How We Almost Got to Use British Airways Avios on United

by Gary Leff

Dec 05 2016

British Airways parent IAG acquired Aer Lingus and the Irish carrier is expected to ultimately join oneworld and the transatlantic joint venture with BA, Iberia, Finnair and American.

Aer Lingus is a former member of oneworld — they left nine years ago to pursue a strategy as a low cost carrier. Since then they’ve built back their premium offerings. They have a good transatlantic business class, considering the short flights between Dublin, Shannon and the East Coast of the U.S. which are their bread and butter (though not exclusive) destinations.

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Are Rogue American Airlines Gate Agents Just Not Processing Upgrades?

by Gary Leff

british airways plane
Dec 05 2016

An American Executive Platinum who is reconsidering keeping that status, shared his experience flying Los Angeles – London on American on Friday.

He checked in for his flight and was told there were 8 seats open in business class and he was second on the list. At the time the flight closed he was third on the list and no upgrades appeared to be processed at the gate.

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Qatar Flight from DC Was Like Riding a Roller Coaster, Diverted to the Azores

by Gary Leff

Dec 04 2016

Last night’s Qatar Airways flight from Washington Dulles to Doha hit massive turbulence. The flight diverted to the Azores, and another aircraft was dispatched from Doha to pick up passengers.

Many of the passengers onboard with unhappy with how things were handled on the ground, but it’s a difficult situation. Residents of India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia don’t have the flexibility that US citizens do.

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FARE Alert Europe From $366 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

Dec 03 2016

There’s a oneworld sale from Chicago that lets you book Stockholm, Sweden or Copenhagen, Denmark at crazy low prices. Travel on British Airways or Finnair.

Flash sales have become the new airline discount strategy in order to pick up incremental business from people that wouldn’t otherwise be flying — without leaving the fares around long enough to displace most of the trips airlines would otherwise sell. That’s great for flexible leisure travelers especially.

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DOT Finally Approves Norwegian’s Irish Subsidiary to Fly to the US

by Gary Leff

Dec 02 2016

The US and EU have an Open Skies treaty. Airlines based on either side of the Atlantic can fly from wherever they want to wherever they want, more or less.

However Norwegian Air’s subsidiary NAI – based in Ireland – was getting slow walked by the US government over its authority to operate. US airlines and pilots objected because of the airline’s low costs and low fares.

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