ASIA

Search Results for "ASIA".

Review: Japan Airlines Business Class, Tokyo Narita – Shanghai Pudong

by Gary Leff

japan airlines amenities
Jul 07 2018

I was sort of excited to be flying a widebody aircraft on such a short hop. The 1100 mile flight would take us about two and a half hours. On the other hand the Boeing 787 we’d be flying had JAL’s old business class seats. They ordered the planes so long ago, and deliveries were delayed so long, that they debuted angled business seats. They’ve been putting in their new business, but it makes sense to put the older product on a regional route.

Still within Asia customers in a premium cabin are used to a much better product than Americans are.

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The Story of the Last Page in Your US Passport — and the Soccer Ball That’s Gone to Space Twice

by Gary Leff

passport
Jul 02 2018

One of the defining moments of my childhood was the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in January 1986. I was 11 years old. The only way for 11 year olds to make sense of it is to detach from it and tell jokes. Crude jokes. Christa McAuliffe jokes.

Ellison Onizuka was the first Asian American and the first Hawaiian in space. He coached his daughter’s soccer team, and the team all signed a ball for him to take into space that fateful day.

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Lowest-Ever Price to Buy American Miles Now Through August 1

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Jul 02 2018

Ever since US Airways management took over at American, AAdvantage sells miles the way that US Airways used to. Regular price only seems to exist to promote discounts against. Miles are usually sold with a bonus, a discount, or both — not regular price.

Frequently they sell miles at around 1.88 cents apiece. Once in awhile they get that down to 1.77. Only twice before that I’ve seen have they sold miles at 1.72 cents each. First in June 2016, then again in 2017, and now the offer is back. It ran in June, now it’s extended through August 1.

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Air Conditioned Planes in High Humidity Can Cause This to Happen

by Gary Leff

smoke filling airline cabin
Jun 21 2018

Air Asia flight 5583 from Kolkata to Bagdogra — a 277 mile flight — was 4.5 hours for mechanical reasons. After 90 minutes passengers were asked to get off the aircraft. It was pouring down rain and people didn’t want to leave.

Air conditioning on board aircraft will mist in highly humid conditions. Passengers contend that the captain turned up the air conditioning in order to smoke them out since they didn’t want to leave.

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Report: Malaysia Airlines Waives $4200 in Checked Baggage Fees for Ex-Prime Minister Facing Corruption Charges

by Gary Leff

chart
Jun 21 2018

Malaysia’s recently ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak cannot leave the country while he faces corruption charges. He took his family on holiday to Langkawi and apparently took quite a lot of baggage on the trip.

He’s a Platinum member of the Malaysia Airlines Enrich status. One imagines whether he meets the criteria or not that he’d have this status. And his Platinum appears to come with a very special perk. His reservation shows that he checked 535kg of luggage and had the 17,000 Malaysia Ringgit excess baggage fee waived.

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Flying on Separate Tickets? On American You’re Still Protected if Flights Go Wrong

by Gary Leff

american airline plane
Jun 19 2018

It’s usually risky to fly one itinerary on separate tickets. That’s because when you’re on one ticket, if you face a flight delay or cancellation the airline responsible for the irregularity has to get you to your final destination. But if you’re on separate tickets they usually don’t — they just have to get you as far as the end of the ticket you’re flying them on.

But it’s not always a risk if you know about this American Airlines policy.

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