After a nice layover in Reykjavík, it was time to fly to San Francisco on Icelandair, my first ever flight on the carrier. While service was extremely pleasant onboard, the “Saga Premium” (business class) seat is more akin to...
A Sensible Stewardship Suggestion For SAS
SAS claims to care deeply about the environment. Here’s a suggestion to quickly eliminate unnecessary waste…not just talk about it. To combat its perception as a polluter, SAS has taken several steps, including: Seeking to use more biofuel (whatever...
LOT Polish Cabin Crew Director Fired For Fat Shaming British Airways Crew
A LOT Polish Cabin Crew Director has been fired after mounting outrage over her online cyberbullying of British Airways flight attendants. Katarzyna Richter took to Facebook after a recent BA flight from London Gatwick to Poland to note: Today,...
Alaska Airlines Simultaneously Delights And Disappoints
Alaska Airlines has made impressive upgrades to its LAX lounge. But why limit coffee? Why oh why? I recently stopped by the Alaska Lounge in Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport. I was very pleasantly surprised that it...
Compassion Or Craziness? United Passengers + Crew Rally Around Autistic Child
Imagine a child who could not sit still on an airplane. He screamed. He flailed. Then he walked into first class and kicked a passenger. Then he sat down in the front galley, blocking emergency egress. Yet instead of...
Environmentalists Plan To Disrupt London Heathrow With More Drones
An environmentalist group has put London Heathrow Airport on notice: the drones are coming. Heathrow Pause opposes the construction of a third runway at LHR, arguing it runs counter to the United Kingdom’s plan to reduce net greenhouse emissions...
Virgin Australia Cuts Staff After Seventh Consecutive Annual Loss
After seven consecutive years of annual losses, Virgin Australia is cutting staff and plans to cuts routes as well. Virgin Australia, founded in 2000, last posted an annual profit in 2012. In the last seven years it has updated...
Review: Shangri-La Colombo
I was extremely impressed with the facilities, service, and amenities at the Shangri-La Colombo. This hotel is easily the best in Colombo and well worth the small premium over other upscale properties in town. Sadly for the hotel and...
A Jam-Packed Layover In Reykjavík
I made the most of my seven hour layover in Reykjavík, Iceland, squeezing in three of my favorite activities into a relatively compact schedule. My first thought was just to head to the Blue Lagoon. It’s only 20 minutes...
Foolish Avianca Chairman Admits Airline Is Bankrupt In Leaked Video
It’s nice to be open and honest…to a point. But idle words can cause unnecessary pain, as the Avianca Chairman found out this week. Roberto Kriete attempted to “rally the troops” to push the troubled airline back to profitability....
Your United MileagePlus Miles Will No Longer Expire
Effective immediately, your United MileagePlus miles will no longer expire. That’s it. No strings attached, no minimum activity needed, and no United credit card or other gimmick required. In fact, United will even retroactively reinstate miles for those members...
TSA Bans Star Wars “Thermal Detonator” Coca-Cola Bottles
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has banned special-edition Star Wars-themed Coca-Cala bottles from Disneyland onboard checked and carry-on baggage. It claims the cans look too much like bombs. First, a picture is in order. In celebration of the newly...
Review: Cathay Pacific A330-300 Business Class
My Cathay Pacific A330 fight from Hong Kong to Colombo was comfortable, but unremarkable. Perhaps I was on too much of a high after a great trip in first class from Beijing and visit to The Pier? I arrived...
This Is What Passes For Business Class On A Three Hour SAS Flight…
In the swinging pendulum between budget and luxury, SAS really has swung too far in the budget direction for a product it still markets as business class. This is not breaking news; SAS eliminated “business class” on flights within...
United Adds Biscoff Cookies To Economy Class Snack Basket!
United is copying American and Delta, but in this case the news good: biscoff cookies will soon be available onboard for free. Stroopwafels, which United introduced onboard in 2017, have become a household name in the USA in part...
How Airlines Make In-Flight Food Tasty
Fly United this month and you can order a smoked beef and pork sausage link smothered in BBQ sauce and served on a pretzel roll. But its journey from kitchen to airplane demonstrates how difficult it is to offer...
The Updated SAS Gold Lounge In Copenhagen Is Superb!
After a day in Berlin, I flew to Copenhagen where I spent the night before continuing on to Reykjavík the next day. That gave me plenty of time to check out the beautifully refurbished SAS Gold Lounge. One way...
Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge Hong Kong (HKG)
The Pier is not only Cathay’s Pacific’s finest first class lounges, but one of the best first class lounges in the world. For years I have been looking forward to visiting this lounge. Finally, during a recent layover, I...
Emirates, A Gimcrack New Transfer Partner From Chase
Emirates Skywards is now a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. Try to hold back your excitement… A gimcrack is a cheap and showy ornament, something flimsy or poorly made but deceptively attractive. I think that’s a great way to...
Review: Cathay Pacific The Deck Lounge Hong Kong (HKG)
As far as business class lounges go, Cathay Pacific’s The Deck lounge in Hong Kong is among the nicest I’ve seen. Cathay Pacific’s latest business class lounge in Hong Kong feels a bit like The Pier, with a noodle...