I’ve just begun my next trip…it will be a busy week and much of it is still unplanned. It has been a relatively quiet week in industry news, with Alaska and Virgin now operating under a single certificate. A primary focus of my blog over the past week has been on my surprisingly excellent trip […]
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 […]
Interview With OneJet CEO Matthew Maguire
OneJet is a new commercial airline operating small private jets based in Pittsburgh. I had the chance to fly their product and loved it but as a travel blogger, I was left with more questions than answers. I reached out to the carrier and the CEO himself made time to talk. If you are considering booking […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: October 08, 2017
I’m back in Los Angeles after a week in France/Switzerland/Germany. My trip was exhausting so it will be great to stay in LA this week. The big news of for the week, at least in my mind, was the death of the Star Alliance mileage run. Since you can no longer earn one mile for […]
Unsubstantiated Gossip: Southwest Wants Denver-Kona
I have avoided writing this post for just shy of a year because there wasn’t yet corroborating evidence or reason to believe it’s true – now there may be. Based on potentially reliable information, Southwest may focus on Denver to open their Hawaii route aspirations. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit […]
Matthew Is Wrong About Gulf Carriers
There has been an awful lot of debate regarding major US carriers and the Gulf “ME3”. US airlines are simply trying to defend their home turf against an onslaught of new traffic. Why are they being derided by bloggers like Matthew and Lucky? They have a point and I can prove it. If you are considering booking […]
Interview: Aaron Glick – VP Hilton Honors
During the 2017 Freddies in New York City I had an opportunity to meet the Vice President for Hilton Honors, Aaron Glick. We didn’t have enough time to conduct a proper interview at the event, but Aaron was kind enough to return some responses to questions submitted through email. As I aim to be transparent, […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 18, 2017
Greetings from Alton, England where I woke up this morning to this beautiful backyard view: I’m in England for a family wedding this weekend and staying with my new extended family to celebrate. How’s that for a backyard? I faced a tough choice in terms of my trip home and may have blown it…I’ll lay out details […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 04, 2017
Although it has been a relatively quiet week, I find myself tired on this beautiful spring Sunday. I’m trying to rest up because travel picks up later this week and then again next week. I hope to see some of you at the Frequent Traveler University (FTU) in Minneapolis next weekend (June 9-11th). There are still tickets available […]
Did Delta Unilaterally Introduce Electronics Ban on All US-Bound Flights?
Has Delta jumped the gun on an expanded in-flight electronics ban or simply acted cautiously? The following sign was spotted at Cincinnati Airport earlier today by a Flyertalker: Attention International Travelers Effective May 12 passengers will only be permitted to carry a cell phone onboard flights returning to the United States. All other personal electronic […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 30, 2017
Good evening from Los Angeles. I’m home for a few days between trips, trying desperately to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. I need to do a better job of it… Anyway, I’ve got a great story coming up about my trip home from New York. A truly unexpected surprise that I look forward to sharing with […]
Delta’s Expensive Investment at LAX
Traffic at LAX has grown 30% since 2011. Last year 81 million passengers flew through LA’s only international airport, far more than it was ever designed to accommodate. Consequently, LAX is already a zoo, to put it nicely. But my hometown menagerie will become even more chaotic between May 12-17 as Delta swaps terminals. It […]
5 Ways LAX is Becoming America’s Best Airport
As an Angeleno, I will concede my local bias upfront, but LAX is transforming itself into a world class airport. Here are five ways LAX is arguably becoming America’s best major airport. 1. Tom Bradley International Terminal + Expansion The Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) is already an airport jewel. If you remember what the […]
Spirit Comes to Pittsburgh – Adds 7 Nonstops
Spirit Airlines announced today that they will start flying from Pittsburgh International Airport (not yet called Mister Rodgers International Airport) this summer. From June the Ultra Low-Cost Carrier brings their “bare” fares to PIT. 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, […]
Delta Ditches Taiwan, Further Dismantles Narita Hub
Delta will end service to Taipei in May, further eroding its Tokyo Narita hub. Delta currently operates a daily Fifth Freedom flight between Tokyo Narita and Taipei, Taiwan. That flight will end on May 24, 2017. Blaming the international expansion of Tokyo Haneda Airport for its weakening Narita hub, Delta claims this “restructuring” was a necessity. Delta already announced […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 28, 2017
Good evening from Los Angeles. I am resting up after a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC and Frankfurt, happy to be home for the next couple weeks*. Although a trip to Las Vegas was in the cards for this week, I ended up not straying too far from home. *The travel bug is such an infectious virus […]
Aer Lingus Adds Flights to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford
Aer Lingus is accelerating its international expansion with newly announced service to Los Angeles, Newark, and Hartford in 2016. New USA Routes Propel Aer Lingus International Expansion Thus far, we only have details about the Los Angeles route, which will operate five days per week on an Airbus A330-200 with 23 lie-flat business class seats and […]
JetBlue Will Expand Mint Business Class to Boston
JetBlue announced an expansion of its popular Mint lie-flat business class service to Boston with service starting next year. In March 2016, JetBlue will commence three daily flights between Boston and San Francisco and add Boston – Los Angeles flights in autumn 2016. Boston – Barbados will also see Mint on Saturday flights starting in […]
Three Reasons Why Airfare Will Be Higher Next Year
David Grossman, writer of the Business Traveler column for USA Today, offers three reasons why airfare will continue to rise in the near future. Capacity cuts and rising demand Prolonged period of higher oil prices Changing business model for low-cost airlines Of particular interest to me was this nifty little stat: United Airlines’ average fare […]
My Thoughts on Avianca-TACA and Copa Joining Star Alliance
As Fozz reported, in a ceremony in Miami earlier today, Star Alliance announced that Avianca-TACA and Copa will join Star Alliance by mid-2012. Avianca and TACA merged last year, though the two airlines still operate separately and are not formally affiliated with an alliance. Currently, TACA partners with United and Avianca with Delta. Copa still partners […]
