Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for February 2024.

These Are The 13 All-Time Best Movies About Travel

Feb 18 2024

I was debating the best travel movies the other day and tried to build my own list. It’s going to weigh heavily towards planes and airports but I’ve also given some thought to being in an unfamiliar place and growing as a person because of the places you’ve been.

I think each of these films is a classic for a reason, and I try to offer a brief take why. That even holds for some of the ones on the list that may not have been so critically acclaimed.

Up in the Air is best for reasons that should be obvious, Die Hard 2 is awesome even if it’s absurd with more plot holes than the business plan for Washington Dulles’ Independence Air. But was there every really a better air crash investigator than Kris Kristofferson in the broadly panned Millenium?

Continue Reading »

Why It Makes Sense To Pay For First Class On Domestic Flights

Feb 17 2024

American has become very aggressive in making upgrade offers, especially on flights that don’t appear to be selling in domestic first class. But it’s not just buy ups where American has gone down market. Looking for a one-way trip from Washington DC to Austin that I need in the coming weeks, the first 9 options all had first class just $100 more than coach.

Continue Reading »

The 5 Words That Should Be On Every Room Service Menu

woman using ATM
Feb 16 2024

I hate tipping because of the frictions. You don’t know what you’re supposed to tip, it’s ambiguous. You’re supposed to have cash? It’s so much better when employees are compensated by their employers and listed prices are the amounts you actually pay.

If tipping is supposed to ensure better service, why is it such a bad customer experience?

Continue Reading »

Unlocking the World’s Most Exclusive Airport Lounges Without Paying For First Class

lounge
Feb 16 2024

The best airport lounge in the world is probably the Air France La Premiere lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle. It has true gourmet dining, a spa, and a car service to take you to and from the plane. However, almost nobody can use this. You actually need to be an Air France first class passenger. They only make one award seat available per flight, and you have to be a Flying Blue Platinum member to book it.

However there are many great lounges that most of us have real world access to. These are my favorites.

Continue Reading »

No More Waiting In Line For Capital One Lounges! Now Join The Queue Before Reaching The Airport

Feb 16 2024

Airline passengers will show up earlier, and stay longer (and eat more) at airport lounges than you expect when there’s a great lounge option at no added cost. And that’s true even when you expect that they’ll show up earlier, stay longer, and eat more.

So even as these lounges have expanded, and Capital One and Chase have both gotten into the airport lounge game, there’s just not enough space for the passengers who want to use these lounges.

Continue Reading »