today, but thought instead I would share a Christmas Carol that has been...
How to Score a Free Upgrade on JetBlue
As I mentioned yesterday, I gave JetBlue another try out of Burbank yesterday. Everything went exactly according to plan… JetBlue offers extra legroom in the first five rows and emergency exit rows of their A320s that they sell for...
TSA Swabbing Hands at the Gate to Check for Explosives
Although the TSA started their passenger hand swabbing program last February, my first experience with it was today at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Prior to boarding my JetBlue flight to Long Beach, an announcement was made by JetBlue...
Giving JetBlue a Second Chance and One Final Trip to Las Vegas
I’m off to Las Vegas again for my final trip on the Expedia $300 deal. After slumming it at the Golden Nugget (poor choice) and downtown Las Vegas a few weeks ago, I’ll be staying at the Wynn tonight....
Would You Have Switched Seats?
During my Continental mileage run last week, I had a particularly difficult seating predicament that arose on a Houston-LaGuardia flight. My upgrade had not cleared so I was seated in 7D, an aisle seat in the bulkhead row with...
United Technology Systems Will Dominate Post-Merger Airline
UPDATE: I cannot edit the title because UPGRD will get dinged by Google, but the author who I lifted this story from last night has revised his article. It seems that it will be CO’s technology systems, not UA’s,...
Two Calls to US Airways and Two Very Different Outcomes
A client of mine was supposed to travel on US Airways today but suffered a medical setback a few days and ago and was ordered by his doctor not to travel. I had booked him a non-refundable revenue ticket...
Free Lonely Planet Travel Guide Apps at iTunes
With all the snow that has blanketed Europe over the last week, Lonely Planet has taken pity and given us an early Christmas gift: 13 of their travel guide apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. For the next 48...
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Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht Addresses Consolidation, Latam, Gulf Partners, and Russia
Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht sat down with Business Traveler this week after a Star Alliance board meeting (in beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand) to discuss a wide-variety of topics. Here are some of the highlights: On consolidation: Consolidation is...
Tacky Air New Zealand Billboard Merits Scorn
Lately, Air New Zealand’s ad campaigns have teetered on the borderline of risque and inappropriate. While I thought their their three-part squirrel ad campaign was in poor taste, I at least (embarrassingly) chuckled at the double entendres. NZ’s latest billboard,...
One Last Call to United Reservations to Finalize My China Award Trip
Over the last couple weeks another two schedule changes hit my upcoming 10-segment award trip to Southeast Asia and China. The changes were minor, but one change, a delay in the departure of my Los Angeles to Chicago flight...
United Airlines Beats Competition in Healthy Food Offerings
DietDetective.com examined the snack offerings on United, Jet Blue, American, Delta, Continental, Southwest, Virgin America and US Airways in order to ascertain who has the healthiest grub. The airlines were rated on a "health score" of 1-5 stars (five being best)...
Stephen Colbert Shows Us How to Trick the TSA Full Body Scanners
Nation, we have a solution to the TSA’s full body scanners: pancakes. Stephen Colbert tells us that "pancakes will allow law-abiding citizens to hide their private parts from the hungry eyes of those TSA perverts." For your viewing pleasure:...
Reserving A Room When Your Hyatt Hotel Is Sold Out
While this may not come as a surprise to savvy hotel elites, I was pleased to see this message when trying to reserve a room at the sold out Park Hyatt Saigon earlier this week: Notice that during periods...
10 Scenic Airport Landings
Budget Travel queried hundreds of pilots and FAs to formulate a list of the best scenic airport approaches. As they recommend, reserve a window seat if you are flying to one of the following cities: Philipsburg, St. Maarten Mammoth Lakes,...
UA’s Smisek Discusses Channel 9, 747 IFE, and the Future of Three-Cabin First Class
Speaking in Sydney yesterday, United CEO Jeff Smisek touched on a number of areas we’ve been eagerly waiting to hear about: -No Ch 9 (ATC communications) coming to CO aircraft–two expensive -No timeframe on determining the future of three-cabin...
My Favorite Way to Spend a Day Off: Mileage Running on United
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I spent the day gallivanting around the country on United Airlines to celebrate the completion of another semester of law school. No bumps or even skykits, but I did have a great time. I...
The Secret Life of United Pilot William Hamman – Catch Me If You Can!
One of all-time favorite movies is Catch Me If You Can, which retells the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a slick con-artist who assumed the role of a lawyer, doctor, and Pan Am pilot (at different times) without...
