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Qatar QSuites Awards Wide Open For Whole Family, World’s Best Business Class

by Gary Leff on October 3, 2018

Oct 03 2018

Qatar has the best business class product in the world in its new ‘QSuites’. To be sure even their older Airbus A350 business class is very good, a B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seat and a phenomenal soft product. But QSuites are revolutionary suites with doors and moveable partitions that allow two and even four passengers to travel together in their own space.

Two U.S. routes that see QSuites aircraft have outstanding availability for four or more business class award seats for much of 2019. And I throw in another route with great family business class space with a new Qatar business product as well.

Air Traffic Controller Dies to Make Sure His Plane Took Off Safely

by Gary Leff on October 2, 2018

Oct 02 2018

This is an incredible story. Air traffic controller Anthonius Gunawan Agung was working at Palu airport in Indonesia on Saturday when several earthquakes occurred.

The tower evacuated but he stayed behind to ensure Batik Air flight ID 6231 got off the ground. It was a 5:55 p.m. scheduled departure. The captain pushed back 3 minutes early and was cleared for takeoff at 6:02 p.m.

Really Great Cathay Pacific Business Class Award Space for the Whole Family

by Gary Leff on September 30, 2018

Sep 30 2018

I find that booking six months out gives great options for award redemption. Booking towards the ‘end of the schedule’ around 11 months out is even better if you want to redeem for four or more seats. Right now there’s a great example of the theory from several of Cathay Pacific’s U.S. gateways.

Searching for two passengers is much easier of course but the ability to redeem a top flight business class product for four or more passengers is worth noting when availability is this good.

British Airways Just Fired All Its Hong Kong-Based Flight Attendants

by Gary Leff on September 26, 2018

Sep 26 2018

Although London and Hong Kong are two of the most premium traffic heavy cities in the world, British Airways recently disclosed that their London – Hong Kong twice daily service lags in performance. They’ve pointed out that it suffers in comparison to Cathay Pacific’s (better, more frequent) flights.

British Airways is closing its Hong Kong crew base at the end of October. And today they’ve pink slipped all 85 Hong Kong-based flight attendants.

13 Hot Takes on American’s Decision to Raise the Price of Inflight Beer and Wine

by Gary Leff on September 25, 2018

Sep 25 2018

American Airlines is raising the price of beer, wine, and liquor in coach by $1 effective October 1.

I think there are several ways to understand American’s latest ancillary fee increase.

Singapore Airlines Non-Stop Business Class Awards Bookable With Air Canada Aeroplan Miles

by Gary Leff on September 23, 2018

Sep 23 2018

Singapore Airlines usually makes premium cabin awards available only to their own KrisFlyer members. You can transfer points from Chase, American Express, and Citi into the KrisFlyer program, so their miles are relatively easy to get.

If you want to fly Singapore’s business or first class on more than an intra-Asia flight you aren’t going to be able to use miles from United, Aeroplan, or other Star Alliance programs — most of the time.

Six years ago there was a brief window where Singapore Airlines awards were bookable by partners but there hasn’t been anything like it since.

Star Alliance Member EVA Air Reveals Brand New Business Class for Boeing 787s

by Gary Leff on September 21, 2018

Sep 21 2018

Taipei-based Star Alliance member EVA Air has one of the world’s best business class products. They should be on everyone’s radar because they also frequently have very good award availability from their US gateways and offer good connectivity into Asia.

EVA Air will take delivery of its very first Boeing 787-9 on October 2. They worked with BMW’s Designworks on the look and feel of the business class seats.

Up to 43% Off Singapore Airlines Awards From the U.S. on New Non-Stop Flights

by Gary Leff on September 20, 2018

Sep 20 2018

Singapore Airlines offers much better award availability to people using their own KrisFlyer miles than to people using miles from partner frequent flyer programs like United.

Right now Singapore Airlines is offering discounts on awards for their non-stop flights between the US and Singapore: business for the price of premium economy, and premium economy for the price of coach, which means up to 43% off.

Five Hours Only: Buy Miles at a Great Price and Get Hotel Stays Thrown In No Extra Cost

by Gary Leff on September 19, 2018

Sep 19 2018

Star Alliance program Avianca LifeMiles has a hotel booking site that is really Rocketmiles. And they have a quintuple (5x) miles offer for five hours only.

Five hours limits their exposure, because this is incredibly rich. When they ran triple miles for a single day last month I saw 15,000 miles on a $380 stay. This would yield 25,000 miles for the same stay. It can be like buying miles for what they’re worth and getting hotel stays free.

This Major Airline Painted a Plane – And Spelled Its Own Name Wrong