As much as I love solo travel, exploring the world with others represents many of my best travel memories. Last summer I traveled to Scandinavia with my Uncle Bill, who I have mentioned before in this story on why I love United. Before I married Heidi, we used to take a major trip together each […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: July 2, 2017
![hotel upgrades](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/park-hyatt-new-york-suite-576x355.png)
Greetings from over the Atlantic on a rare overnight westbound flight. The week took an unexpected turn as I found myself on a very quick jaunt to Germany and Jordan. More details on that trip are coming. In the coming week I’ll finish my Air Serbia trip report and begin the promised Longyearben trip report from […]
Cheap Flights on WOW Air: I Just Couldn’t Do It
![WOW Air Worthwhile](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Cheap-WOW-Air-Berlin-Ticket-738x355.png)
As I wait for last-minute Lufthansa first class award tickets to open for Germany in the coming days, I seriously entertained just booking a cheap economy class ticket earlier this week on WOW Air. But ultimately I just couldn’t do it. There is no disputing the fare sale was tremendous: $99.99 one-way from Los Angeles to Berlin– But […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 25, 2017
![Lufthansa Premium Economy](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lufthansa-Premium-Economy-A380-Review-11-738x355.jpg)
It has been a scorcher in Los Angeles this week, but I’m hunkering down at home before an extended trip to Germany next month. In the news this week: tipping comes to Uber, Qatar’s unexpected acquisition of American Airlines common stock, and the announcement of a big FTU event in Chicago. Coming up on the blog, […]
Next Stop: Belgrade on Air Serbia
![Air Serbia London](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Air-Serbia-FAs-738x355.jpg)
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Air Serbia: now it’s time to give the Serbian flag carrier a try. I have been in England this weekend for a wedding and in looking at return options I wanted to try something new and avoid hefty London departure taxes. I’ll have a separate post on […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 18, 2017
![English Manor](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Alton-Manor-738x355.jpg)
Greetings from Alton, England where I woke up this morning to this beautiful backyard view: I’m in England for a family wedding this weekend and staying with my new extended family to celebrate. How’s that for a backyard? I faced a tough choice in terms of my trip home and may have blown it…I’ll lay out details […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 11, 2017
![British Airways First Class](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/British-Airways-747-First-Class-Review-41-738x355.jpg)
Good evening from 38,000 feet over the Great Plains. I’m enroute from Minneapolis to Los Angeles after a great weekend at FTU in Minneapolis. I was happy to meet many readers and I’m excited to announce the next FTU will happen in November…stay tuned for details. Big news out of the Middle East this week, as a bitter […]
First Look: New LAX T6 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
![New Air Canada Lounge LAX](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Air-Canada-T6-LAX-Maple-Leaf-Lounge-4-738x355.jpg)
Air Canada has moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). As part of the move, it has opened a brand new Maple Leaf lounge in T6 that is small but outstanding. First, the bad news. While the Maple Leaf Lounge in T2 was part of the Priority Pass network, the […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 04, 2017
![Biman Business Class](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Biman-Bangladesh-Airlines-Business-Class-6-738x355.jpg)
Although it has been a relatively quiet week, I find myself tired on this beautiful spring Sunday. I’m trying to rest up because travel picks up later this week and then again next week. I hope to see some of you at the Frequent Traveler University (FTU) in Minneapolis next weekend (June 9-11th). There are still tickets available […]
How to Claim Compensation from British Airways Meltdown
![British Airways Meltdown Compensation](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/British-Airways-A380-First-Class-Review-57-738x355.jpg)
British Airways experienced a huge IT meltdown over the weekend that crippled operations at London Heathrow and Gatwick. If you were impacted, what kind of compensation can you expect? First, let’s start with basic amenities. Under EU law (which the UK still must abide by, despite the Brexit vote, for now…) British Airways must compensate you […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: May 28, 2017
