Air New Zealand is my preferred Star Alliance carrier if I must fly in Economy and now I have another reason to choose them: In the ongoing game of creative airline seating, Air New Zealand is introducing a welcome...
After Blogging About Bumps, I Get Bumped Off a United Express Flight
Yesterday I blogged about a LA Times story bemoaning the fact that more passengers are being bumped off of flights. Just an hour after posting, I got a bump of my own. My Sunday evening IAD-PHL flight was zeroed...
Los Angeles Times: More Airline Passengers Getting Bumped
Interesting article in the Los Angeles Times yesterday about bumps. But there is a growing trend that spells trouble for travelers: More passengers are getting bumped from flights. In the first nine months of 2009, the rate of ticketed...
Russian Visa Confusion Nearly Curtails My Mileage Run on United Airlines
I showed up at PHL early this morning to check in for my trip to Moscow because I had a future ticketing issue to take care of. It’s a good thing I did: I nearly missed my first flight....
United Airlines <3 Continental Airlines: My Take on Glen Tilton’s Merger Prediction
Mike beat to me it, but I too want to address Glen Tilton’s interview with the Chicago Tribune about the “inevitability” of another airline merger in the next two years. Listeners to our podcast know that I believe a...
United Adds Chicago to Port-au-Prince Flights to Aid in Earthquake Relief
United is stepping up to help relief efforts in Haiti. Starting Wednesday [yesterday], United Airlines plans to begin relief flights that will ship water and other badly needed supplies to earthquake-ravaged Haiti and return, red-tape permitting, filled with far more precious...
mySmoothie: My New Favorite Drink on United
United has really improved their BOB offerings over the last year. Adding tasty salads and sandwiches, vegetarian options, enhanced snack boxes, and premium alcohol has made UA the leading domestic legacy carrier when it comes to onboard dining in...
British Midland to Eliminate Business Class on London Routes
I received the e-mail below from British Midland yesterday: Dear Mr. Matthew, As a valued Diamond Club member we want you to be one of the first to know about some changes we’re making. From 27 January all our UK and Ireland flights...
UA Agent Says United Doesn’t Fly to Los Angeles!
I stopped by the United counters at PHL this afternoon to book a couple tickets and happened to pick up on a conversation to my right as the agent assisting me was trying to figure out how to book...
Picture of the Week #9: Sunset in Marrakech, Morocco
I have not blogged too much about the trip I recently returned from, but I was fortunate enough to spend some time exploring Vancouver, Lisbon, Marrakech, Madrid, and Copenhagen. A full trip report (nine flights) is coming–and I brought...
My $671 Mileage Run on United
Against my better judgment (and the advice of Lucky), I booked a MR on United from Philadelphia to Moscow next weekend—out Saturday via Dulles, two hours on the ground in Moscow, and right back to Philadelphia. I am sitting...
British Airways to Upgrade First Class Cabin
For all the talk recently about the dire financial straits facing BA and rumors that they were on the verge of axing their First Class cabin, it comes as a surprise–a welcome surprise–that BA has announced it will be...
Maximizing Your Chances to Effectively Use Your Miles
Scott McCartney has a decent Middle Seat column today in the WSJ on how to maximize your chances to redeem frequent flyer miles. A couple sections particularly caught my eye: On the airline side, road warriors suggest checking alliance...
United Returns to Anchorage this Summer from Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco
United announced today they will be returning to ANC this summer from three of their hubs: SFO, DEN, and ORD. Weekly Saturday service from Chicago will resume on May 22. From June 9 – August 30, UA will offer...
Don’t Waste Your Money on US Airways Power-Nap Sack
A few months ago I purchased a US Airways Power-Nap Sack (overnight kit) on a redeye flight from LAS-PHL. It cost $7 and included: an inflatable neck pillow earplugs eye shade fleece blanket $10 off SkyMall coupon for purchases...
When Pilots Sound Familiar
Do you ever sit down on an airplane and hear your own voice coming from the flight deck? Yesterday evening I got on my BUR-SFO flight, settled in, and started reading a magazine when suddenly I thought I heard...
Picture of the Week #8: LAX-SYD in Qantas First Class for $1200 r/t
Note the original $1243 a/i price for this fare, which booked tickets into First Class on Qantas codeshares. I am usually really good at monitoring the Mileage Run Deals forum on flyertalk and have taken advantage of quite...
Improved US Airways Meal Service
The last time I was on a US Airways dinner flight, I was offered this dismal meal. Last night, I flew on US Airways in First Class from Washington Dulles to Phoenix and was impressed with the dinner service....
Pickpocket Steals €4,000 on Air France Flight
PARIS – French police are investigating whether a pickpocket stole thousands of euros from passengers as they slept on an Air France flight from Tokyo to Paris. "There is an investigation under way," a spokesman for the border police...
I’ve Found a Star Alliance Lounge (Spanair) Worse than United’s!
While waiting for my Lufthansa flight from Madrid to Frankfurt this morning, I had a chance to sample the Spanair Lounge. I will post pictures in my upcoming trip report, but I was shocked at the total lack of food...
