Flying KLM for the first time was already a treat, but flying on KLM’s 787-9 in business class turned me into the child eagerly waiting for Christmas morning. KLM World Business Class Flight Preview Email After checking in online, KLM sent me a link with very detailed info about my flight and even let me choose seats […]
United Announces Final 747 Flight
UDPATE: Final United Boeing 747 Flight Will be SFO-HNL on November 07, 2017 Scott Kirby promised a proper send off for the Queen of the Skies and with United’s schedule update, it appears that will be on October 29, 2017. Retirement Dates (by Route) for United 747-400 Per Routes Online, 777-200s will replace 747-400s on the following […]
Review: Houston to Lagos in United Airlines 787 Business
I flew United’s 787-8 for the first time from Houston to Los Angeles just weeks after it was introduced in 2012, but almost two years passed before I had the chance to fly it again, this time from Houston to Lagos. My day started in Chicago but I gave myself a five hour buffer in case of […]
United Accelerates 747 Retirement to 2017
Last week I wrote about United’s plan to retire its 747-400 fleet by the end of 2018. Today, UA President Scott Kirby announced plans to accelerate the retirement of the fleet by a full year. In a letter to employees, Kirby stated– As deeply connected as we all are to this iconic aircraft, the time […]
Cancelled: United Cuts Planned Second Daily Flight from LA to London
I knew it was good too be true. United has removed the planned second-daily Los Angeles to London Heathrow flight from its schedule. Set to begin on April 4, 2017, the new service would have doubled premium capacity and added a total of 235 United seats to an already hyper-competitive route. The route, historically operated by […]
Last United 747-400 Departs from Chicago
UPDATE: United Accelerates 747 Retirement to 2017 The last United Airlines 747-400 has left Chicago O’Hare. I noticed a tweet from United late last night announcing that the final 747-400 departed ORD for Tokyo Narita. That’s quite a momentous occasion for a plane that has dotted the United terminal at O’Hare for several decades. Indeed, in an […]
Sneak Peek at United Polaris!
Last night United Airlines hosted an event in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco to highlight its new Polaris (Business Class) product that will begin to rollout later this year. On December 01, 2016 a new soft product including upgraded food, drink, bedding, and amenity kits will hit all longhaul international flights. Beginning in 2017 […]
United Surprise and Delight Program Surprises and Delights Me
United Airlines began a “Surprise and Delight” program last year as an effort to surprise “High Value Flyers” (HVFs — essentially those who spend a lot of money on tickets) with complimentary upgrades, sometimes cleared weeks in advance. The program has expanded beyond upgrades to other recognition, enabled by new iPhone technology that provides in-depth information […]
United Announces Non-Stop Service from San Francisco to Auckland and Tel Aviv
The Boeing 787 is revolutionary in that it has made otherwise financially nonviable routes viable. United announced two new routes today, to be operated on its 787-8 and 797-9 aircraft from San Francisco — Tel Aviv and Auckland. San Francicso to Tel Aviv Non-Stop on United Airlines Sensing an opportunity in American’s recent announcement that […]
United Cuts First Class to Australia; Will Exclusively Use 787 for LAX International Flights
@airlineroute reports that by Spring of 2016 United Airlines will abandon first class service to Australia and use 787s for all longhaul international routes out of Los Angeles. First Class to Australia on United Airlines Axed from SFO and LAX United is ceding first class on its Australia routes to Qantas and American, joining Delta and […]
United Airlines Announces Service to Venice, Additional Service to Dublin and Paris
United Airlines announced three new Summer 2015 routes today, including new service from Newark to Venice and Chicago to Dublin as well as a second daily flight from Washington to Paris. Newark to Venice The 767-400 scheduled on this route features 39 business class seats and 203 economy seats, with 70 of those being EconomyPlus […]
United Airlines’ CFO Disses His Company’s Global First Class Product
John Rainey, United Airlines’ infamous CFO who claimed that elites are over-entitled, has put his foot in his mouth again…this time by trashing his company’s three-cabin international first class product, dubbed “Global First”. But it was not just a curious denigration…it was a fairly accurate statement and a sign that United does not see a […]
End of an Era: United Pulls 747s from Australia Routes
The Boeing 747 has the graced the skies for more than four decades and is inextricably linked with the exotic heydey of global air travel. United Airlines has a been a prominent operator of the 747 and maintains a fleet of 23 747-400s. But in a sign that a new era is approaching, United’s 747-400s […]
United Releases Award Space on New Los Angeles – Melbourne Route!
United formally announced new service between Los Angeles and Melbourne yesterday. The route will operate 6x weekly, utilize a Boeing 787-9, and be operated by ex-Continental crews. On Wednesday, I noted– United has indicated that the flight will be loaded into the system tomorrow, so keep an eye out for premium award space on the […]
Introduction: A Mission To South Africa
I spent a week in South Africa this summer on a church-related missions trip. This trip report will share about my time on the ground, which included visits to parts of the country outside Johannesburg and Cape Town. My Missions Trip To South Africa So often we see church “mission” work reduced to habitat-for-humanity style […]
My First Flight (A Lufthansa Review From My Daughter)
Nearly four years ago, my son Augustine offered a “review” of his first flight, a United 787-9 from Los Angeles to London. In the spirit of equality, my daughter Claire Marie will offer her own “impressions” of my recently-reviewed Lufthansa A350 flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt in business class, her very first flight. Hopefully at […]
My 10 Best Flights of 2017
As the year draws to a close, here’s a look back at my 10 best flights in 2017. 1. Saudia 777-300 First Class, RUH-LAX The best flight of the year was due to one man: Chef Rahmi. I’ve never seen a more conscientious, hard-working, and resourceful onboard chef. Plus, Saudia’s first class hard product (with […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 30, 2017
Good evening from Los Angeles. I’m home for a few days between trips, trying desperately to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. I need to do a better job of it… Anyway, I’ve got a great story coming up about my trip home from New York. A truly unexpected surprise that I look forward to sharing with […]
Introduction: To Europe On SkyTeam In Business Class
Welcome to my next trip report, which will detail my recent journey to and within Europe on a combination of SkyTeam carriers plus a boutique airline that proved to be a very pleasant surprise onboard. Europe on SkyTeam Plus An Unexpected Surprise On Bulgarian Air I stumbled on some “saver” Delta Air Lines award space […]
American Airlines Will Offer Flagship Suite “Preferred Seat” With More Space, Extra Amenities
American Airlines has officially unveiled a new product within its business class cabin it will call a Flagship Suite Preferred Seat. Let’s look at what will distinguish this product from the other seats in business class and why this is a realistic product evolution from an airline that has refused to invest in truly distinguishing […]