![Qantas First Class Seat](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Qantas-First-Class-SYD-DXB-63-738x355.jpg)
A pleasant Sunday evening to you from warm and sunny Los Angeles. I’m back from my latest trip to China/Thailand/Laos/Bangladesh/England/Spain and am looking forward to a couple weeks at home. My travails with Ethiopian Airlines have drawn out strong reactions on both sides: many have been supportive of my efforts while others have condemned me for […]
Denied: Biman and Iberia Prohibit Me from Taking Onboard Pictures
![Airline Onboard Photography](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Biman-Bangladesh-Airlines-Crew-738x355.jpg)
This trip has morphed into an unenviable close. If I cannot take pictures onboard a flight, my review will be incomplete and much less worthy of your time. Thus, my very sustenance depends upon onboard photography. Sadly, I was warned by two flight crews in the last 48 hours to put my camera away. Instance #1 – Biman […]
Update: I’ve Made it to Bangkok
![Bangkok Ethiopian Trip](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Travel-to-Bangkok-12-738x355.jpg)
Hello from Bangkok. My showdown with Ethiopian Airlines is one step closer. I arrived in the middle of the night after a fairly unorthodox routing. I flew United from Burbank to San Francisco to Hangzhou, one of United’s newer Chinese routes. The flight was fine: wi-fi worked and food was decent. Nice pajamas too! Choosing […]
Two Surprisingly Great Meals on Singapore Airlines
![Singapore Airlines Economy Class Meals](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Singapore-Airlines-SIN-NRT-Economy-Class-Review-7-738x355.jpg)
A reader asked about meals in Singapore Airlines economy class last week so I figured I would share my one and only experience flying Singapore behind the curtain for this week’s Meal of the Week. First, a note on the trip. What a trip it was! I never wrote a full trip report and it is too […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: May 07, 2017
![Blade Newark Service](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Bade-Helicopter-Manhattan-to-Newark-Airport-17-738x355.jpg)
Greetings from Vienna, Austria: one of my favorite cities in the world. It has been both a busy but relaxing weekend. I’m anxious to get back to my wife and son, but trying to make the most of my time here before more meetings this week. If you have not been to Vienna, add it to […]
The Secret Place to Smoke Airside at LHR
![Smoking Airside LHR](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Smoking-Area-British-Airways-Lounge-738x355.jpg)
I am not a smoker and have never even tried a cigarette. Nevertheless, I am empathetic to the plight of smokers, especially as airports increasingly enact anti-smoking policies. London Heathrow has been smoke free for the last decade. LHR is also one of those airports in which finding a place to smoke is extremely difficult. The United […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 30, 2017
![United 787 Review](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/United-Polaris-777-200-Review-LAX-LHR-29-738x355.jpg)
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 […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 23, 2017
![Turkish Airlines Electronics Ban](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Turkish-Airlines-Electronics-Ban-Guide-17-738x355.jpg)
Another week, another onboard airline altercation gone viral. I’ve spent most of the day offline today. My goal is to take one day off per week–not always possible, but my wife puts up with a lot during the week so it seems fitting that at least one day per week should not be spent hunched over […]
Photo Guide: How Turkish Airlines Protects Your Banned Electronics
![Turkish Airlines Electronics Ban Guide](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Turkish-Airlines-Electronics-Ban-Guide-20A-738x355.jpg)
Ever wonder how the in-flight electronics ban works in practice? Last week I flew from Istanbul to Los Angeles on Turkish Airlines, in part to experience the new in-flight electronics ban. How did Turkish deliver? See my step-by-step guide below. Step One: Enter Airport Istanbul Ataturk Airport is very secure. As you enter the airport, your […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 16, 2017
![Siem Reap Attractions](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Siem-Reap-30-738x355.jpg)
Happy Easter from sunny Los Angeles. While I don’t take any days off, I am trying to limit my work today. It has been so busy lately and a day of rest is greatly needed. After travel for so many consecutive weeks, the week ahead should be calm and local. The big news last week centered on Dr. […]