Upgrading on Alaska Airlines is always a pleasure–and often free. You see, the airline issues paper upgrade certificates to elites that can be transferred to anyone and applied over the phone to any fare class, as long as there...
Changes Coming to Hyatt Gold Passport Program
Diamond status in the Hyatt Gold Passport program just got a little sweeter. Staring tomorrow, guaranteed late checkout, twice daily maid service, and more welcome amenity choices are coming. Directly from Hyatt: Effective July 28th, Diamond members can experience...
How to Check for Upgrade Space on Continental Airlines Flights
Gauging upgrade space is not always easy. With the way U.S. carriers have monetized upgrading on international flights, I would think that airlines would make availability easy accessible and actively hawk upgrades when available. Instead, it often takes many...
United Pilot Refuses to Fly until His Crew Meal is Loaded
Was it right for a United pilot to delay a three-hour domestic flight for more than 45 minutes because he did not get the crew meal he was expecting? Flyertalker CaliC shares the following story: So last week on...
United Systemwide Upgrades Can Now Be Used on Continental Flights!
Ben reports that United systemwide upgrades (SWUs) can now be applied on Continental flights. For now, you have to call to request the upgrade, but within the coming days this should be available to request online. I gave Continental...
Could Congressional Compromise Lead to Increased Airfare?
Just two days after blogging about how Congressional gridlock led to reduced taxes on airfare, it seems we may be getting our comeuppance: Congress is working on a deal that could more than double security fees on airlines tickets....
Analysis: TSA Diffuses Full Body Scanner Privacy Concerns
While I am no fan of the TSA, I will give them credit when credit is due. The announcement this week that the TSA will introduce new software on full body scanners that generates an image of a human...
Lufthansa’s Fiercely Protected First Class Terminal
A couple of friends were flying Lufthansa First Class to Denver Thursday afternoon and invited me to join them for a few hours in the First Class Terminal. I was flying to Brussels later in the evening, so I...
Congressional Gridlock = Reduced Taxes on Airline Tickets
For travelers, perhaps there is one bright spot in the ongoing fight in Washington over deficit reduction and the debt celling: reduced taxes on airfares. After failing to pass legislation to keep the Federal Aviation Administration operating yesterday, a...
The Lufthansa First Class Terminal Experience
For the all times it has been mentioned on Live and Let’s Fly and on the UPGRD Network, I realized that I have never written a post describing the First Class Terminal experience in Frankfurt. After a rather amusing...
Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita in Asiana First Class
Just two blocks away from the Park Hyatt in Seoul was a bus station with coaches going to either Incheon or Gimpo Airports. The wait for a bus was only two minutes and we were soon our way to...
New Chase United Visa Card Ushers in Changes to Mileage Plus Program
Yesterday, Chase unveiled its new United “Mileage Plus Explorer” credit card, which will replace the current Chase Continental and United credit cards. The sign-up bonus is not all that exciting: 25K miles after your first purchase, 5K for adding...
Photo Tour: Asiana Star Gold/Business Class Lounge at Seoul Incheon
I think many travelers give the airport lounges of U.S. legacy carriers a bad rap. Afterall, most of the United, Continental, US Airways, Delta, and American lounges I have been in provide an oasis from the busy terminals, (generally)...
Review: The Westin Chosun, Seoul
Nestled in the heart of the Seoul, the Westin Chosun Hotel already had something going for it before I arrived—its prime location around restaurants and shopping automatically puts the hotel in a favorable position for those visiting Seoul for...
D.C. Circuit Rejects Claim that TSA Full Body Scanners Violate Fourth Amendment
In probing the Transportation Security Administration’s Advanced Imaging Technology program last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit squarely rejected the contention that the TSA’s use of AIT violates the Fourth Amendment. Distinguishing unlawful...
Woman Arrested for Groping TSA Agent
61-year-old Yukari Mihamae apparently wasn’t pleased with the Transporation Security Administration and took it out on a TSO at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Thursday. Entering the security checkpoint, she grabbed the left breast of the female agent,...
Tokyo Haneda to Seoul Gimpo in ANA Business Class
When it came time to book tickets between Tokyo and Seoul I was faced with three options: United, Asiana, or ANA. United was a bit cheaper, but all flights were over $500 round-trip. For a 2.5 hour journey in...
Women Jailed for Yelling at TSA
Should a woman have been arrested for yelling and swearing at a government employee? While I have no respect for the organization or those who work in it, I am not one who would ever cuss out a Transportation...
Triple Award Miles Offer on British Midland
While I have soured to British Midland’s (bmi) Diamond Club program due to the excessive fuel surchages that are tacked onto award bookings, I concede that their award chart itself remains attractive. I still recommend crediting to United, Continental,...
Reminder: Aeroplan Award Chart Changes on July 15th
For those of you sitting on Aeroplan miles and considering a trip up to 330 days in the future, it might be wise to get your trip booked before July 15th. On Friday, the many award rates changes and...
