An impatient first class passenger who shoved past a woman much smaller than him because he thought she was not entitled to board a United Airlines flight before him deserved to be thrown off. Kudos to the flight crew...
United Airlines Restricting Award Space To Partners
In what appears to be a change to longstanding policy, United Airlines is no longer making all of its “saver level” award space available to members of partner frequent flyer programs. If this is indeed a new trend, it...
Classical Concert At Atatürk Cultural Centre In Istanbul
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Istanbul was attending a classical concert in the beautiful Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM). Music is a common language that unites us all. A Lovely Classical Concert At Ataturk Cultural Center...
Lovely Husband Always Takes The Last First Class Upgrade, Leaving Wife Behind
I’m re-running this classic piece from 2019 today on a spousal fight over a first class upgrade. I’ve flown a lot of flights in economy class with my wife and kids since this story was written, but otherwise my...
Crazy: Luxury Hotel Adds Mandatory “Housekeeping Surcharge”
Hotel unbundling continues, with one luxury hotel chain in Canada adding a mandatory “housekeeping surcharge” and “baggage fee” at one of its premier properties. Luxury Hotel Adds Housekeeping Surcharge, Baggage/Porterage Fee Check the fine print at the Fairmont Château...
Veteran Refuses To Pay His Bar Bill At DFW Airport…Claims Ex-Military Should Receive Free Drinks
A veteran purportedly walked away from a bar at DFW Airport without paying his $130 tab because he did not think veterans should have to pay for their alcohol. That’s bad enough, but then the cops were called in...
Review: Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas
The Park Hyatt Istanbul has been refreshed and is now my favorite Hyatt property in Istanbul, with luxurious accommodations, excellent service, and several nice amenities that make it worth the splurge. Park Hyatt Istanbul Review I spent two nights...
FTU Seattle 2024: Full Schedule + Discount For Live And Let’s Fly Readers
Frequent Traveler University (FTU) comes to Seattle in May 2024 and the full speaking schedule has been announced. Live And Let’s Fly readers can also save $20 on FTU tickets. I’ll be speaking on United Airlines and other speakers...
Hospitality Industry Returns To Pre-Pandemic Employment Level: Can We Finally Get Service Back?
Nestled in amongst the strong jobs report today was news that the leisure and hospitality industry has finally returned to pre-pandemic employment levels. Can we finally expect the end of the COVID cost cuts and better service? Sadly, I...
Ouch: Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Breaks Hip, Elbow Due To Severe Turbulence
A Southwest Airlines flight attendant sustained two fractures and a passenger was injured after “severe” turbulence impacted a flight to Florida. Flight Attendant Fractures Hip, Elbow After Severe Turbulence On Southwest Airlines On April 3, 2024, a Southwest Airlines...
Alaska Airlines Receives $160 Million In Compensation From Boeing For 737 MAX 9
Alaska Airlines has already received $160 million in compensation from Boeing for the occurrence and fallout from a mid-flight exit door blowout on a 737 MAX 9 jet. Boeing Pays Alaska Airlines $160 Million In Initial Compensation On January...
Boorish Woman Reserves 13 SEATS On Southwest Airlines, Gets Away With It…
There are many reasons I do not fly Southwest Airlines, but one reason is certainly due to the lack of assigned seats. That leads to some rather remarkable spectacles, like a boorish woman reserving 13 seats…and somehow getting away...
How United Airlines Is Handling Passengers Afraid Of Boeing Airplanes
Earlier this week I talked about the renewed focus on safety at United Airlines. As part of that effort, the carrier is guiding reservations agents on how to talk to passengers who may be afraid of stepping onto a...
Great Coffee In Istanbul
The point of my series of coffee posts is always to go back and add to them as I find more great cafés in any given city. During my recent trip to Istanbul, I found another great coffee shop...
First Class Passenger Assaults American Airlines Flight Attendants, Then Is Surprised When She Is Arrested
There are so many lessons here, but 1.) drinking and flying can be a very dangerous combination, 2.) you cannot throw things at flight attendants even if you are a first class passenger, and 3.) if the cops tell...
Review: Grand Hyatt Istanbul
The Grand Hyatt Istanbul is both an affordable and centrally-located hotel in the heart of Istanbul. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Review I spent my first night in Istanbul at the Grand Hyatt, located in the Taksim Square area. At $130/night...
Woman Finds Goldilocks In Her Bed At Las Vegas Hotel
Imagine you walk into your hotel room and find a man sleeping in your bed…let’s call him Goldilocks. Just another day at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino In Las Vegas? Goldilocks Invades Excalibur Hotel In Las Vegas Back when...
Review: Turkish Airlines A350 “Turkoflot” Business Class
The Airbus A350-900 remains my favorite aircraft in the Turkish Airlines fleet and I quite enjoyed flying the ex-Aeroflot (so-called “Turkoflot”) configuration of the aircraft on a longhaul flight in business class. This review covers my journey from Los...
Dirty Aircraft Cabins Undermine Confidence In Airline Safety
I’ve flown several airlines so far this year and have noted a concerning trend: the relatively clean cabins of the pandemic era have given way to dirty aircraft cabins that often look like no one has bothered to clean...
Rampant Thievery On Air Force One…By White House Press Corps
When I worked at the White House I always dreamed of a ride on Air Force One but the closest I ever got was several hundred yards away…who knows what kind of glasses or dishes or blankets I might...
