121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the United States who has offered his insights and analysis on a number of topics on Live and Let’s Fly recently traveled with his brother and father on a very special trip to Scotland. He asked me if I would be interested in a trip report and I quickly […]
A Special Trip To Scotland In Lufthansa First Class
121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the United States who has offered his insights and analysis on a number of topics on Live and Let’s Fly recently traveled with his brother and father on a very special trip to Scotland. He asked me if I would be interested in a trip report and I quickly […]
Dangerously Addictive Lobster Mac & Cheese On United
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. Like many, I love junk food. While I am generally well-disciplined on the ground, I rarely turn down […]
One Last Jaunt Across The Pond In United’s “Old” Business Class
United Airlines is (finally) rather quickly retrofitting its 777-200 longhaul fleet to add new Polaris business class seats. But there are still “old” aircraft floating around and I very much enjoy them. I wrote about this older seating configuration recently when I encountered it on a domestic flight, but it was the first time I […]
United’s Plus Points Makes MileagePlus Best In the US?
United Airlines has changed their Regional Premier and Global Premier upgrade system, replacing them with Plus Points instead. And now it’s not just 1K flyers that benefit. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Replacement Upgrade System: Plus […]
Another Positive Upgrade Policy Change From United Airlines
Overlooked in the big announcement yesterday from United introducing PlusPoints was a re-classification of four routes, which will effectively halve the cost of an upgrade on them. Starting on December 4th, United will move from a system of Global Premier Upgrades and Regional Premier Upgrades to a new points-based program called PlusPoints. You can read all […]
United Introduces PlusPoints, A New Upgrade Currency
United Airlines is jettisoning regional and premier upgrades for a new points currency called PlusPoints. Believe it or not, the news is actually quite positive. On December 04, all your regional or global premier upgrades will vanish from your account. As ominous as that sounds, they will be replaced with a new currency called PlusPoints. […]
United Airlines’ New Focus On Quality
United Airlines President Scott Kirby has pledged a greater emphasis on the quality of the passenger experience after many years of shunning such a viewpoint. But what makes for a quality experience? Speaking at the Morgan Stanley 7th Annual Laguna Conference, Kirby said that “more and more” United must be “competing on quality instead of […]
Review: United Airlines 767-400ER Business Class
My recent flight from Barcelona to Washington Dulles onboard a 767-400 was business as usual on United Airlines. I write about United Airlines often, but I’ve never flown the 767-400ER in the forward cabin before, so figured I’d offer a brief review of my flight. I arrived at the gate as boarding was set to […]
US Carriers, Asia Flights From Chicago Don’t Work
United has suspended Hong Kong flights from Chicago which follows a number of American Airlines discontinued flights from the windy city. Why can’t US carriers make Asia work from Chicago? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. United […]
United Adds Service To Nice, Palermo, And Curacao
United Airlines will add three new international routes from Newark, one from Chicago, and increase existing service from Denver, San Francisco, and Newark on four key routes. Three New Destinations From Newark United will add new service from Newark to: Curacao – weekly seasonal service on Saturdays beginning December 7, 2019 Nice – daily seasonal […]
Should I Reconsider My Hong Kong Status Run?
Not usually one to shy away, especially not from my favorite city in the world, Hong Kong protests have me reconsidering my United status run. Should I? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Status Run A status […]
The Dotard Who Wanted It All On My United Flight
It has been a LONG time since I’ve had a bad seatmate, but this one really took the cake… Since I am quick to point out flight attendants who provide poor service, it is only fair that I single out passengers when FAs are on the receiving end of bad behavior. I was a on […]
United Pulls Off Incredible Bowl Of Soup
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. Whenever I fly United Polaris (longhaul) business class, I try to sample something new. But this week I […]
United Eliminates The Mystery Of First Class Meal Priority
Back to front or front to back? Full-fare first? How about those with status? United Airlines is taking out the mystery in how FAs honor onboard meal service preference. If you’re seated in United First on domestic flights or Polaris Business on international flights, you might wonder how meal preferences are sorted. What if everyone […]
United’s Most Valuable Route And JFK Dilemma
United Airlines is determined to steer customers from JFK to Newark for lucrative transatlantic flights. But how? In continuing to unpack the conversation between United President Scott Kirby and Newark employees, exclusively obtained by Live and Let’s Fly, talk shifted to the New York market. Kirby begins by pointing out an interesting stat: 83% of […]
United President Scott Kirby Reflects On Customer Service
What will the future of customer service look like on United Airlines? United President Scott Kirby recently sat down with employees at Newark Airport. In a copy of the video forwarded to Live and Let’s Fly by an attendee, Kirby discusses the changing world of customer service. As we look to 2019 and beyond, I describe […]
Is Buying United PQMs for Status Crazy?
When I logged into my United account this week, I found a familiar pitch – buying premier qualifying miles for status re-qualification. Are these purchases a good idea or crazy? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Status Re-qualification […]
Economy Class Is Just Fine…Let’s Not Lose Sight Of That
On this premium-heavy blog in which topics of discussion range from caviar and champagne to upgrade phobia, let’s not lose sight of the fact that economy class usually does the job just fine. I sort of poked fun about “surviving” economy class on a recent Lufthansa flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt, but the truth […]
United Airlines Gambles With New Snack Offerings
United Airlines has expanded its complimentary snack selection on all flights. But is United prepared for greedy passengers? Effective immediately, United will offer a choice of one the following three snacks, no matter the time of day or length of flight: Byrd’s Maple Wafers Pretzels Stroopwafels Toby Enqvist, United’s Chief Customer Officer, said: Since we […]