A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Fare Alert: Business Class to Australia Wide Open, West Coast – Sydney $2602 Roundtrip
There’s been a rush of Chinese airlines squatting on routes to the U.S., because historically China has only allowed one of the country’s airlines to fly a given international route. That may change, but in the meantime we have service like Xiamen Airlines Los Angeles – Xiamen.
And as you can imagine these flights don’t sell out. So there are occasionally fantastic fares, to see China or to connect beyond China. In this case you can fly most any time between the US and Australia for $2600 roundtrip in business class. Or $1300 to China!
Family Awarded $546,000 in Bed Bug Case
A jury just awarded what appears to be the biggest bed bug verdict in history.
According to their lawyer the case was especially egregious because “[t]hey were Hilton Honors members.”
American’s Process for Deducting Upgrades is a Customer Service Nightmare
I had a couple of American Airlines systemwide upgrades that I wasn’t going to use so I offered them to a friend.
For one of the upgrades American pulled a systemwide from my friend’s account rather than mine. The second upgrade cleared at the gate. And though it’s been a month the upgrade hasn’t been taken from my account.
A New US Airways Interior I’ve Never Seen Before – Refreshed Seat Covers, Still Decrepit Seats
Four years into the American Airlines – US Airways merger they are only now talking about aligning their fleet. For the most part US Airways narrowbody planes don’t have extra legroom seats at the front of the aircraft or even seat power. (First class also has less legroom and many still have decrepit seats.)
I flew a legacy US Airways plane this morning though and I boarded with a bit of excitement — a new interior.
Does Travel Promote Real Understanding? How?
I’m under no illusion that walking the streets of Bangkok means that I understand the divisions in Thai society. Drinking with someone in Spain doesn’t mean I know what ‘real people are like’ in Southern Europe.
It’s easy to say that ‘travel promotes understanding’ but travel can also promote a false sense of understanding.
Here’s Chicago O’Hare’s Major Overhaul Plan
Chicago’s O’Hare airport isn’t the most modern or beautiful airport. But the biggest problems they face are weather, distance from the city, and insufficient gates to grow. They’re planning to do something about gates while in the process rebuilding terminals.
I’m ultimately happy with O’Hare today since so far it’s the only place with a United Polaris lounge, American’s second Flagship lounge just opened there, and they’ve got Tortas Frontera.
Willie Walsh May Have the Foulest Mouth of Any Airline CEO in the World
The CEO of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus parent IAG says he’s “s***ting himself” over how fierce a competitor Ryanair will be once they recover from their current troubles.
United Says Planes are Too Expensive Because of American and Delta is Colluding With Russians
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
The Hidden Message in American’s New Tighter 30 Inch Coach Seats
At last week’s American Airlines Media & Investor Day I got a sneak look at the airline’s new coach seats that are spaced more closely together than ever before.
What is American Airlines really trying to tell us with these seats? Reader Megan took a closer look at the way American set up the seat and caught a hidden message.