My friend Ben from One Mile At A Time wrote a story earlier this week entitled, I’d Like Airlines To Offer LESS Service In Business Class. I offer a friendly rebuttal here. His focus is on shorter overnight flights from the East Coast to Europe, where he rightly notes that an extended dinner service after […]
My Prediction For United’s “Historic” New Route Announcement
United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz will make a “historic” route announcement today. I have 10 predictions for potential new routes. According to an insider on airliners.net, United will make a historic route announcement today at 11:00AM CT. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz will host a media conference call to discuss an historic package of new […]
United Airlines Will Invest Millions More At Washington Dulles
United Airlines will invest at least $34 million at Washington Dulles International Airport to expand the C-Concourse and construct a new Polaris Lounge. In a “public-private” partnership, United will front the bill to add an extension to Terminal C in order to house a new Polars Lounge. In exchange, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) will […]
American Airlines Adds Premium Service Between Los Angeles & Boston, With A Catch
American Airlines is introducing premium transcontinental service between Los Angeles and Boston onboard its signature A321Ts. But there’s a catch… Starting on April 02, 2019 American Airlines will operate two flights daily between Los Angeles and Boston utilizing the A321T. Flights will depart from Los Angeles in the morning and late night (redeye) and from […]
When Will United’s LAX Polaris Lounge Open?
United’s Polaris Lounge at LAX has still not opened…but it won’t be long. United’s Polaris Lounge at LAX has been delayed by more than a year. Set to open late in 2017, it has yet to open. In fact, the online Polaris Lounge tracker still predicts an opening of Autumn 2018: But December is upon […]
A Year As United 1K and American Executive Platinum
Following a status match last year from American Airlines Executive Platinum to United 1K, I flew both side-by-side. My personal experience was surprising and foretells where I will spend my time next year. 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 […]
Review: United Polaris Lounge Houston (IAH)
The United Polaris Lounge in Houston (IAH) offers a tremendous upgrade to international business class passengers versus the United Clubs. I spent two hours in the lounge but could have easily spent much longer. United calls this its “boutique” Polaris Lounge because it is far smaller than the other lounges. But crowding would not be a […]
The Death of Airline Lounge “Memberships” Makes American Express Platinum More Attractive
With American, Delta, and United cracking down on how/when “members” can use their lounges, I question whether membership is even the correct term to describe what airlines now offer. Think about it. If you’re a member of a gym, you show up when you want and stay as long as you want. Your membership gives […]
United CEO: Increased Baggage Fees Make Flying BETTER
Oscar Munoz, United Airlines’ CEO, argues that confusion drives passengers to complain about baggage fees. While I tend to agree with his overall point, the optics of insinuating that higher baggage fees improve the flying experience for the average passenger is simply tone deaf. Speaking to CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Munoz credited ancillary fees from baggage […]
United Airlines Launches Impressive New Ad Campaign
United Airlines has debuted an impressive new ad campaign that stays close to the carrier’s roots. A commercial entitled “World Orchestra” juxtaposes musical instruments with unlikely geographic locations, stringing together an impressive rendering of Rhapsody in Blue. For example, an Indian man plays his sitar in front of a New England lighthouse and a Hawaiian couple plays […]
Editorial: Cut The Complaints About “Inferior” U.S. Airlines
There’s a cliche amongst frequent travelers. It goes something like this: U.S. airlines are woefully behind European and Asian airlines, especially in terms of service. While just my opinion, I’m tired of that trite argument and reject it. Don’t think I am going to defend the lackluster and sometimes hostile service that FAs on U.S. […]
Business Class To Germany: Lufthansa Or United?
Who offers a better business class product between the USA and Germany, Lufthansa or United? I have recently flown both carriers in business class and will do a side-by-side comparison using the following 10 metrics: Ground Services Lounge Seating Bedding Service Food Alcohol IFE +Wi-Fi Amenity Kits Lavatories Ground Services Both United and Lufthansa offer […]
Review: United 777-200 Polaris Business Class Chicago To Frankfurt
I’ve written this review in a more casual way than my usual trip reports. Hopefully it will be helpful to some of you. Flying United is like driving my car…I do it so often it just become second nature. Once in a while, though, I get to try something new. On this trip, it was […]
Flying United’s Retrofitted 777-200 In Polaris Business Class
Over the weekend I had the chance to fly United’s recently renovated 777-200 featuring new Polaris business class seats. This is the same aircraft that featured United’s new premium economy seating. I used a Global Premier Upgrade to confirm an upgrade to business at time of booking…a rarity lately on United. The newly retrofitted 777-200 […]
United Wants Fewer 1Ks, I’ll Oblige
United announced on Friday afternoon that they would increase the spending requirement for their 1K (100,000-mile elite) members from $12,000 per year to $15,000. This is an effort to thin the herd as they have too many top-tier elite flyers. If United wants fewer 1K customers, I will be the first to start them off. […]
Review: United Airlines 767-300 Polaris Business Class Amsterdam To Newark
United’s retrofitted 767-300 Polaris Business Class cabin provided great comfort during a recent morning flight from Amsterdam to Newark. I checked in online and totally bypassed the check-in counters at AMS. After spending a bit of time in the ASPIRE lounge, I headed to the gate and was among the first to board. United 71 […]
Singapore SilverKris Lounge In Hong Kong Disappoints
During my status run to Hong Kong, I returned to the US on ANA in business class and tried my first Star Alliance lounge in Hong Kong, the Singapore SilverKris Lounge. Despite Singapore’s great reputation, it disappointed. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If […]
President of United Airlines DEFENDS Family Separation…On Airplanes
United Airlines hates family separation…unless their customers won’t pay to sit together. Last June, United Airlines, along with other airlines, came out strongly against the White House decision to separate minor children from parents who are captured while crossing the border illegally. In fact, United CEO Oscar Munoz even laid down the gauntlet against the federal government: […]
Review: United Polaris 777-300ER San Francisco to Hong Kong
As a lifelong American Airlines customer and frequent Cathay Pacific flyer, United had a long way to go to impress me with their Polaris business class product. They did. Here is another leg in my status run to Hong Kong trip report. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please […]
Review: United Polaris Lounge – San Francisco
This year I split my loyalty somewhat between United and American Airlines along with a handful of discount carriers for direct flights. As a result, I needed to make a status run and chose Hong Kong as my destination. To start that trip, I began at United’s new Polaris Lounge at San Francisco International Airport. […]
