This only applies in Europe, because I can't imagine how this would have played out in the US. Then again, airports tend to be less automated in the US, so I doubt this happens as frequently. Two weeks ago, I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 2 from a European…
Non-US Residents: Remember There Are Still Creative Ways To Earn Credit Card Points
This post will be an anecdote of my experience trying to maximize credit card rewards in Sweden. I'm lucky to have a US Social Security Number, giving me access to the incredibly generous sign-up bonuses and rewards in the US. However, there are other…
Review: Singapore Changi New Terminal 4 Arrivals Process
Late last month, I flew Cathay Pacific from Tokyo to Singapore via Hong Kong. I was surprised by how fantastic my two flights were. The best part was the crew, who were among the best I've ever had on both flights. After arriving at Changi's new Terminal…
One Of My Best Economy Class Award Redemptions Ever
Alaska Airlines is the best frequent flyer program in the US. Now that all the competition has gone revenue based, their Mileage Plan program shines like a star. They have generous earning rates, great award partners, and best of all, their redemption…
Review: New Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik Airport
Last month I flew Icelandair roundtrip from the US to Stockholm for an appearance on Sweden's biggest daytime talk show. Besides the fact that I went on TV for the second time, which made me feel too many things to describe (mainly just super thankful),…
Emirates Vs. Etihad Vs. Qatar – Who Has The Best Economy Class?
This comparison has taken way too long to publish, but I hope you will find it helpful despite the wait! In August, I took a trip from Europe to India, flew around the Middle East, and then flew back to Europe. The purpose was to record a head-on comparison…
Review: Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Airport
After landing on Etihad from Beirut, I made my way through immigration toward the Premier Inn. After spending the last two nights on economy class flights, I was beyond excited to sleep in a real bed. It was a long walk from arrivals to the hotel. The…
Review: Etihad 787-9 & A320 Economy Class Beirut To Abu Dhabi To Muscat
My flight from Beirut to Abu Dhabi was scheduled to depart at 2:30 pm. It's common for flights to depart behind schedule, or unofficially leave a few minutes early. Not on Etihad. When I got to the gate an hour before departure, the flight was already…
Qatar Airways Charges How Much For Excess Checked Baggage?!?
Most frequent flyers have elite status or fly business or first class. Usually, this means you get at least two checked bags, which is more than enough on a regular trip. For the people without elite status, it's a different story. Next month, I'm flying…
Transiting Beirut Airport On Separate Tickets
Both Ben and I have had interesting experiences transiting in Cairo. I've yet to share my stories from my three connections there, but they were not smooth, to say the least. Given my experiences there, I had no idea what to expect in Beirut. While the…
Review: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Economy Class Mumbai To Doha To Beirut
After arriving at Mumbai Airport just after midnight, I made my way up to departures without a single passport or ticket check (a strong contrast to my experience at Delhi Airport). Once inside, I walked over to Qatar check-in. When I got to the front,…
Limited Time: Airberlin Topbonus Allowing Award Bookings On Etihad
As we all know by now, airberlin is ceasing operations on October 28. Other than their employees, the greatest impact will obviously be on their frequent flyers, and I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to have a bunch of airberlin miles stored…
Oman Air CEO Resigns — What Does This Mean For The Airline?
This morning Oman Air revealed that their CEO, Paul Gregorowitsch, has resigned, seemingly without much notice. Oman Air is one of my favorite airlines, and I even met their CEO twice. He is one of the most well-spoken executives in the industry and…
Review: Jet Airways 737-800 Economy Class Chennai To Mumbai
After my Air India First Class flight, I had a 100-minute connection to catch my Jet Airways economy leg to Mumbai. I always had the impression that Jet Airways was better than Air India, and the main premium carrier of India. Boy was I wrong... Having…
Review: Air India 747-400 First Class Delhi To Chennai
This flight was meant to be on a Boeing 777-300ER with Air India’s latest first class product. When I arrived at the gate, I was shocked to see a trusty old 747 sitting there instead. I felt like a child on Christmas! Walking down the jetway I still…
Connecting To Air India First Class At Delhi Airport: An Interesting Experience
Ben has written in the past about his experiences with slow procedures and employees asking for “appreciation” in India. While India offers great hospitality in my experience, I had a few peculiar instances when connecting flights in Delhi. This post…
Review: Emirates A380 And 777-300ER Economy Class Zurich To Dubai To Delhi
I took two Emirates flights to start off my comparison between the big three Middle Eastern carriers. The journey started at 9:00am in Zurich after flying SAS from Gothenburg via Copenhagen. Since my flight left at 3:25pm, I spent most of my connecting…
Zurich Airport Observation Deck — Why Don’t More Airports Have This?!
I’m going to be honest. Zurich Airport didn’t do it for me. I’ve transferred there once before and wasn’t especially impressed by the crowded older Swiss lounges or the strange terminal layout. Well, cheap airfare can make me go anywhere, so I started…
Introduction: Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Economy Class Showdown
With the amount of premium travel we discuss here, it’s easy to forget that most of the world flies economy. An impressive number of these flyers are either on Emirates, Etihad, or Qatar. Before I headed off to college, I decided to answer a question…
Brussels Airlines: An Example Of A European Airline Successfully Adapting
Europe is one of the easiest places to get around by airplane. Flights are insanely cheap, sometimes to the point that they're cheaper than a Subway sandwich. Last year I got a $9 roundtrip ticket from Gothenburg to London Stansted with Ryanair. Given…
Want To Fly First Class For Free? Don’t Do This!!!
Oh boy oh boy oh boy. I was procrastinating some readings last night and came across this video on YouTube. Watch it if you have a moment, otherwise continue reading below. Daniel Fernandez is a relatively well-known magician in the online community.…