It’s time to start calling out the mainstream media on fake upgrade and premium cabin stories. Several days ago a friend at United Airlines forwarded me an internal communication heralding the high ranking of United Polaris from Harper’s Bazaar. I laughed out loud. According to Harper’s the top 1o business class products include: Emirates United Airlines (Polaris) […]
Why Did Singapore Airlines Close Lounge in Seoul?
Next up in my Australia trip report is a review of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Seoul Incheon. But that seems almost pointless considering Singapore unexpectedly shut down the lounge last month. Instead, let’s focus on the reason behind the closure. The KrisFlyer lounge was starting to show its age even when was I […]
United Solves its Ice Cream Bowl Crisis
Paper or plastic? United Airlines finally has a permanent solution for its ice cream bowl issue…plastic. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read here. In a nutshell, United’s glass ice cream bowls were cracking, prompting the carrier to eliminate ice cream sundaes for almost two months then use paper cups for more […]
My Conversation with United CEO Oscar Munoz
I hate to disappoint you, but rather than not saying anything I do want to provide an update on my recent conversation with United CEO Oscar Munoz. Last week I asked What Would YOU Ask United CEO Oscar Munoz? I received a number of excellent questions and was looking forward to a respectful yet probing conversation […]
What Would YOU Ask United CEO Oscar Munoz?
I’ll soon have a chance to speak to United CEO Oscar Munoz. I have a few questions in mind, but want to give you a chance to help me formulate excellent questions. Last time I spoke with him, I asked some rather specific MileagePlus questions to which he nicely dodged so I did not press […]
Review: Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Los Angeles to Istanbul
What surprised me most about my Turkish Airlines 777-330ER Business Class flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul was not the great service or food onboard, but the seat. Turkish 10 Los Angeles (LAX) – Istanbul (IST) Monday, December 17 Depart: 6:30 PM Arrive: 6:35 PM Duration: 13hr, 05min Aircraft: 777-300ER Seat: 3K Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Seat Business […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 21, 2018
Hello from Zurich. I’m in the midst of an extended business trip, anxious to get home, but trying to appreciate the time in one of my favorite countries. I’ve already been to Qatar, Vietnam, Germany, and Malta. Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and England are still to come. Recounting the top stories of the week, United […]
Premium Plus, a New Premium Economy Product on United Airlines
United Airlines will launch a true premium economy product later this year called Premium Plus. An email sent out to Mileage Plus members today included the following information: Introducing United® Premium Plus International premium economy is coming. Later this year, we’ll begin to introduce United’s Premium Plus. Available on select international flights, United® Premium Plus […]
How Shall I Get Back to LA from Ho Chi Minh City?
My Qatar Airways 777-3ooER Qsuite flight is right around the corner. But I have nothing booked home… This is a review trip and I’m not planning on spending any time in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a lovely city that I have visited in the past, but this time my objective is to come straight […]
Flying in 2018: The Best of Times
Like Charles Dickens’ famous opening line, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” In a counter post to one previously published today, I can prove that flying in 2018 is the best it has ever been. From first class suites at business class prices to a lie flat bed standard […]
Dear Scott Kirby, Remember the Ghost of Jeff Smisek
Dear Mr. Kirby, A very Happy New Year to you. We met and chatted for quite awhile at the opening of the new United Club in T7 at LAX in November 2016. I admire your vision to make United a leading airline of the world. Your tenure has been marked with exciting new longhaul and […]
2017: The Year in Review (Turbulence, in a Good Way)
Turbulence: great commotion or agitation; departure from a smooth flow. 2017 was a turbulent year for me. But in a good way. It was time for a change and boy did this year usher in changes in my life. Late last year I moved my blog from UPGRD to Boarding Area and vowed to breathe new life […]
My 10 Worst Flights of 2017
Unlike my 10 Best Flights of 2017 post from earlier today, I’d say this list is a bit more controversial. After all, how bad can Lufthansa First Class be…or any premium product for that matter? But listing my 10 worst delayed domestic flights would hardly be worth a post. So here are my 10 worst […]
My 10 Best Flights of 2017
As the year draws to a close, here’s a look back at my 10 best flights in 2017. 1. Saudia 777-300 First Class, RUH-LAX The best flight of the year was due to one man: Chef Rahmi. I’ve never seen a more conscientious, hard-working, and resourceful onboard chef. Plus, Saudia’s first class hard product (with […]
Review: United 777-300ER Economy Class Frankfurt to San Francisco
What is United Airlines’ economy class product like on its 10-across 777-300ER between Europe and the USA? Once in awhile, a bit of a reality check is nice. Although I love premium cabins and am fortunate to routinely secure upgrades, I still fly a fair share in economy class. This is usually by choice, typically to […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: December 24, 2017
It’s Christmas Eve and I hope, like me, you are spending it with family friends. I’m on “vacation” in Germany for awhile, but there is never really any true vacation in the world of blogging and Award Expert. Posts will be more limited over the next week to maximize time spent with my family, but […]
New “Pop-Up” United Club in Newark Airport
With ongoing construction on a new Polaris Lounge at Newark’s Liberty International Airport, United faced a critical overcrowding issue in its only other Terminal C United Club. The solution? A new “Pop-up” United Club near Gate C-124. United’s lounge near C-74 is chronically overcrowded and far more so now that the main international lounge is […]
Official: United Will Fly San Francisco to Tahiti
United Airlines will serve Tahiti, broadening its portfolio of South Pacific routes to a new and exotic leisure destination. Subject to government approval, United will start seasonal nonstop service between San Francisco (SFO) and Fa’a’ā International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. The route will operate three times per week between October 30, 2018 […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: November 26, 2017
Greetings from a beautifully blustery autumn day in Carmel, CA. I’ll have details tomorrow about the wonderful way I’ve spent my long holiday weekend. It was a fairly quiet week on the blog and in the aviation industry, which was appreciated. We’ll see what next week brings, though. We did learn further details about Lufthansa’s […]
Next Generation Lufthansa Business Class Seat Revealed
Lufthansa will be the launch customer of the 777-9 in 2020. While Lufthansa has opted to forgo first class on its new aircraft, also called the 777X, it will offer an updated business class product. Up until now, we’ve speculated about what it might look like…will Lufthansa once again roll out a business class product […]
