My travels/observations

Category Archives for My travels/observations.

Amenity Kit Review: Indian Pacific Gold Kangaroo Class

I’m changing things up a bit for this installment of Amenity Kit Reviews. Shockingly, I’m running light on current generation airline amenity kits. I may end up reviewing some “vintage†kits in upcoming installments until I acquire new ones. But in the meantime, here’s what I received as a passenger on the Indian Pacific in…

Continue Reading »

A Look at Radisson LAX’s Junior and Deluxe Suites

I’ve stayed at the Radisson LAX numerous times during the past few years in just about every type of room category. The differences are incredibly minor between non-suite categories with “better†rooms sporting a Sleep Number bed, mini-refrigerator, bathrobes and slightly upgraded bathroom amenities (vanity kit, mouthwash, bath gel and a loofah). Most of those…

Continue Reading »

How to Find Mileage Runs – 2013 Edition

It’s been exactly one year since the go-to method to find mileage runs died – the FareCompare Flyertalk tool. The folks at FareCompare claimed it would return and even had a “coming soon†notation earlier this year. That has since totally disappeared and repeated requests for information from them fell on silent ears. I have…

Continue Reading »

Frequent Traveler University – Day Two Recap

With the water restored at the Sheraton Gateway LAX, day two was off to a better start. The first session, entitled “Secrets and Lies,†was an off-the-record summary of several tips and tricks not published on forums or blogs. The reason for the secrecy? While nothing discussed is illegal, each tip or trick helps save…

Continue Reading »

Frequent Traveler University – Day One Recap

It was a wet and rainy start to Frequent Traveler University yesterday and those of us staying at the Radisson were met with a gushing stream of water to negotiate to even make it to the Sheraton Gateway LAX. It turned out a water main broke and the host hotel was without water the entire…

Continue Reading »

Frequent Traveler University Schedule – See You There!

Frequent Traveler University kicks off tomorrow evening and the schedule of events over the course of the weekend looks fantastic. I’ll be there all three days and hope to meet some new friends and catch up with “old†ones. Are you attending? Here’s the schedule of events, all taking place at the Sheraton Gateway LAX…

Continue Reading »

United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner Inaugural: UA Flight 1209 IAH to LAX

Boarding for my third and final leg on inaugural day was a more civilized affair. While there were many passengers standing around gate C14, no one was crowding the lanes. United Dreamliner Inaugural: Introduction United Dreamliner Inaugural: Pre-Departure Festivities United Dreamliner Inaugural: UA Flight 1116 IAH to ORD United Dreamliner Inaugural: Chicago Arrival Celebration United…

Continue Reading »

United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner Inaugural: UA Flight 1510 ORD to IAH

When I returned to gate C20 after a brief visit to the United Club, the gate room was as packed for the departure as it was for the arrival. A line of 25 to 35 people had already jammed the boarding lanes and after a brief delay, boarding began for flight 1510 bound for Houston.…

Continue Reading »

United’s Inconsistent First Class Meal Catering

In the past two months I’ve had a rather random assortment of meals on United Airlines that differ from what’s advertised. It’s not that big of a deal, but I’ve received what I consider a “snack†for dinner and “lunch†for a snack. On pre-merger United I could always count on a hot meal for…

Continue Reading »