You can bet that there was euphoria in the C-Suites of Delta Air Lines over the news of Air Italy’s collapse. But the untimely demise of Air Italy does not excuse Delta of hypocrisy nor validate its longstanding protest against Air Italy. From Air Italy’s inception, Delta cried foul, arguing the market could not support […]
Emirates Denies Interest In Chicago To Athens Service
UPDATE: An Emirates spokesperson reached out to me, stating, “Emirates has no plans to launch services between Athens and Chicago.” Emirates’ Fifth Freedom flights between Newark and Athens have proved so popular the carrier is looking at another Fifth Freedom route between Athens and Chicago. Speaking in Athens, Emirates’ Area Manager of Greece and Albania, Khalid […]
United Airlines Challenges Emirates In Athens
United is challenging Emirates directly with a vastly superior business class seat between Newark and Athens, the only route the two carriers compete directly on. United has long complained that Emirates is unfairly targeting its customers by launching a money-losing Fifth Freedom route from Newark, United’s largest East Coast hub. > Read More: United Airlines […]
Vintage Review: United Airlines 757-200 First Class New York JFK To Los Angeles
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011 that included many first class flights from five Star Alliance carriers. As we enter a new […]
Vintage Review: Lufthansa A340-300 First Class Frankfurt To New York
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011 that included many first class flights from five Star Alliance carriers. As we enter a new […]
Review: Park Hyatt Saigon + Exploring Ho Chi Minh City
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011 that included many first class flights from five Star Alliance carriers. As we enter a new […]
Vintage Review: Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok To Beijing
This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011 that included many first class flights from five Star Alliance carriers. As we enter a new […]
Introduction: A Vintage First Class Trip Report
As we enter a new decade, how has first class changed over the last decade? I’m in Israel this week and trying to relax a bit with my family. At the same time, Live and Let’s Fly never goes on vacation. In an attempt to find a happy medium, I am going to publish a […]
European Budget Carriers Will Be Guinea Pigs In Russia
It’s actually brilliant. Europe’s top budget carriers–including EasyJet, Ryanair, and WizzAir–have been invited to start service to St. Petersburg, Russia…but there’s a catch. Tourist Boom Coming To Russia’s St. Petersburg In 2020, expect a boom of tourism and cheap flights to St. Petersburg (LED), Russia’s fourth largest airport. The Russian Federation is trying to expand […]
With Air New Zealand Gone, Will United Double Up On LAX-LHR?
Air New Zealand is abandoning its Fifth Freedom route between Los Angeles and London. Will United step up with a second daily flight? Air New Zealand has served London since 1982. Until a few years ago, Air New Zealand ran a round-the-world service, flying from Auckland to Los Angeles to London to Hong Kong to […]
While Qantas Teases, Air New Zealand Delivers
Qantas made headlines for its historic nonstop “test” flight from New York to Sydney last Friday, but doesn’t even know if the route is viable. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand has announced that it will serve New York nonstop from Auckland. Starting in October 2020, Air New Zealand will launch nonstop flights between Auckland (AKL) and […]
Emirates Plans to Defy Court Order In Mexico City
Despite a Mexican federal court ruling against Emirates, the Dubai-based airlines plans to move forward with planned flights to Mexico City via Barcelona. Emirates has tried to launch service to Mexico City for years. Due to the high altitude of Mexico City, a nonstop flight is not commercially feasible. Thus, Emirates planned a stop in […]
Singapore Award Space Blocking On Alaska Airlines
You can now redeem Alaska MileagePlan miles for worldwide travel on Singapore Airlines. How does award space access compare to Singapore’s other partners and Singapore’s own KrisFlyer program? After announcing a partnership in 2017, Alaska MileagePlan members can finally redeem miles for travel on Singapore Airlines. Which Regions Can You Use Your Alaska Miles For […]
Sapid California Cuisine On Air New Zealand
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. What I loved most on the my flight to Great Britain on a New Zealand carrier was the […]
Review: KLM 777-300ER Business Class
Despite a flight time of under three hours, I received the full KLM World Business class experience on my Fifth Freedom flight from Bali to Singapore. After booking a cheap economy class ticket for $154, I approached the ticket counter at Denpasar Airport and was able to upgrade to business class for 99EUR. I detailed […]
Cathay Pacific Cuts Capacity, Axes Longhaul Routes
Cathay Pacific is responding to depressed demand by cutting or reducing a number of longhaul routes. August was a horrible month for Cathay Pacific, its worst since the 2003 SARS outbreak. Overall passenger traffic declined 11.3% versus the previous August, with a lopsided 38% reduction in the number of inbound passengers to Hong Kong. Premium […]
Review: Royal Jordanian 787 Business Class
Royal Jordanian’s 787 business “Crown” class product is hardly cutting edge, but it got the job done on an overnight flight from Bangkok to Amman. I had started my evening in Kuala Lumpur and remained onboard while the aircraft was re-fueled and re-catered in Bangkok. At about midnight, passengers originating in Bangkok began to board. […]
Review: Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class Kuala Lumpur To Bangkok
Royal Jordanian’s Fifth Freedom flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok is both cheap and comfortable. But factor in buffer for a delay if you are connecting. Royal Jordanian offers a tag flight between Bangkok (BKK) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) onboard its 787-8 Dreamliner to supplement its service between Bangkok and Amman (AMM). These flights can […]
Why Airlines Struggle In Italy
The joke goes that Italian airlines will be profitable…when hell freezes over. Why is it that airlines seem to struggle in Italy? In an article entitled, Good Luck To Any Airline That Tries To Make A Profit Flying U.S.-Italy, Ted Reed suggests it is due to Mideast subsides. I’ve called out Mr. Reed before for being a […]
First Impressions: KLM 777 Business Class
I made it to Singapore and want to provide my first impressions of KLM’s 777-300ER business class product, which I enjoyed on a short Fifth Freedom flight from Bali. Last time I was on a KLM longhaul product, it was the 787-9 featuring the carrier’s latest business class seats which provide direct aisle access to […]
