United’s New Business Seat, Bedding, and Lounges Revealed By New CEO Oscar Munoz

by Gary Leff

Jun 02 2016

Oscar Munoz took the stage at Gotham Hall in New York this morning to talk about their new push at United. It as as much about the culture of the airline as it was about the new product — the “culture of caring” and “new spirit of United” that he acknowledges has been “missing far too long.”

So the center of their design is the new Zodiac seat (coming from Zodiac UK, with a dedicated product line that United says is on-time for a seat that’s been certified).

The seat will be fully flat with direct aisle access. That puts it a cut above British Airways and Lufthansa, but plays catch up to Delta and American.

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Here’s How to Finally Fix the TSA Mess

by Gary Leff

Jun 02 2016

Julian over at Travel Codex picks a fight with me. He doesn’t just disagree with me over privatizing the TSA. He gets personal: “Though do you remember the Dean in “Old School”? That guy was a total jerk, right? So maybe for the purposes of today’s post we’ll think of Gary as that sort of “Dean” of Boarding Area and then it’ll be okay to argue with him and maybe egg his house or something.”

He throws down with Jeremy Piven, who isn’t just Ari from Entourage. He’s also the creepy guy who kept texting evil travel hacker Justin Ross Lee‘s girlfriend.

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This Ultimate #AvGeek Video Explains How Airports Were Planned 60 Years Ago

by Gary Leff

Jun 01 2016

The best way to understand Washington Dulles is to go back to how the concept was being explained before it was even built.

This animated film by Ray Eames and Charles Eames explains the idea — how tragic they believed it was to walk long distances to gates, how revolutionary it would be to have “mobile lounges” that became the Dulles People Movers.

And it offers a fascinating window into how the future of aviation was seen through the eyes of the 1950.

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EVEN BETTER: Buy Star Alliance Miles With 135% Bonus Act By Thursday

by Gary Leff

car underneath roof outside
Jun 01 2016

Last month LifeMiles ran a 125% bonus on purchased miles. It’s been extended to June 3, and stackable with another offer for an extra 10%.

Since the 125% offer is only extended to June 3, you’ll want to register by June 2, ideally right away if you even think you might want to take advantage of this. A 125% bonus lets you buy miles at 1.47 cents apiece. It’s nice you can get this even lower. I maxed out last year with the 135% bonus.

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