Happy anniversary to me! I officially launched this blog one year ago today and when I look back at my initial posts I’m a bit embarrassed at their immaturity, but can see how I’ve developed my writing skills and I’m happy with Frequently Flying today. It’ll only get better. This has been an amazing year…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for November 2011.
EVA Airways’ alliance, DOT monitors Twitter & approved AA/QF, American’s Flagship at LAX, TSA trusted traveler, Kevin Spacey, GDSs profit and Asiana expands
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… EVA Airways has come out and acknowledged they are “in aggressive talks” to join either the oneworld or Star Alliance by 2013. Here in the U.S. they fly to Anchorage, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York’s JFK. To me, Star seems more fitting…
Truth and B.S.: An interview with United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek
A pair of Associated Press writers recently sat down with Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Airlines, and probed him for his thoughts on the current state and future of both United and the airline industry overall. Interviews of this type tend not to reveal anything new or juicy, but I still try to read between…
Vintage Airline Seat Map: Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011-500 (International)
I have a fondness in my heart for the many “three-holers†I watched depart O’Hare during my teenage years alongside the runways. While the Boeing 727 is indeed a three-engine aircraft, my greatest appreciation fell with the widebody Douglas DC-10s and Lockheed L-1011s I saw so frequently. For this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps,…
Mileage Run Opportunity: American Airlines ORD-SFO $219.40 nets 7,384 EQMS at 2.97cpm
For anyone based near Chicago, Los Angeles or San Francisco who flies either American Airlines or United Airlines, there are some amazing elite qualifying mile runs available to top off your accounts this year. Note first, however, that your address on your FF account must be in California or Illinois to qualify. The fare I’m…
Hotel rankings from business travel managers. Do you agree?
Late last month I posted a review of how travel managers ranked airlines, those people who have contracts with Fortune 500-type businesses who are responsible for planning travel. The same outfit, Business Travel News, also surveyed a similar 519 corporate travel department officials who rated hotel chains across 13 categories. As with the last post,…
Video: Lufthansa Airlines celebrates 50 years of service
The dates are actually questionable as to when Lufthansa Airlines really celebrated their proper 50th anniversary. 1955 was the year the carrier began flying again after the second world war, so many consider that “date” as the record of official launch. I disagree since their origins date back to services operated in 1926. And so,…
Delta & United excel, UA to Dublin, US hires, Qantas’ comeback, Virgin upscales and other hotel, travel & airline news
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news last week… Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are showing significant operating margins, 10.5% and 10.4% respectively, compared to American Airlines’ 0.60%. American continues to be burdened by the highest labor costs in the industry given it hasn’t filed for bankruptcy protection. Will 2012 be the…
Segment Run Opportunity: $237.20 nets six United EQSs LAX-SFO-PDX-SEA r/t
United Airlines has a fare out there tonight in the Los Angeles to Seattle market that nets six elite qualifying segments for $237.20 all-in, or $39.53 per segment. I’m surprised at how many of you qualify for elite status via segments and have no idea what your threshold is for “good†or “bad†cost-per-segment. If…
Buying top-tier elite status for $400? I’m doing it… would you?
I’ll openly admit I’m a sucker for status matches and challenges, and I received a targeted offer yesterday from Hilton HHonors to fast track to Diamond Status. What to do, what to do? First, here’s the offer: I’m already Gold through March of 2013 and this offer would require I complete six stays by the…